Andrew Rannells

Andrew Rannells
Rannells at the PaleyFest 2015
Born Andrew Scott Rannells
(1978-08-23) August 23, 1978
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Residence New York City, New York, United States
Education Creighton Preparatory School
Alma mater Marymount Manhattan College
Occupation Actor, voice actor, singer
Years active 1995–present
Known for Elder Price,
The Book of Mormon, Whizzer Brown
Falsettos, James
Pokémon Live!
Television The New Normal
Girls
Awards Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
The Book of Mormon

Andrew Scott Rannells (born August 23, 1978) is an American actor, voice actor, and singer.

Rannells was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as Elder Price in the 2011 Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. As a featured soloist on the musical's original Broadway cast recording, he won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. He received his second Tony nomination in 2017 for his performance as Whizzer in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos. Other Broadway credits include Hairspray, Hamilton, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jersey Boys, and The Boys in the Band.

Early life

Rannells was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Charlotte and Ronald Rannells.[1] He is the fourth of five siblings, with three sisters and an older brother.[1][2]

Rannells attended Our Lady of Lourdes grade school and then Creighton Preparatory School,[1] an all-boys Roman Catholic school in Omaha.[2][3] His family lived in the Hanscom Park neighborhood in Omaha.[1]

As a child, he took classes at the Emmy Gifford Children's Theater and performed at the Omaha Community Playhouse and the Firehouse Dinner Theatre and the Dundee Dinner Theatre.[1][4]

Rannells was 11 when he did his first play. He did community theater with fellow Omahan and Creighton Prep alumnus Conor Oberst.[5] He did voice-over work and commercials, including a 1996 Grease spoof with Amy Adams.[2]

Rannells moved to New York City in 1997 after high school, studying theater at Marymount Manhattan College for two years before he started auditioning full-time and was landing roles.[6]

Career

For about three years, from 2001–04, he worked with 4Kids Entertainment, a New York City animation production company, where his Omaha voice-over work served him well. He also directed a small number of video games, "Kirby" and "Sonic the Hedgehog."[1]

As a voice actor, Rannells appeared in several 4Kids and DiC television programs and video games, such as Yu-Gi-Oh![5]

Before winning his first Broadway role, Rannells had parts in a number of regional theater productions, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Miss Saigon, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.[7]

For his turn as Hedwig at the Zachary Scott Theater Center in Austin, Texas in 2002,[8] he was nominated for and won for best actor in a musical at the B. Iden Payne Awards in September 2002, which honor outstanding achievements in Austin theater.[9]

In 2006, he won the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway production of Hairspray.[10] This was his first Broadway show, what he considers his big break. Rannells followed this with some regional performances.[2]

Rannells in 2009

Rannells played Bob Gaudio in the First National Tour of Jersey Boys. His last performance with the tour was on December 6, 2008, in Toronto. In January 2009, he reprised the role of Gaudio in the musical's Broadway production.

Rannells originated the role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, a musical written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez. For his performance, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for his performance in the musical's Original Broadway Cast Recording. His last performance was June 10, 2012.[11]

Rannells played a stripper in the 2012 film Bachelorette[12] and played a lead character, Bryan Collins, in the 2012-13 television series The New Normal.[13][14]

Rannells played the recurring role of Elijah on the HBO television series Girls.[15]

Rannells temporarily replaced Jonathan Groff in the role of King George III in Hamilton on Broadway from October 27 to November 29, 2015, while Groff fulfilled pre-arranged filming commitments.[16]

Rannells played the role of "Whizzer Brown" in the Broadway revival of Falsettos directed by James Lapine. He was joined by Christian Borle and Stephanie J. Block who played Marvin and Trina, respectively.[17] The musical ran from October 27, 2016 (with previews beginning September 29) to January 8, 2017.[18][19]

Personal life

Rannells is openly gay.[20] Rannells has said he knew he was gay since high school.[2] He came out to his family when he was 18, but by then they had already figured it out.[21] He also came out to his theater friends but not at his all-boys Catholic school.[2] He lives in New York City after temporarily relocating to Los Angeles to film The New Normal.[2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Sex and the City 2Wedding Chorus
2012BacheloretteManny
2015The InternCameron
2016Why Him?Blaine Pederman
2018A Simple FavorDarren

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995–97Street SharksStreex, Shrimp Louie (voices)Lead role
1999Archie's Weird MysteriesArchie Andrews (voice)Lead role
2000Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel MonstersMako Tsunami, Noah Kaiba, Leon von Schroeder/Leon Wilson (voices: English dub)Recurring roles
2001CubixConnorLead role
2001Shaman KingLen Tao (voice, English dub)Lead role
2002Ultimate Muscle Additional voicesRecurring role
2002Knight Hunters Eternity Toudou Hijiri
2002Tokyo Mew MewDren, Wesley J. Coolridge III (voices: English dub)Lead role
2002Liberty's KidsAlexander Hamilton (voice)Guest role
2003Sonic XNarrator, additional voicesRecurring role
2003Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesAdditional voicesRecurring role
2004One PieceYoung Roronoa Zoro (voice, 4Kids English dub)Guest role
2005Yu-Gi-Oh! GXWheeler the Chimpanzee, Belowski, Additional voicesRecurring role
2012–17GirlsElijah KrantzRecurring role (season 1–3)
Main role (season 4–6)
2012–13The New NormalBryan CollinsLead role
2013Comedy Bang! Bang!Quinn AbernathyEpisode: "Clark Gregg Wears a Navy Blazer & White Collared Shirt"
2013–14How I Met Your MotherDarren2 episodes
2015GleeHimselfEpisode: "Dreams Come True"
2015The KnickFrazier H. Wingo4 episodes
2016The SimpsonsHimself (voice)Episode: "How Lisa Got Her Marge Back"
2016Another PeriodBertram Harrison Fusselforth VII3 episodes
2016Sofia the FirstMorris (voice)Episode: "Beauty Is the Beast"
2016Drunk HistoryJohn A. RoeblingEpisode: "Landmarks"
2017–18 Welcome to the Wayne Andrei (voice) 4 episodes
2017 Big Mouth Matthew (voice) 8 episodes
2017 Vampirina King Peppy (voice) Episode: "The Plant Predicament/Mummy Mayhem"
2017 Will & Grace Reggie Episode: "Grandpa Jack"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself, Guest Judge Episode 8 (season 10)[22]
2019Black MondayBlair ShmermanMain role

