Xavier Smalls is an American actor who has built growing recognition through Tyler Perry productions, particularly the Netflix drama Beauty in Black. He plays Angel, a character whose storyline becomes increasingly connected to the Bellarie family and the show’s complicated world of power, ambition, and survival. Netflix’s current cast guide continues to list Smalls as Angel in Season 3, which is now streaming.
Behind that screen success is a less straightforward career story. Smalls grew up in the Sacramento area, explored several academic paths, developed his craft through theater, and trained at New York’s William Esper Studio. Before major acting opportunities arrived, he was working part-time and questioning whether the career he had invested in would work out. His eventual connection with Tyler Perry helped change that trajectory.
Xavier Smalls Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Full name | Xavier Smalls |
| Date of birth | November 7, 1997 |
| Xavier Smalls age | 28 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | California, United States |
| Profession | Actor, director, producer |
| Best known for | Angel in Beauty in Black |
| Major connection | Tyler Perry |
| Acting training | William Esper Studio |
| Known film | Madea’s Destination Wedding |
| Wife | Vanessa Martinez |
IMDb lists November 7, 1997, as Smalls’ birth date, which makes him 28 in September 2026.
Who Is Xavier Smalls?
Xavier Smalls is an actor best known for playing Angel in Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black. The Netflix series has become the most visible part of his career, but his professional background extends beyond television.
His Actors Access résumé includes television, film, short-film, and theater work, showing that his acting career developed through a combination of formal training and stage experience rather than beginning with Netflix.
Smalls’ story is particularly interesting because his breakthrough came after a period when his acting ambitions were under serious financial pressure. In 2025, The Sacramento Bee reported that he had been working part-time at Arden Fair while worrying that the acting career he had invested heavily in might not succeed.
That makes his rise more than a simple overnight-success story. His career reflects the long process of training, auditioning, networking, and continuing to pursue opportunities even when the results were uncertain.
Xavier Smalls’ Early Life and Background
Growing Up in Sacramento
Although IMDb identifies California as his birthplace, Smalls has strong ties to Sacramento and has spoken publicly about his upbringing there. The Sacramento Bee describes him as a Sacramento native and reports that he attended multiple schools in the area, including West Campus, Rosemont, and Foothill in North Highlands.
He was also a three-sport athlete during high school. That athletic background is relevant to his development as a performer because his professional résumé includes a range of physical and performance skills.
Interestingly, Smalls has spoken about how his background gave him flexibility as an actor. Rather than seeing uncertainty about his ethnicity as a limitation, he described it as something that could allow him to portray a broader range of characters.
What Is Xavier Smalls’ Ethnicity?
There is not enough reliable public information to assign a definitive ethnicity to Xavier Smalls. In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, however, he discussed his ability to play characters from different backgrounds and specifically noted that Angel in Beauty in Black is Hispanic.
It is better to avoid presenting speculation about his ethnicity as established fact.
Xavier Smalls’ Education and Acting Training
Smalls did not initially follow a straightforward path into acting.
According to The Sacramento Bee, he first studied biology at Sacramento State and also pursued chemistry before considering business and real estate. Eventually, theater became the direction he wanted to pursue professionally.
That change illustrates an important part of his career: acting was not simply a childhood dream that immediately turned into a profession. He had to make a conscious decision to move away from other academic and career possibilities.
He later studied theater and continued his training at William Esper Studio in New York. His professional résumé lists training in areas including scene study, acting technique, on-camera work, voice, movement, and improvisation.
This formal training became particularly valuable once he began auditioning for more demanding screen roles.
Xavier Smalls’ Journey Before Fame
One of the most overlooked parts of Xavier Smalls’ biography is what happened before Beauty in Black.
After investing significant time and money into acting, Smalls found himself back in Sacramento and working part-time at Arden Fair. In his 2025 interview with The Sacramento Bee, he described that period as a difficult point when he feared his acting career was falling apart.
His fortunes changed after completing work on Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding.
