Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr.
Name	Harry Connick Jr.
Caption	Connick performing in 2011.
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr.
Birth date	11 September 1967
Birth place	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genre	Jazz, swing, pop, big band
Occupation	Singer, pianist, composer, actor, television host
Years active	1978–present
Label	Columbia, Marsalis Music
Associated acts	Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis
Spouse	Jill Goodacre, 1994
Website	harryconnickjr.com

Harry Connick Jr. is an American singer, pianist, composer, and actor renowned for his interpretations of jazz standards and his work in film and television. He rose to national prominence in the late 1980s with his multi-platinum soundtrack for the film When Harry Met Sally..., which helped revive interest in classic American popular song. His career spans Grammy-winning music, starring roles in major Hollywood films, and a successful tenure as a judge on the television show American Idol.

Early life and education

Born in New Orleans, he is the son of Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Sr., who served as the District Attorney of Orleans Parish, and Anita Livingston Connick, a lawyer and judge. He began playing the piano at age three, showing prodigious talent, and performed publicly by age five. He studied under legendary New Orleans pianist James Booker and later attended the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, where he was a classmate of musicians like Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis. He briefly attended Loyola University New Orleans before moving to New York City to pursue a music career, studying at the Manhattan School of Music.

Music career

He signed with Columbia Records and released his self-titled debut album in 1987, but his breakthrough came with the 1989 soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally..., which sold over two million copies and earned him his first Grammy Award. He followed this with a series of successful albums exploring big band and swing music, including We Are in Love and Blue Light, Red Light, solidifying his reputation as a premier interpreter of the Great American Songbook. His work often features his own orchestra and collaborations with artists like Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and received nominations for Tony Awards for his contributions to Broadway theatre, including composing the score for the musical Thou Shalt Not.

Acting career

He made his film debut in the 1990 drama Memphis Belle and gained further recognition for his role in the 1995 thriller Copycat alongside Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter. He starred in major studio films such as Independence Day, Hope Floats, and the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives. On television, he had a recurring role on the legal drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and served as a judge for seasons 13–15 of the reality competition series American Idol. He also created and starred in the sitcom The Harry Connick Jr. Show and hosted the daytime talk show Harry.

Personal life

He married former Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre in 1994, and they have three daughters. The family resides primarily in New Canaan, Connecticut, and maintains a strong connection to New Orleans, where he has been actively involved in recovery and charitable efforts following Hurricane Katrina. He is a devout Roman Catholic and has been open about his faith. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans for his artistic achievements and philanthropic work.

Discography

* Harry Connick Jr. (1987) * 20 (1988) * When Harry Met Sally... (1989) * We Are in Love (1990) * Blue Light, Red Light (1991) * 25 (1992) * She (1994) * Star Turtle (1996) * To See You (1997) * Come by Me (1999) * 30 (2001) * Other Hours: Connick on Piano 1 (2003) * Only You (2004) * Harry for the Holidays (2003) * Oh, My NOLA (2007) * Your Songs (2009) * Every Man Should Know (2013) * That Would Be Me (2015) * True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter (2019)

Filmography

* Memphis Belle (1990) * Little Man Tate (1991) * Copycat (1995) * Independence Day (1996) * Excess Baggage (1997) * Hope Floats (1998) * The Iron Giant (1999) – Voice * The Simian Line (2000) * Life Without Dick (2001) * Basic (2003) * The Stepford Wives (2004) * Bug (2006) * P.S. I Love You (2007) * New in Town (2009) * Dolphin Tale (2011) * Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) * Dolphin Tale 2 (2014)

Category:American male singers Category:American jazz pianists Category:American male actors Category:People from New Orleans Category:1967 births Category:Living people