Darren Criss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Darren Criss
Criss in 2023
Born	Darren Everett Criss (1987-02-05) February 5, 1987 (age 38) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Education	University of Michigan (BFA)
Occupation	Actor singer songwriter
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Mia Swier ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar violin drums mandolin harmonica
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Sony Columbia
Associated acts	Glee, StarKid Productions, Charlene Kaye, Computer Games

Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He became famous for his role on the TV show Glee (2010–2015). He won Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his main role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018). Darren has also performed on Broadway, acted in movies, and released several music albums.

Darren is a co-founder of StarKid Productions, a musical theater group in Los Angeles. He first gained attention playing Harry Potter in their musical A Very Potter Musical. He also wrote most of the music and lyrics for it. Darren has starred on Broadway in shows like How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In 2015, he helped start Elsie Fest. This is New York City's first outdoor music festival for songs from stage and screen.

In 2017, Darren started an indie pop band called Computer Games with his brother, Chuck Criss. Besides music, Darren also starred in the TV series American Crime Story.

Early Life and Education

Darren Criss was born in San Francisco, California. He is the youngest child of Cerina and Charles William Criss. His mother is from the Philippines and has Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish roots. His father was from Pittsburgh and had English, German, and Irish heritage. Darren grew up mostly in San Francisco. From 1988 to 1992, his family lived in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Darren went to Roman Catholic schools. He finished elementary school at Stuart Hall for Boys. He then graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 2005. In 2009, Darren earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He studied Theater Performance and also music and Italian.

Musical and Theater Training

Darren Criss at Northalsted Market Days in Chicago

Darren's love for music began when he was very young. At age five, he started violin lessons. He studied classical music for 15 years. Darren taught himself to play other instruments too. These include guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, and drums. In high school, he was very involved in music. He was the lead violinist in the school orchestra. He also had his own band. His classmates voted him "most likely to win a Grammy". When he was fifteen, Darren started writing music. His first song became the title track of his first EP, Human, released in 2009.

Darren was also interested in acting. At age ten, he joined the American Conservatory Theater's Young Conservatory program. He studied theater there for many years. At St. Ignatius, he was part of the performing arts program. He acted in plays like The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof. At the University of Michigan, he acted and directed for the student theater group, Basement Arts. In 2008, he studied Italian theater in Arezzo, Italy.

Career Highlights

Starting Out with StarKid Productions (1997–2009)

Darren Criss first acted professionally at age ten. He played Cesario in Fanny (1997). He also appeared in other musicals like Do I Hear a Waltz? (1998) and Babes in Arms (1999). As a teenager, Darren performed in many plays at the American Conservatory Theater. These included A Christmas Carol and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

At the University of Michigan, he acted in plays like Pride and Prejudice. Darren also started his solo music career there. He played in small places, performing his own songs. He also sang classic American songs and Disney tunes. In 2009, Darren began his TV career. He played Josh Burton in five episodes of Eastwick. The next year, he was in an episode of Cold Case.

After college in 2009, Darren and his friends started StarKid Productions. This is a musical theater company. His most famous role with StarKid was Harry Potter. He played Harry in A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel, and A Very Potter Senior Year. These musicals are based on the Harry Potter books. Darren also wrote many songs for StarKid. His songs were in A Very Potter Musical and Me and My Dick. Me and My Dick was the first college musical to appear on the Billboard charts. Darren also wrote all the songs for A Very Potter Sequel and Starship. Starship reached number one on the Billboard Top Cast Albums chart.

Becoming Famous with Glee (2010–2015)

Criss as Blaine Anderson, performing solo (left) and with The Dalton Academy Warblers

His Role in Glee

Darren played Blaine Anderson on the TV show Glee. He first appeared in the second season in November 2010. Blaine was the lead singer of The Dalton Academy Warblers, a glee club. His first song on the show was "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. This song was very popular. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the best-selling song in the US that week for Glee.

Critics loved "Teenage Dream". Many said it was the best song from that episode. The New York Daily News called it "flawless". This performance helped Glee use more popular pop songs.

Other songs by Blaine and the Warblers also became very popular. They even released a Warblers album, Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers. It sold 86,000 copies in its first week. The Warblers' songs sold over 1.3 million copies as singles.

Blaine first became a friend and mentor to Kurt, another character. Fans really liked their connection. So, the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, decided to make them a couple. In the third season, Blaine joined New Directions, another glee club. Darren became a main actor on the show. Later, Blaine went to college and then returned to Dalton to direct the Warblers. From May to July 2011, Darren and the Glee cast went on a concert tour. They performed in the US, Canada, England, and Ireland. The tour made over $40 million and sold out all 40 shows.

In the final season, Blaine and Kurt got married. Darren was happy that his character helped people understand relationships better. He said it was "incredibly wonderful" to be part of a story that helped people. Darren also wrote two songs for Glee: "Rise" and "This Time". He was nominated for an Emmy Award for writing "This Time".

Criss signing autographs during the premiere of Girl Most Likely

Other Projects During Glee

On July 20, 2010, Darren released his own music EP called Human. He described it as "soul-folk" music. It reached number 17 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums chart. In April 2011, he signed with Sony Music Entertainment. He is working on a full album.

