John Barrowman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Barrowman MBE
Barrowman in 2019
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 (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer, and comic book writer. He is famous for playing Captain Jack Harkness in the TV shows Doctor Who (from 2005 to 2010; and again in 2020–2021). He also starred in its spin-off show Torchwood (from 2006 to 2011). Another well-known role is Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse (from 2012 to 2019).

John Barrowman was born in Glasgow, Scotland. When he was eight, his family moved to Illinois in the United States. His high school teachers encouraged him to study performing arts. He went to the United States International University in San Diego. Later, he got his first big role as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes in London's West End. Since then, he has performed in many musicals in London and on Broadway. These include Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, and Sunset Boulevard.

Besides theatre, Barrowman has been in films like De-Lovely (2004) and The Producers (2005). He also worked on American TV shows before becoming well-known on the BBC in the UK. His BBC work includes shows for CBBC and his own show Tonight's the Night. He was nominated for an award for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood. Barrowman has also been a guest on many TV shows in both the US and the UK. He competed on the ice skating show Dancing on Ice. His theatre background also led him to be a judge on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical talent shows. He joined the judging panel of Dancing on Ice again from 2020 to 2021. In 2006, he was named Entertainer of the Year by Stonewall. He hosted the quiz show Pressure Pad on BBC One in 2013 and 2014. Barrowman also played Malcolm Merlyn in The CW's Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.

John Barrowman has released many musical theatre albums. His albums Another Side (2007) and Music Music Music (2008) both appeared on the UK Albums Chart. His self-titled album John Barrowman (2010) reached No. 11, which is his highest chart position so far. He has written two memoirs, Anything Goes (2008) and I Am What I Am (2009). He wrote these with his older sister, Carole Barrowman. They also wrote a series of young-adult fantasy novels called Hollow Earth. The second book, Bone Quill, came out in 2013, and Book of Beasts in 2014. A second trilogy, The Orion Chronicles, followed with Conjuror (2016), Nephilim (2017), and Inquisitor (2018).

Growing Up and Early Life

John Scot Barrowman was born in Mount Vernon, Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 March 1967. He was the youngest of three children. His older sister, Carole Barrowman, later became a university professor. He lived in Glasgow for his first eight years. His mother was a singer and worked in a record shop. His father worked for the Caterpillar company.

In 1975, his father's company moved the family to the United States. They settled in Joliet, Illinois. John attended Joliet West High School. His music teacher helped him love performing. His English teacher encouraged him to develop his artistic skills. She moved him into a program for gifted children. She also coached him for the school's speech team. He competed in speech competitions, practicing by reading scenes from plays.

When he first moved, his classmates made fun of his Scottish accent. So, Barrowman learned to speak with a General American accent. In high school, he got roles in many musical shows. From 1983 to 1986, he performed in Oliver!, Camelot, and Anything Goes. Some of his classmates who also did theatre were Anthony Rapp and Andy Dick. John says that without the support he got in high school, he might not have become a successful performer.

After high school, John worked for a power company for a summer. His father wanted him to experience manual labour. His father told him it would help him understand the importance of education. John didn't like the job. He convinced the company to move him to the storeroom.

Barrowman graduated from high school in 1985. He later became a US citizen but kept his British citizenship too. He studied drama and music at the University of Iowa for a semester. Then he studied voice at DePaul University. He also performed at the Opryland theme park for two summers. In 1988, he transferred to the United States International University. He studied performing arts there. In 1989, he returned to Britain for a student exchange program. He stayed there to study Shakespeare for six months and then remained in the UK.

Acting Career Highlights

Theatre Performances

Barrowman at the 2013 Phoenix Comicon

John Barrowman's professional acting career started in London's West End in October 1989. He played Billy Crocker in Anything Goes. He continued to perform in West End shows for the next ten years. He played Domingo Hernandez in Matador in 1991. He was Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera in 1992. He also played Chris in Miss Saigon in 1993. From 1994 to 1995, he was Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. In 1999, he played the Beast in Beauty and the Beast.

In 1994, Barrowman was in the musical Godspell. He sang two songs: "We Beseech Thee" and "On The Willows". In 1998, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. This was for his role as Cal Chandler in The Fix. He also played Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway. His other Broadway role was Barry in Putting It Together (1999–2000). A theatre critic praised his "fine baritone voice and suave looks." In 2002, Barrowman played Bobby in Company.

On 23 March 2002, Barrowman performed in a 'Concert for Peace'. This gala show was to protest the war in Iraq. He sang 'Being Alive' from 'Company'. Other famous performers like David Tennant were also there.

Barrowman returned to the role of Billy Crocker in Anything Goes in 2003. He also acted in non-musical plays. He was Wyndham Brandon in Rope in 1993. In 2005, he starred as Lieutenant Jack Ross with Rob Lowe in A Few Good Men.

