Christopher Fitzgerald (actor)

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Christopher Fitzgerald
Born Christopher Cantwell Fitzgerald
November 26, 1972 (1972-11-26) (age 35)
Spouse(s) Jessica Stone
(2003-present)

Christopher Fitzgerald is a Tony Award-nominated American actor, singer, mime, clown, juggler, and acrobat. He is best known for his role as Boq in the musical Wicked and his role of Igor in Young Frankenstein (musical).

He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on November 26, 1972. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He also gained a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

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[edit] Theatre

Christopher Fitzgerald started his acting career in 1980, at the age of eight, when he appeared as the youngest boy in Portland Player's production of Oliver!. From that time on, he worked steadily in community theater and Maine's New Vaudeville shows. In college, he began his career as a summer apprentice at Williamstown Theater Festival. At the age of twenty-six, in 1998, he starred in his first off-Broadway show, the controversial "Corpus Christi" by acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally. In the same year, he also appeared in The Matchmaker by Williamstown Theatre Festival, as well as an off-Broadway staging of The Cripple of Inishmaan.[1]

During the following year, Christopher Fitzgerald appeared in the Sondheim-Weidman musical Wise Guys. He also performed in a rendition of Babes in Arms, produced by the famous production company Encores! in the New York City Center. [2]

In 2000, Fitzgerald co-starred in the 1954 Sondheim musical Saturday Night.[3] His performance in this show earned him his first ever award nomination, for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. [4] Also in 2000, Fitzgerald got the lead role in the one-man show Fully Committed. He ran in the show until 2001. [5]

In 2002, Christopher Fitzgerald opened in the musical Amour, adapted from a 1943 French short story written by Marcel Aymé. He performed from October 20, 2002 until November 3, 2002. His performance earned him another nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. [6]

On October 30, 2003, Christopher Fitzgerald premiered in the musical Wicked in the role of Boq. He departed the role on January 9, 2005 and was replaced by Jeffry Kuhn.

Most recently, Christopher Fitzgerald was seen in Gutenberg! The Musical! opposite Jeremy Shamos and directed by Alex Timbers. It opened on December 3, 2006, and ran until May 6, 2007 [1].

He is currently appearing as the character "Igor" in the Broadway production of the new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, which opened on Broadway in November 2007. For the role Christopher received a Outer Critics Circle Award nomination. Fitzgerald also played Igor in the musical's out-of-town tryouts in Seattle. During rehearsals for the show Chris' wife gave birth to their first child a boy named Charlie.

[edit] Film and Television

[edit] Film

Christopher Fitzgerald's first film role was a bit part in the movie Boiler Room starring Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck. His next part was in the movie Personal Velocity: Three Portraits as Greg. Personal Velocity scored two awards at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, including Best Cinematography.[7]

[edit] Television

On the television show Twins on The WB, Christopher Fitzgerald played the character of Neil, beginning in 2005. The show was cancelled on May 18, 2006, following the merger of The WB and UPN that created the new network The CW.

He appeared in full costume as an adult Cabbage Patch doll in a Geico insurance commercial.[8]

[edit] Awards & Nominations

  • 2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical
  • Saturday Night (nominee)
  • 2003 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical
  • Amour (nominee)
  • 2008 Tony award (nominee) outstanding featured actor in a musical
  • "Young Frankenstein"
  • 2008 Broadway.com Audience Award (Winner) Best featured actor in a musical
  • "Young Frankenstein"

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