Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer
Name	Chris Colfer
Caption	Colfer at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
Birth date	27 May 1990
Birth place	Fresno, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, singer, author, screenwriter, producer
Yearsactive	2009–present

Chris Colfer is an American actor, singer, and author best known for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Beyond acting, Colfer has become a successful New York Times bestselling author, notably for The Land of Stories children's fantasy book series, and has written and produced several feature films.

Early life and education

Chris Colfer was born and raised in Fresno, California, the son of Tim Colfer, a K-12 educator, and Karyn Colfer, a paraprofessional. He has one older sister, Hannah Colfer. From a young age, he was drawn to performing arts, writing his first short stories and staging plays in his grandmother's living room. He attended Bullard High School, where he was active in the school's speech and debate team and choir, winning several national championships in forensic competition. During his senior year, he wrote, directed, and starred in a screen adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He was also a prolific writer for the school newspaper, The Bullard Tanto. Colfer has spoken openly about being bullied throughout his childhood for his interests and for being gay.

Career

Colfer's breakthrough came in 2009 when he was cast as Kurt Hummel on Ryan Murphy's Fox series Glee. The role, which he played for the show's entire six-season run, made him a teen idol and garnered critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award win in 2011. On Glee, he performed numerous musical numbers, with songs like "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Blackbird" becoming fan favorites. Concurrently with the series, he published his first novel, The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, in 2012, launching a highly successful children's literature series. He expanded into film, writing, producing, and starring in Struck by Lightning (2012) and later writing and producing the fantasy film The Land of Stories for Disney. He also authored the young adult fiction series The Tale of the Brothers Grimm and served as an executive producer on the Disney Channel series The Descendants.

Personal life

Colfer is openly gay and has been a long-term resident of Los Angeles, California. He is a dedicated philanthropist, supporting organizations like The Trevor Project and Make-A-Wish Foundation. An avid collector, his interests include first edition books and Hollywood memorabilia. He maintains a relatively private life, focusing on his writing and production work through his company, Chris Colfer Productions.

Filmography and bibliography

His notable acting credits include the entire run of Glee and the film Struck by Lightning. As an author, his bibliography is headlined by the The Land of Stories series, which includes titles like The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns and The Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdoms. Other works include the A Tale of Magic... series and the novelization for The Descendants. His production work includes the Disney+ film The Little Mermaid Live! and the upcoming adaptation of his own The Land of Stories.

Awards and nominations

For his role on Glee, Colfer won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2011. He received two consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominations in 2010 and 2011. His literary work has earned him honors such as the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade & Children's Book and spots on the USA Today bestseller list. He was also named one of *Time* magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2011.

Public image and activism

Colfer is widely recognized as a prominent LGBT figure in Hollywood, using his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and anti-bullying legislation. He has been a vocal supporter of GLAAD and has received the organization's GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Daily Drama. His portrayal of Kurt Hummel is credited with increasing positive LGBT representation on television. Beyond activism, he is known for his engagement with fans at events like San Diego Comic-Con and for his detailed, imaginative worldbuilding in his fantasy literature.

Category:American male actors Category:American male singers Category:American children's writers Category:American television actors Category:People from Fresno, California Category:LGBT writers from the United States Category:21st-century American novelists