Wednesday Morning Man: Darren Criss!

Wishing a happy 38th birthday to the multi-talented Darren Criss who has been such a huge success in television ( The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Glee, Hollywood) and on Broadway (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, American Buffalo). He is currently appearing on Broadway in the musical Maybe Happy Ending.

Waaaaaay back in 2010, he was named New Star of the Year when I was presenting the Greggy Awards each year. God that was a lot of work!

Anyway, he had just started on Glee that fall and his publicist had called to tell me how excited Darren had been by that. I found out how true this was a few months later when I ran into him at a little convenience store of the building that then housed Variety and O and he gave me a big, heartfelt hug. (We are pictured in 2013 at the Family Equality Awards).

So much has happened to Darren since Glee ended in 2015. He has starred on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He also debuted his indie pop band Computer Games along with his brother Chuck Criss and their EPs have made it to the top of the Billboard charts.

His most acclaimed acting triumph to date has been starring in Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. His portrayal of spree killer Andrew Cunanan earned him an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He also won the Golden Globe and SAG awards.

Happy birthday to Darren!

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