Trai Byers

thumb Trai Byers (born July 19, 1983) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Andre Lyon in the Fox musical television series, Empire (2015–2020). Quotes I went to three different high schools in three different towns. I was very shy, and to this day I am, unless I perform. Because of that though, I was very shy, and you know, you meet a friend, and then you have to move. We didn't have the technology we do today to stay in touch with people. I think it prepared me to go from job to job to job without the feelings [of really missing] people. I missed them in my heart, but it was easier to move on. I started doing extra work [on films]. I used to use The Hollywood Reporter to find out what was going on [around town], and that was back in the day when they'd give you a free trial for a few months until you had to start paying. Well, they didn't ask for any credit card information, so I just would subscribe under a different name every few months! [Laughs] I did that for like two years! I said I'd paid them when it worked! That's a very interesting, wonderful question. I was in kindergarten, and I don't recall any of that! [Laughs] But they showed [that picture] to me earlier this year. I don't recall being aware that acting was a profession. I think this was '91 when I was watching Malcolm X, and I was so enthralled with his performance that I said, "I want to do that." To be more patient and not have the anxieties of my world coming to an end because two and two weren't matching up. I had different expectations coming out of school because I went to one of the best schools, and I would have told myself to be more patient and enjoy anonymity and free time to myself to meditate, pray, and study. The doors kept opening for opportunities. I wanted to finish a four-year [university] because something inside me just kept telling me to. I thought I could learn a city and still be protected by the walls of academia. And then I was in AMDA, and I thought about Yale, and I'm not going to lie, I thought it was going to be hard to get in because they like what they like, and I'm a brother, and whatever's whatever, but ultimately a girl I was dating at the time was auditioning for Juilliard, and we were going through something really, really heavy in a bad way—the relationship was coming to an end, but she was auditioning for Juilliard, and I actually auditioned for Yale to best her! [Laughs] That's crazy! I've never met him, but I don't usually freak out meeting people. There's only one person I ever went crazy over: Smokey Robinson. I love the oldies! I have met him about three times, but the first time I ever saw him I was driving down the street, and I yelled, "Smokey! Smokey!" I don't know what came over me! I started flagging my arms and yelling at the top of my lungs. I don't know what happened! On a Date With Empire's Trai Byers: We Talk Costars, Love, and the Audition Story You Must Hear;By JESSICA RADLOFF on October 7, 2015 External links Category:Actors from Kansas Category:Living people Category:1983 births Category:Yale University alumni Category:African Americans