Kevin Cahoon American actor, director, writer and songwriter Date of Birth: 21.07.1971 Country: USA

1. Early Life
2. Theater Career
3. He has also been seen at the Tony Awards in 1998, 2000, and 2006.
4. Television and Film
5. Directing
6. Music

Early Life

Kevin Cahoon, an accomplished American actor, director, writer, and singer-songwriter, was born on July 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas. His early introduction to the performing arts began at the tender age of six, where he became the "World's Youngest Rodeo Clown," performing in rodeos throughout Texas and Oklahoma, including multiple seasons at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Texas High School Rodeo Finals, which earned him a Letter of Commendation from then Texas Governor Bill Clements.

Theater Career

At 10, Cahoon's acting career took off as he performed in local theaters around Houston, including Theatre Under the Stars, Stages, The Main Street Theatre, and The Houston Grand Opera. Notable productions included the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse musical "Chaplin," "Mame" alongside Marilyn May, and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You by Christopher Durang at the then Tower Theatre, which garnered critical acclaim.

Cahoon studied at Theatre Under the Stars' Humphrey School of Musical Theatre, appeared in numerous commercials, and performed at the opening ceremonies of the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts in Houston. He is featured in the book "Theatre Under the Stars: Stars in Your Eyes." At 13, he won the Grand Championship for Teenage Vocalists on television's Star Search, touring with The Stars of Star Search that summer.

He went on to major in drama at Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts at Circle in the Square.

Upon graduation, Cahoon made his Broadway debut in "Who's Tommy." He has performed on Broadway as Ed the Hyena in Julie Taymor's "The Lion King," George in "The Wedding Singer," Childcatcher in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," and in the revival of "The Rocky Horror Show."

He left "The Lion King" to perform in the 8th show a week for John Cameron Mitchell in the title role of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at The Jane Street Theater Off-Broadway, eventually taking over the role of Hedwig in Boston, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, and an eight-month run at San Francisco's Victoria Theatre. He was also featured in the documentary "Wig Out!" about the show.

Cahoon joined creators John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask for the "Origin of Love" tour at Town Hall in New York City. Off-Broadway, Cahoon played Phil D'Armano in Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party" at Manhattan Theatre Club. He also starred opposite Matthew Broderick in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of "The Foreigner," for which he received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Actor.

Other Off-Broadway credits include "Shaggs: Philosophy of the World" at Playwrights Horizons and the revival of Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive" at Second Stage. For the New York City Center Encores! series, he was seen as Gav in "Hair" and Peter in "Babes in Arms."

Cahoon played Trinculo in Barry Edelstein's production of "The Tempest" with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. He has performed at regional theater festivals at Berkshire, NY Stage and Film, The Guthrie Theatre, The Muny, The Bucks County Playhouse, and The Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Additional regional theater credits include Kathleen Marshall's production of "Love's Labours Lost," for which he received a San Diego Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play, and he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Ken Ludwig's "Robin Hood!," both at The Old Globe. He originated the role of Hans Christian Andersen in the American premiere of Steven Schwartz's "My Fairytale" for California's PCPA and appeared in "The Imaginary Invalid" at Bard Summerscape with Peter Dinklage, the John Guare play "Miniskirts" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, and the all-male production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" directed by Jessica Stone, where Cahoon played Hysterium.

Cahoon originated the role of Junior-Junior in "Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical" at Dallas Theater Center with a book by Robert Horn, Shane McAnally, and Brandy Clark.

Cahoon is featured on the original cast recordings of "The Lion King," "The Rocky Horror Show," "The Wild Party," "Babes in Arms," "The Wedding Singer," and "Shaggs: Philosophy of the World."

He has also been seen at the Tony Awards in 1998, 2000, and 2006.

Cahoon is currently starring as Peanut in the musical "Shucked," which premiered on April 4, 2023, at the Nederlander Theatre.

Television and Film

On television, Cahoon has starred as Earl Clark in the FOX series "Monarch" since September 2022. Other television credits include Hugo in seasons 2 and 3 of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Netflix), Ruben Lundgren in "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime), John-John in "Modern Family" (ABC), Ross Rothman in "Six Degrees" (ABC), and Kermit Jones in "The Royals" (AMC). He has also had guest-starring roles in "Elementary" (CBS), "Odd Mom Out" (BRAVO), "Black Box" (ABC), "The Good Wife" (CBS), "The Mentalist" (CBS), "CSI" (CBS), "Franklin & Bash" (TNT), "NCIS" (CBS), "Canterbury's Law" (FOX), "Hope & Faith" (ABC), "Ed" (NBC), "Law & Order" (NBC), and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC). His film credits include "Such a Cold Day," "I Am Michael," Disney's "Mars Needs Moms," Woody Allen's "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," Paul Reiser's "The Thing About My Folks," Adrienne Shelly's "Waitress," Michael Knowles' "One Night," and "W.E." directed by Madonna. He was also featured in Woody Allen's short film "Sounds from a Town I Love," which was created for VH-1's "Concert for New York City" after September 11, 2001. He played Bobby Barnes in the third season of "The Shining" on Netflix.

Directing

Cahoon has directed critically acclaimed virtual and live productions of Terrence McNally's "It's Only a Play" and Larry Shue's "The Nerd" for The George Street Playhouse. He helmed the 2017 New York Theatre Workshop Gala with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rachel Dratch, Ben Platt, Patti LuPone, and Kristin Ebersole. He returned to direct the 2018 NYTW Gala starring Zachary Quinto and Celia Keenan-Bolger, the 2020 Gala featuring Ana Gasteyer and Taylor Mac, his 2021 virtual Gala starring Annaleigh Ashford, Bridget Everett, and Michael Urie, and the 2022 Gala honoring Jim Nicola.

Cahoon has directed developmental productions of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding's "Toe Pick: The Complete Ice Capades" starring Zachary Grady and John Early, "Grifftopia" featuring Griffin Newman, and the debut production of "Tastiskank" created by Kate Reinders and Sarah Litzsinger, which went on to win the Aspen Comedy Festival, all forArs Nova in New York City. He has directed six consecutive productions for Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. His work at BAHBT earned him the Jete Society Honor Award in 2011.

Music

With his New York City-based band Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy, Cahoon has performed at venues throughout New York City, including CBGB's, Don Hill's, Ars Nova, Joe's Pub, and Irving Plaza. He has shared the bill with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Justin Bond. He is also featured in the documentary film "Squeezebox" about the downtown New York music scene. Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy's debut album, "Doll," won The Out Music Award for Outstanding Debut Recording, received a Billboard Award of Merit for World Songwriters Awards, earned The Pabst Blue Ribbon Live & Local Award for New York City, and the feature film "Ready? OK!" used the title track for its title song. Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy are hosts on OutQ on Sirius Radio, have been featured on LOGO's NewNowNext charts and programming.

Kevin has been profiled by The New York Times, Paper Magazine, and TimeOut NY, and is featured in Amy Arbus' photo collection "The Fourth Wall," Julie Taymor's "The Lion King: Pride on Broadway," and Michael Riedel's "Singular Sensation - The Triumph of Broadway."