Christopher Jackson (actor)

Christopher Jackson

Jackson in costume as George Washington in Hamilton
Born Christopher Neal Jackson
(1975-09-30) September 30, 1975[1][2]
Cairo, Illinois[3]
Alma mater American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Occupation Actor
Years active 1996–present
Known for In the Heights and Hamilton
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Spouse(s) Veronica Vazquez
Children 2

Christopher Neal Jackson (born September 30, 1975) is an American actor, singer, musician, and composer best known for his roles in Broadway theatre. Specifically, Jackson is known for starring alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda in Miranda's original productions of In The Heights in 2008 and Hamilton in 2015, as well as a singing role in Disney's Moana in 2017. Jackson received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination for his role as George Washington in Hamilton.

Early life

Jackson attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[4]

Career

In 2015, Jackson originated the role of President George Washington in the musical Hamilton on Broadway.[5][6] He was nominated for a Tony Award and concluded his run on November 13, 2016.[7] Jackson has previously performed on Broadway in In the Heights, Bronx Bombers, After Midnight, The Lion King,[8] Holler If Ya Hear Me,[9] and Memphis.[10]

For the 2016-2017 season, Jackson plays Chunk Palmer in the CBS courtroom drama Bull.[11] Jackson's film and TV work includes Moana, Tracers, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, A Gifted Man, and Nurse Jackie.[12] Jackson is also a member of hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme.[13][14] He has been nominated for three Emmy Awards for composing music and lyrics for television; he won the “Outstanding Original Song” Emmy Award in 2011 for his lyrics to “What I Am,” which he co-wrote for Sesame Street with Bill Sherman.[15]

Personal life

Before the first run-through of the Off-Broadway production of In the Heights, Jackson learned that his son had been diagnosed with autism.[16] Jackson and his wife, Veronica Vazquez-Jackson, are advocates for the organization Autism Speaks; they have one son and one daughter.[13] Jackson is 6'2" tall.[17]

Credits

Theatre

Film

  • You'll Be a Man..., documentary, 2012 (composer)
  • Broken Aster, short film, 2013 (composer)
  • Tracers, Lonnie, 2015
  • Moana, Chief Tui (singing voice), 2016

Television

Albums

  • In The Heights, 2009
  • In the Name of Love, 2011
  • Hamilton, 2015
  • Moana, 2016

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2004 BATC Award Best Actor Beggar's Holiday Nominated
2006 Joseph Jefferson Award Best Actor Comfortable Shoes Won
Black Theater Alliance Award Best Actor Nominated
2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance In the Heights Won
2011 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Original Song for A Children's Series Sesame Street Nominated
Won
2014 Nominated
2016 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Hamilton Nominated
Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Won
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Christopher Jackson @ChrisisSingin | Twitter". Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ Daniels, Karu (April 11, 2016). "10 Things You May Not Know: Christopher Jackson of ‘Hamilton'". Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ Mosely, Rachel; Kletnoy, Sergio (July 13, 2015). "Founding Father Alexander Hamilton's Life Is Now a Hip-Hop Musical". Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  4. ↑ Daniels, Karu (July 8, 2014). "Broadway Audiences Hear Chris Jackson's Holler: Leading Man Plays Three Starring Roles in One Season". Playbill. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (July 17, 2015). "3 presidents in ‘Hamilton’ put ‘blood into the statues’". Lima, Ohio. AP. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ Hoch, Danny (April 23, 2015). "Sure, ‘Hamilton’ Is a Game-Changer, But Whose Game?". American Theatre. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ Jordan Crucchiola (October 14, 2016). "Christopher Jackson Is Saying Good-bye to Hamilton". Vulture. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ broadwayworld.com. "Christopher Jackson Theatre Credits". Broadway World website. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (April 7, 2014). "Saul Williams, Tonya Pinkins & Christopher Jackson to Star in Tupac Shakur Musical Holler If Ya Hear Me". Broadway.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew (December 20, 2011). "In the Heights and The Lion King, will join the cast of the Tony-winning Best Musical Memphis". Playbill. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ Levin, Gary (November 11, 2016). "A day in the life: Christopher Jackson, from 'Bull' to Broadway's 'Hamilton'". USA Today. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ IMDB.com. "Chris Jackson IMDB". IMBD website. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  13. 1 2 freestylelovesupreme.com. "Freestyle Love Supreme - The Crew". Freestyle Love Supreme website. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ Kaufman, Joanne (May 5, 2016). "What I Love: Christopher Jackson of ‘Hamilton,’ at Home in the Bronx". New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  15. ↑ amda.edu. "Alumnus Christopher Jackson nominated for his 3rd Emmy Award!". AMDA blog. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  16. ↑ Purcell, Carey (October 9, 2015). "Christopher Jackson On the "Incredible Moments" He's Shared With Lin-Manuel Miranda — Musicals, Marriage and Children". Playbill. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ Chris Jackson. "Chris Jackson Twitter". Twitter website. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.