Matthew Morrison
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. The reason given is: multiple unsourced sections. (April 2022) |
Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978)[1] is an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter, best known for his role as Will Schuester on the Fox television show Glee (2009–2015). He has starred in multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including appearing as Link Larkin in the original Broadway cast of Hairspray (2002), Fabrizio Nacarelli in the original Broadway cast of the musical The Light in the Piazza (2005, for which he received a Tony Award nomination), and the starring role of J.M. Barrie in the original Broadway cast of Finding Neverland (2015-2016).
Matthew Morrison | |
|---|---|
Morrison at the 2010 Peabody Awards | |
| Born | Matthew James Morrison October 30, 1978 Fort Ord, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Renee Puente (m. 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Labels | |
He starred as the Grinch in NBC's 2020 production Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical Live!. He has also been a judge on two reality dance competition shows on TV: The Greatest Dancer on BBC One, and So You Think You Can Dance on Fox.
Morrison signed with Adam Levine's 222 Records in 2012, and has released three solo albums: Matthew Morrison (2011), Where It All Began (2013), and Disney Dreamin' with Matthew Morrison (2020).
Early life
Morrison was born in Fort Ord, California, the son of Mary Louise (Fraser) and Thomas Morrison.[2] Morrison was raised in Chico, California, and has Scottish and English ancestry.[3][4] He was a member of Buena Park Youth theater, located in Buena Park. He was part of the Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) and the Orange County 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.[5]
By freshman year of college, Morrison already was a regular performer on Broadway.[citation needed]
Career
In 1999, while still at NYU, Morrison appeared on Late Show with David Letterman and Total Request Live as one of five members of the fictional parody boy band "Fresh Step", an act that was conceived by several Late Show writers.[6] The choreographer hired for "Fresh Step" was also the choreographer for the Broadway musical Footloose, and helped Morrison to get cast in Footloose later that year. Morrison dropped out of NYU to begin appearing in the show.[7]
In 2001, Morrison was recruited to join the boy band LMNT, turning it from a trio into a quartet. He stayed in the band for one year, then left and was replaced by Jonas Persch; he left before the recording of the group's sole album, All Sides. In a 2010 interview, Morrison stated about the experience, "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."[8]
Morrison briefly appeared in a revival of The Rocky Horror Show in 2002. He then starred in the original cast of the musical Hairspray as Link Larkin from its opening in 2002 through January 2004.[9] In 2005, Morrison starred as Fabrizio Nacarelli in the Broadway premiere of Adam Guettel's musical The Light in the Piazza;[9] he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance.[10] He left the show on August 28, 2005.[10]
Morrison started working in television, guest-starring on shows such as Ghost Whisperer, Numbers, CSI: Miami and Hack. Morrison also had small roles in films including Marci X (2003). He also appeared as Sir Harry in the 2005 ABC-TV production of Once Upon a Mattress, starring Tracey Ullman, Zooey Deschanel and Carol Burnett.
Morrison joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns as Adam Munson on October 24, 2006,[11] 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.[12]
Morrison played Will Schuester in the Fox Broadcasting television series Glee, which had its television preview on May 19, 2009. Schuester is a high school Spanish (later History) teacher who takes on the task of restoring the school's glee club to its former glory. He made his directorial debut with the third season's ninth episode.
In January 2010, Morrison signed a solo record deal with Mercury Records. His first studio album, Matthew Morrison, was released on May 10, 2011. Two singles were released from the album, "Summer Rain"[13] and "Still Got Tonight". The album also includes duets with Elton John (a medley of "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man"),[14] Gwyneth Paltrow ("Over the Rainbow")[15] and Sting ("Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot"). 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.[16] The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.[17][18]
A Morrison concert at Connecticut's Bushnell Center was recorded and aired on PBS in June 2013.[19] On April 28, 2013, Morrison made his first major appearance[citation needed] in the United Kingdom 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,[20] an album of show tunes and jazz standards. One single was released from the album, a cover of "It Don't Mean a Thing".
