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Matthew Morrison

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For his self-titled album, see Matthew Morrison (album).
Matthew Morrison
Morrison at a premiere party of Glee in 2009
Born
Matthew James Morrison

(1978-10-30) October 30, 1978 (age 45)
Fort Ord, California, U.S.
Other namesMatt Morrison
Occupation(s)Actor, director, musician, singer-songwriter
Years active1999–present

Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978) is an American actor, dancer, musician, and singer-songwriter. 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 Emmy and Golden Globe 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

Matthew Morrison was born in Fort Ord, California, and raised in Orange County, and is of Scottish heritage.[1] He was part of the Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) and the Orange County High School of the Arts, while at the Los Alamitos High School campus. While in high school, he did a musical with actress Jodie Sweetin.[2] He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for two years before dropping out and joining the Broadway adaptation of Footloose.[3]

By freshman year of college Morrison already was a regular performer on Broadway. He states in Details "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 erotic and sexual. I definitely hooked up with a lot of girls when I was a young guy on Broadway. It was fun, I guess. Very joyous and free."[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 in 2002. His big break came, however, 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, Music and Lyrics, and Simply Funk. He followed up these performances by performing the role of Sir Harry in the ABC-TV production of Once Upon a Mattress, starring Tracey Ullman, Zooey Deschanel and Carol Burnett.

Morrison with Glee co-star Jane Lynch

In 2001, 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." Matthew Morrison also was a member of Buena Park Youth theater. Located at Buena Park[5]

Morrison starred in the Original Cast of the musical Hairspray as Link Larkin from its opening in 2002 through 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.

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.[9]

Morrison plays Will Schuester in the Fox Broadcasting 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. Morrison also appeared in the show's second season. He returned for the third season, which premiered on September 20, 2011.[10] He will be making his directorial debut in the third season's ninth episode.

In addition on January 14, 2010, it was announced that Morrison signed a solo record deal with Mercury Records. His first studio album was released on May 10, 2011. Morrison duets with Elton John on "a medley of 'Mona Lisas and Madhatters' going into 'Rocket Man'".[11] His first single, "Summer Rain", premiered on Ryan Seacrest's website on February 28, 2011.[12] Additionally, a duet of "Over the Rainbow" with Gwyneth Paltrow appears on the self-titled album.[13]

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". Morrison was on the cover of the June 2011 issue of MetroSource.

Morrison (center) with LGBT activist couple Kevin and Don Norte at a PFLAG fundraiser in 2010

In March 2012, Morrison was featured in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play, '8' — a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage — as Paul Katami.[14] The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.[15][16]

Personal life

Morrison became engaged to actress Chrishell Stause on December 9, 2006. Their relationship ended in 2007, less than a year into the engagement.[17]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions
US
[19] 		AUS
[20] 		UK
[21]
Matthew Morrison 24 61 63

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
US AC
[22] 		CAN UK
[23]
2011 "Summer Rain" 16 72 — Matthew Morrison
"Still Got Tonight" — — 182
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Filmography

Source:[citation needed]

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Bob Rizzo's Simply Funk with Suzanne [himself] As Matthew J. Morrison
2003 Marci X Boyz R Us As Matthew J. Morrison
2005 Once Upon A Mattress Sir Harry
2006 Blinders Scott
2007 Music and Lyrics Ray
2007 Dan in Real Life Policeman
2007 I Think I Love My Wife Salesman #2
2011 The Muppets Mahna Mahna Host
2012 What to Expect When You're Expecting Evan
Television
Year Title 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
2006 As the World Turns Adam Munson(#4) October 24 – November 27, 2006
2007 Ghost Whisperer Matt Sembrook Bad Blood (2007) – 8 episodes
2007 CSI: Miami Jesse Stark Bloodline – 1 episode
2008 Numb3rs Officer Blaine Cleary Power – 1 episode
2009 Taking Chance Robert Rouse television film
2009–present Glee Will Schuester Series regular
Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (2009)
Nominated- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Series- Musical or Comedy (2009 & 2010)
Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2010)
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (2010)
Nominated- People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Actor (2011)
Directed season 3, episode 9, "Extraordinary Merry Christmas"
2011 The Cleveland Show Will Schuester (Voice role) Season 2, Episode 11 How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?
2012 Live with Kelly Himself Kelly Ripa's co-host on February 21, 2012

References

  1. ^ 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. ^ "EXCLUSIVE! Will There Be a 'Full House' Reunion On 'Glee?'". Hollywoodlife.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  3. ^ "Matthew Morrison – Music". Ellen.warnerbros.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  4. ^ "Hot for Teacher: Matthew Morrison". Details Magazine. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  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. ^ ""Cable's Exit Interview Dec 23, 2008"". Lct.org. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  10. ^ "Glee club is back in session on the season premiere of Glee" (Press release). Fox Broadcasting Company. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  11. ^ "Elton John Reveals Details on Matthew Morrison's Debut Album". Broadwayworld.com. January 21, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (February 25, 2011). "Listen: 'Glee' Original Songs, 'Loser Like Me' and 'Get It Right,' Debut". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  13. ^ Stack, Tim (March 22, 2011). "Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow to duet on his upcoming album – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  14. ^ "Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison to Join George Clooney in Dustin Lance Black Play '8'". The Wrap thewrap.com. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  15. ^ ""8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  16. ^ "YouTube to broadcast Proposition 8 play live". pinknews.co.uk. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  17. ^ Spaner, Whitney. "Curtain Cutie: Matthew Morrison", Paper, 14 June 2007
  18. ^ "Matthew Morrison Emmy Nominated". Emmys.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  19. ^ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  20. ^ "Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 16 May 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  21. ^ "OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS TOP 100 – 11th June 2011". The Official Charts Company. 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  22. ^ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  23. ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 25.06.2011 (wk24)". Retrieved 2012-02-19.
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