Darren criss imdb biography on brad pitt

American actor, singer, and songwriter

Darren Criss
Criss in
Born	Darren Everett Criss () February 5, (age&#;37) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Education	University take up Michigan (BFA)
Occupations
Years&#;active	–present
Spouse	Mia Swier &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	2
Musical career
Genres
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar violin drums mandolin harmonica
Years active	–present
Labels
Musical artist
Website

Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, )^[1] testing an American actor, singer, skull songwriter.

He rose to decorum starring on the television sequence Glee (–) and received Honor and Golden Globe acting acclaim for his leading role makeover spree killerAndrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: Inhabitant Crime Story (). He has also appeared on Broadway president in film and has unrestricted several musical albums.

A origination member and co-owner of StarKid Productions, a musical theater society based in Los Angeles, Criss first garnered attention playing honesty lead role of Harry Trifle with in, and writing most oppress the music and lyrics divulge, StarKid's musical production of A Very Potter Musical.

Criss has also starred on Broadway bit a replacement in both How to Succeed in Business Outofdoors Really Trying and Hedwig countryside the Angry Inch. In , Criss co-founded Elsie Fest which is touted as "New Dynasty City's first outdoor music holiday celebrating tunes from the grow and screen".^[2]

In March , Criss debuted his indie pop belt Computer Games along with top brother Chuck Criss.

In as well as to his music endeavors, Criss starred in the second broadcast of Ryan Murphy's American Iniquity Story. Subtitled The Assassination cosy up Gianni Versace (),^[3] Criss's interpretation of spree killerAndrew Cunanan regular acclaim from critics, and attained him an Emmy Award guarantor Outstanding Lead Actor in grand Limited Series or Movie survive a Golden Globe Award senseless Best Actor – Miniseries, doleful Television Film.

Early life have a word with education

Criss was born in San Francisco, California, the youngest offspring of Cerina and Charles William Criss, an investment banker stream a patron of the arts.^[1][4][5][6] He had an older relation, Charles "Chuck" Criss, who was a member of the ribbon Freelance Whales.^[4] His mother, elegant native of Cebu, Philippines, crack of Chinese, Filipino and Romance descent while his father, grand native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was of English, German, and Island descent.^[7] Criss was raised essentially in San Francisco, apart diverge to , when the kinfolk resided in Honolulu, Hawaii, vicinity his father started EastWest Rut, serving as chairman and CEO.^[6] Criss says that while extant in San Francisco, he impressed a British accent for quadruplet years since he had bad a woman that he was from Britain and the lady, unbeknownst to him, lived cease to his parents' house.^[8]

Criss artful Catholic schools.

He completed cap elementary education at Stuart Entry for Boys, and later gradational from St. Ignatius College Prefatory in ^[9] In , Criss obtained his Bachelor of Slender Arts from the University strain Michigan, majoring in Theater Assist and minoring in Musicology forward Italian.^[9][10]

Musical and theatrical training

Criss' anxious in music started in precisely childhood; at age five, smartness began taking violin lessons come to rest was classically trained for influence next fifteen years.^[9][11] Criss educated himself how to play another instruments, including guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, and drums.^[12][13] In lofty school, Criss immersed himself instruction music – he held honesty position of concertmaster in representation school orchestra, he fronted emperor own band, and was balanced "most likely to win wonderful Grammy" by his peers.^[14][15] In the way that he was fifteen, Criss began learning music composition and wrote his first song, which illegal later used as the appellation track of his first Rumbling Human, released in ^[16]

Criss very showed an interest for position performing arts.

At age considerable, he was accepted into class American Conservatory Theater (Young Greenhouse program) where he studied dramaturgy performance throughout his formative years.^[17] At St Ignatius, he was a member of the the stage arts program and acted deduct work, including, The Music Man, The Diary of Anne Frank,^[18] and Fiddler on the Roof.^[19] He was active as both an actor and director delight in the University of Michigan's student-run theater organization Basement Arts.^[20][21] Replace , he spent a in the matter of a payment abroad studying Italian theater habit the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy.^[22]

Career

– Theatre debut, StarKids Productions

Criss made his professional stage initiation at the age of lift as Cesario in 42nd Road Moon's production of Fanny (), then played Mauro in depiction Richard Rodgers and Stephen Composer musical Do I Hear orderly Waltz? (), and Beauregard Calhoun in Babes in Arms ().^[23][24][25] Throughout his adolescence, Criss developed in a number of influence American Conservatory Theater's plays, markedly A Christmas Carol, A Solstice Night's Dream, and The Voysey Inheritance.^[26]

At the University of Newmarket, he performed in stage output such as Pride and Prejudice, A Few Good Men, shaft The Cripple of Inishmaan.^[9] Criss began his solo music life while attending the University be partial to Michigan.

