Matthew Morrison
Matthew Morrison | |
---|---|
Morrison at the 2010 Peabody Awards | |
Born |
Matthew James Morrison October 30, 1978 Fort Ord, California, United States |
Other names | Matt Morrison |
Occupation | Actor, dancer, singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1999–present |
Height | 5' 11 (1.80 m) |
Spouse(s) |
Renee Puente (m. 2014) . |
Children | 1 |
Musical career | |
Genres | Pop, Jazz soul, pop standards |
Instruments | Vocals |
Labels |
Mercury 222 Records |
Associated acts |
Glee Gwyneth Paltrow LMNT |
Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978)[1] is an American actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter. Morrison is known for starring in multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including his portrayal of Link Larkin in Hairspray on Broadway, and for his role as Will Schuester on the Fox television show Glee (2009–2015). Morrison is signed with Adam Levine's 222 Records. Morrison received a Tony Award nomination for his featured role as Fabrizio Nacarelli in the musical The Light in the Piazza. From March 2015 to January 2016, Morrison starred in the lead role of J.M. Barrie in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland.
Early life
Morrison was born in Fort Ord, California, to Mary and Tom Morrison.[2] Morrison was raised in Chico, California, and is of Scottish heritage.[3] 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, Morrison did a musical with actress Jodie Sweetin. He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for two years before dropping out and joining the Broadway adaptation of Footloose.[4]
By freshman year of college, Morrison already was a regular performer on Broadway. He said 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."[5]
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. Morrison's big break came, however, when Morrison landed the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway production of John Waters', Hairspray. After performing in the role for some time, Morrison started working in television, guest-starring on shows such as Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, CSI: Miami and Hack. Morrison also had small roles in films such as Marci X, Primary Colors, Music and Lyrics, and Simply Funk. Morrison 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.
In 2001, Morrison was recruited to complete the quartet for the band LMNT. Morrison was replaced instead by Jonas Persch by the time its first album was released. Morrison 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[6]
Morrison starred in the Original Cast of the musical Hairspray as Link Larkin from its opening in 2002 through January 2004.[7] In 2005 Morrison changed gears, playing the role of Fabrizio Nacarelli in Adam Guettel's The Light in the Piazza.[7] Morrison was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance.[8] He left the show August 28, 2005.[8]
Morrison joined the cast of the CBS soap opera, As the World Turns, as Adam Munson on October 24, 2006,[9] 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.[10]
Morrison played 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.[11] He made 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'".[12] His first single, "Summer Rain", premiered on Ryan Seacrest's website on February 28, 2011.[13] Additionally, a duet of "Over the Rainbow" with Gwyneth Paltrow appears on the self-titled album.[14] 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.
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.[15] The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.[16][17]
A Morrison concert at Connecticut's Bushnell Center was recorded by PBS and scheduled to air in spring 2013.[18] On April 28, 2013, Morrison made his first major appearance in the UK as a guest performer at the 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House in London. On June 4, 2013, 222 Records released Morrison's second studio album, Where It All Began. July 7, 2016, Matthew appeared alongside Megan Hilty in a summer evening of Broadway and other songs with The New York Pops at the Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, Queens.[19]
Morrison returned to Broadway as J.M. Barrie in the new musical, Finding Neverland, which opened in April 2015.[20]
Morrison is rumored to be a "Dance Captain" on the upcoming BBC show, The Greatest Dancer.
Personal life
While working on a Broadway production together, Morrison briefly dated future Glee co-star Lea Michele.[21] Morrison became engaged to actress Chrishell Stause on December 9, 2006.[22] Their relationship later ended.
