Darren Criss
Biography
Darren Criss is an American actor, singer, and songwriter born in San Francisco who first attracted attention through musical theater. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he co-founded StarKid Productions and starred as Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical, contributing most of its music and lyrics. He became widely known as Blaine Anderson on the Fox series Glee, which ran from 2010 to 2015. He has also released solo EPs and formed the band Computer Games. Criss made his Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and later took over the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. His performance as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. He appeared in the films Girl Most Likely (2012) and Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021), and in 2025 earned two Tony Awards for Maybe Happy Ending, including Best Actor in a Musical.
39years old
Turns 40 on February 5in 116 days
- Born San Francisco
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Also credited as Darren Everett Criss
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 14 years2011 to 2025
Genres
- Action50%, 8 films
- Animation50%, 8 films
- Sci-Fi44%, 7 films
- Comedy25%, 4 films
- Documentary19%, 3 films
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Behind the award
Darren Criss became the first Asian American actor to win the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2025, for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, a show he also co-produced and won Best Musical for.
First role
At ten years old, Darren Criss played Cesario in 42nd Street Moon's Fanny, which was his first professional stage role in 1997.
Behind the camera
Criss earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2009, then co-founded the musical theater company StarKid Productions with University of Michigan friends and classmates. His most prominent StarKid acting role has been Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical.
Early training
At age ten, Criss was accepted into the Young Conservatory program at the American Conservatory Theater, where he spent his formative years studying theater performance.
Early training
In 2008, Criss studied Italian theater during a semester abroad at the Accademia dell'Arte, which is located in Arezzo, Italy.
Darren Criss movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Superman: Man of Tomorrow2020 Action, Animation, Sci-Fias Superman / Clark Kentvoice
IMDb rating 6.510K votes
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One2024 Action, Animation, Sci-Fias Superman / Earth-2 Supermanvoice
IMDb rating 6.210K votes
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two2024as Superman / Earth-2 Supermanvoice
IMDb rating 5.66.8K votes
Most often with
Jeff Wamester directed six of these films. Two actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Matt Bomer's page
Jensen Ackles's page
Troy Baker's page
Stana Katic's page
Geoffrey Arend's page
Ike Amadi's page
Jeff WamesterDirector, 6 films, 2021 to 2024
All films by Jeff Wamester
Awards
One award and honor, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2018 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.