Christopher Jackson (actor)
Christopher Jackson | |
---|---|
Born | Christopher Neal Jackson September 30, 1975[1][2] Metropolis, Illinois,[3] U.S. |
Other names | Chris Jackson |
Alma mater | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1996–present |
Known for | In the Heights Hamilton Bull |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Christopher Neal Jackson (born September 30, 1975) is an American actor and singer. He began his career in 1995 starring in the Off-Broadway musical Time and the Wind by composer Galt MacDermot at the age of 20. He made his Broadway debut in 1997 as an ensemble member in the original Broadway cast of Disney's The Lion King. He remained with the show for several years, ultimately taking over the role of Simba. He went on to perform leading roles in several more Broadway musicals and plays, including After Midnight, Bronx Bombers, Holler If Ya Hear Me, and Memphis. He drew critical acclaim in several projects with Lin-Manuel Miranda: originating the roles of Benny in In the Heights and George Washington in the smash hit Hamilton. For the latter role he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also collaborated with Miranda on the Disney film Moana in which he provides the singing voice of Chief Tui. His other film work includes secondary roles in After.Life and Tracers.
Jackson starred as
Early life and education
Born in Metropolis, Illinois, and raised in Cairo, Illinois, by his mother, Jane Adams, a vocal music teacher, and stepfather Herbert Michael Hodges.[3][4] In 1993 he graduated from Cairo High School.[4] While a student there, he performed in plays and was encouraged to pursue a career as an actor by one of his high school teachers, Lynn Steveson, who also led the school's debate team of which Jackson was a part. She also cast him in a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible.[4] He credits Pilots basketball coach Larry Baldwin and Pastor Larry Potts of Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center as other important mentors during his formative years in Cairo.[4]
After graduating from high school, Jackson attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.[5]
Career
Jackson began his career in 1995 starring in the
In 2009 Jackson was tapped to write music for the revived children's television program
In 2015, Jackson originated the role of President
In February 2021, Jackson signed with Nickelodeon to compose the NOGGIN SVOD original series Rhymes Through Times,[24] which features Nick's preschool characters in a Broadway extravaganza recreating the stories of the greatest heroes of America, specifically focusing on Black history.[25] The animation for the show was done by LionForge Animation LLC. who have previously worked on the Oscar-winning Netflix movie Hair Love.[26] The second season dropped on March 7, 2022.
Personal life
In 2004, after meeting through a production of In the Heights, Jackson married actress and singer
Acting credits
Theatre
Year | Production | Role | Category |
---|---|---|---|
1997–2000 | The Lion King | Featured soloist/Simba u/s | Broadway |
2000–02 | Simba | ||
2003–04 | Ensemble | National tour | |
2004 | Beggar's Holiday | Happy Mac | California |
Comfortable Shoes | Clay Harris | Chicago | |
2005 | Candide | Ensemble | Off-Broadway |
Patience | Duke of Dunstable | Off-Broadway | |
In the Heights | Benny | Workshop | |
Regional | |||
2007 | Off-Broadway | ||
2008–09 | Broadway | ||
2009 | Memphis | Delray | Broadway |
2010–11 | In the Heights | Benny | Broadway |
2011 | Lonely, I'm Not | Performer | Off-Broadway |
2012 | The Jammer | Charlie Heartbreak | Off-Broadway |
2013 | Hamilton | George Washington | Workshop |
After Midnight | Special Guest Star | Broadway | |
Bronx Bombers | Bobby Sturges/Derek Jeter | Off-Broadway | |
2014 | Broadway | ||
Holler if Ya Hear Me | Vertus | Broadway | |
2015 | Hamilton | George Washington | Off-Broadway |
2015–16 | Broadway | ||
2019 | Freestyle Love Supreme | C-Jack (Cameo at certain unannounced performances) | Broadway |
2021 |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | After.Life | Neal | |
2012 | You'll Be a Man... | — | Composer, documentary |
2013 | Broken Aster | — | Composer, short film |
2015 | Tracers | Lonnie | |
2016 | Moana | Chief Tui (singing voice) | |
2020 | Hamilton | George Washington | Filmed recording of the 2016 Broadway musical |
2021 | In the Heights | Mister Softee | Cameo |
Tick, Tick... Boom! | TTB Concert Attendee | ||
2023 | World's Best
|
Corey |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Oz | Perry Loftus | 5 Episodes |
2009 | The Electric Company | — | Music Director |
Fringe | EMT #1 | Episode: "Unleashed" | |
2010 | Nurse Jackie | Trey | Episode: "Bleeding" |
White Collar | Nico | Episode: "Unfinished Business" | |
2010–2014 | Sesame Street | Justin Bieber Muppet (2011) | Composer |
2011 | A Gifted Man | Rafael Douglas | Episode: "In Case of Discomfort" |
2014 | Person of Interest | Farrow | Episode: "Provenance" |
The Good Wife | Michael Wood | Episode: "The Trial" | |
2016–2022 | Bull | Chester "Chunk" Palmer | Main Cast |
2018–2019 | The Lion Guard | Shujaa & Kitendo (voice) | 3 Episodes |
2019 | When They See Us | Peter Rivera | Episode: "Part Two" |
