Who Is Tanner Buchanan The Designated Survivor Actor And Is He Gay?

Quick Facts

In less than a decade of making his debut as an actor in the world’s premier entertainment industry, Tanner Buchanan has become one of the recognizable personalities in the business. He has appeared in more than 25 movies and TV shows, including popular titles like Girl Meets World, The Fosters, The Goldbergs, and Designated Survivor.

In the latter he plays Leo Kirkman, the teenage son of the US cabinet member turned president Tom Kirkman as portrayed by the legendary Kiefer Sutherland.

With his career well on the rise, there is plenty worth learning about this future Hollywood star. Check it all out below.

Tanner Buchanan’s Childhood Life

Tanner Buchanan was born on December 8, 1998, in Ottawa, Ohio to parents Steve and Marlona Buchanan. For his kindergarten education, Buchanan was enrolled in Glandorf Elementary where he remained until the fourth grade. He then attended Ottawa’s Center Stage Academy where his multiple talents began to manifest. He played soccer, basketball and baseball, however, his first love was tap dance which he began doing from the age of 5.

His mother Marlona has revealed to the media that the discipline instilled in him from tap dance is what helped him become an exceptional athlete in school as it thought him to keep his focus on the pitch. Additionally, Tanner was also very good with music, playing the guitar and the piano.

His school principal at Glandorf had very nice things to say about him when approached them for an interview about what Buchanan’s early years were like. They are now huge fans of Tanner and anticipate his appearance on shows.

Buchanan sought to go professional with dancing, thus he honed his skills at Starbound Talent in Toledo with Wendi Davis serving as his dance instructor. He began to enter competitions and in no time made it to a national competition in New York where he came second. His impressive performance attracted the attention of managers and agents. However, many of them were interested in grooming him to become an actor rather than a dancer.

Upon the requests of the managers, an ecstatic Marlona relocated with her son to Los Angeles where they began living in a one-bedroom apartment. Despite the relocation, Marlona had only little faith in her son’s Hollywood career, but she was set up for a surprise.

Here’s How His Career Has Grown So Far

Like most aspiring actors, Tanner Buchanan began by doing commercials, one of the most notable ones was one for Pam cooking spray.

According to his Designated Survivor bio on the , Tanner Buchanan’s first TV gig was a pilot episode of Home Grown, but it appears the show never got picked up. Buchanan was first seen in a small role in Modern Family. He then appeared in the TV movies; Untitled Jeff and Jackie Filgo Project (2011) and The Real St. Nick (2012).

Buchanan’s activity increased in 2013 when he had several guest roles in shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Major Crimes, Ghost Ghirls, and The Goldbergs. He returned to the latter in 2018 to portray a different role. Also in 2013, Buchanan made his feature film debut in Jake Squared.

From the year 2015, Buchanan had advanced from mere guest roles to recurring ones. That same year, he made his stage debut in The Power of Duff at the Geffen. His first recurring role to turn heads was Disney’s Girl Meets World. He went on to appear in The Fosters, Game Shakers, and Fuller House.

Over the years, he has earned recognition for notable roles in shows like Cobra Kai, Designated Survivor, and Game Shakers. With appearances in films like Chance, Painted Beauty, and a couple of others lined up for Tanner Buchanan, the sky is the limit for the Ohio-born actor.

Facts About Tanner Buchanan’s Sexuality

Yes, he has portrayed a couple of gay roles but that doesn’t automatically make him gay. Well, Tanner Buchanan himself has never openly addressed his sexuality, but as far as we know, the young lad is straight.

How do we know? He is in love with a girl and is smitten by her. Just read the sweet comments he posts on her photos and those he dedicates to her via his account and we bet you’d catch some love fever.

Her name is Lizzie Broadway and she is an actress. Some of her acting credits include Chicago P.D., Bad Moms, Bones, Shameless, and more. Like Buchanan, Broadway was born in 1998.

Other Interesting Things You Need To Know About Him

As of this writing, Tanner Buchanan still lives with his parents. His dad Steve, a traveling businessman later joined the family in Los Angeles after Buchanan’s career began to pick up.

Buchanan loves LA but he says it is nothing like his hometown of Ottawa, Ohio which he loves for her calm nature. “Everything is so crazy in California,” he once said. He frequently travels there to relax.

Tanner Buchanan’s Height measures 5 feet 8.5 inches (1.76 m).

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.