In 2011, Morrison began dating Renee Puente.[23] On June 27, 2013, Elton John helped Morrison announce that Morrison and Puente were engaged.[24] Morrison and Puente were married on October 18, 2014, at a private home on the island of Maui.[25] On May 16, 2017, it was revealed on his personal Instagram account that Renee was expecting their first child.[26] Their son, Revel James Makai, was born in October 2017.[27]
Animal abuse on set and response
In March 2018, a video surfaced showing a dog being abused on the set of Morrison's new movie, Crazy Alien, directed by Ning Hao. The dog was hit several times so he would bark loudly as possible, then put on a cage and dumped into cold water several times.[28] The video was taped and released by a member of the movie crew.[29] Ning Hao never apologized for the incident but producers of the movie confirmed the allegations.[30]
Morrison responded via Twitter; he claimed he was not on set at the time of the abuse and he was "outraged" and "heart broken".[31] He however did not join PETA's attempt to boycott the movie, nor did he promise to donate his salary to Animal Charities in China as PETA had asked.[32][33]
Awards and nominations
Year | Award ceremony | Category | Project | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Hairspray | Nominated |
2005 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated |
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated | |
Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated | |
Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated | |
2008 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | 10 Million Miles | Nominated |
2009 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series – Comedy (Shared with "Glee" cast) | Glee | Won |
Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical | Glee | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Glee | Nominated | |
2010 | Teen Choice Award | Choice Male Scene Stealer | Glee | Nominated |
Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical | Glee | Nominated | |
TV Land Award | Future Classic | Glee | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Glee | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Glee | Nominated | |
Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack Written for Visual Media | Glee | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Award | Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series – Comedy (Shared with "Glee" cast) | Glee | Nominated | |
2011 | Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack Written for Visual Media | Glee | Nominated |
2015 | Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Actor in a Musical | Finding Neverland | Won |
Favorite Onstage Pair (w/ Laura Michelle Kelly) | Finding Neverland | Won | ||
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Finding Neverland | Nominated | |
Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Finding Neverland | Nominated |
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [34] |
AUS [35] |
UK [36] | ||
Matthew Morrison |
|
24 | 61 | 63 |
Where It All Began |
|
95 | — | 163 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
EPs
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US |
AUS |
UK | ||
A Classic Christmas |
|
— | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US AC [37] |
UK [38] | |||
2011 | "Summer Rain" | — | 16 | — | Matthew Morrison |
"Still Got Tonight" | —[upper-alpha 1] | — | 182 | ||
2013 | "It Don't Mean a Thing" | — | — | — | Where It All Began |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
- Notes
Theatre credits
Year | Production | Role | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Footloose | Ensemble; Chuck Cranston u/s | Broadway | Replacement |
2000 | The Rocky Horror Show | Phantom | Broadway | Replacement |
2002 | Hairspray | Link Larkin | Broadway | |
2003–04 | Tarzan | Tarzan | NY Workshop | |
2005 | The Light in the Piazza | Fabrizio Naccarelli | Broadway | |
Catch Me If You Can | Frank Abagnale, Jr. | NY Reading | ||
A Naked Girl on the Appian Way | Thad Lapin | Broadway | ||
2007 | 10 Million Miles | Duane | Off-Broadway | |
2008 | South Pacific | Lt. Joseph Cable, U.S.M.C. | Broadway | |
2015 | Finding Neverland | J.M. Barrie | Broadway |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Bob Rizzo's Siply Funk with Suzanne | Himself | As Matthew J. Morrison |
2001 | Bollywood Calling | Mr. Abraham/Pat's Agent | |
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 | |
Dan in Real Life | Policeman | ||
I Think I Love My Wife | Salesman #2 | ||
2011 | The Muppets | Mahna Mahna Host | |
2012 | What to Expect When You're Expecting | Evan | |
2015 | Playing It Cool | Himself | |
Underdogs | Jake | Voice | |
2016 | After the Reality | Scottie | |
2017 | Tulip Fever | Mattheus |
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 |
As the World Turns | Adam Munson (#4) | October 24 – November 27, 2006 | |
2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Matt Sembrook | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
CSI: Miami | Jesse Stark | Episode: "Bloodline" | |
2008 | Numb3rs | Officer Blaine Cleary | Episode: "Power" |
2009 | Taking Chance | Robert Rouse | Television film |
2009–2015 | Glee | Will Schuester | Series regular Directed season 3, episode 9: "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" |
2011 | The Cleveland Show | Will Schuester | 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 |
2013 | Hollywood Game Night | Himself | Episode: "Don't Kill My Buzz-er" |
2014 | Space Station 76 | Daniel | |
2016 | The Good Wife | AUSA Connor Fox | Recurring role, Season 7 episodes |
Younger | Sebastian | Episode: "The Good Shepherd" | |
2017–2018 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Paul Stadler | 4 episodes: Guest (season 13); recurring (season 14) |
References
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison". TVGuide.com.
