Damian Terriquez


Damian Terriquez is an American actor best known for their role as Dizmal Failure on the Netflix's Glamorous (TV series). Before acting they were a dancer for Halsey, Dillon Francis and Tiësto. They are currently functioning as an entertainment surrogate for the Harris 2024 presidential campaign.

Early life

Damian Terriquez was born January 24, 1998, in San Diego, California, to Mexican parents and was raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Their family lives primarily still lives Guadalajara and Gusave. Before turning to acting, they were a dancer for Halsey (singer), Dillon Francis and Tiësto.

Education

Damian attended California State University San Marcos and studied abroad at the University of Roehampton in London before eventually transferring and graduating from Woodbury University in 2020. At all three universities they studied marketing and now hold a Bachelor's of Science on the subject. While at Woodbury Damian was inducted to Beta Gamma Sigma, an academic honorary society for high achieving business students. Damian speaks English, Spanish and French.

Career

On October 21, 2016, Damian was a featured dancer in Phillip Chbeeb's dance video for Gregory Porter's Liquid Spirit.
From 2017 to 2018 Damian was featured in concert visuals for Halsey's Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Tour.
During their time in university, Damian auditioned for film and television roles that required dancers and was first exposed to the industry in a significant way during the audition process for Step Up (TV series) in 2019. They also began their career in television working as a crew coordinator on productions for HBOMax and Amazon's Freevee.
Damian began exclusively acting in 2022, and soon landed their first job on All Rise (TV series) playing Shay. The episode aired on July 26, 2022, on the Oprah Winfrey Network. They also briefly appeared as Paolo on That '90s Show opposite Wilmer Valderrama. Shortly after Damian was cast as Dizmal on the Netflix drama Glamorous with Kim Cattrall. On the Netflix series, Terriquez plays Dizmal, is a Bushwick fixture, bouncer, DJ, and Drag Show MC who welcomes Marco to the world of Brooklyn nightlife.

Activism and philanthropy

As a Latiné, first-generation, non-binary, LGBTQIA+ actor, Damian brings an intersectional approach to activism and philanthropy. Damian is an active supporter of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, helping raise funds an awareness on a national and local level. They also advocate for trans and non-binary progress via the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center in Los Angeles, CA. Additional they advocate for the inclusion of more queer voices throughout the entire industry not just in front of the camera, but behind it as well. As a former dancer Damian enjoys going out and supporting the arts including the ballet and musicals. On August 24, 2024 Damian, along with other trans and non-binary activists, led a national march on Washington for trans and non-binary rights and visibility.

Politics

Damian is a Democrat and began working with the Biden/Harris 2024 campaign as an entertainment surrogate starting in May 2024 in lead up to the 2024 presidential election. Since then they have met with Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama. Damian was also seen attending the 25th Annual DNC LGBT Fundraiser in New York City in June 2024 with other high profile democrats. On their tour with the campaign Damian has hosted town halls in California and kickstarting Biden/Harris events in battleground states including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina. When President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential campaign, Damian stayed on as an entertainment surrogate for Vice President Harris' Harris 2024 campaign.

Personal life

Damian is gay and non-binary, using both he/him and they/them pronouns. They have been in a long term relationship with partner and fiancé Luke Lowrey.