Daniel Franzese partners with Fetch
4 years ago
United States Daniel Franzese is an actor, comedian, and activist recognized for his impactful roles in film and television, and for his advocacy for LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS rights.
Daniel Franzese collaborated with ONE BONE, a brand specializing in big and tall apparel, to release a super limited edition t-shirt. He also discussed the fit of ONE BONE and shopping issues in their podcast.
Daniel Franzese appeared in multiple 'Mean Girls'-themed Black Friday Deals commercials for Walmart, reprising his role as Damian Leigh alongside original cast members. These commercials included 'Jingle Bell Rockin'' and 'Cady's Wednesday'.
Danny spoke about his partnership with Big Fig, a mattress company that designs products specifically for bigger individuals, addressing issues such as shopping for plus-size items.
In partnership with Lonely Whale and Bacardi, Daniel Franzese supported the #thefuturedoesntsuck campaign in March 2019. This initiative aimed to persuade the Unicode Consortium to remove single-use plastic straws from drink emojis, highlighting their danger to marine wildlife and advocating against ocean pollution.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, on May 9, 1978, and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Daniel Franzese is an Italian American actor and comedian. He gained early recognition for his roles in films such as Larry Clark’s drama “Bully” (2001) and Tina Fey’s hit comedy “Mean Girls” (2004), where he played the character Damian Leigh. His portrayal of Damian in “Mean Girls” became influential, cementing his status as a gay icon for many. Following his public coming out in 2014, Franzese spoke about the challenges he faced in Hollywood as an openly gay actor.
Franzese continued to build his career through various projects. He developed viral comedy series like “Sh*t Italian Moms Say” and a parody of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” titled “Please Go Home,” which garnered millions of views. He also maintained an active presence in television with guest roles on shows including “S.W.A.T,” “Party Down,” “CSI,” “Burn Notice,” and “The Comeback.” On stage, he co-wrote and starred in the award-winning rock opera “Jersey Shoresical: A Frickin’ Rock Opera,” which played both Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles for a year. A significant turning point in his career came with his role as Eddie, an HIV-positive character, in HBO’s series “Looking” (2015) and its subsequent television film “Looking: The Movie” (2016). This role propelled him into activism, leading him to become an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, LGBTQIA+ rights, homeless queer youth, and banning conversion therapy.
Beyond acting and activism, Franzese has established himself as a stand-up comedian, touring the country with his show “Yass! You’re Amazing!” and hosting LGBTQ stand-up events. He also became one of the few signed plus-size male models with Bridge Models UK, championing body positivity. He starred as Vern in Freeform’s “Recovery Road” and as Jackson in ABC’s “Conviction” (2016-2017). Most recently, he launched his podcast “Yass, Jesus!” which explores Christianity through an LGBTQIA+ lens. In 2023, he reprised his role as Damian Leigh in Walmart’s “Black Friday Deals” commercials, reuniting with other “Mean Girls” cast members.
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