Andy Hallett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Hallett
Hallett in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Andrew Alcott Hallett
Born	(1975-08-04)August 4, 1975 Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.
Origin	Osterville, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 29, 2009(2009-03-29) (aged 33) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer
Years active	1999–2009
Labels	Rounder Records

Andrew Alcott Hallett (born August 4, 1975 – died March 29, 2009) was an American actor and singer. He became famous for playing the character Lorne in the TV show Angel from 2000 to 2004. Andy often used his amazing singing voice on the show. He even sang two songs on the show's soundtrack album, Angel: Live Fast, Die Never, which came out in 2005.

Early Life and Music

Andy Hallett grew up as an only child in a small village called Osterville, Massachusetts, which is part of Cape Cod. He finished high school at Barnstable High School in 1993. After that, he went to Assumption College in Worcester.

Andy didn't start singing for an audience until a special moment at a concert. He was at a Patti LaBelle concert in Boston. Patti LaBelle, a famous singer, invited some people from the audience to sing on stage. Andy, who was just a regular guy, went up there. He started singing, and everyone was amazed! Patti LaBelle even said, "This is a white boy with soul." That's when Andy discovered how exciting it was to perform.

Becoming an Actor

After college, Andy moved to Los Angeles to try and make it in the entertainment world. He worked different jobs, like being a runner for a talent agency and managing properties. Eventually, he became a personal assistant to Kai Cole, who is married to Joss Whedon. Joss Whedon is the person who created popular TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

One night, Joss Whedon and his friends saw Andy singing at a lounge in Universal CityWalk. Andy's singing was so good that Joss Whedon got an idea for a new character on his show Angel. This new character was Lorne. Lorne was a friendly demon who could read people's hearts and tell them about their future when they sang karaoke in his bar.

Andy was asked to try out for the part of Lorne. He had three auditions and got the role! Angel was his very first big acting job. He had been an extra in one episode of Buffy before, but Lorne was his first main role. He even got an agent after she saw him singing and acting in the first episode of Angel's second season, called "Judgment".

Lorne was a very important character in Angel. Andy appeared as Lorne in 76 episodes out of the show's 110 episodes. He started as a character who appeared sometimes, but then became a main cast member for the last two seasons. To look like Lorne, Andy had to wear a lot of special makeup. It took at least two and a half hours every day to put on the makeup for his face, neck, and hands before he could start filming!

Health Challenges

About a month after filming the last episode of Angel, Andy faced a serious health problem. He had a tooth infection that spread to his heart. This caused a condition called cardiomyopathy, which weakens the heart muscle. He had to stay in the hospital for five days.

Even though he got better, his heart was weaker, and he would get tired easily. He didn't act much after that, except for a voice role in an animated movie called Geppetto's Secret. Instead, he focused on his music. He also often went to fan conventions for Buffy and Angel, and other science fiction and fantasy events, where he met fans.

Five years after his first heart problems, and after being in the hospital a few more times, Andy Hallett sadly passed away. He died from congestive heart failure on March 29, 2009, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was only 33 years old.

Legacy

Even after Andy's passing, the character of Lorne continued to appear in the comic book series Angel: After the Fall. In 2010, a special 48-page comic book called Lorne: The Music of the Spheres was written by John Byrne. Chris Ryall from IDW Publishing said that this comic book was a way to honor Andy and also give a final farewell to the character of Lorne.

Filmography

See also