- ↑ Dirmann, Tina (December 2009). "Matthew Morrison Revealed". Orange Coast. Newport Beach, California: Orange Coast Kommunications: 86. ISSN 0279-0483.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison – Music". Ellen.warnerbros.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ↑ "Hot for Teacher: Matthew Morrison". Details Magazine. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ↑ BWW, News Desk. "Matthew Morrison Talks GLEE, Upcoming Album, and his 'Worst Year Ever'." Broadwayworld 12 Jan 2010. Web. 1 Feb 2010.
- 1 2 Simonson, Robert (January 26, 2005). "Hairspray's Matthew Morrison Joins Cast of Piazza". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- 1 2 Simonson, Robert (July 25, 2005). "Matthew Morrison Will Leave Light in the Piazza Aug. 28". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ↑ Kroll, Dan J. "Adam Returning Home After 4 Year Absence." Soap Central 1 Oct 2006: Web. 1 Feb 2010.
- ↑ "Cable's Exit Interview Dec 23, 2008". Lct.org. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ↑ "Glee club is back in session on the season premiere of Glee" (Press release). Fox Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Elton John Reveals Details on Matthew Morrison's Debut Album". Broadwayworld.com. January 21, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison to Join George Clooney in Dustin Lance Black Play '8'". The Wrap thewrap.com. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ↑ ""8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ↑ "YouTube to broadcast Proposition 8 play live". pinknews.co.uk. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison's November Bushnell Center Concert to Be Recorded for PBS Broadcasts". Broadwayworld.com. 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ↑ "Megan Hilty and Matthew Morrison Join the New York Pops Tonight – Playbill". Playbill.
- ↑ Official: Matthew Morrison Will Return to Broadway in FINDING NEVERLAND! Broadway World, Retrieved November 29, 2014
- ↑ "Lea Michele Admits Matthew Morrison Relationship". MTV UK. May 21, 2014.
- ↑ "Curtain Cutie: Matthew Morrison" Archived 2008-03-28 at the Wayback Machine., Paper, 14 June 2007
- ↑ "Huffington Post. Retrieved June 7, 2013". Huffingtonpost.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ↑ Nessif, Bruna (27 June 2013). "Glee's Matthew Morrison Is Engaged to Renee Puente". E! News.
- ↑ Garcia, Jennifer (October 19, 2014). "Matthew Morrison Marries Renee Puente". People. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison, wife Renee Puente expecting first child".
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison and Wife Renee Welcome First Child".
- ↑ Brockington, Ariana (2018-03-16). "Matthew Morrison 'Outraged' by Dog Abuse Video From Set of New Movie". Variety. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ Marotta, Jenna (2018-03-15). "PETA Outraged Over Animal Abuse on Matthew Morrison Film Set, Demands Scene Be Cut". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ "'Crazy Alien' Producers Say Dog Wasn't Supposed to Fall in Icy Water". TMZ. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ "Actor Matthew Morrison 'outraged' over alleged dog abuse on set of upcoming film Crazy Alien". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ "'Crazy Alien' Movie Boycott Begins: Dog Abuse Allegations Surround Film Starring Matthew Morrison [Video]". The Inquisitr. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ "Video Report: Dog Terrorized, Locked In Cage, And Plunged Into Frigid River for Movie". PETA. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 16 May 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ↑ "OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS TOP 100 – 11th June 2011". The Official Charts Company. 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ↑ "CHART: CLUK Update 25.06.2011 (wk24)". Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ↑ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
External links
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