Chris Colfer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Colfer
Chris Colfer at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Christopher Paul Colfer (1990-05-27) May 27, 1990 (age 35) Clovis, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor singer writer
Years active	2008–present
Partner(s)	Will Sherrod (2013–present)

Christopher Paul Colfer (born on May 27, 1990) is an American actor, singer, and author. He became famous for playing Kurt Hummel on the TV musical show Glee from 2009 to 2015. His role as Kurt earned him many awards. These included the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won three People's Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor from 2013 to 2015. He was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award. In April 2011, Time magazine named Colfer one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Colfer also wrote, starred in, and produced his first movie, Struck by Lightning. This film first showed at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. He is also the author of The New York Times bestselling children's book series, The Land of Stories. The first book was The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. As of September 2025, he had published twenty-one books.

Early Life and School Days

Chris Colfer was born in Clovis, California. His parents are Karyn and Timothy Colfer. He has Irish family roots. When he was a child, he spent three months in the hospital after a surgery. This experience made him interested in creating his own fictional worlds.

When Chris was seven, his younger sister was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. He felt a strong need for attention from his parents. This led him to use his imagination and start writing fairy tales.

Chris showed a love for writing from a young age. He wanted to be a storyteller. He used both writing and acting to entertain people and explore new worlds. His grandmother was his first editor. She encouraged him when he first tried to write a fairy tale novel in elementary school. This story later became The Land of Stories. In 2012, Colfer dedicated his first published novel to her. He shared her advice: "Christopher, I think you should wait until you're done with elementary school before worrying about being a failed writer."

Chris faced tough times with bullying in middle school. It was so severe that he was homeschooled for part of 7th and 8th grade. When he went to Clovis East High School, he joined the speech and debate team. He won several awards, including ninth place in a state competition. He was also active in the drama club and was president of the Writer's Club. As a high school senior, he wrote, starred in, and directed a funny play called Shirley Todd. In this play, all the roles were switched between boys and girls. A real experience from his school days later became a story for his character on Glee. His teachers would not let him sing "Defying Gravity" because it is usually sung by a woman.

Chris Colfer's Career Journey

Chris Colfer's first acting role was in a local play called West Side Story. He then appeared in The Sound of Music as Kurt von Trapp. This role later inspired the name of his character on Glee.

At 18, Colfer starred as Russel Fish in a short film. It was called Russel Fish: The Sausage and Eggs Incident. In the film, his character was an awkward teenager. He had to pass a fitness test or lose his chance to go to Harvard University.

Becoming a Star on Glee

Colfer's first TV role was in 2009. He was cast as Kurt Hummel on Fox's show Glee. Kurt is a stylish character who sings very well. He often faced bullying at school for being different and for being part of the Glee Club. Colfer first tried out for a different role, but the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, was very impressed with him. Murphy then created the role of Kurt especially for Chris.

Colfer at the Time 100 Gala in April 2011

In a 2010 interview, Colfer shared that the show's writers sometimes used his real-life experiences. He said, "There have been a couple of times when I have gone to Ryan Murphy and told him a couple of things that have happened to me, and then he writes it into the show."

Colfer won the 2011 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series for his role as Kurt Hummel. In his speech, he thanked Ryan Murphy. He also dedicated his award to bullied kids and those who feel different. He was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his acting as Kurt.

In 2013 and 2014, Colfer won People's Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor. His speeches were praised for being funny. He also showed his thanks to fans by mentioning things like fan stories and fan art.

Jenna Ushkowitz, Colfer and Heather Morris during a performance of "Single Ladies" on the tour Glee Live! In Concert! in 2011

Writing the Land of Stories Books

On June 8, 2011, Chris Colfer signed a deal to write two children's novels. The first book, The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, came out on July 17, 2012. The books tell the adventures of twins, Conner and Alex Bailey. They find their grandma's storybook and travel into "The Land of Stories." This book quickly became number one on The New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Chapter Books.

