John Barrowman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Barrowman MBE
Barrowman in 2022
Born	John Scot Barrowman (1967-03-11) 11 March 1967 (age 58) Glasgow, Scotland
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States
Occupation	Actor author television judge presenter singer comic book writer
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Scott Gill ​ (m. 2013)​
Relatives	Carole Barrowman (sister)

John Scot Barrowman MBE (born March 11, 1967) is a Scottish-American actor, singer, author, and TV host. He is famous for playing Captain Jack Harkness in the TV shows Doctor Who and Torchwood. He also played the villain Malcolm Merlyn in the superhero series Arrow.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Barrowman's family moved to Illinois in the United States when he was eight. His teachers in high school encouraged him to study performing arts. He later moved to London and got a big role in the musical Anything Goes in the West End, which is London's main theatre district.

Over the years, he has starred in many famous musicals in both the West End and on Broadway in New York City. Some of these include Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, and Sunset Boulevard.

Besides theatre, Barrowman has appeared in movies and many TV shows. He is well-known for his work with the BBC, especially as Captain Jack Harkness. He has also been a judge on TV talent shows like How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? and Dancing on Ice.

Barrowman has also recorded several music albums. He has written two autobiographies and a series of fantasy books for young adults with his sister, Carole.

Early Life and Education

John Scot Barrowman was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 11, 1967. He is the youngest of three children. His mother was a singer who worked in a record shop, and his father worked for the Caterpillar company.

In 1975, his family moved to Aurora, Illinois, in the United States. At first, other students made fun of his Scottish accent, so he learned to speak with an American accent. In high school, his music and English teachers saw his talent. They encouraged him to perform and join the speech team.

He acted in many school musicals, including Oliver! and Hello, Dolly!. He has said that without the support he got in high school, he might not have had his successful career. After graduating in 1985, he became a U.S. citizen but also kept his British citizenship. He studied performing arts at a university in San Diego before moving to the UK to start his career.

Career in Theatre and Acting

Famous Theatre Roles

Barrowman at the 2013 Phoenix Comicon

Barrowman's professional career started in London's West End in 1989. He played Billy Crocker in the musical Anything Goes. This was the beginning of a long and successful stage career.

He played many major roles in famous musicals, including:

• Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (1992)
• Chris in Miss Saigon (1993)
• Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (1994–1995)
• The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (1999)

In 1998, he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award, a top award in British theatre, for his role in the musical The Fix. He has also performed in pantomimes, which are fun, family-friendly plays often shown during Christmas.

Television Presenting

Barrowman saluting like his character Captain Jack Harkness at a parade in 2007.

Barrowman has hosted many television shows. From 1993 to 1995, he was a presenter on the BBC children's show Live & Kicking. He also hosted game shows and afternoon programs.

He became a judge on musical talent shows for the BBC, such as How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do. In these shows, he helped find new stars for West End musicals. He was also a contestant on the celebrity ice-skating show Dancing on Ice in 2006 and later became a judge on the show from 2020 to 2021.

Famous TV Roles

Barrowman has acted in many TV dramas in both the U.S. and the UK. His most famous role is Captain Jack Harkness in the science fiction series Doctor Who. He first appeared in 2005 and quickly became a fan favorite.

His character was so popular that he got his own spin-off show called Torchwood. The show follows Captain Jack and his team as they protect Earth from alien threats. Torchwood ran from 2006 to 2011. Barrowman has returned to Doctor Who for special appearances, most recently in 2021.

From 2012 to 2019, Barrowman played Malcolm Merlyn, also known as the Dark Archer, in the superhero show Arrow. He started as a villain but became a more complex character over time. He also appeared as Merlyn in other shows in the same universe, like The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.

Books and Writing

Barrowman has written books with his sister, Carole Barrowman, who is a university professor. They wrote two books about his life, Anything Goes (2008) and I Am What I Am (2009).

They also wrote a series of fantasy novels for young adults called Hollow Earth. The story is about twins with the power to bring art to life. The first book was published in 2012, and it was followed by two sequels. They have also written other books together, including a Torchwood novel.

Personal Life

Barrowman speaks with an American accent most of the time but uses his original Scottish accent when he is with his family.

He met his husband, Scott Gill, in 1993. They entered into a civil partnership in the UK in 2006. They were legally married in California on July 2, 2013. The couple divides their time between their homes in the UK and Palm Springs, California.

Barrowman supports several charities and is an advocate for LGBT rights. In 2014, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to entertainment and charity.

Filmography and Stage Work

Below are some of the movies, TV shows, and plays John Barrowman has been in.

Film

Television

Theatre

See also

In Spanish: John Barrowman para niños