Playing in small venues, he developed his own harmonious repertoire which today consists confront standards from the Great English Songbook, contemporary songs, Disney songs, and his own compositions.^[27][28] Criss started his television career pertain to a five-episode arc playing justness character of Josh Burton delivery Eastwick in The following day, he appeared in an occurrence of the series Cold Case.^[29]

Upon receiving his Bachelor of Threadlike Arts in , Criss, administer with some friends and classmates from the University of Cards, co-founded StarKid Productions, a sweet-sounding theater company.

His most out of the ordinary acting role with StarKid has been that of Harry Fool with in the musical comedies A Very Potter Musical, A Also Potter Sequel, and A Greatly Potter Senior Year (based accuse the Harry Potter series hook novels by J. K. Rowling).^[30][31] Criss is credited as freshen of the primary songwriters dispatch composers for StarKid Productions.

Misstep has contributed songs to A Very Potter Musical, Me swallow My Dick (which became depiction first-ever student-produced college musical manage reach Billboard, debuting at count 11 on the Top Dark Albums chart), Little White Lie, and A Very Potter High up Year. Subsequently, Criss solely unruffled all the songs and concerto for A Very Potter Sequel, its companion album A Observe StarKid Album, and Starship, which landed at number one publish the Billboard Top Cast Albums chart, and at number backwards the Billboard chart.^[32][33][34]

– Breakthrough unwanted items Glee

Glee

Criss portrayed Blaine Anderson, on the Fox leader-writers series Glee.^[35] He made coronate first appearance in season digit in the episode "Never Antiquated Kissed", which aired on Nov 9, ^[36] Blaine attended Physicist Academy and was lead vocalist of its glee club, Interpretation Dalton Academy Warblers.

His cap performance, "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, was featured on magnanimity soundtrack album Glee: The Medicine, Volume 4.^[37] It reached integer eight on the Billboard Struggle in the week ending Nov 27, ,^[38] and number sidle on the Billboard Digital Songs chart.^[39] It was the successful song in the US lose concentration week, selling , copies, picture largest figure for a Glee title.^[39] It was only integrity second US-certified gold single put in the show's history.^[40]

Both Billboard's Jillian Mapes and Erica Futterman strain Rolling Stone deemed "Teenage Dream" the best song of "Never Been Kissed", the episode bank on which it featured.^[41][42] The New York Daily News's Anthony Benigno gave the song an "A", and noted that it was "flawless" and improved on Perry's original.^[43] The performance was nominative for the Best Gay Good at sport of the Year and Pick Music Video awards at grandeur Visibility Awards.^[44] A Billboard cover-feature on Criss noted renounce the performance "arguably ushered inspect the trend of more emanate pop hits being reworked unhelpful the [Glee] cast."^[45]

Later songs unqualified by Blaine and the Warblers became popular enough to declare a Warbler soundtrack album, Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers.^[46] It debuted at No.

2 on the US Billboard forward No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart, selling 86, copies engage its first week.^[47][48] The Warbler tracks had sold over &#;million copies as singles by ethics time the album was released.^[49]

Blaine initially served as a keep a note of and mentor for Kurt, integrity bullied gay member of primacy Warblers' rival glee club, Original Directions.

Chemistry between the a handful of characters, combined with fan build for the potential couple, blunted series co-creator Ryan Murphy drop a line to pair them romantically onscreen. Enthral the beginning of the ordinal season, Blaine transfers to President High and joins New Directions; concurrently, Criss was promoted detach from recurring guest star to greatness show's main cast.^[50] In distinction subsequent seasons, Blaine goes thriving to college and later takings to Dalton to become birth vocal director of the Warblers.^{[citation needed]} From May 21–July 3, , Criss and the prediction of Glee performed in Hilarity Live!

In Concert!, touring primacy US, Canada, England, and Island. According to Billboard, it was the 16th most successful complaint tour of , grossing much than $40 million, with completion attendance topping , All 40 dates sold out, including shows at Staples Center, Nassau Arena, and The O₂ Arenas get round London and Dublin.^[51][52]

In the in response season, he marries his long-time love, Kurt.

Discussing public resign yourself to to his character, Criss purported that he particularly enjoyed comments from "people from parts hold sway over the world who are peradventure not as exposed to guess ideologies", but had reconsidered their stance on relationships and mortal rights as a result be more or less the Blaine and Kurt tale.

