Trai Byers Biography: Wife, Age, Parents, Movies, Twins, Net Worth, Family, TV Shows, Kids

Biography

Trai Byers (born July 19, 1983, in Kansas City, Kansas) is a celebrated American actor and writer best known for his starring role as Andre Lyon in the hit Fox musical drama series Empire (2015–2020).

He gained early recognition for his portrayal of civil rights activist James Forman in Ava DuVernay‘s acclaimed film Selma (2014). Other notable credits include the historical drama The 24th (2020), which he also co-wrote and produced.

Byers, who began his career in 2009 with television guest roles, has been married to actress Grace Gealey (his Empire co-star) since 2016, and they have one child. He continues to work as an actor, storyteller, and advocate for faith and purpose.

American actor
Trai Byers
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Trai Byers
Born:	19 July 1983 (age 42 years old)
Place of Birth:	Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Yale School of Drama, University of Kansas, Andrew College
Height:	187 cm
Parents:	Michelle Byers
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Grace Byers (m. 2016)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	1
Occupation:	Actor • Writer
Net Worth:	$1.5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Trai Byers was born on July 19, 1983, in Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

He is African American, with the surname Byers tracing its roots to Scottish and English origins, often linked to a topographic name for someone living near a cattle shed or a habitational reference to places in Scotland and northern England.

Raised in a military family, his father served in the United States Air Force, leading to frequent relocations during his childhood, including time spent abroad—such as in the Philippines—and across various U.S. states, before the family settled in Georgia for a period, where he completed high school.

His mother, Michelle Byers, has been noted for her support and later for her own pursuits as a student. Byers grew up in a Christian household, embracing a deep and personal faith that has remained central to his life and decisions, including his approach to acting and storytelling.

Details about siblings are scarce, though he has referenced having sisters in passing during discussions of his early baptisms and family moves tied to his father’s service.

This upbringing in a faith-centered, mobile military environment shaped his resilience and purpose-driven outlook, laying the groundwork for his education in theater and communications at institutions such as Andrew College, the University of Kansas, AMDA, and the Yale School of Drama.

Career

Trai Byers began his acting career after earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. He started out in smaller projects, including the 2009 comedy-horror film Caesar and Otto’s Summer Camp Massacre.

Byers gained experience in guest and recurring roles on TV, including All My Children in 2011 and 90210 in 2012, and appeared in independent films such as Destination Planet Negro (2013) and Jayhawkers (2014).

His big break came in 2014, when he played civil rights activist James Forman in Ava DuVernay‘s film Selma, which earned him praise for his performance in the Oscar-nominated movie about the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. This role helped raise his profile.

In 2015, Byers took on his most well-known role as Andre Lyon, the eldest son and CFO of a hip-hop family, in the Fox series Empire. He played a character dealing with bipolar disorder, ambition, and family issues, acting alongside Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in all 102 episodes over six seasons.

Empire became a hit show, mixing drama and original music, and established Byers as a leading TV actor. After the Empire, Byers took on new creative roles.

In 2020, he starred in, co-wrote, and produced The 24th, a historical drama about the 1919 Houston riot and the largest court-martial in U.S. history. The film was praised for its story and performances.

Byers made his Broadway debut in 2022 in the revival of August Wilson‘s The Piano Lesson, playing Avery. In 2023, he guest-starred in the Prime Video series Harlem (Season 2) with his wife, Grace Byers.

Recently, he appeared in the 2025 TV movie Wife Stalker as Leo and continues to work as an actor, writer, and producer, focusing on projects that reflect his values of faith and purposeful storytelling.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Trai Byers
• IMDb: Trai Byers
• Instagram: Traí Byers (@traibyers)

Personal Life

Trai Byers, born on July 19, 1983, is 42 years old.

He stands at 6 feet 1½ inches (187 cm) tall, a height that has contributed to his strong on-screen presence in dramatic roles.

Byers has been married once, to actress Grace Byers (née Gealey), since April 14, 2016. The couple met on the set of Empire, where their on-screen rivalry blossomed into a real-life romance.

They began dating in 2015, got engaged that summer, and wed in an intimate beachside ceremony on Grand Cayman Island.

In 2022, they announced they were expecting their first child, and Grace gave birth to a son in 2023 (coinciding with their wedding anniversary celebrations). The couple has kept their family life private, sharing only occasional glimpses while prioritizing faith and purpose in their household. As of 2026, they have one child.

Net Worth

Trai Byers has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, according to multiple sources.

This figure has remained consistent in reports from recent years (up through 2023–2025), primarily stemming from his prominent role as Andre Lyon across all six seasons of the Fox series Empire (2015–2020), where he earned around $125,000 per episode in later seasons, according to earlier cast salary breakdowns.

Additional income comes from film roles like Selma (2014) and The 24th (2020, which he also co-wrote and produced), stage work, including his 2022 Broadway debut in The Piano Lesson, and occasional guest appearances.

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