Darrin Lamont Byrd was born in Newark, New Jersey (USA) and studied Fine Arts (Theater) at East Stroudsburg University. He has been performing on stages around the world for over 30 years.
A defining early moment in Darrin’s career came in 1997 with Big River, where his portrayal of Jim earned him a Carbonell Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical—a clear confirmation that he had chosen the right path. That same year, he was cast as Marty in the Dreamgirls National Tour (1997–1998).
Following the tour, Darrin’s career took a life-changing turn when he joined Riverdance: The Show as a soloist, performing on the World Tour, U.S. Tour, and Broadway from 1998 to 2002. This experience reshaped both his artistic direction and his life.
In 2003, Darrin relocated to Hamburg, Germany, to join Disney’s The Lion King. He began as a walking cover for Mufasa and Pumbaa, later assuming the first-cast role of Mufasa from 2007 to 2008, and returning for a second run from 2012 to 2014. During his final month with the production, he produced his first show—a concert version of Dreamgirls.
Since 2015, Darrin has appeared in numerous German State Theatre productions and international engagements, including Ragtime (Braunschweig, Kassel, Graz), Bernstein’s Mass (Lübeck; Münster), Hair (Saarbrücken; Heilbronn), That 70s Show in Concert (Kassel), and as the leading actor in the touring Martin Luther King Choir Musical across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (2022–2024).
In addition to his stage career, Darrin is the founder of the Jazz–Soul–Funk–Fusion quartet SOULDACITY, formed in 2013. The group released its debut album, These Are the Days, in 2018, available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Darrin is also an experienced voice-over artist, with work spanning commercials and television. His latest artistic pursuit is expanding his career into film acting. He is fluent in English, Italian, and German.
