People

Bryan Tanaka Steps Out from Behind the Scenes into the Spotlight
By Kelli Luu | 19 Apr, 2026

Before stepping into the Netflix spotlight as an actor, the Japanese American built his career as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand choreographers and creative directors.

Before making headlines with his appearance on a hit Netflix series, Bryan Tanaka was already one of Hollywood’s most in-demand figures. 

He was born in 1983 in Washington to a Japanese father and American mother.  He began his professional dance career during the mid-2000s and got his big break at just 21 years old when he received the opportunity to perform on tour with Destiny’s Child. This exposure allowed him to score appearances in other major artists’ music videos such as Nelly Furtado’s “Maneater”.  

From there, Tanaka became the industry’s go-to dancer as he went on to work with stars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez. Most notably, he stepped in as a creative mind for Mariah Carey’s The Adventures of Mimi’ Tour in 2006, marking a long standing professional relationship with the singer. 

He performed on music’s biggest stages and was even nominated for the Best Choreography award at the 2010 Video Music Awards for his work on Beyoncé’s “Video Phone”. Along with being Hollywood’s most popular choreographer, Tanaka worked as an actor and model who was featured in campaigns with Nike, Pepsi, and McDonald’s. 

In the mid-2010s, Tanaka’s face became even more familiar as his professional relationship with Mariah Carey turned into a romantic one. The two began dating in 2016, but later split after being together for seven years. 

More recently, Bryan Tanaka has stepped into a new chapter in his acting career with a recurring role in Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black. The show broke the platform’s streaming charts after receiving over 1.35 billion minutes viewed during its peak week at number 1 in Top Shows. In the series, Tanaka plays Officer Alex, a Chicago cop who gets caught up in the Bellaire family’s chaotic and often illegal dealings. 

Over the years Tanaka has proven his versatility. As he continues to take on acting roles, it is clear that he has more talent to showcase beyond dance and choreography. From live stages to scripted television, Bryan Tanaka has shown himself to be a triple-threat talent as he navigates Hollywood on his own terms.