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2004Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monster ColiseumMako Tsunami
2005Shadow the Hedgehog[23]various
2006BullyBif Taylor
2016Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel LinksMako Tsunami

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000–01Pokémon Live!JamesBaritone/Tenor
2005HairsprayFender, Link LarkinReplacement roles[24]
2006The 60's ProjectPerformerChester, CT (Regional): World Premiere
2007Jersey BoysBob GaudioUS Tour: 1st National Tour, replacement role[25]
2010Lysistrata JonesMichelangelo "Mick" JacksonOriginated role[26]
2011The Book of MormonElder Kevin PriceOriginated role
2014Hedwig and the Angry InchHedwigReplacement
2015HamiltonKing George IIITemporary five-week replacement
2016FalsettosWhizzer BrownBroadway revival
2018The Boys in the BandLarry[27]Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2011 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical The Book of Mormon Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2012 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Won
2013 OFTA Award Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Girls Nominated
Gold Derby Awards Best Comedy Guest Actor Nominated
Dorian Awards Rising Star Nominated
2014 Gold Derby Award Best Comedy Guest Actor Girls Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Nominated
2015 Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Replacement (Male) Hedwig and the Angry Inch Nominated
2016 Hamilton Nominated
2017 Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical Falsettos Won
Tony Award Best Performance by Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fischbach, Bob (May 1, 2011). "He has drive — and now Broadway". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taylor, Aisha (February 11, 2014). "girl on guy 126: andrew rannells" (audio podcast). girl on guy. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ Miller, Bruce R. (2011). "'Nebraska native finds stardom in 'Book of Mormon'". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ Francke, Warren (September 9, 2012). "Omaha's Andy Now in New Normal: Oompa-Loompa Before Mormon Missionary". The Reader (Omaha). Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 Rapkin, Mickey (June 9, 2011). "Q&A: The Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells". GQ. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  6. ↑ Yi, David (June 9, 2011). "'The Book of Mormon' star Andrew Rannells: college dropout turned actor gets suited up for the Tonys". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ Broadway.com Staff (December 30, 2008). "Andrew Rannells Tapped to Play Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys". Broadway Buzz. Broadway.com. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Hedwig and the Angry Inch".
  9. ↑ Faires, Robert (October 4, 2002). "Articulations". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ Truitt, Brian (June 9, 2011). "Rannells relishes first Tony nomination". USA Today. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (June 6, 2012). ""Two By Two": Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells Will Be Succeeded By Jared Gertner and Nic Rouleau in Book of Mormon". Playbill. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  12. ↑ Ganz, Andrew (August 10, 2012). "Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells Takes It Off in "Bachelorette" Film; Comedy Available on VOD Aug. 10". Playbill. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  13. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (February 22, 2012). "'The Hangover Star Joins NBC's Ryan Murphy Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  14. ↑ Miller, Bruce (November 24, 2012). "Andrew Rannells sends up boss in 'New Normal'". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  15. ↑ Lynch, Matthew (April 28, 2011). "Andrew Rannells: Keeping the Faith". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Tony Nominee Andrew Rannells Will Step In for Jonathan Groff in Hamilton on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
  17. ↑ Paulson, Michael. "‘Falsettos’ Revival Casts Its Leads: Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells and Stephanie J. Block" The New York Times, March 31, 2016.
  18. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Marvin’s Back with Whizzer, as 'Falsettos' Revival Begins" Playbill, September 29, 2016
  19. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "13 Shows Close as Broadway Gears Up for a Packed Spring", Playbill.com, December 29, 2016.
  20. ↑ Siegel, Miranda (May 29, 2012). "Andrew Rannells on His Girls Character, Slapping Marnie, and His New Ryan Murphy Show". Vulture-New York. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  21. ↑ Martin, Denise (January 29, 2013). "Andrew Rannells: The Boy Scout With the Dirty Mouth". Vulture-New York. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Shania Twain, "Broad City" Stars And More Join The Judges' Panel On "Drag Race" Season 10".
  23. ↑ "Andrew Rannells". Behind the Voice Actors. Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  24. ↑ Joy, Cara (November 11, 2005). "Andrew Rannells to Star as Hairspray's Next Link Larkin". broadway.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  25. ↑ Aradi, Cathi (March 3, 2008). "JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Andrew Rannells!". jerseyboysblog.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  26. ↑ Liner, Elaine (January 28, 2010). "The Dallas Theater Center's World Premiere, Give It Up! Asks The Audience To Give Up More Than Two And A Half Hours To Its Redbull-buzzed Idiocy". Dallas Observer. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  27. ↑ Clement, Olivia (December 15, 2017). "The Leftovers' Charlie Carver Joins Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, and More for Broadway's The Boys in the Band". Playbill. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
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