SEAN JAMES WILLIAM PARRIS is a Chicago based actor, writer, and teacher. He was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Miami and Georgia. He has worked with Free Street Theatre (FST) as a vocal coach on a few of their shows, and then co-directed his first show in 2019 (M.A.T.A.) in collaboration with FST and the Story Front in Back of the Yards. He has also worked with the Museum of Contemporary Art as a Resident Artist in their SPACE program at CURIE High School. He has taught and directed at DePaul University, he has taught at Vagabond Acting Studio, and has also taught at BlackBox Acting Academy. Some of his Chicago credits include: Space Age (FST, a two-man show created with real-life intimate partner Ricardo Gamoboa); The Wizards (APO Cultural Center, Concrete Content); The Magic Play (Goodman Theatre); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Court Theatre) The Drunken City, Animal Farm, Compass (Steppenwolf); Curve of Departure, The Whipping Man (Northlight Theatre); Seascape (Remy Bumppo); Pornography (Steep Theatre); The Pillowman (AfriCaribe Center). Regional credits: The Magic Play (The Armory and Syracuse Stage). T.V. credits include: Chicago P.D., The Chi, Work In Progress, Brujos, The Emperor of Ocean Park, Dark Matter. Film credits include: Christmas Again. Sean received his MFA from Depaul University’s Theatre School and is a graduate of Black Box Acting Academy in Chicago. He is represented by Paonessa Talent.
Bio as of 7/2026