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Tituss Burgess

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Tituss Burgess
Burgess in 2008
Born (1979-02-21) February 21, 1979 (age 45)
Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Georgia (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2005–present
Known for

Tituss Burgess (born February 21, 1979)[1] is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in several Broadway musicals and is known for his high tenor voice. He is best known for starring as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020), for which he received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He was also featured in Schmigadoon! (2023).

On the Broadway stage, Burgess originated the role of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid and played the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls. In 2023, he played the role of Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge![2]

Personal life

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Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Burgess attended Cedar Shoals High School where he was active in the theatre program. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Art degree in music.[3][4][5] Burgess is gay.[6][7] After college, Burgess moved to Orlando, Florida to work at Walt Disney World, where he performed as a vocalist at the Festival of the Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom, earning his actors equity card. [8]

Career

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2005–2014: Broadway debut

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Burgess made his Broadway debut in the musical Good Vibrations as Eddie in 2005, and then appeared in Jersey Boys in 2005 as Hal Miller.[9] Burgess originated the role of Sebastian the Crab in the Broadway musical The Little Mermaid in 2007 opposite Sierra Boggess, Sean Palmer, and Norm Lewis. Burgess portrayed Nicely-Nicely Johnson, traditionally played by a white actor, in the revival of Guys and Dolls in 2009.[9] He has also performed in several regional theater productions, including The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar.[9]

Burgess performed at the "Broadway for Obama" benefit concert at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, Pennsylvania on October 20, 2008.[10] He performed at the "Broadway After Dark" benefit concert on October 26, 2008, in New York City,[11] and in a solo concert at Birdland in New York City on July 27, 2009.[12]

In July 2009, he was a performer on the R Family Vacations Summer Cruise.[13] Three months later, he was featured on an episode of the popular web show The Battery's Down. He appeared in Season 5 of 30 Rock as D'Fwan, a member of Tracy Jordan's wife's entourage. He reprised the role in Season 6.[citation needed] He was cast as The Caterpillar in the 2011 Broadway musical Wonderland in October 2010. A month later he dropped out of the project.[14]

In March 2013, Burgess performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising concert Broadway Backwards.[citation needed] He was cast as The Witch, a role traditionally played by a female, in Into the Woods in a 2015 production by DreamCatcher Theatre, presented in Miami's Carnival Studio Theater at the Adrienne Arsht Center.[15]

2015–2019: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

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On March 6, 2015, Netflix released the first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt which stars Burgess in a main role as Titus Andromedon, Kimmy's roommate. He received universal acclaim for his performance, with The New York Times saying the role was "tailor-made" for him.[16][17] For his performance in the first season, he received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2015 Critics' Choice Television Awards and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2015 ceremony.[citation needed]

In June 2016, Burgess and Norm Lewis reprised their roles of Sebastian the Crab and King Triton in the Hollywood Bowl concert event of The Little Mermaid opposite Sara Bareilles, Rebel Wilson, and Darren Criss.[18] He also took a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie (2016). He also was a guest star judge in the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2017). He also took guest roles in Miracle Workers (2019) and The Good Fight (2019).

2020–present: Return to Broadway

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From 2020 to 2022, he starred in the musical cartoon series Central Park as Cole Tillerman, with Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn and Stanley Tucci.[19] Burgess starred as Remy in a benefit concert presentation of Ratatouille the Musical, an internet meme that originated on TikTok, inspired by the 2007 Disney/Pixar film. It streamed on TodayTix on January 1, 2021.[20] On December 2, 2021, he played Rooster Hannigan in the NBC special Annie Live!.[21]

In 2023, he played the Narrator in the second season of the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon!.[citation needed] From October 10 to December 17, 2023, he returned to Broadway in Moulin Rouge! as Harold Zidler.[citation needed]

Theatre credits

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Date Title Role Venue/Location
October 31, 2003 – February 8, 2004 La Cage aux Folles Jacob Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport, Connecticut
October 5, 2004 – January 16, 2005 Jersey Boys Barry Belson/Hal Miller/Ensemble La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California
February 2 – April 24, 2005 Good Vibrations Eddie Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway[9]
November 6, 2005 – July 31, 2006 Jersey Boys Barry Belson/Hal Miller/Ensemble August Wilson Theatre, Broadway[9]
September 26 – November 26, 2006 The Wiz The Lion La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California[9]
July 26 – September 9, 2007 The Little Mermaid Sebastian the Crab Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver, Colorado[9]
November 3, 2007 – December 7, 2008 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway
March 1 – June 14, 2009 Guys and Dolls Nicely-Nicely Johnson Nederlander Theatre, Broadway[9]
December 8–30, 2012 A Wind in the Willows Christmas Mr. Toad Two River Theater, Red Bank, New Jersey
January 22, 2015 – February 15, 2015 Into the Woods The Witch Arsht Center, Miami, Florida
June 3–6, 2016 The Little Mermaid Sebastian the Crab Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California
January 1, 2021 Ratatouille the Musical Remy Online Benefit Concert
December 2, 2021 Annie Rooster Hannigan Gold Coast Studios, Bethpage, New York
October 10 – December 17, 2023 Moulin Rouge! Harold Zidler Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway
September 30 – October 13, 2024 The Indecisive Warrior Himself Phoenix Arts Club, London, West End