In 2011 and 2012, Darren joined StarKid's concert tours, The SPACE Tour and Apocalyptour.

In January 2012, Darren made his Broadway debut. He took over the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He replaced Daniel Radcliffe for three weeks. His performances were very successful. The musical had its best weeks with Darren in the lead role. Darren also made his first movie appearance in the comedy Girl Most Likely. It came out in July 2013. The movie also starred Kristen Wiig and Annette Bening.

In January 2013, Darren performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. This was at the inaugural balls for the 57th Presidential Inauguration. In April 2013, Darren became an honorary member of Yale University's singing group, The Whiffenpoofs. This was during a concert to help public school arts. Darren's first solo music tour was from May to June 2013. He visited 17 cities in the US, Canada, and France. He sang songs from Glee, StarKid, his Human EP, and new songs.

Continued Success (2016–Present)

Criss during Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Darren played Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway from April to July 2015. He then led the national tour of the show in San Francisco and Los Angeles in late 2016.

His acting in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story received great praise. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for this role. In the same year, Darren formed the indie pop band Computer Games with his brother, Chuck Criss. Their first album, Lost Boys Life EP, has four songs they wrote. The first song, "Every Single Night," reached number two on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart. In December 2017, Darren released a solo EP called Homework. It topped the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.

In 2019, it was announced that Darren would act in, produce, and create Royalties. This show was released in June 2020. He also acted in and produced Hollywood, which came out on Netflix in May 2020. In October 2021, Darren played The Caretaker in Muppets Haunted Mansion.

In March 2021, singer Brandy released "Starting Now," a song Darren co-wrote. This song was part of a Disney special. On October 8, 2021, Darren released his first Christmas-themed album. In December 2022, he went on a Christmas tour across the U.S. From April to July 2022, he performed in the Broadway show American Buffalo. He is also starring in the new Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending.

Media Appearances and Other Projects

Darren has been on the covers of many magazines. These include Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and TV Guide. He was also in an ad campaign for the Japanese clothing line Uniqlo in 2011.

Darren is an investor in The Motley, a men's grooming company. He also co-founded Elsie Fest, a music festival. It features Broadway and pop music acts. The first festival was held in New York City in September 2015.

Helping Others: Advocacy and Charity Work

Darren Criss supports LGBT rights. He actively helps The Trevor Project. This group works to prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth. Darren received Variety's Power of Youth Philanthropy award for his work with The Trevor Project.

Darren has also been a spokesperson for groups like Rock the Vote.

He recorded the Bob Dylan song "New Morning" with his brother, Chuck Criss. This was for Amnesty International. It was on the album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, released in 2012.

Darren has performed at many charity events. These include benefits for AIDS Project Los Angeles, Toys for Tots, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Personal Life

In January 2018, Darren Criss announced his engagement to Mia Swier. They had been together for seven and a half years. They got married on February 16, 2019. In October 2021, they shared that they were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born in April 2022. Their second child, a son, was born in June 2024.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theater Roles

Video Game Roles

Web Series and Hosting

Musical Performances (Selected)

Discography

Solo Albums

• A Very Darren Crissmas (2021)

EPs

• Human (2010)
• Homework (2017)
• Masquerade (2021)

Glee Albums

• Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album (2010)
• Glee: The Music, Volume 4 (2010)
• Glee: The Music, Volume 5 (2011)
• Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers (2011)
• Glee: The Music, Volume 6 (2011)
• Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)
• Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2 (2011)
• Glee: The Music, Volume 7 (2011)
• Glee: The Music, The Graduation Album (2012)
• Glee: The Music, Season 4, Volume 1 (2012)
• Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 3 (2012)
• Glee Sings the Beatles (2013)
• Glee: The Music – Celebrating 100 Episodes (2013)

StarKid Productions Albums

• Little White Lie (2009)
• A Very Potter Musical (2009)
• Me and My Dick (A New Musical) (2010)
• A Very StarKid Album (2010)
• A Very Potter Sequel (2010)
• Starship (2011)
• The SPACE Tour (2012)
• Apocalyptour (2012)
• A Very StarKid Senior Year (2012)

Independent Songs

• "Skin and Bones" – Duet with Charlene Kaye – Things I Will Need in the Past (album) (2008)
• "Dress and Tie" – Duet with Charlene Kaye (2011)
• "New Morning" – Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International (album) (2012)

Computer Games

• Lost Boys Life (2017)

Music Videos

• "Skin and Bones" – Charlene Kaye (2009)
• "Magnolia Wine" – Charlene Kaye (2009)
• "Roll with Me" – Montgomery Gentry (2009)
• '"Dress and Tie" – Charlene Kaye (2011)
• "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" – Katy Perry (2011)
• "New Morning" – Amnesty International (2012)
• "Dress You Up" – Vogue's "Fashion Night Out" (2012)
• "Kangaroo Court" – Capital Cities (2013)
• "Songify the News 3" — The Gregory Brothers (2013)
• "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo" – Capital Cities (2014)
• "Already Home" — A Great Big World (2014)
• "Anthem" — Phantom Planet featuring Darren Criss (2020)

Tours

• Glee Live! In Concert!
• Listen Up Tour (2013)
• LM/DC Tour (with Lea Michele) (2018)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Darren Criss para niños