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Matthew Morrison

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Matthew Morrison
Morrison at Gaslamp, San Diego
Born
Matthew James Morrison
OccupationActor/Singer
Years active1999–present

Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978) is an American musical theater and television actor and singer. He is best known for starring in multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including his portrayal of Link Larkin in Hairspray on Broadway, and most notably for his Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated role as Will Schuester on the Fox television show Glee (2009–present). He has also received a Satellite Award for this role.

Early life

Morrison was born in Fort Ord, California. The inspiration for his career as an actor came from attending theater camp as a child and acting in school plays and musicals. He was also a soccer/football player and was elected prom king and president of his high school. [2]

He was educated at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) and the Orange County High School of the Arts, while at the Los Alamitos High School campus.[1] While in high school, he did a musical with Jodie Sweetin.[3]

At the early age of 19, he landed a role in a chorus line of the Broadway adaption of Footloose. By sophomore year at college he was a regular performer on Broadway. He states in Details (magazine) "There were all these beautiful, beautiful dancers. As a straight guy I had some room. There were the shared interests in singing and dancing, and I always find dancing with someone very evocative and sexual. I definitely hooked up with a lot of girls when I was a young guy on Broadway. It was exciting. Very joyous and free." Morrison joined a Bible-study group in college, and he lost his virginity at 21.[4]

Career

Morrison's career began when he made his musical theatre debut on Broadway in the musical version of Footloose, followed by a revival of The Rocky Horror Show. However, his big break came when he landed the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway production of John Waters' Hairspray. After performing in the role for some time, he started working in television, guest-starring on shows such as Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, CSI: Miami and Hack. He also had small roles in films such as Marci X, Primary Colors, and Simply Funk. He followed up by performing the role of Sir Harry in the ABC-TV production of Once Upon a Mattress, starring Tracey Ullman and Carol Burnett.

In 2001 Matthew Morrison was recruited to complete the quartet for the band LMNT. He was replaced instead by Jonas Persch by the time their first album was released. He commented in an interview about his experience in the boy band by remarking, "It was the worst year of my life. You know when you're a performer and you're out there on stage and you're embarrassed that you're doing something wrong. It was pretty bad."[5]

In 2002, Morrison starred on the Original Cast of the musical Hairspray as Link Larkin. He would remain in this role until January 2004.[6]

In 2005 Morrison changed gears, playing the role of Fabrizio Nacarelli in Adam Guettel's The Light in the Piazza.[6] He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance.[7] He left the show August 28, 2005.[7]

Morrison joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns as Adam Munson on October 24, 2006,[8] but left abruptly soon after due to a "scheduling conflict," last airing on the soap on November 27.

Morrison appeared in a benefit performance celebrating Andrew Lippa, and the 25th Anniversary of the performing troupe 'The Kids in the Hall' at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California in December 2006. The performance benefited The California Conservatory of the Arts, a non-profit arts education organization focusing on pre-professional training for young students, grades six through twelve, in Orange County, California.

He earned a Drama Desk Nomination for his role in the Off Broadway show 10 Million Miles which ran at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2007. That same year he appeared in two films: Dan in Real Life, followed by Music and Lyrics as Cora Corman's manager.

Morrison was engaged to actress Chrishell Stause.[9]

In 2008, he played Lieutenant Cable in a Lincoln Center production of the musical South Pacific. He left the production at the end of 2008 and in early 2009 returned to California to shoot the first season of Glee.[10]

Morrison plays Will Schuester in the Fox television series Glee, which had its television preview on May 19, 2009. He resumed his role in the show as the series premiered on September 9, 2009. He plays a high school Spanish teacher who takes on the task of restoring the school's glee club to its former glory. Fox has commissioned a second season of the show to air from fall 2010.[11]

In addition, on January 14, 2010, it was announced that Morrison signed a solo record deal with Mercury Records. His first CD is due to be released in February 2011.

On June 16, 2010, Morrison joined Leona Lewis - appearing at London's O2 Arena as part of her world tour - for a one-off performance to sing "Over the Rainbow".

