Matthew James Morrison[1] (born October 30, 1978) is an American actor, dancer, and singer, best known for his role as Will Schuester on the Fox television show Glee (2009–2015).
He has starred in multiple Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including appearing as Link Larkin in the original Broadway cast of Hairspray (2002), Fabrizio Nacarelli in the original Broadway cast of the musical The Light in the Piazza (2005, for which he received a Tony Award nomination), and the starring role of J.M. Barrie in the original Broadway cast of Finding Neverland (2015-2016).
In 1999, while still at NYU, Morrison appeared on Late Show with David Letterman and Total Request Live as one of five members of the fictional parody boy band "Fresh Step", an act that was conceived by several Late Show writers.[6] The choreographer hired for "Fresh Step" was also the choreographer for the Broadway musical Footloose, and helped Morrison to get cast in Footloose later that year. Morrison dropped out of NYU to begin appearing in the show.[7]
In 2001, Morrison was recruited to join the boy band LMNT, turning it from a trio into a quartet. He stayed in the band for one year, then left and was replaced by Jonas Persch; he left before the recording of the group's sole album, All Sides. In a 2010 interview, Morrison stated about the experience, "It was the worst year of my life. You know when you're a performer and you're out there on stage and you're embarrassed that you're doing something wrong. It was pretty bad."[8]
Morrison briefly appeared in a revival of The Rocky Horror Show in 2002. He then starred in the original cast of the musical Hairspray as Link Larkin from its opening in 2002 through January 2004.[9] In 2005, Morrison starred as Fabrizio Nacarelli in the Broadway premiere of Adam Guettel's musical The Light in the Piazza;[9] he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance.[10] He left the show on August 28, 2005.[10]
He earned a Drama Desk Nomination for his role in the Off Broadway show 10 Million Miles which ran at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2007. That same year he appeared in two films: Dan in Real Life, followed by Music and Lyrics as Cora Corman's manager. In 2008, he played Lieutenant Cable in a Lincoln Center production of the musical South Pacific. He left the production at the end of 2008 and in early 2009 returned to California to shoot the first season of Glee.[11]
Morrison played Will Schuester in the Fox Broadcasting television series Glee,[2] which had its television preview on May 19, 2009. Schuester is a high school Spanish (later History) teacher who takes on the task of restoring the school's glee club to its former glory. He made his directorial debut with the third season's ninth episode.[2]
On April 4, 2022, he was announced as a judge for the seventeenth season of So You Think You Can Dance,[2] along with JoJo Siwa and Stephen "tWitch" Boss.[25] However, on May 27, he was fired from the show.[26] His final episode aired on June 8,[27] and he was replaced by actress Leah Remini.[28] Amidst claims that he had sent an inappropriate text message, Morrison posted an Instagram video in June 2022, where he claimed that his messages were just friendly, and that he was dismissed for other reasons.[29]
In June 2023, it was announced that Morrison would star alongside Jen Lilley in the TV film A Paris Christmas Waltz,[2] which aired on Great American Family in November 2023.[30][31] Morrison is also slated to star in the independent thriller From Embers.[32] He played Billy Flynn in a limited engagement of Chicago in Japan from April 18–21, 2024, at the Orix Theater in Osaka, and then April 25–May 5 at the Tokyu Theater Orb.[33]
Personal life
Morrison became engaged to actress Chrishell Stause on December 9, 2006.[34] Their relationship later ended.
In 2011, Morrison began dating Renee Puente.[35] On June 27, 2013, Elton John helped Morrison announce that he and Puente were engaged.[36] Morrison and Puente were married on October 18, 2014, at a private home on the island of Maui.[37]
On May 16, 2017, it was revealed on his personal Instagram account that he and Puente were expecting their first child.[38] Their son was born on October 22, 2017.[39] On March 16, 2021, Morrison used his Instagram again to announce that he and Puente were expecting their second child together following a series of miscarriages.[40] Their daughter was born on June 28, 2021.[41]
Discography
Matthew Morrison visiting Barnes & Noble for a CD release party, 2013
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