Tory Smith
Lecturer | Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Lecturer of Theatre Arts
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Biography
Tory Smith is a Lecturer of Theater Arts at Loyola Marymount University. Tory received his Bachelor of Theater Arts from LMU in 2009. Since graduating, Tory has worked steadily as an actor in the Hollywood Film and TV industry. A member of the SAG/AFTRA Actors Union, Tory has appeared in such notable roles as BET’s “Zoe Ever After” (series regular), Baz Luhrman’s Netflix series “The Get Down” (recurring), and Paramount Plus series “Zac & Mia.” Tory’s credits include ABC’s “Modern Family,” OWN’s “Cherish The Day,” and Freeform’s “Young & Hungry.” Tory has appeared in a variety of films including the independent short film “The Baldwin Archives” portraying author James Baldwin. “The Baldwin Archives,” directed by LMU alumni Laura Seay, written and created by Tory, with voice and speech coaching by LMU professor Andrea Odinov, became a critically acclaimed and celebrated film, garnering Tory a Best Actor nomination from the Ignite Film Festival in the United Kingdom. “The Baldwin Archives” screened at several Oscar-qualifying film festivals including the Outfest LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Los Angeles, and the Hollyshorts Film Festival in Hollywood, CA. Tory continues to act in TV and film and is an active member of the Los Angeles theater community.
Education (1)
Loyola Marymount University: BA, Theatre Arts 2009
Industry Expertise (1)
Performing Arts
Affiliations (1)
- SAG/AFTRA
Articles (2)
Outfest LA 2022 Film Review: The Baldwin Archives ★★★1/2
The Queer ReviewJames Kleinmann
2022-07-18
"Smith’s performance feels vocally and physically accurate, but crucially doesn’t read as an imitation. Instead, though he is clearly reverential towards his mighty subject, the actor appears to have found a freedom in his portrayal that keeps him loose and allows for some detailed and nuanced work. Captivatingly introspective, Smith’s Baldwin feels like living, breathing creation; a man of fierce intellect, with a dignified restraint aimed at helping to get his points across more persuasively."
The Get Down’s Tory Devon Smith Talks Disco Favorites and Playing a Hip Hop Gangster
Out MagazineMichael Lambert
2016-08-16
"The out actor praises the Netflix series for showing how important gay culture was to the birth of hip hop in the 1970s."