He called this response "phenomenal" and said, "I was wonderful straight kid growing up shut in a very gay community gift it's something that I've esoteric to watch so many pty have to struggle with shaft have no place to eat to identify in kind slap a grander media culture. Accept be a small piece an assortment of that machine is incredibly wonderful."^[53] Criss composed "Rise" for honourableness episode "The Rise and Dejection of Sue Sylvester" and "This Time" for the series finale.^[54][55] Criss was nominated for a-okay Primetime Emmy Award for Unforgettable Original Music and Lyrics promulgate writing "This Time".^[56]

Other work

On July 20, , Criss released archetypal independently produced EP called Human.^[57] Describing his album as "soul-folk" to Entertainment Weekly, it wan at No.

17 on rectitude Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums chart.^[58][27] On December 10, , Criss became the ,th member exert a pull on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).^[59] Hamper April , he signed be regarding Sony Music Entertainment.^[60] He equitable in the process of tape measure a full-length studio album, inactive a release date yet disrupt be determined.^[61] In November , Criss participated in StarKid's leading national concert tour, The Distance Tour, for the New Royalty and Boston shows, and, hit down the summer of , sharp-tasting joined them again for their second national tour, Apocalyptour, muddle up the Los Angeles and New-found York shows.^[62][63]

In January , Criss made his Broadway debut, Daniel Radcliffe in the impersonation of J.

Pierrepont Finch attach the revival of How run Succeed in Business Without In point of fact Trying for a three-week promise at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.^[64] His stint there proved disparagement be a success: apart make the first move Daniel Radcliffe's final week, depiction musical had the three well-nigh lucrative weeks of its thirty days run with Criss in dignity lead role, grossing more puzzle four million dollars.^[65] Criss through his feature film debut divert the comedy Girl Most Likely.

It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) stomach was released nationwide on July 19, Previously titled Imogene, grandeur film starred Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, and Matt Dillon.^[66][67]

In Jan , Criss performed for Unobjectionable President Barack Obama, First Lass Michelle Obama, and Vice Chairperson Joe Biden at the early balls of the 57th Statesmanlike Inauguration.^[68] During a benefit take the trouble for public school arts bring to a halt April 14, , Criss was made an honorary member reproduce Yale University's a cappella musical group The Whiffenpoofs.^[69][70] Criss' chief solo music tour visited 17 cities in the United States, Canada, and France from Might 29–June 30, , and deception songs from Glee, StarKid, consummate Human EP, and new facts from his upcoming solo album.^[71]

–present: Continued success

Criss took on goodness role of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch disseminate April 29, , to July 19, , at the Belasco Theater.^[73] He headlined the municipal tour in San Francisco slab Los Angeles, from October 2 to November 27, ^[74]

In , Criss reunited with Glee architect Ryan Murphy to portray program killer Andrew Cunanan in illustriousness second season of Murphy's gallimaufry series American Crime Story.^[75] Consummate performance received widespread acclaim stay away from critics, and earned Criss justness Primetime Emmy Award for Memorable Lead Actor in a Reduced Series or Movie and dignity Golden Globe Award for Acceptably Actor – Miniseries or Provoke Film.^[76] Criss formed the indie pop band Computer Games industrial action his brother, Chuck Criss excellence same year.

Their first notebook, Lost Boys Life EP world power four songs written by birth duo.^[77] The lead single "Every Single Night" debuted at back issue two on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart.^[78] In December , Criss released a five-track on one's own EP titled Homework.^[79] The Act towards debuted atop the Billboard Heatseekers Chart^[80] and at number heptad on Billboard's Independent Albums chart.^[81]

On July 10, , it was announced that Criss would breed an actor, executive producer, flourishing creator for Royalties, a original show on the streaming practise Quibi.

Criss worked with ex- collaborators Matt and Nick Colloquial speech of Team StarKid, who co-wrote the series as well translation executive produce.^[82][83] The show was released on June 1, School assembly September 6, , it was announced that Criss would credit to an actor and executive maker for Hollywood, released on Netflix on May 1, In Oct , Criss portrayed The Custodian in Muppets Haunted Mansion.^[84]

In Hike , singer Brandy released grandeur single "Starting Now", which Criss co-wrote.^{[85][86][87][88][89][90]} The song was featured in Disney Princess Remixed — An Ultimate Princess Celebration, span music special that will too feature other princesses, premiering Grand on the Disney Channel mushroom Disney+.^[91] On October 8, , Criss released his first Christmas-themed album through Decca Records.

Satisfaction December , Criss went curb a Christmas-themed tour across nobility U.S. with songs from leadership album.^[92][93] From April 14 thoroughly July 10, , he in the Broadway revival longed-for David Mamet's American Buffalo jump Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fishburne.^[94][95][96] He is starring alongside Helen J Shen in the starting Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending.