Morrison returned to Broadway as J. M. Barrie in the Broadway debut of the musical Finding Neverland, which opened in April 2015.[21]
On July 7, 2016, Morrison 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.[22]
Morrison was a "dance captain" on BBC One's The Greatest Dancer, which aired for two seasons in 2019 and 2020, alongside Cheryl, Oti Mabuse and, in the second season, Todrick Hall as well.[23] In the second half of 2019, he portrayed Trevor in the ninth season of the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story.[citation needed]
In December 2020, he starred as The Grinch in NBC's production of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical Live!.[24]
On April 4, 2022, he was announced as a judge for the seventeenth season of So You Think You Can Dance, along with JoJo Siwa and Stephen "tWitch" Boss.[25] However, on May 27, he was fired from the show for sending text messages to a female contestant that made her feel uncomfortable.[26] His final episode aired on June 8,[27] and he was replaced by actress Leah Remini.[28] In an Instagram video posted in June 2022, Morrison claimed that his messages were just friendly and that he was a victim of cancel culture.[29]
Personal life
Morrison became engaged to actress Chrishell Stause on December 9, 2006.[30] Their relationship later ended.
In 2011, Morrison began dating Renee Puente.[31] On June 27, 2013, Elton John helped Morrison announce that he and Puente were engaged.[32] Morrison and Puente were married on October 18, 2014, at a private home on the island of Maui.[33] On May 16, 2017, it was revealed on his personal Instagram account that he and Puente were expecting their first child.[34] Their son was born on October 22, 2017.[35] On March 16, 2021, Morrison used his Instagram again to announce that he and Puente were expecting their second child together following a series of miscarriages.[36] Their daughter was born on June 28, 2021.[37]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [38] | US Indie [39] | US Kid [40] | AUS [41] | UK [42] | ||
| Matthew Morrison |
| 24 | 14 | — | 61 | 63 |
| Where It All Began |
| 95 | — | 163 | ||
| Disney Dreamin' with Matthew Morrison |
| — | 7 | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
EPs
| Title | Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Classic Christmas |
| |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [44] | US AC [45] | UK [46] | |||
| 2011 | "Summer Rain" | — | 16 | — | Matthew Morrison |
| "Still Got Tonight" | 24 | — | 182 | ||
| 2013 | "It Don't Mean a Thing" | — | Where It All Began | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Footloose | Ensemble; Chuck Cranston understudy | Broadway | Replacement |
| 2000 | The Rocky Horror Show | Phantom | ||
| 2002 | Hairspray | Link Larkin | Originated role | |
| 2003–2004 | 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, USMC | Broadway | |
| 2015 | Finding Neverland | J.M. Barrie |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bob Rizzo's Simply Funk with Suzanne | Himself | |
| 2001 | Bollywood Calling | Mr. Abraham / Pat's agent | |
| 2003 | Marci X | Boyz R Us | |
| 2006 | Blinders | Scott | |
| 2007 | Music and Lyrics | Ray | |
| Dan in Real Life | Policeman | ||
| I Think I Love My Wife | Salesman #2 | ||
| 2012 | What to Expect When You're Expecting | Evan Webber | |
| 2014 | Space Station 76 | Daniel | |
| 2015 | Playing It Cool | Himself | |
| Underdogs | Jake | Voice role | |
| 2016 | After the Reality | Scottie | |
| 2017 | Tulip Fever | Mattheus | |
| 2019 | Crazy Alien | Zach Andrews |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Relativity | Dr. Alexander | Episode: "Hearts and Bones" |
| 1999 | Sex and the City | Young busboy | Episode: "They Shoot Single People, Don't They?" |
| 2003 | Hack | Sam Wagner | Episode: "Blind Faith" |
| 2005 | Once Upon a Mattress | Sir Harry | Television Film |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Chance Slaughter | Episode: "Proud Flesh" |
| As the World Turns | Adam Munson (#4) | Regular role; 17 episodes | |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Matt Sembrook | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
| CSI: Miami | Jesse Stark | Episode: "Bloodline" | |
| 2008 | Numbers | Blaine Cleary | Episode: "Power" |
| 2009 | Taking Chance | Robert Rouse | Television film |
| 2009–2015 | Glee | Will Schuester | Main role Directed season 3, episode 9: "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" |
| 2011 | The Cleveland Show | Episode: "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?"; voice role | |
| 2012 | 8_(play) | Paul Katamai | TV Movie |
| 2012 | Live with Kelly | Himself | Co-host |
| 2013 | Hollywood Game Night | Episode: "Don't Kill My Buzz-er" | |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Connor Fox | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| Younger | Sebastian | Episode: "The Good Shepherd" | |
| 2017–2018 | Grey's Anatomy | Paul Stadler | Guest role (seasons 13–14); 4 episodes |
| 2019–2020 | The Greatest Dancer | Himself | Dance captain |
| 2019 | American Horror Story: 1984 | Trevor Kirchner | Main role |
| 2020 | #KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall | Himself | Television special |
| Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical! | The Grinch | ||
| 2022 | So You Think You Can Dance | Himself | Judge, season 17 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Project | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Hairspray | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | 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 | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Teen Choice Award | Choice Male Scene Stealer | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| TV Land Award | Future Classic | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series – Comedy (Shared with "Glee" cast) | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Actor in a Musical | Finding Neverland | Won |
| Favorite Onstage Pair (w/ Laura Michelle Kelly) | Won | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Matthew Morrison". TV Guide. 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.
