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Daniel Franzese

Daniel Franzese

Keynote Speaker: Actor Best Known for "Mean Girls"

Daniel Franzese Biography

Activism and art go hand-in-hand for Daniel Franzese. He has committed his life to both in equal measure. Initially, he made history by originating the classic role of Damian in Mean Girls. The character stood out as the first plus-size open LGBTQ character in mainstream culture way back in 2004. It also paved the way for a series of artistic breakthroughs for Franzese, spanning his stint as the boundary-breaking HIV-positive Eddie in HBO’s "Looking" and his successful "YASS! You’re Amazing!" two-year comedy tour—which gave much-needed LGBTQ representation in the world of standup comedy. In 2020, he joins "RuPaul’s DragRace" on VH1 as a guest judge, furthering his role as a proud champion for the community. Meanwhile, he remains a staunch supporter and active pillar of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As a child, he identified the power of his voice, setting the stage for him to emerge as a confident body-positive voice for entertainers in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

“Very early on, I learned I could bring people joy by entertainment,” he recalls. “I used laughter to battle everything I dealt with growing up. When I came out of the closet, it allowed me to be fully authentic, and authenticity is exactly what you need to be a comic. For the first time in my career, I feel like I’m being who I’m supposed to be. This is the real version of me.”

He quietly worked towards unveiling this version. After booking his first commercial in second grade, Franzese committed himself to acting. He often visited a local Barnes & Noble and “bought a coffee just to read all of the books in the acting section.” Graduating from high school in Florida, he caught his first big break with a role in Larry Clark’s cult classic Bully followed by Party Monster in 2003, and the critically acclaimed Mean Girls where he lit up the screen a year later. The blockbuster emerged as a cultural force and accelerated Franzese’s career. Relocating to Los Angeles, he appeared in everything from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster War of the Worlds to the critically acclaimed remake of I Spit On Your Grave. He wrote and created his own rock opera, JERSEY SHORESICAL: A FRICKIN ROCK OPERA! Following its premiere at The Fringe Festival on the East Coast, it ran at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles. In its wake, he launched the one-man Off-Broadway show "I’ve Never Really Made the Kinda Money to Become a Mess" and achieved viral success with the YouTube series "Shit Italian Moms Say," viewed over 10 million times.

In 2015, he joined the cast of "Looking" for the duration of the second season as well as Looking: The Movie. Depicting the first HIV-positive character on scripted television in a decade, Entertainment Weekly christened Eddie as “such a modern version of someone living with HIV” and “very groundbreaking.” Around the same time, Franzese became an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As part of his activism, he implored Hollywood to spotlight the stories of characters living with HIV and AIDs, presenting a media playbook to MSNBC in tandem with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and GLAAD. 2016 saw him star in ten episodes of "Recovery Road" on Freeform followed by yet another series lead playing the role of Jackson Morrison on ABC’s "Conviction." While filming the latter in Toronto, he immersed himself in standup by regular performances at The Second City. This paved the way for the "YASS You’re Amazing!" tour. Not only did he pack clubs, theaters, and colleges, but he also built a platform for up-and-coming comedians to shine such as Anthony Desamito, Nicky Paris, Katie Molinaro, and many others.

With more tours and roles on the horizon as well as increased activism for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and launch of his YASS! Jesus! podcast, he continues to empower and unite.

“I like to unify audiences,” he leaves off. “I try to create something where everyone can be involved. I endeavor to be a people curator and bring everyone together.”

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Daniel Franzese and other top speakers and celebrities.

Daniel Franzese Videos

I was fired today for being gay...
Daniel Franzese On The 15th Anniversary Of "Mean Girls" & More ...
Behind The Scenes Of Daniel Franzese's “Sh*t Italian Moms Say ...

How do I book Daniel Franzese to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Daniel Franzese for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Daniel Franzese, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Daniel Franzese or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Daniel Franzese for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Daniel Franzese, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Daniel Franzese, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Daniel Franzese speak about?

Daniel Franzese is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Acting, LGBTQ, Literary, Entertainers, Celebrity, Television & Film, College, Diversity, Culture, Civil Rights, Fitness, Personal Growth, Mental Health and Entertainment.

Who is the agent for Daniel Franzese?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Daniel Franzese for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Daniel Franzese for your next private or corporate function.

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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Daniel Franzese or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Daniel Franzese is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Acting Speakers, LGBTQ and Literary. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Daniel Franzese can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Geena Rocero, Chris Mosier and Shane Ortega. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Daniel Franzese for an upcoming event.

Daniel Franzese Videos

I was fired today for being gay...
Daniel Franzese On The 15th Anniversary Of "Mean Girls" & More ...
Behind The Scenes Of Daniel Franzese's “Sh*t Italian Moms Say ...
Daniel Franzese's Hollywood Encounter Starring His Mom and Ryan ...
Mean Girls Actor Daniel Franzese Speaks Out About Being Harassed

Daniel Franzese Reviews

  • TIBCO Software, Inc. - Jun 30 2022

  • This was a great experience, especially given our shorter time frame for turnaround! Annie was the absolute BEST to work with.
    Duquesne University Program Council - Apr 06 2022

  • I am so appreciative of the relationship I've built with All American Entertainment. The AAE team is wonderful to work with and they make the entire process as seamless as possible. Each year our audience tells me that our speaker outdid the one from the year prior. That's the result I hope for. It's safe to say our event wouldn't be possible without All American Entertainment. Thanks for all you do!
    Vincennes University - Sep 24 2018

Daniel Franzese News

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