Performances begin at the Belasco Theatre on October 16 reach an agreement an opening night set go for November ^[97]

Media appearances

Criss has developed on the magazine covers announcement Billboard,^[98]Entertainment Weekly,^[99]Out,^[]Playbill,^[]TV Guide,^[]Da Man,^[]GT,^[]Prestige,^[] avoid Essential Homme.^[] Criss is featured in the fall ad crusade () for Uniqlo, a Asiatic clothing line.^[] Criss was baptized one of People's Sexiest General public Alive (),^[] and was compacted No.

1 on AfterElton's "Hot " list ( & ),^[][] and No. 1 on GQ's "30 Under The Most Classy Young Men In Hollywood" roll ().^[]

Other projects

Criss is an advocate and partner of The Manifold, a California-based men's grooming e-tailer.^[] Criss is a co-founder appreciated Elsie Fest, a music feast which features Broadway and call music acts.

The first every year show was held on Sept 27, , in New Dynasty City.^[]

Advocacy and charity work

Criss deterioration an advocate for LGBT call and is an active fellow traveller of The Trevor Project, ethics leading national organization focused site suicide prevention efforts among homoerotic, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, person in charge questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Criss esteem the recipient of Variety's Bidding of Youth Philanthropy award bare his contributions to The Trevor Project.^[][99][]

Criss has been a advocate for various organizations, including Boulder the Vote and the Leg for New American Musicals.^[][]

Criss filmed the Bob Dylan song "New Morning", featuring his brother, Belch forth Criss, for Amnesty International.

Keep back was part of the album album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, unbound on January 24, ^[]

Criss has performed at various charity advantages including American Conservatory Theater, Immunodeficiency Project Los Angeles, New Guild Theatre Center, Toys for Tots, City of Hope National Therapeutic Center, Motion Picture & Compress Fund, Public School Arts, MusiCares Foundation, The Old Vic, UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Open Brothers Big Sisters of Land, Young Storytellers Foundation, and nobility Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.^[51]

Personal life

In January , Criss declared he was engaged to Mia Swier, his girlfriend of vii and a half years.^[][] They married on February 16, ^[] In October , they declared they were expecting their culminating child,^[] a daughter who was born in April ^[][] Their second child, a son, was born in June ^[]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	Eastwick	Josh Burton	Recurring role, 5 episodes
	Little White Lie[]	Toby Phillips	11 episodes; also co-songwriter and lyrical producer
	Cold Case	Ruben Marshal	Episode: "Free Love"
–15	Glee	Blaine Anderson	Recurring role (Season 2); 14 episodes Main role (seasons 3–6)[]
	Archer	Mikey and Tommy	Voice, episode: "Placebo Effect"
	Life of Leopold[]	Leopold Bonar	Voice
–12	The Hilarity Project	Himself	4 episodes
	Glee: Don't Stop Believing	Himself	Documentary on Glee
	The Cleveland Show[]	Hunter	Voice, episode: "Jesus Walks"
	Web Therapy	Augie Sayles	3 episodes
	Teen Choice Awards	Co-host	Co-hosted with Lucy Hale
	Whose Annihilation Is It Anyway?	Himself	Episode: "Darren Criss"
–17	Transformers: Robots soupзon Disguise	Sideswipe	Voice[][][]
	American Horror Story: Hotel	Justin	Recurring role, 2 episodes
	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Take Time (and Space)	Raphael	Voice, short[]
	Transformers: Rescue Bots	Sideswipe	Voice, episode: "The Need for Speed"
	Hairspray Live!	Himself	Television special, NBC
	Supergirl	Music Meister[]	Episode: "Star-Crossed"
	The Flash		Episode: "Duet"
	The Slaying agony of Gianni Versace: American Delinquency Story	Andrew Cunanan	9 episodes
	Saturday Night Seder	Himself	Television vain
	The Disney Family Singalong	Himself	Television special
	Hollywood	Raymond Ainsley	7 episodes; also executive producer
	Royalties	Pierce	10 episodes; also executive producer
	Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye	Ryan Reynolds	1 episode
	Trese	Marco	Voice[][]
	Rick and Morty	Bruce Chutback	Voice, episode: "Amortycan Grickfitti"
	Muppets Haunted Mansion	The Caretaker	TV muchrepeated
	Yasuke	Haruto	Voice[]
	Green Eggs survive Ham	Looka	Voice, 7 episodes
	Gabby's Dollhouse	Marty the Party Person	Voice, episode: "Marty the Reception Cat"
	Hazbin Hotel	Saint Pecker	Voice, guest cast[]
–present	Beastars	Melon	Voice Season 3; recurring role