Barrowman has also starred in pantomime shows. He was Prince Charming in Cinderella (2005–06). He played Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (2006–07). He was Aladdin in Aladdin (2007–08). He also performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 2008. He played Robin Hood in Robin Hood (2008–09). In 2008, he hosted Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th birthday party. In 2009, Barrowman played Zaza/Albin in La Cage aux Folles.

Television Presenter Roles

Barrowman saluting like Captain Jack Harkness at the 2007 London Gay Pride parade.

Barrowman was one of the first hosts of Live & Kicking. This was a children's Saturday morning show on the BBC. He became known for his catchphrase, "it's a dirty rat!" He used it during a phone-in game. From 1993 to 1994, he reported on technology news for the show. He also appeared on the children's game show The Movie Game from 1994 to 1996.

From 1997 to 1999, Barrowman was a regular presenter on 5's Company on Channel 5. He read bedtime stories on the CBeebies channel in May 2006. That summer, he was a judge on How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? on BBC One.

In 2006, Barrowman appeared on two New Year's Eve shows. He talked about spirituality on Heaven & Earth. He was also a guest on The Big Finish with Graham Norton. In 2007, he co-presented the BAFTA Film Awards with Ruby Wax. He also guest-presented two episodes of Elaine Paige on Sunday on BBC Radio 2.

In 2007, Barrowman was a judge on Any Dream Will Do. This BBC One show looked for a new actor to play Joseph in a musical. He also appeared on the comedy quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He was a guest on Al Murray's Happy Hour and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

On 27 July 2007, Barrowman guest hosted The Friday Night Project on Channel 4. In 2008, he presented a BBC game show called The Kids Are All Right. Four adults competed against seven smart children for cash. He also presented the National Lottery Draw in February 2008.

In March 2008, Barrowman was a panelist on Eurovision: Your Decision. This show selected the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. From April to May, he presented This Morning. In June 2008, he became a judge on the Canadian version of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. In 2008, Barrowman also became the presenter for Animals at Work. This children's show on CBBC featured animals with special skills. In February 2010, he was a guest host on the shopping channel QVC.

In 2011, Barrowman guest hosted the Christmas special of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In 2012, he guest presented three episodes of This Morning. In July 2012, he co-hosted G4's 2012 Live Comic Con in San Diego. In 2013, Barrowman started hosting the BBC One game show Pressure Pad. In 2014, he hosted Superstar Dogs: Countdown to Crufts on Channel 4. He also hosted Small Animal Hospital in 2014. In October 2016, he was a guest team captain on Celebrity Juice and guest presented The One Show.

Prime Time Drama Roles

Barrowman's TV career started with roles in several short-lived soap operas. He first starred as Peter Fairchild in Central Park West (1995). A critic described his character as a "Prince Charming." The show lasted for two seasons on CBS. Barrowman then appeared as Peter Williams in Titans (2000). In Titans, he played a "ruthless mogul." Titans was cancelled after eleven episodes.

On 25 March 2008, Barrowman made a guest appearance in Hotel Babylon. He also appeared in the 2010 season of Desperate Housewives. He played Patrick Logan, a character central to a mystery. His contract was extended to six episodes.

Barrowman starred in the pilot for the ABC drama series Gilded Lillys. This show was created by Shonda Rhimes.

Since 2012, Barrowman has played Malcolm Merlyn in The CW series Arrow. Malcolm Merlyn is one of the main villains. Barrowman was a recurring cast member for the first two seasons. He became a main cast member starting with the third season. By July 2016, he signed a deal to be a regular on Arrow and other superhero shows. These included The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. In a Flash episode, he played gangster Cutter Moran in a dream world. Although he announced he was leaving the Arrowverse in May 2017, Barrowman returned as Malcolm Merlyn in the "Elseworlds" crossover.

Film and Reality Television

Barrowman appeared as Ben Carpenter in the film Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002). His singing skills were shown in other film roles. He played Jack in the film De-Lovely (2004), singing "Night and Day" with Kevin Kline. He was also the lead tenor Stormtrooper in The Producers (2005), singing "Springtime for Hitler". Barrowman co-presented and performed in the BBC One series The Sound of Musicals (2006).

Barrowman took part in the reality TV show Dancing on Ice on ITV1 in 2006. He was trained by ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. His skating partner was Olga Sharutenko. He was a favorite to win but was eliminated on 4 February. He was also a guest on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special (2010). He achieved the top score and won first place in the audience vote. His professional partner was Kristina Rihanoff. In September 2012, Barrowman was a guest host on Attack of the Show!.

On 12 November 2018, Barrowman joined I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He finished in third place.

In 2018, Barrowman voiced the villain Flex Dexter in Fireman Sam: Set for Action!. This was a special episode of the children's animated series.