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Are You Joking? Hank Trenton
2016 The Angry Birds Movie Photog (voice)
Catfight John
2017 Smurfs: The Lost Village Vanity Smurf (voice)
2018 Set It Up Creepy Tim
Then Came You Julian
2019 I Hate Kids The Amazing Fabular
Dolemite Is My Name Theodore Toney
The Addams Family Glenn (voice)
2021 Respect James Cleveland
Hot Mess Holiday Himself
2023 The Slumber Party Mesmer
2024 Spellbound The Oracle of the Sun (voice)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Schoolhouse Rock Narrator Episode: "The Rainforest" (Earth Rock series)
The Battery's Down Mr. Z 2 episodes
2011 A Gifted Man Larry the Guard Episode: "In Case of Discomfort"
2011–2012 30 Rock D'Fwan 4 episodes
2012 Blue Bloods Priest Episode: "The Life We Chose"
2013 Royal Pains Kristoff Episode: "Bones to Pick"
2015–2019 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Titus Andromedon Series regular, 52 episodes (seasons 1-4)
2016 Match Game Himself Regular panelist
2016–2018 Elena of Avalor Charoca (voice) 2 episodes
2017 Julie's Greenroom Himself Episode: "Costumer Service"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Himself (Guest Judge) Episode: "Pop Art Ball"
2019 Miracle Workers God's brother Episode: "1 Day"
The Good Fight Wade V. Episode: "The One with the Celebrity Divorce"
2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend Titus Andromedon Netflix television movie
Dishmantled Himself (host) 10 episodes
Sing On! Himself (host) Series regular
2020–2022 Central Park Cole Tillerman, Kelleth Vanbeaceler (voices) Series regular
2021 Annie Live! Rooster Hannigan Television special
Name That Tune Himself Guest
2022 Teletubbies Narrator Series regular (2022 Netflix reboot)
Name That Tune Himself Guest
2023 Schmigadoon! Narrator Season Two Regular
The Wonder Years Lonnie Episode: "One Small Step"
2024 Last Bite Hotel Himself Host

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Grand Theft Auto V Bob Mulét Credited under "The Local Population." Notable voice appearance in WCTR program, "Chakra Attack," as the "Potato Water Guy" in the coconut water discussion.

Discography

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
2008 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical The Little Mermaid Nominated
2015 Webby Award Best Actor Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Won
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Gold Derby TV Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Won
Dorian Award TV Performance of the Year, actor Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2016 Nominated [22]
2017 Nominated
2018 Nominated
2018 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend Nominated
2021 Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Central Park: A Fish Called Snakehead Nominated
2024 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Replacement (Male) Moulin Rouge! The Musical Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Tituss Burgess". Playbill Vault. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. ^ "Tituss Burgess – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". ibdb.com.
  3. ^ "Alumni Spotlight: Tituss Burgess (AB '01)". UGA Alumni Association. February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Bullseye With Jesse Thorn: Titus Burgess". February 1, 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Tituss Burgess Airs His Laundry | Death, Sex & Money". Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Davies, Hannah J. (May 15, 2020). "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Tituss Burgess: 'I'm the most boring of the rainbow of gay men'". The Guardian.
  7. ^ Sayre, Justin Elizabeth (May 10, 2022). From Gay to Z: A Queer Compendium. Chronicle Books. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4521-8387-9.
  8. ^ NPR. Org Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Interivewaccessed 12/09/2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Hill, Anthony D. (November 9, 2018). Historical Dictionary of African American Theater. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-5381-1729-3.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 8, 2008). "Broadway for Obama Concert to Feature Lopez, Burgess, Hicks, Dixon and More". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015.
  11. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 26, 2008). "Broadway After Dark Features Braxton, Burgess, Dandridge, Sengbloh and More Oct. 26". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012.
  12. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 19, 2009). "Guys and Dolls' Burgess to Play Birdland in July". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew (July 11, 2009). "All Aboard!: R Family Vacations Summer Cruise, with McArdle, Burgess, Jackson, Departs July 11". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  14. ^ "Caterpillar Change-Up in Wonderland: E. Clayton Cornelious Replaces Tituss Burgess in New Musical". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "Tituss Burgess Will Be The Witch in Miami Into the Woods; Sondheim Gives Blessing". Playbill. January 6, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  16. ^ Drumming, Neil (March 20, 2015). "Tituss Burgess on a Role Tailor-Made for Him on 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  17. ^ Martin, Michael (March 4, 2015). "Why Tituss Burgess Makes Tina Fey Laugh". Out. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  18. ^ LEASE EVENT: Disney's The Little Mermaid in Concert Archived April 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, hollywoodbowl.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  19. ^ Central Park (Animation, Comedy, Musical), Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn, 20th Century Fox Television, Angry Child Productions, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, May 29, 2020, archived from the original on November 1, 2020, retrieved October 28, 2020{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. ^ "'Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical' All-Star Cast to Include Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess & Adam Lambert". December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  21. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 11, 2021). "Tituss Burgess Joins Cast Of NBC's 'Annie Live!' Musical Event". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  22. ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 12, 2016). "'Carol' Earns Multiple Mentions as Dorian Award Nominees Are Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
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