Darren Everett Criss American actor, singer, musician Date of Birth: 05.02.1987 Country: USA

Biography of Darren Everett Criss

Darren Everett Criss is an American actor, singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and co-founder of the theater company 'StarKid Productions'. He is best known for his role as Blaine Anderson, a "gay" high school student, in the popular TV series 'Glee'. Criss is also remembered for his portrayal of Harry Potter in the musicals 'A Very Potter Musical' and 'A Very Potter Sequel'.

Criss was born in San Francisco, California to Charles William Criss, a banker and former director of the San Francisco Opera, and his wife Cerina. While his father was of Irish descent, his mother, who was born in the Philippines, had a complex mix of Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino blood. In 1988, the Criss family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where they lived for four years. Upon returning to San Francisco, Criss began his musical journey at the age of five, learning to play the violin. However, the violin was just the beginning, and Criss has since mastered the guitar, piano, cello, mandolin, and drums.

Criss made his stage debut in 1997, playing a role in the production of 'Fanny' by the theater company '42nd Street Moon'. A year later, he performed in another production, the musical 'Do I Hear a Waltz?' by Stephen Sondheim and Richard Rodgers. In his later years of high school, Criss attended courses at the American Conservatory Theater and performed alongside actors from the company. Criss continued his involvement in theater during his college years, studying at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater & Dance. After completing his education, Criss co-founded the company 'StarKid Productions' with a group of university friends. One of his most notable roles with this theater troupe was his portrayal of Harry Potter in the viral YouTube musicals 'A Very Potter Musical' and 'A Very Potter Sequel'. These musicals gained impressive success, with over 100 million views since their release on June 19, 2009.

In addition to his theater accomplishments, Criss has had significant achievements in the music industry. He is currently working on a full-length studio album under contract with Sony Music Entertainment, although the official release date has not yet been announced. Criss has already released an EP titled 'Human' on July 20, 2010, in collaboration with an independent project. On December 10, 2010, he was accepted as the 400,000th member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). Criss frequently collaborates with another notable Michigan musician, Charlene Kaye, and their popular songs include 'Skin and Bones' and 'Dress and Tie'.

Criss is an active supporter of the LGBT community and regularly advocates for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals at various public events.