Doctor Who and Torchwood Roles

Barrowman played Captain Jack Harkness in the BBC science fiction show Doctor Who. Jack Harkness is a time traveller from the 51st century. His first appearance was in "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" in 2005. He then appeared in three more episodes. Jack became very popular. He got his own spin-off show called Torchwood. This show featured a team of alien hunters in modern-day Cardiff. Torchwood started in 2006. A critic described Barrowman's role on Torchwood as "dashing" and "utterly fabulous." In the show, Jack "tracks down—and occasionally beds—ETs."

Barrowman continued to guest star in Doctor Who in 2007. He appeared in "Utopia" and "Last of the Time Lords". He also participated in a Doctor Who special on The Weakest Link. In 2008, Barrowman appeared in the 2008 series finale, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End". He also returned as Captain Jack Harkness in a special called "Doctor Who: Tonight's the Night." In 2010, Barrowman had a small role in The End of Time.

Series 3 of Torchwood was a five-episode miniseries called Children of Earth in 2009. Filming for Series 4, Torchwood: Miracle Day, began in 2011. It was filmed in Los Angeles and around Cardiff. The first episode aired in the US on 8 July 2011 and in the UK on 14 July 2011. Both Doctor Who and Torchwood became popular in the United States on the BBC America network. In November 2013, he appeared in a comedy special called The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. Since 2015, he has continued to appear in Torchwood audio plays for Big Finish Productions. In January 2020, Barrowman made a surprise appearance in "Fugitive of the Judoon" in Doctor Who's twelfth series. He appeared again in the 2021 New Year's Day special "Revolution of the Daleks".

Books and Writing

Barrowman's first memoir, Anything Goes, was published in 2008. His sister, Carole Barrowman, helped him write it. In 2009, he published his second memoir, I Am What I Am. This book talked about his recent TV work and thoughts on fame.

Barrowman's first original story was a Torchwood comic strip. It was called Captain Jack and the Selkie. He wrote it with his sister Carole. He said he wanted to show a new side of Jack Harkness. This led to a series of Torchwood comics published between 2010 and 2017.

Barrowman's first fantasy novel, Hollow Earth, was published in 2012. He wrote it with his sister Carole. The story is about twins Matt and Emily Calder. They can make artwork come to life with their imaginations. Bad people want to use their power to open a place called Hollow Earth. This is where demons and monsters are trapped. Two more books in the series followed: The Bone Quill (2013) and The Book of Beasts (2014). A second trilogy, The Orion Chronicles, continued their adventures. These books are Conjuror (2016), Nephilim (2017), and Inquisitor (2018). They also published a novel featuring Captain Jack, Torchwood: Exodus Code, in 2012. In 2018, John and Carole Barrowman created a graphic novel called Acursian. It features a modern hero dealing with Celtic myths.

Charity Work and Activism

Barrowman has worked with Stonewall. This is a group in the UK that supports equal rights for everyone. He worked on their "Education for All" campaign. This campaign fights against unfair treatment in schools. In 2006, Stonewall voted him Entertainer of the Year. He was also on the "Out 100" list in 2008. This list features notable people who support equal rights. In June 2010, Barrowman met with Prime Minister David Cameron. He represented the community that supports equal rights.

In 2010, Barrowman was one of 48 celebrities who signed a public notice. It warned voters about a political party's plans for the BBC. In the 2012 presidential election, Barrowman supported Barack Obama. In 2014, Barrowman publicly supported Scotland staying in the United Kingdom. He signed a letter to The Guardian newspaper opposing Scottish independence.

Personal Life

Barrowman in July 2014

John Barrowman is known for speaking with an American accent in public. But he switches back to his original Scottish accent when he is with his family. This was first shown in his 2008 documentary The Making of Me. He also uses his Scottish accent when he is in Scotland or talking to other Scottish people.

Barrowman met his husband, Scott Gill, in 1993. Scott came to see John perform in a play called Rope. They live in London, Cardiff, and Palm Springs, California. They had a civil partnership ceremony on 27 December 2006. It was a small event in Cardiff with friends and family. The cast of Torchwood and producer Russell T Davies were guests. They were legally married in California on 2 July 2013.

In 2011, Barrowman launched his own skin care line called HIM.

In March 2017, Barrowman and Gill had a "big bad garage sale" at their home. They sold items from Doctor Who and Torchwood. Neighbors and fans came to the sale. Barrowman shared many moments from the day on his social media.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Voice Roles

Theatre and Concerts

Music Albums

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Box Set

Cast Recordings

He performs two songs in The Flash episode, "Duet".

Soundtracks

Other Appearances

Home DVD Releases

• An Evening With John Barrowman (2009)
• John Barrowman: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2010)
• John Barrowman: Collectors Edition- 2 disc DVD set

Awards and Recognition

• Barrowman was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2014. This was for his work in entertainment and charity.
• In July 2011, he received an honorary degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
• He received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in 2016. This was for his work supporting the LGBTQ community.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: John Barrowman para niños