Andre Lyon (Empire)
| Andre Lyon | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Empire character | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Trai Byers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | "Pilot" (1.01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Lee Daniels and Danny Strong | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
CFO of Empire Entertainment President of Empire Xtreme President of Gutter Life Records Former Broker at Stanton & Wallace |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | New York City, New York | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | |
|---|---|
| Stepmother | Anika Calhoun |
| Brothers | |
| Spouse | Rhonda Lyon (2005–2016; deceased) |
| Grandfathers |
|
| Grandmothers | Leah Walker |
| Uncles | Tariq Cousins |
| Aunts |
|
| Nieces and nephews | Bella Lyon |
| First cousins |
|
| Other relatives |
|
Andre Martin Lyon is a fictional character from the American musical drama, Empire on Fox. Portrayed by Trai Byers, Andre is the oldest son of hip-hop mogul Lucious (Terrence Howard) and his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson).
Andre, the college educated executive in the company, is pitted against his two younger brothers, Hakeem Lyon (played by Bryshere Y. Gray) and Jamal (played by Jussie Smollett), for control of the family business after their father's developing illness. He is portrayed as the son with the most business acumen and unlike his younger siblings, does not want to follow in the Lyon family's musical footsteps which creates tensions with Luscious who likes to push him aside.
He is afflicted with bipolar disorder, and is on a spiritual journey to find his identity. He is the one Lyon "son" who chooses business over singing. He is also in an interracial relationship, married to scheming character Rhonda (played by Kaitlin Doubleday). This creates further troubles with his father Lucious who disapproves of the relationship. Rhonda, who is pregnant, falls off the stairs in a horrific accident in the mid-season finale of season two.
On March 10, 2015, it was announced that Trai Byers known for his recurring roles on All My Children and 90210 had been cast in the role of Andre Lyon, the oldest son of Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) described as a "brilliant and compelling guy with a dark side." Byers had several auditions before he booked the role of Andre. When Lee Daniels and Danny Strong created the character of Andre, they agreed that he would suffer from some sort of depression. Co-creator Danny Strong said Byers booked the role "partially by walking in and identifying Andre as lago." Daniels likened Byers to Denzel Washington. "Pure genius" he said of the actor. "He's kind of legitimized [his family]" Byers said of his character Andre. It was his efforts that raised the company to the "Fortune 500" level. Not only is he the "brains behind" their success, but as the oldest child, Andre feels like taking over the company is his "birthright."
...
Wikipedia