Smalls said Perry spoke with him after filming and recognized that he had recently graduated from acting school. Perry then encouraged him to stay in contact. About a month later, Smalls received a message from Perry asking him to call.
That conversation introduced the possibility of a role in Beauty in Black. Smalls auditioned, and the opportunity ultimately became his best-known television role.
How Xavier Smalls Connected With Tyler Perry
Madea’s Destination Wedding
Before Beauty in Black, Smalls appeared in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding as Zavier.
The film was an important step because it put him directly into Perry’s creative orbit. Netflix’s current Beauty in Black cast guide also identifies Madea’s Destination Wedding as one of Smalls’ previous projects.
That connection proved significant. Rather than being a one-off casting opportunity, the project helped introduce Smalls to a creator who would later give him the role that brought him much wider recognition.
Xavier Smalls as Angel in Beauty in Black
Who Does Xavier Smalls Play in Beauty in Black?
Xavier Smalls plays Angel in Beauty in Black.
Angel is part of the show’s world surrounding Delinda’s Dolls and Dudes and has longstanding connections with Kimmie and Rain. Netflix describes the three characters as people who have known each other since they were young and worked together at the club. Angel’s relationship with Horace eventually pulls him deeper into the Bellarie family’s dangerous world.
As the series progresses, Angel’s position becomes more complicated. Netflix’s Season 3 character guide describes him as being caught between the spotlight of the club and the luxury and danger surrounding the Bellarie mansion.
Why the Role Became Important
Beauty in Black gave Smalls his biggest television platform to date.
The series premiered on Netflix in 2024 and has now reached its third season. Netflix currently lists Smalls among the show’s principal cast, and the platform’s Season 3 material continues to feature Angel.
The show’s success also gave viewers an opportunity to see Smalls beyond his earlier theater and film work.
Xavier Smalls Movies and TV Shows
Smalls’ career includes television, feature-film, short-film, and theater credits.
| Project | Type | Xavier Smalls’ Connection |
| Beauty in Black | Netflix series | Angel |
| Madea’s Destination Wedding | Film | Zavier |
| Shelf Life | Short film | Acting credit |
| Symmetry | Film/short project | Johnny |
| Double Stuff | Short | Caiden |
| Theater productions | Stage | Multiple performance roles |
IMDb currently identifies Smalls as an actor, director, and producer and lists credits including Beauty in Black, Double Stuff, and Symmetry.
Because filmographies can change as new projects are released, readers should distinguish confirmed credits from projects that are merely rumored or announced.
Xavier Smalls’ Theater Background
Before becoming widely recognized through Netflix, Smalls developed experience on stage.
His professional résumé includes theater productions such as Henry V, The Merchant of Venice, She Kills Monsters, A Murder Is Announced, House of Desires, and Pipeline.
That background helps explain why his acting career extends beyond his most recognizable television role. Theater can provide performers with extensive experience in dialogue, character development, movement, timing, and sustained live performance.
For Smalls, those skills became part of the foundation he later brought to screen acting.
Xavier Smalls Age and Birthday
How Old Is Xavier Smalls?
Xavier Smalls was born on November 7, 1997, according to IMDb. He is 28 years old as of September 2026 and will turn 29 on November 7, 2026.
His relatively young age makes his professional development especially notable. He has already moved through theater training, independent projects, Tyler Perry productions, and a major Netflix series.
Who Is Xavier Smalls’ Wife?
Xavier Smalls is married to Vanessa Martinez.
People reported that Smalls and Martinez married in December 2024. The couple has also been covered in articles about the real-life relationships of the Beauty in Black cast.
Older celebrity pages may still describe Martinez as his fiancée, but that information is outdated. Current reporting identifies her as his wife.
Smalls generally keeps his private life less prominent than his professional work, so claims about his family should be based on reputable, current reporting rather than social-media speculation.
What Happened to Xavier Smalls in 2026?
In March 2026, Smalls became the subject of widespread online discussion after a recording from an earlier Instagram Live resurfaced.