- ^ Stated on Who Do You Think You Are?, December 17, 2018
- ^ . EllenTube. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
- ^ Wanshel, Elyse (January 10, 2019). "David Letterman's 'Late Show' Created A Fake Boy Band, And You Probably Didn't Know". HuffPost.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Got His Big Break on Letterman". Female First. February 28, 2011.
- ^ Gostin, Nicki (January 15, 2010). . PopEater. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Simonson, Robert (January 26, 2005). "Hairspray's Matthew Morrison Joins Cast of Piazza". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Simonson, Robert (July 25, 2005). "Matthew Morrison Will Leave Light in the Piazza Aug. 28". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. "Adam Returning Home After 4 Year Absence." Soap Central October 1, 2006: Web. February 1, 2010.
- ^ . Lct.org. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (February 25, 2011). "Listen: 'Glee' Original Songs, 'Loser Like Me' and 'Get It Right,' Debut". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Elton John Reveals Duet With Glee's Matthew Morrison". Parade. January 21, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ Stack, Tim (March 22, 2011). "Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow to duet on his upcoming album – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison to Join George Clooney in Dustin Lance Black Play '8'". The Wrap. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ^ ""8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. 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". Broadway World. October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (June 4, 2013). "'Glee' Star Matthew Morrison Releases New Album, 'Where It All Began,' June 4". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ Peterson, Tyler (November 10, 2014). "Official: Matthew Morrison Will Return to Broadway in FINDING NEVERLAND!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Megan Hilty and Matthew Morrison Join the New York Pops Tonight". Playbill.
- ^ "Teaser: The Dance Captains - Meet The Greatest Dancer's Dance Captains". BBC.
- ^ "Hoorays in Who-ville as NBC Brings Classic Dr. Seuss Tale to the Stage with Holiday Special "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!" on Dec. 9". The Futon Critic. November 10, 2020.
- ^ White, Peter (April 4, 2022). "'So You Think You Can Dance': Matthew Morrison & JoJo Siwa Join As Judges Alongside Stephen 'tWitch' Boss As Cat Deeley Also Returns". Deadline. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Fired from SYTYCD for 'Flirty' Messages That Made Contestant 'Uncomfortable': Source". People. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (May 27, 2022). "Matthew Morrison Out as SYTYCD Judge After Failing to Follow 'Production Protocols'". TVLine. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (June 10, 2022). "SYTYCD: Leah Remini to Replace Fired Matthew Morrison as Season 17 Judge". TVLine. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (June 3, 2022). "Matthew Morrison Speaks Out About Incident That Led To His Dismissal From 'SYTYCD'". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "Curtain Cutie: Matthew Morrison" March 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Paper, June 14, 2007
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Opens Up About His Sexuality, Glee and Going Back to Where It All Began". HuffPost. June 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ Nessif, Bruna (June 27, 2013). "Glee's Matthew Morrison Is Engaged to Renee Puente". E! News.
- ^ Garcia, Jennifer (October 19, 2014). "Matthew Morrison Marries Renee Puente". People. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison, wife Renee Puente expecting first child". New York Daily News.
- ^ Heller, Corrinne (October 22, 2017). "Matthew Morrison and Wife Renee Welcome First Child". E! Online. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ Ekren, Cansu (March 17, 2021). "Matthew Morrison And Wife Renee Are Expecting Their Second Child: "After 3 Miscarriages, A Pandemic, And The Loss Of Many Loved Ones"". The Red Carpet. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison and Wife Renee Welcome Baby Girl Phoenix Monroe: 'Our Family Is Now Complete'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Chart History: Kid Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ . Australian Recording Industry Association. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ^ . The Official Charts Company. June 11, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
- ^ ""Go the Distance" from "Disney Dreamin' with Matthew Morrison" Now Streaming". laughingplace.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "Matthew Morrison Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 25.06.2011 (wk24)". Retrieved February 19, 2012.
External links
- at the Wayback Machine (archived April 13, 2020)
- Matthew Morrison at AllMusic
- Matthew Morrison at IMDb
- Matthew Morrison at the Internet Broadway Database
- Matthew Morrison at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Matthew Morrison at Emmys.com
- Matthew Morrison at Rotten Tomatoes