Darren Criss

How it started.

Darren grew up in San Francisco and began violin lessons at five. At the University of Michigan, he made A Very Potter Musical with friends, playing Harry Potter and sharing the music credit with A.J. Holmes. The 2009 student production reached a much wider audience after it went onto YouTube, helping launch StarKid.

The song that introduced Blaine.

Glee brought Darren to a wider television audience as Blaine Anderson. His introductory performance of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. He later wrote “This Time” for the series finale, earning a 2015 Emmy nomination for music and lyrics.

Songs of his own.

Alongside acting, Darren has kept making records. His 2021 releases include the five-song Masquerade EP and A Very Darren Crissmas. The holiday album pairs familiar songs with less expected choices and includes duets with Adam Lambert, Evan Rachel Wood and Lainey Wilson.

From screen to stage.

His portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story earned a 2018 Emmy and a 2019 Golden Globe. On Broadway, he has played Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Bobby in American Buffalo.