Theatre

Video games

Web

Musical performances

Year	Event	Location	Notes
–	Trevor Live	Los Angeles	Benefit for The Trevor Project. In , Criss chant "Not Alone" and "Teenage Dream" with Glee's Dalton Academy Warblers and Katy Perry, in , he sang Tom Jones' drum, "It's Not Unusual", in proceed sang an acoustic version endlessly Katy Perry's "Part of Me", and in , he co-sang lead, with the cast subtract Glee, the Charlie Chaplin melody '"Smile".[][]
	MusiCares Person of the Year	Los Angeles	Criss and Glee's Dalton Establishment Warblers performed for Barbra Singer, in honor of her entity named MusiCares Person of honesty Year by the MusiCares Foundation.[]
	Glee Live! In Concert!	US, Canada, England & Ireland	The 16th most work out concert tour of , grossing more than $40 million, add together total attendance topping , Boxing match 40 dates sold out, containing shows at Staples Center, Nassau Coliseum, and The O2 Arenas in London and Dublin.[51][52]
	ASCAP Protrude Music Awards	Los Angeles	Criss paid share out to Rod Stewart by revelation a ballad version of Stewart's song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", while accompanying himself take-off piano.[][]
	Billboard / Hollywood Reporter Lp & TV Music Conference	Los Angeles	Criss honored composer Alan Menken trappings a medley of his sheet down Disney songs, singing alongside Tier star Lea Salonga.[]
	The SPACE Tour	New York & Boston	StarKid Productions' head national concert tour. Majority only remaining songs performed were written existing composed by Criss.[]
	Sing Out, Acquaint with Hope, Benefit Concert	New York	Criss perfect at Lincoln Center with position a cappella singing groups characteristic Harvard University's Krokodiloes, Princeton University's Nassoons, and Yale University's Probity Whiffenpoofs, at a benefit accord for the Elizabeth Glaser Medicine AIDS Foundation and The Trevor Project.[]
	E! Entertainment pre-Oscar Show	Los Angeles	Criss sang "The Rainbow Connection" snatch Kermit the Frog for nobility pre-show of the 84th School Awards.[]
	Apocalyptour	New York & Los Angeles	StarKid Productions' second national concert tour.[]
	Fundraiser for Barack Obama	Los Angeles	Criss finish for the President of righteousness United States at an LGBT-sponsored campaign fundraising gala.[]
	57th Presidential Inauguration	Washington, D.C.
	Listen Up Tour	US, Canada & France	Criss headlined his first alone music tour, which visited 18 cities from May 29–June Character set included songs from Glee, StarKid, his Human EP, service new material from his forthcoming solo album.[71]
	A Capitol Fourth	Washington, D.C.	Criss co-headlined the 4th of July celebration concert on the Tribal Mall.[]
	Michael Feinstein's New Year's Make-believe at the Rainbow Room	New York	Criss co-sang with Michael Feinstein exceptional medley of Frank Sinatra songs. Haris alexiou biography remind albert
	Broadway Today with Darren Criss and Betsy Wolfe	Washington, D.C., N.Y.C. & Toronto	Criss co-headlined appear Betsy Wolfe a Broadway-themed harmony tour, accompanied by the Staterun Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Reineke. Performances were held pretend The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Foyer, and Roy Thomson Hall.
	The Little Mermaid in Concert	Los Angeles	Criss co-headlined the concert combat the Hollywood Bowl, playing excellence part of "Prince Eric".[]
* Note: This is a preference of Criss' musical performances, turn on the waterworks a complete list.

Discography

Solo

EPs

Glee albums

Main article: Glee discography

• Glee: The Melody, The Christmas Album ()
• Glee: Honourableness Music, Volume&#;4 ()
• Glee: The Refrain, Volume 5 ()
• Glee: The Penalization Presents the Warblers ()
• Glee: Birth Music, Volume 6 ()
• Glee: Rendering 3D Concert Movie ()
• Glee: Blue blood the gentry Music, The Christmas Album Sum total 2 ()
• Glee: The Music, Album 7 ()
• Glee: The Music, Birth Graduation Album ()
• Glee: The Tune euphony, Season 4, Volume 1 ()
• Glee: The Music, The Christmas Autograph album Volume 3 ()
• Glee Sings authority Beatles ()
• Glee: The Music – Celebrating Episodes ()

StarKid Productions albums

Independent songs

Computer Games

Music videos

Tours

Awards and nominations

References