Braden Danner

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Braden Danner
Born
Braden Barret Tarkington Danner

(1975-12-13) December 13, 1975 (age 48)
School of Cinematic Arts
Occupation(s)Actor, Director, Writer, Producer
Years active1981–1989, 2001–present

Braden Danner (born December 13, 1975) is an American actor, writer, director and producer who has worked in theatre, television, and film. He is a graduate of The

Disney television series that launched the careers of such superstars as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling.[3]

In 2004, he graduated from The

commercials.[1][3]

Early life and family

Danner was born on December 13, 1975, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[3] His mother, Cheryl Danner, performed in Los Angeles at The Comedy Store and The Improv's open mic nights, and later in Indianapolis with such improvisational comedy groups as Laff Staff with comedians Ray Combs and Robert G. Lee.[4] As a boy, Danner often accompanied his mother to her comedic rehearsals. Inspired by her performances, he soon began singing and acting at home for family and friends. He attended Redlands High School in Redlands, California. He has two sisters,[4] photographer Diane Danner[5] and Broadway and film actress Demaree Catherine Hill.[6][7] He is a relative of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Booth Tarkington, and was given his 2nd middle name in the author's honor.[3]

Career

Early work

At age six, Danner began acting professionally in television commercials in Indianapolis. He soon appeared in

Tony Award-winning musical Nine, directed by Tommy Tune. After winning the role, Danner, his mother and two sisters moved to New York City.[4] He made his Broadway debut at the age of seven as Young Guido's Schoolmate in Nine.[9]

Critical success

In 1984, Danner starred in the title role of Oliver! on Broadway with Patti LuPone and Ron Moody.[10] This was Danner's first production with musical magnate Cameron Mackintosh and original Oliver! director Peter Coe. Cameron Johann was originally cast in the title role, while Danner began rehearsals as a member of the ensemble cast. Upon arriving from London, however, Coe and Mackintosh agreed, "'That's not Oliver [referring to Johann], he is,' and pointed at Braden Danner."[11] Patti LuPone relates the story in her memoir: "The first day of rehearsal the director fired the Oliver!! I left the room, clutched my throat, and thought, "I'm next!""[10] Danner and Oliver! opened on Broadway to a warm critical and popular reception. Critics called Danner "an appealing little Oliver"[12] and celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Mark Hamill (of Star Wars) came to see the show.[13] While Oliver! only received one negative review; it was enough to prompt one of the main backers to pull out, causing the show to close in spite of its overall popularity.[10]

Later that year, Danner made his theatrical television debut on

Academy Award-winning writer Ted Allen when he performed as David in Lies My Father Told Me. Of his performance, theatre critic Peter Wynne wrote, "Danner...exhibits a greater emotional range than does that of many a grown-up performer,"[15] and Richard F. Shepard of The New York Times
wrote:

"Braden Danner…does a remarkably impressive job of portraying a boy of many moods, who can turn from wonderment and passion to resentment and tears; it is a formidable achievement."[16]

From Les Misérables to The Mickey Mouse Club

In 1986, Danner won the role of

Opera House of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.[17] While in Washington D.C., he began working simultaneously on Nunn's next Broadway production, originating the role of Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express.[18]

When Les Misérables and Starlight Express both opened on Broadway in March 1987 to commercial success,[19] Danner became the first young actor in history to accomplish the "dual feat"[2] of starring in two "hits on Broadway"[4] at the same time. Danner garnered critical acclaim for his performances from writers such as Frank Rich, then chief theatre critic of The New York Times, who wrote, "Braden Danner…tower[s] over most child actors."[20] Critics often noted the connection that Danner shared with the audience, writing: "Braden Danner…is embraced by the audience,"[21] eliciting "sobs from a willing audience,"[22] as he walks "away with the most heart-tugging scene of all."[23] Starlight Express became the newest Andrew Lloyd Webber success, and Les Misérables went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has become one of the most successful and most performed musicals in history. The success of the original West End and Broadway productions of Les Misérables created the momentum for thousands of subsequent productions of the same musical around the world,[24] including the film version starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.[25]

Danner performed eight shows a week for over a year before leaving Les Misérables in early 1988 to create the role of Buddy McGillis in

A.J. Antoon's production, Genesis.[27]

In 1989, Danner starred in the original cast of

The Disney Channel continued to rebroadcast Danner's Season One performances from 1989 to 1995.[26]

Education and filmmaking

In 2001, Danner moved to Los Angeles to continue to study filmmaking at

USC Film School in December 2003 and graduated with his class in May 2004.[3]
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts.

