Darren Criss

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13 - Darren Criss at People Convention's %22Believin' Fan Meet%22 in Paris on November 11, 2023 (Portrait)

American actor, singer, and songwriter

Darren Criss

Name	Darren Criss
Birth name
Birth date	Birth date -1st March 1966
Birth place	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Death date
Death place
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Occupation	Actor, singer, songwriter
Years active	2005–present
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)	Mia Swier (m. 2019)
Website

Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his portrayal of Blaine Anderson on the television series Glee and for his role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, for which he won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Early life

Criss was born in San Francisco, California, to Cerina and Charles William Criss. He is of mixed heritage, with his mother being of Filipino descent and his father of Irish descent. Criss has an older brother, Charles "Chuck" Criss, who is a member of the band Freelance Whales. Criss was raised in San Francisco and attended Stuart Hall for Boys and Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. He later attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater Performance.

Career

Early career

Criss began his career in theater, performing in various productions in the San Francisco Bay Area. He co-founded StarKid Productions, a musical theater company, with his friends from the University of Michigan. Criss gained recognition for his role as Harry Potter in the musical A Very Potter Musical, which became a viral sensation on YouTube.

Glee

In 2010, Criss joined the cast of the television series Glee as Blaine Anderson, a charismatic and openly gay student at Dalton Academy. His performance of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" on the show became a hit, and Criss quickly became a fan favorite. He was promoted to a series regular in the third season and remained with the show until its conclusion in 2015.

American Crime Story

In 2018, Criss starred as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. His portrayal of the serial killer received critical acclaim, earning him several awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie.

Music career

In addition to his acting career, Criss is also a talented musician. He has released several solo singles and EPs and has performed in various concerts and music festivals. Criss has also contributed to the soundtracks of Glee and other projects.

Personal life

Criss married Mia Swier in February 2019. The couple welcomed their first child in 2021. Criss is an advocate for various charitable causes and has been involved in campaigns supporting LGBTQ+ rights, education, and mental health awareness.

Filmography

Film

• Girl Most Likely (2012)
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) (voice)
• Midway (2019)

Television

• Glee (2010–2015)
• American Crime Story (2018)
• Hollywood (2020)

Awards and nominations

Criss has received numerous awards and nominations for his work in television and theater, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

See also

• List of Glee characters
• List of awards and nominations received by Darren Criss