Danny Woodburn

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT DANNY WOODBURN

Danny Woodburn is a celebrated actor with more than 150 TV appearances and 30 films to date, renowned for his work in disability activism. For the last 20 years he has helped lead the changes happening today in the industry.“Disability can be defined, people with disability cannot” – Danny WoodburnPeople with Disability (PWD) make up a quarter of the population over 56 million and in the US who also have a 70% unemployment rate.In film and TV PWD have closer to a 98% unemployment rate.Any change you see happening for disability representation over the last 20 years you can assume Danny had a hand in it, working with networks, studios and industry organizations AMPTP, AMPAS, ATAS.Appearances on more than 150 Television Shows — Seinfeld, Bones, Crash and Bernstein, Tracey Takes On, Charmed, Becker, Conan, Baywatch, Murder She Wrote, Bold & BeautifulMore than 30 Films — TMNT, Mirror Mirror, Watchmen, Death to Smoochy, Jingle All the Way10 Stage productions16 Commercials25 years as a stand-up comic with more than 1500 performances.Advocacy Speaking (See List in Self Employed Section)HIGHLIGHTSIn the SAG / AMPTP 2010 negotiations, he helped bring about the contracted SAG-AFTRA / AMPTP Disability Task Force to help shape the future of disability authenticity in casting and access to work opportunity.In 2016 Danny co-wrote and presented the Ruderman Foundation’s White Paper on Employment of people with Disability in TV.In 2019 helped get CBS to sign a commitment to audition and cast more people with disability.This year NBC signed that same agreement. In 2021, after much conversation, we saw the AMPAS enforce new more inclusive parameters for academy recognition.Fought against NY state tax incentive laws that purposely excluded disabilityWorked with USC’s Prof. Stacy Smith on the 2016 Studies on disability representation on film During the pandemic, Danny has been producing the Shorty Award Finalist and Audience Award Winner ADA Lead On online event series that employs and creates opportunity for performers and technicians with disability in front of and behind the camera / keyboard.TCM Projected Image—study in disability on film throughout historySAG/AFTRA PWD Committee co-vice chairReelAbilities Film Festival advisory committeeNational Disability Theater Company Advisory CommitteeRuderman Family Foundation International Disability Advisory Committee