After film school, Danner began working on a wide variety of productions. He worked as a producer on several

U.S. Airforce.[33]

Personal life

Philanthropy

Throughout his career, Danner has worked with nonprofit organizations to further charitable works in The United States and around the world. In the 1980s, Danner began supporting organizations such as The

dental clinic near Tororo, Uganda.[3] In the 2000s, he became a supporter of The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation,[36] a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing global awareness of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In the 2010s, he began working with many charitable organizations to fight human trafficking, sexual abuse and homelessness. His efforts to fight homelessness were concentrated in Los Angeles, the city with the highest concentration of homelessness in the United States. In 2011, he began working with The GEANCO Foundation,[37] a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of Nigeria
's women and children through the development of world-class medical, education and recreational facilities and programs.

World Travel

Danner began traveling at an early age, performing in television and

short films and interactive media projects such as Give Me Scotland (2004).[38] Over the course of nine months, he lived in Europe, Asia and Oceania, shooting a documentary of his journey to eighteen countries, before returning to Los Angeles in 2005.[39]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-312-32986-0
    .
  2. ^ a b United Press International (March 28, 1987). "Personal Mention". Houston Chronicle.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Braden Danner – IMDb". imdb.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Burns, Veronica (June 1, 1987). "Sitting Pretty in Two Hits on Broadway, Braden Danner Looks Like a Waif of the Future". People Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "Diane Danner Photography". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Grigware, Don. "BWW Reviews: Demaree Alexander Bows @ Sterling's". losangeles.broadwayworld.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  7. ^ "Demaree Catherine Hill – IMDb". imdb.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  8. ^ "Ginger Rogers to be in IRT play". Kokomo Tribune. December 11, 1982. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Braden Danner – Broadway Theatre Credits, Photos, Who's Who – Playbill Vault". playbillvault.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-0-307-46073-8
    .
  11. ^ LaRue, Michele. "KIDS ON STAGE AND SCREEN: Growing Pains". backstage.com/bso/index.jsp. Retrieved June 17, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Beaufort, John (May 7, 1984). "Revival of 'Oliver!' continues to charm people of all ages". The Christian Science Monitor, The (Boston, MA).
  13. ^ "Signing...Autographs". Lakeland Ledger. May 13, 1984. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  14. ^ Goblenz, Eleanor (June 25, 1985). "Theater Alive and Well at Berkshire Festival". Schenectady Gazette. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  15. ^ Wynne, Peter (June 22, 1986). "'LIES': UNCLEAR TRANSLATION". The Record (New Jersey).
  16. ^ Shepard, Richard F. (June 19, 1986). "STAGE: 'LIES,' BY ALLAN". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  17. ^ "The Program". Stagebill, Vol. XV, No. 6. February 1987.
  18. ^ Rich, Frank (March 16, 1987). "STAGE: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S 'STARLIGHT EXPRESS'". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Curry, Jack (March 13, 1987). ""Les Mis" sends spirits soaring". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  20. ^ Rich, Frank (March 13, 1987). "STAGE: 'MISERABLES,' MUSICAL VERSION OPENS ON BROADWAY". The New York Times.
  21. ^ Vadeboncoeur, Joan E. (May 24, 1987). "'LES MISERABLES' OFFERS DOUBLE DELIGHT IN NYC". Syracuse Herald American (NY).
  22. ^ Harrison, Thomas B. (July 12, 1987). "A theater seat's view". St. Petersburg Times.
  23. ^ Harrison, Thomas B. (October 22, 1988). "Call them Les Kids.". St. Petersburg Times.
  24. ^ "Les Miserables: About The Show – General Information". lesmis.com/. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  25. ^ "Les Miserables: Official Movie Site". lesmiserablesfilm.com/. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Braden Danner - TV.com". tv.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Braden Danner Theatre Credits". broadwayworld.com/. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  28. ^ Amoroso, Mary (April 23, 1989). "MICKEY'S NEW CLUB DISNEY UPDATES FORMULA TO CAPTURE YOUNG AUDIENCE". The Record (New Jersey).
  29. ^ Winfrey, Lee (April 24, 1989). "'M-I-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-AGAIN'". Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA).
  30. ^ ""The All New Mickey Mouse Club" (1989)". imdb.com/. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  31. ^ "HOLLIS". backstage.com/bso/index.jsp. Retrieved June 18, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "KCM Selected to Be Featured on Hugh Downs National Report – PBS". bloomberg.com/. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  33. ^ "News Room Press Information Stern Environmental Group". sternenvironmental.com/index.php. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  34. ^ "26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition – Broadway Cares". broadwaycares.org/home. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  35. ^ "Mexican Medical Ministries". mexicanmedical.com/index.php. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  36. ^ "Gwendolyn Strong Foundation: This is SMA". thegsf.org/home. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  37. ^ "GEANCO". geanco.org/index.html. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  38. ^ "Give Me Scotland". calvarymotherwell.org/about/missions/. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  39. ^ "Braden Danner's List of Top Ten Most Beautiful Places". circletheplanet.com/stories-013.asp. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
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