Colm Wilkinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colm Wilkinson
Wilkinson performing in 2007 in Ontario, Canada
Background information
Also known as	C. T. Wilkinson
Born	(1944-06-05) 5 June 1944 (age 81) Drimnagh, Ireland
Genres	Rock opera Broadway theatre musical theatre folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer actor
Years active	1972–present

Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944), also known as C. T. Wilkinson, is a famous Irish singer and actor. He is best known for playing the main character, Jean Valjean, in the musical Les Misérables in London and on Broadway. He also created the role of the Phantom in an early version of The Phantom of the Opera.

Because of these famous roles, he has performed as Jean Valjean at the Les Misérables 10th and 25th Anniversary Concerts. He also appeared as a special guest at The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall 25th Anniversary. His performances of "The Music of the Night" from Phantom and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables are loved worldwide. Fans often ask him to sing these songs at his concerts.

Early Life

Colm Wilkinson was born in Drimnagh, Ireland, in 1944. He was one of ten children. His home was always full of singing, poetry, and music. Both of his parents were talented musicians. His mother was a singer and enjoyed acting in local plays. His father played the banjo and mandolin.

Colm worked with his father, who was an asphalt contractor. At the same time, he played music in bands part-time. When he was 16, he went on a music tour to the United States. Soon after, he decided to become a full-time professional musician.

Life and Career

Colm Wilkinson played in several Irish bands. In 1972, he was chosen to play Judas Iscariot in the Dublin show of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. He later played this role in London and on a tour across Britain.

In 1976, Wilkinson sang the part of Che on the album for the musical Evita. Instead of trying out for the stage show in London, he decided to start his own career as a singer and songwriter. He also sang as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde on an early album for the musical Jekyll and Hyde.

By 1977, Wilkinson released his own album, called Colm C.T. Wilkinson. It was a big hit in Ireland, staying at Number 1 on the Irish music charts for eight weeks.

After his successful album, Wilkinson started preparing for singing competitions. This led to him representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978. He sang the song "Born to Sing" and finished in fifth place in the European competition.

In 1984, Wilkinson starred in Voices, a musical about the life of Joan of Arc. The show was performed at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.

In 1985, he worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber again. He was the first to play The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera during a special workshop. Wilkinson was offered the main role for the show's first performance in London. However, he chose instead to play Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.

The London show of Les Misérables opened in October 1985. It then moved to Broadway in New York City in March 1987. At first, the American actors' union did not want Wilkinson to play Valjean in New York. This was because they usually only hired American actors. But the show's producer, Cameron Mackintosh, insisted that Wilkinson play the role. The union eventually agreed. Wilkinson won several awards for his performance, including the Helen Hayes Award. He was also nominated for a Tony Award.

In 1989, Wilkinson and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was offered the main role in the first Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera. He has lived in Toronto ever since and became a Canadian citizen in the early 2000s.

From 1998 to 1999, Wilkinson played Valjean again in Toronto. He also returned to the role in Dublin, Ireland, in 1999. In 2002, he played Valjean in Shanghai, China.

In 1995, Wilkinson played Jean Valjean in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In 2007, Wilkinson went on a concert tour across Canada called Broadway and Beyond. He performed with other singers, Susan Gilmour and Gretha Boston.

Wilkinson also appeared as Lord Darcy in the TV show The Tudors in 2009. He performed at a birthday celebration for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009. He also sang at Senator Kennedy's memorial service. In May 2009, Wilkinson performed at the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C.

In January 2010, he released a solo album called Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs. His previous album, "Some of My Best Friends Are Songs," came out in 2002. On that album, he sang the Cat Stevens song "Father and Son" as a duet with his son, Aaron.

On 3 October 2010, Wilkinson was a special guest at the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena. He performed as part of a "Valjean Quartet" with three other actors who had played Jean Valjean.

A year later, in October 2011, he appeared at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Phantom of the Opera at The Royal Albert Hall. He was joined by other actors who had played the Phantom.

Wilkinson is a founding artist of Theatre 20, a musical theatre company in Toronto. He performed in their concert series in 2011.

In 2012, Wilkinson appeared in the film version of Les Misérables. He played the role of the Bishop of Digne. He also played this role in a stage performance of the musical in Toronto in 2014.

Rolling Stone Magazine readers voted Wilkinson one of the five greatest singers ever. He is known for keeping his strong singing voice even in his late 60s. He says his voice stays healthy because he avoids coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy products. He also makes sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. He speaks softly to avoid tiring his voice.

Personal Life

In 1970, Colm Wilkinson married Deirdre. He says she has been a very important support for him for over 40 years. They started their married life in Bray, Ireland. They have four children: Aaron, Judith, Sarah, and Simon. They have a home in Wicklow, Ireland, but mostly live in Canada now.

The family moved to Toronto in 1989. This was when Wilkinson began a four-and-a-half-year run playing the main character in The Phantom of the Opera in Canada. Their children have grown up to have interesting careers: Judith is a curator, Simon and Sarah are graphic designers, and Aaron is a singer and songwriter. Early in his career, Wilkinson always made sure his wife and children came with him on tour so they could stay together as a family.

Discography

Solo albums

• Colm C.T. Wilkinson (1977)
• Stage Heroes (1989)
• Some Of My Best Friends Are Songs (2002)
• Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs (2010)

Cast albums

• Evita (1976)
• Les Miserables (1985 London Cast)
• Les Misérables (1987 Broadway Cast)
• Highlights From Jekyll and Hyde (1990)
• Phantom of the Opera (1990 Canadian Cast)

Filmography

Honours

• He received the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage from the Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin in 2018.

Honorary Degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Ontario	October 2012	Ryerson University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)	Yes