John Gallagher, Jr.
| John Gallagher, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
John Howard Gallagher, Jr. June 17, 1984 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2001–present |
John Howard Gallagher, Jr. (born June 17, 1984) is an American actor and musician known for originating the role of Moritz Stiefel in Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's rock musical Spring Awakening, which earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also played Johnny in Green Day's Broadway musical, American Idiot, and Lee in the 2011 Broadway production of Jerusalem. Until 2014, he played Jim Harper in Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom.
Early life
Gallagher was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware with his parents and two older sisters. His parents, John, Sr. and June Gallagher, are folk musicians. He eventually went on to play in numerous bands, including Not Now Murray, What Now, Annie's Autograph, and Old Springs Pike.
Before and throughout his Spring Awakening run, he was in Old Springs Pike. On January 23, 2008, his fellow band members announced his departure. The next day, Gallagher made an official announcement confirming his departure on his MySpace page. Old Springs Pike later officially changed their name to The Spring Standards.[1]
Gallagher played Tom Sawyer as a child actor at the Delaware Children's Theatre.[2][3]
Stage career
Gallagher has appeared in three plays by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. He originated the role of Jeff in Abaire's hit play Kimberly Akimbo, appeared in the ill-fated United Kingdom production of Fuddy Meers, and he received critical acclaim for his role in Rabbit Hole, which marked his Broadway debut. He also appeared in the Manhattan Theatre Club Production of the David Marshall Grant play Current Events.[4]
Gallagher originated the role of Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening on Broadway after performing the role Off-Broadway and in workshops at Lincoln Center. The rock musical, with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre Company on May 19, 2006 and ran through August 5, 2006.[5] Spring Awakening opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 10, 2006. Gallagher won the 2007 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance.[6] On December 16, 2007, he left Spring Awakening and was succeeded two days later by Blake Bashoff.[7]
Gallagher starred in productions of the dramas, Port Authority, by Conor McPherson and Farragut North by Beau Willimon.[8] Both plays were productions of the Atlantic Theater Company, the same theater that premiered Spring Awakening.
Gallagher starred in American Idiot, a musical based on the Green Day album of the same name, along with fellow Spring Awakening alumni Brian Charles Johnson and Gerard Canonico.[9] American Idiot premiered in Berkeley, California at the Berkeley Repertory Theater on September 4, 2009.[10] The show's run ended on November 15, 2009. It began previews on Broadway at the St. James Theatre March 24, 2010 and officially opened on April 20, 2010. It was later nominated for three 2010 Tony Awards, of which it won two.[11] Gallagher played Johnny aka "Jesus of Suburbia". Gallagher departed American Idiot on February 27, 2011 and was succeeded by Van Hughes[12] The show's run ended on April 24, 2011.
On February 17, 2011, it was announced that Gallagher would be in the Broadway production of The Royal Court Theatre's Jerusalem. The production was directed by Ian Rickson, and opened on April 21, 2011 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).[13] He played the role of Lee until leaving the production on July 17, 2011.[14]
Film and television
Gallagher has appeared in several television programs, including The West Wing, Law & Order: SVU, NYPD Blue, Ed, Love Monkey, and Hallmark Hall of Fame's film The Flamingo Rising. Film credits include Pieces of April, Woody Allen's Whatever Works, Jonah Hex, Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret, and a lead role in Short Term 12 opposite Brie Larson. His latest movie, The Heart Machine, was released in October 2014. In November 2014 he finished filming for Valencia, an upcoming thriller film.[15]
He played Jim Harper in Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom which aired on HBO[16]
Music
Gallagher has been writing music since his early adolescent years. He frequently performs in live spaces such as Rockwood Music Hall in New York. He has stated on multiple occasions that he is working on putting out a record.[17] In an interview with Alternative Nation in December 2014 he mentioned that he is aiming for a Spring 2015 release.[18] In an encounter with a fan he confirmed that the songs "Wild Wild Woods", "Sarasota Someone" and "Dangerous Strangers" will be on his first album, and that the sound of it is "more rock n roll with a few ballads and acoustics."