The second book, The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns, was released in 2013. It also became a bestseller. Because of the success of the first two books, Colfer signed a contract for three more books. These included two novels and a picture book.

The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning was the third book, released on July 8, 2014. It also reached the New York Times Best Seller list. The fourth book, The Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdoms, came out on July 7, 2015. This made The Land of Stories the No. 1 series on the New York Times Best Seller list.

The picture book, The Curvy Tree, was released in October 2015. It was written by Colfer and illustrated by Brandon Dorman. This book is based on a short fairy tale that Colfer first told in The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell.

The fifth book, The Land of Stories: An Author's Odyssey, was released on July 12, 2016. The sixth and final book in the series, The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide, was released on July 11, 2017.

In June 2017, it was announced that Colfer planned to direct a film based on The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. He also planned to write the script and be an executive producer. In July 2025, Warner Bros Pictures acquired the rights to the series. Phil Johnston is adapting the books for the screen.

Other Creative Projects

Chris Colfer wrote, starred in, and produced the comedy film Struck by Lightning. The movie is about his character, Carson Phillips, who is struck by lightning. It shows his adventures as he gets his classmates to help with a literary magazine. The film premiered in 2012 at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In January 2014, it was announced that Colfer would voice the main character in a 3D animated family film called Robodog. The film was in post-production as of 2019, but no release date has been set.

In March 2014, the producers of Glee asked Colfer to write an episode for the show. He said he didn't think it was his place to write for the show at first. But then they invited him to try. The episode he wrote, titled "Old Dog, New Tricks", aired in May 2014.

In 2014, Colfer appeared as a guest star on Hot in Cleveland as Tony, Victoria's son. He returned for another episode in the show's final season in 2015.

A film about Noël Coward, with the working title Noel, was announced in May 2015. Colfer was set to play the main role. Filming was planned for 2015 but has been delayed.

In 2016, he played Christopher in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. He was offered the role after inviting Jennifer Saunders to a Glee tour. He also appeared as a guest judge on Chopped Junior.

In 2017, Colfer announced a new TV show idea called Indigo. It is a science fiction drama about children who have special abilities. Colfer planned to write and direct the first episode.

Colfer starred as Boyd in a film called The Restoration at Grayson Manor, which was released in 2025.

More Books by Chris Colfer

In 2012, Colfer released a companion book to his film Struck by Lightning. It was called Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal.

In early 2017, Colfer released his second book for young adult readers. It was titled Stranger Than Fanfiction. The book tells the story of Cash Carter, a famous TV star. He decides to take a road trip with four of his biggest fans before they start college.

On October 1, 2019, Colfer released a new book, A Tale of Magic.... This book is a prequel to The Land of Stories series. The sequel, A Tale of Witchcraft..., was published on September 29, 2020. The final part, A Tale of Sorcery..., was published on September 28, 2021.

Colfer's newer projects include a series of children's books about space and UFOs. The first book, Roswell Johnson Saves the World, was published on June 4, 2024.

Interests and Community Work

Chris Colfer showed his skill with a pair of sai (a type of weapon) on a British TV show in 2010. He said he bought them online and practices regularly. His sai even appeared in a Glee episode.

He supported Karen Bass in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Colfer actively supports anti-bullying campaigns and organizations that help young people facing challenges. He made a video for the It Gets Better campaign. He dedicated his 2011 Golden Globe Award to bullied kids and those who feel different.

In 2013, Colfer filmed a public service announcement (PSA) with Elmo about anti-bullying for Sesame Street in Communities. He also took part in a charity run for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2014, he participated in a PSA for Let Girls Learn, an initiative by the U.S. Agency for International Development. On Hollywood Game Night, he won $6,000 and donated it to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of America.

Colfer was a co-chair for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party in 2013 and 2014. He is also part of Uprising of Love, an organization that promotes safety and respect for all people.

Film and TV Roles

Movies

Television Shows

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Chris Colfer para niños