Matthew Morrison

Matthew Morrison
Name	Matthew Morrison
Caption	Morrison at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
Birth date	30 October 1978
Birth place	Fort Ord, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, singer, dancer
Years active	1999–present
Spouse	Renee Puente, 2014

Matthew Morrison. He is an American actor, singer, and dancer, widely recognized for his portrayal of Will Schuester on the Fox musical comedy series Glee. His career spans prestigious Broadway stages, television, and film, earning him multiple award nominations including a Tony Award, an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Award nominations. Morrison is also a recording artist, having released a self-titled pop album through Adam Levine's 222 Records label.

Early life and education

He was born at Fort Ord, California, and raised in the Orange County community of Tustin. His mother was a nurse and his father worked as a U.S. Air Force flight engineer. Morrison's interest in performing was sparked after seeing a production of the musical The Music Man. He began his formal training at the Orange County High School of the Arts, later graduating from New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company acting school.

Career

Morrison began his professional career on Broadway, making his debut in the ensemble of the 1998 revival of The Sound of Music. He gained critical acclaim for his performance as Link Larkin in the original Broadway production of Hairspray, a role that earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination. His breakout role came as Fabrizio Naccarelli in the 2005 musical The Light in the Piazza, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination. His television career expanded with roles on series such as CSI: Miami, Ghost Whisperer, and As the World Turns before landing his defining role on Glee in 2009. Beyond acting, he released his debut solo album, Matthew Morrison, in 2011, featuring collaborations with artists like Elton John and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Personal life

He married dancer and model Renee Puente in 2014 at Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. The couple has two children, a son born in 2017 and a daughter born in 2021. Morrison is an avid supporter of various charitable organizations, including The Trevor Project and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In 2022, he departed his role as a judge on the competition series So You Think You Can Dance following an internal investigation into an incident with a contestant.

Filmography

His notable film appearances include the musical comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012), the Disney animated feature The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012), and the romantic comedy The Last Five Years (2014). On television, he starred in the ABC musical drama The Good Doctor spinoff The Good Lawyer and has made guest appearances on shows like Grey's Anatomy and American Horror Story.

Stage work

His Broadway credits are extensive, including the 2002 revival of Oklahoma!, the 2006 musical The Apple Tree, and a starring role in the 2013 production of Finding Neverland. He also headlined the 2018 Kennedy Center production of A Christmas Carol and performed in the 2022 New York City Center Encores! presentation of The Light in the Piazza.

Discography

His major album is the self-titled Matthew Morrison (2011), which charted on the Billboard 200. He has also released several singles, including "Summer Rain" and a duet with Kristin Chenoweth titled "Fire". His work is heavily featured on the soundtrack albums for Glee, contributing to multiple Grammy Award nominations for the series' music.

Awards and nominations

He has received a Tony Award nomination for The Light in the Piazza and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for his appearance on Saturday Night Live. For his work on Glee, he earned two Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as part of the ensemble. His stage work has also been recognized with a Drama Desk Award nomination and a Theatre World Award. Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:Tony Award nominees