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Flamingo Rising, TheThe Flamingo Rising | Gary | Television film |
| 2003 | Pieces of April | Timmy Burns | |
| 2006 | Mr. Gibb | Brett Mullen | |
| 2009 | Whatever Works | Perry | |
| 2010 | Jonah Hex | Lieutenant Evan | |
| 2011 | Margaret | Darren | |
| 2013 | Short Term 12 | Mason | |
| 2013 | Broadway Idiot | Himself | Documentary |
| 2014 | Heart Machine, TheThe Heart Machine | Cody | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Law & Order | Terrence Holt | Episode: "Girl Most Likely" |
| 2002 | The West Wing | Tyler | Episode: "20 Hours in America (Part 1)" |
| 2003 | Ed | Eric | Episode: "The Decision" |
| 2003 | NYPD Blue | Ray Spier | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Law and Order: Criminal Intent | Gary | Episode: "Conscience" |
| 2006 | Love Monkey | Paul | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jeff Lynwood | Episode: "Lead" |
| 2012–2014 | Newsroom, TheThe Newsroom | James "Jim" Harper | Main cast |
| 2014 | Olive Kitteridge | Christopher Kitteridge | HBO miniseries; 3 episodes |
New York Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kimberly Akimbo | Jeff | Manhattan Theatre Club (Off-Broadway) |
| 2006 | Rabbit Hole | Jason | Pacific Playwrights Festival
Biltmore Theatre (Broadway) |
| 2006–2007 | Spring Awakening | Moritz Stiefel | Atlantic Theatre Company (Off-Broadway)
Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway) |
| 2008 | Port Authority | Kevin | Atlantic Theatre Company (Off-Broadway) |
| 2008 | Farragut North | Stephen Meyers | Atlantic Theatre Company (Off-Broadway) |
| 2009–2011 | American Idiot | Johnny (The Jesus of Suburbia) | Berkeley Repertory Theatre
St. James Theatre (Broadway) |
| 2011 | Jerusalem | Lee | Music Box Theatre (Broadway) |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Spring Awakening | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | American Idiot | Nominated | ||
| Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Leading Actor in a Broadway Musical | Won | ||
| 2014 | CinEuphoria Award | Best Supporting Actor - International Competition | Short Term 12 | Nominated |
References
- ↑ The Spring Standards on Myspace
- ↑ Ruston, Muriel (September 29, 2009). "Leaving the nest for 'Birdie'". The News Journal. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ↑ "John Gallagher, Jr.". Film Bug. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ↑ Official Spring Awakening biography
- ↑ Pincus-Roth, Zachary."'Spring Awakening' Advance Approaches $2 Million" playbill.com, December 12, 2006
- ↑ Recording of 'Spring Awakening' Live at the Apple Store
- ↑ "Bashoff Joins Broadway's Spring Awakening"
- ↑ Farragut North, Backstage Political Tale, With Noth and Gallagher, Begins in NYC
- ↑ http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com/2009/03/im-not-american-idiot.html
- ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (March 30, 2009). "Punk CD Is Going Theatrical". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ↑ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/134479-Broadway-Future-Is-Confirmed-for-American-Idiot-But-When%3F
- ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (February 10, 2011). "New ‘American Idiot' Cast Members Include Davey Havok of AFI". The New York Times.
- ↑ "John Gallagher, Jr. to Co-Star in JERUSALEM; Full Cast Announced". Broadway World.com. February 17, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152893-Jay-Sullivan-Replaces-John-Gallagher-Jr-in-Broadways-Jerusalem-Starting-July-19
- ↑ "Interview: John Gallagher, Jr. Says Goodbye to The Newsroom"
- ↑ from 2012 to 2014."John Gallagher Jr. Departs Jerusalem to Join Aaron Sorkin's More As This Story Develops"
- ↑ "Reddit Q&A with Zachary Wigon, John Gallagher Jr. and Kate Lyn Sheil of The Heart Machine"
- ↑ "Interview: John Gallagher, Jr. Says Goodbye to The Newsroom"
External links
- John Gallagher, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
- John Gallagher, Jr. at the Internet Broadway Database
- John Gallagher, Jr. at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- John Gallagher, Jr. on Twitter
- Review of John Gallagher Jr's performance in American Idiot on Broadway, April 21, 2010
- Bio of John Gallagher Jr's The Newsroom character, Jim Harper
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