Marquise Vilson

Marquise Vilsón is an Marquise Vilsón is a New York Native, by way of the Bronx, actor and activist of trans experience. He recently starred on the CW series TOM SWIFT as Isaac Vega; a trans, pansexual badass who is Tom’s bodyguard and right-hand man.  Marquise was first introduced to TV audiences when he guest-starred in the critically acclaimed episode of LAW & ORDER: SVU, titled Service, addressing the issues faced by transgender military service members (GLAAD Award Nomination). Other TV credits include QUANTUM LEAP, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (recurring), BULL, THE BLACKLIST, TALES OF THE CITY and BLINDSPOT (recurring).   Film credits include THE KITCHEN, BEN IS BACK, B-BOY BLUES and the upcoming THE LOST HOLIDAY. Marquise made his New York stage debut Off-Broadway as Beta in MCC Theatre’s CHARM.

In the FX docuseries PRIDE (2021)  Marquise lends his voice by sharing his experiences of Black trans masculine visibility in its infancy, during 1990’s culture wars, with the Oscar Award winning Yance Ford. Additionally, Vilsón served as a creative consultant and was featured in the Netflix documentary film DISCLOSURE (Sundance Film Festival 2019), executive produced by Laverne Cox and directed by Sam Feder and was also a subject in the documentary film NO ORDINARY MAN (Toronto Film Festival, 2020), co-directed by Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt.

As a young queer and trans person, Marquise was featured in the documentary film The Aggressives (2005), which explored his personal journey and some of his ball walking experience as a then ballroom ‘star’, just entering the fashion/modeling world. A long standing member and participant of the underground ballroom scene, Marquise is a force and well-respected leader in the ballroom community, having walked numerous categories over the last two (2) plus decades and is a known staple within the ballroom community.

Marquise Vilsón has been acknowledged by his ballroom chosen family and the non-profit sector for his visibility and community work. Marquise has been awarded with the Eric Christian Bazaar Award, Octavia St. Laurent Trans Activist Award, the Masquerade Blue Print Award and has been deemed a Trans man ICON and inducted into the Dorian Corey Hall of Fame for his contributions over the last 28 years within the ballroom community’. As one of the earlier images of Black trans masculinity in fashion/film/media/pop culture and activist/advocacy spaces, Marquise continues to unapologetically hold both his Blackness and Transness up with dignity, honor, pride, swagger and self-respect. Providing authentic representation for Black trans masculine folks for more than 20 years.