2020 | Vampirina | Headless Horseman (voice)[28] | Episode: "A Tale of Two Hallows" |
2020-2022 | Central Park | Glorious Gary | 2 Episodes |
2021–present | And Just Like That... | Herbert Wexley | 5 Episodes |
Discography
- In The Heights, 2009
- In the Name of Love, 2011
- Hamilton, 2015
- Moana, 2016
- "Life is Sweet" (Fearless, Mandy Gonzalez), 2017
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | BATC Award | Best Actor | Beggar's Holiday | Nominated |
2006 | Joseph Jefferson Award
|
Best Actor | Comfortable Shoes | Won |
Black Theater Alliance Award | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
2007 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Ensemble Performance | In the Heights | Won |
2011 | Daytime Emmy Award
|
Outstanding Original Song for A Children's Series | Sesame Street | Nominated |
Won | ||||
2014 | Nominated | |||
2016 | Tony Award
|
Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Hamilton | Nominated |
Grammy Award
|
Best Musical Theater Album | Won | ||
Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Christopher Jackson @ChrisisSingin | Twitter". Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Daniels, Karu (April 11, 2016). "10 Things You May Not Know: Christopher Jackson of 'Hamilton'". Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c Cara Racine (March 10, 2015). "Cairo's Christopher Jackson heading to Broadway in 'Hamilton'". The Southern Illinoisan.
- ^ a b c d e Molly Parker (March 8, 2016). "From Cairo To Broadway: Actor Christopher Jackson clings to his roots as his star rises". The Southern Illinoisan.
- ^ Daniels, Karu (July 8, 2014). "Broadway Audiences Hear Chris Jackson's Holler: Leading Man Plays Three Starring Roles in One Season". Playbill. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Stephen Holden (August 11, 1995). "Theater Review: Romantic Adventures Of 3 Urban Couples". The New York Times.
- ^ "On Broadway, Where Actors Get Physical". The New York Times. August 1, 2000.
- ^ Charles Isherwood (February 9, 2007). "From the Corner Bodega, the Music of Everyday Life". The New York Times.
- ^ Charles Isherwood (March 10, 2008). "The View From Uptown: American Dreaming to a Latin Beat". The New York Times.
- ^ Michael Davis (May 12, 2008). "PBS Revives a Show That Shines a Light on Reading". The New York Times.
- ^ broadwayworld.com. "Christopher Jackson Theatre Credits". Broadway World website. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (December 20, 2011). "In the Heights and The Lion King, will join the cast of the Tony-winning Best Musical Memphis". Playbill. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (September 20, 2013). "Primary Stages' Bronx Bombers, Starring Christopher Jackson, Richard Topol and Wendy Makkena, Begins Off-Broadway Sept. 20". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 21, 2013). "Yankees Drama Bronx Bombers Will Transfer to Broadway; Peter Scolari Joins Cast". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (April 7, 2014). "Saul Williams, Tonya Pinkins & Christopher Jackson to Star in Tupac Shakur Musical Holler If Ya Hear Me". Broadway.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Kennedy, Mark (July 17, 2015). "3 presidents in 'Hamilton' put 'blood into the statues'". Lima, Ohio. AP. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Hoch, Danny (April 23, 2015). "Sure, 'Hamilton' Is a Game-Changer, But Whose Game?". American Theatre. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Jordan Crucchiola (October 14, 2016). "Christopher Jackson Is Saying Good-bye to Hamilton". Vulture. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Levin, Gary (November 11, 2016). "A day in the life: Christopher Jackson, from 'Bull' to Broadway's 'Hamilton'". USA Today. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ a b freestylelovesupreme.com. "Freestyle Love Supreme - The Crew". Freestyle Love Supreme website. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Joanne (May 5, 2016). "What I Love: Christopher Jackson of 'Hamilton,' at Home in the Bronx". New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ amda.edu. "Alumnus Christopher Jackson nominated for his 3rd Emmy Award!". AMDA blog. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (October 25, 2021). "'Hamilton' Star Christopher Jackson Signs First-Look Deal With CBS Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Rhymes through Times". Noggin. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Slaton, Joyce (March 8, 2021). "Rhymes Through Times Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 16, 2021). "Noggin Debuts Musical Black History Shorts 'Rhymes Through Times'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Purcell, Carey (October 9, 2015). "Christopher Jackson On the "Incredible Moments" He's Shared With Lin-Manuel Miranda — Musicals, Marriage and Children". Playbill. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 28, 2020). "Disney Junior's 'Vampirina' Taps Broadway & TV For Season 3 Guest Star Line-Up: Audra McDonald, Christopher Jackson, Taran Killam, Mayim Bialik, Among Others". Deadline.
External links
- Christopher Jackson at IMDb
- Christopher Jackson at the Internet Broadway Database