Awards and nominations

2 Wins and 10 nominations

Discography

Albums

Year Album details
2011 Bringing It to the Masses[citation needed]

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US AUS CAN
2007 "One Day More" — — — This Ordinary Thursday - The Songs of Georgia Stitt[12]
2009 "Gold Digger" — 59 — Glee: The Music, Volume 1
"Alone" (Featuring Kristin Chenoweth) 51 94 58
"Bust a Move" 93 — 78
"Thong Song" — — —
"Don't Stand So Close to Me / Young Girl" 64 — 67 Glee: The Music, Volume 2
"Endless Love"(Featuring Lea Michele) 78 — 87
2010 "Like a Virgin" 87 99 83 Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna
"What It Feels Like for a Girl" — — —
"Fire" (Featuring Kristin Chenoweth) 64 — 52 Non-album single
"One Less Bell to Answer / A House Is Not a Home" (Featuring Kristin Chenoweth) 53 — 63 Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers
"Ice Ice Baby" 74 — 43 Non-album single
"Dream On" (Featuring Neil Patrick Harris) 26 91 24 Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers
"Tell Me Something Good" 87 — 81 Non-album single
"Over the Rainbow" (Featuring Mark Salling) 43 42 31 Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals
"Toxic" 16 37 15 Glee: The Music, Volume 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

| align="left"| "Make 'Em Laugh" |- |- |- | Non-album single

Filmography

Film

Year Title Character Notes
2003 Marci X[13] Boyz R Us As Matthew J. Morrison
2005 Once Upon A Mattress Sir Harry
2006 Blinders[14] Scott
2007 Music and Lyrics[15] Ray
Dan in Real Life[16] Policeman
I Think I Love My Wife[17] Salesman #2

TV

Year Show Role Notes
1999 Sex and the City Young Busboy 1 episode
2003 Hack Sam Wagner 1 episode
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Chance Slaughter 1 episode
2007 Ghost Whisperer Matt Sembrook Bad Blood (2007) - 1 episode
2007 CSI: Miami Jesse Stark Bloodline - 1 episode
2008 Numb3rs 2009 Taking Chance[18] Robert Rouse TV movie
2009–present Glee Will Schuester Series regular
Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Nominated-Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Series- Musical or Comedy
Nominated-Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series

References

  1. ^ a b Dirmann, Tina (December 2009). "Matthew Morrison Revealed". Orange Coast. Newport Beach, California: Orange Coast Kommunications: 86. ISSN 027909483. {{cite journal}}: Check |issn= value (help)
  2. ^ Morrison, Matthew. "Biography for Matthew Morrison." The Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com, Web. 6 Feb 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2010/10/18/full-house-reunion-on-glee-jodie-sweetin-john-stamos-mary-kate-olsen-ashley-olsen-matt-morrison-cory-montieth/
  4. ^ Hot For Teacher: Matthew Morrison
  5. ^ BWW, News Desk. "Matthew Morrison Talks GLEE, Upcoming Album, and his 'Worst Year Ever'." Broadwayworld 12 Jan 2010. Web. 1 Feb 2010.
  6. ^ a b Simonson, Robert (January 26, 2005). "Hairspray's Matthew Morrison Joins Cast of Piazza". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  7. ^ a b Simonson, Robert (July 25, 2005). "Matthew Morrison Will Leave Light in the Piazza Aug. 28". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  8. ^ Kroll, Dan J. "Adam Returning Home After 4 Year Absence." Soap Central 1 Oct 2006: Web. 1 Feb 2010.
  9. ^ "[1]." Give a Shout to World Up: Curtain Cutie- Matthew Morrison 14 June 2007
  10. ^ "Cable's Exit Interview Dec 23, 2008"
  11. ^ "Gleeks Rejoice! Fox Picks Up Second Season of "Glee"" (Press release). Fox Broadcasting Company. January 11, 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  12. ^ [2]. This Ordinary Thursday - The Songs of Georgia Stitt @ Amazon.com
  13. ^ Full Cast and Crew for Marci X (2003). The Internet Movie Database. 2010. Web. 9 Feb 2010.
  14. ^ Blinders (2006). The Internet Movie Database. 2010. Web. 9 Feb 2010.
  15. ^ Music and Lyrics (2007). The Internet Movie Database. 2010. Web. 9 Feb 2010.
  16. ^ Full Cast and Crew for Dan in Real Life (2007). The Internet Movie Database. 2010. Web. 9 Feb 2010
  17. ^ Full Cast and Crew for I Think I Love My Wife (2007). The Internet Movie Database. 2010.
  18. ^ Full Cast and Crew for Taking Chance (2009) (TV). The Internet Movie Database. 2010. Web. 9 Feb 2010.

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