The recording, reportedly from February 7, contained controversial comments about LGBTQ+ people and religion. The remarks prompted significant criticism online and generated coverage from entertainment and news publications.
Xavier Smalls’ Apology
Smalls later issued a public apology.
In his statement, he said that he had taken time to listen to other perspectives, including those of friends within the LGBTQ+ community. He acknowledged that the impact of his words was harmful and expressed regret for the pain they caused.
The controversy is an important part of his recent public profile, but it should be considered alongside his broader career rather than used to define his entire biography.
What Is Xavier Smalls Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Smalls remains associated with Beauty in Black, with Netflix’s official Season 3 material continuing to list him as Angel. Season 3 premiered on August 27, 2026, and Netflix says the series has also been renewed for a fourth season.
Netflix’s current Season 3 coverage shows Angel still involved in the show’s ongoing storyline, including his connection to Rain and Horace.
His professional credits also indicate continued activity across film and other screen projects, suggesting that his career is expanding beyond the role that first brought him widespread attention.
Xavier Smalls Career Timeline
| Period | Career Development |
| Early years | Sacramento upbringing and athletics |
| College years | Explored biology, chemistry, business, and real estate |
| Theater training | Developed stage experience |
| New York | Studied at William Esper Studio |
| Early career | Worked on theater and independent screen projects |
| Tyler Perry connection | Appeared in Madea’s Destination Wedding |
| 2024 | Became known as Angel in Beauty in Black |
| 2025 | Greater recognition through Tyler Perry projects |
| 2026 | Continued Beauty in Black while addressing public controversy |
Interesting Facts About Xavier Smalls
- Xavier Smalls was born on November 7, 1997.
- He is 28 years old as of September 2026.
- He has strong professional ties to Sacramento.
- He was a three-sport athlete in high school.
- He explored several academic paths before committing to theater.
- He trained at William Esper Studio in New York.
- He appeared in Madea’s Destination Wedding before Beauty in Black.
- He plays Angel in Beauty in Black.
- He is married to Vanessa Martinez.
- He has continued working in film and television alongside his Netflix role.
Conclusion
Xavier Smalls’ career is a story of persistence as much as recognition. From his Sacramento upbringing and theater training to difficult periods of financial uncertainty, his path eventually led to Tyler Perry’s productions and the breakout role of Angel in Beauty in Black.
At 28, Smalls has already established credits across theater, film, and television. His continued presence in Beauty in Black and other screen projects suggests that his acting career is still developing. While his 2026 controversy became an important part of his public story, his professional journey provides the broader context needed to understand who Xavier Smalls is and how he reached this point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Xavier Smalls
1. Who is Xavier Smalls?
Xavier Smalls is an American actor best known for playing Angel in Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black. He has also appeared in Madea’s Destination Wedding and other film and theater projects.
2. How old is Xavier Smalls?
Xavier Smalls was born November 7, 1997, making him 28 years old as of September 2026.
3. What does Xavier Smalls play in Beauty in Black?
He plays Angel, a character connected to Kimmie, Rain, the club, and the Bellarie family’s complicated world. Netflix continues to list Smalls as Angel in Season 3.
4. What movies has Xavier Smalls appeared in?
One of his most notable film credits is Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding, in which he plays Zavier. His other screen credits include short and independent projects such as Shelf Life, Symmetry, and Double Stuff.
5. Who is Xavier Smalls’ wife?
Xavier Smalls is married to Vanessa Martinez. People reported that they married in December 2024.
6. What happened with Xavier Smalls in 2026?
A recording from a February 2026 Instagram Live resurfaced in March, prompting criticism over comments he made about LGBTQ+ people and religion. Smalls subsequently issued a public apology and said he had reflected on the impact of his words.
7. Is Xavier Smalls still in Beauty in Black?
Yes. Netflix’s official Season 3 cast information continues to list Xavier Smalls as Angel, and Season 3 is currently streaming.
You May Also Read: Vaughan Murrae
