Darren Criss
Darren Criss, an adorkable bow-tied babe of Filipino and Irish descent, started violin training at 5 in San Francisco and eventually picked up guitar, piano, harmonica, and cello. Before heading to the University of Michigan to study acting, he banged the drums in a rock band with his brother Chuck, who is now a member of indie group Freelance Whales. During his senior year of college, he and some classmates created a Harry Potter musical parody entitled "A Very Potter Musical," in which he played the orphan wizard and wrote several songs. The spoof, and its sequel, went viral and the YouTube recognition was his sign to move to LA upon graduating and try to break into showbusiness. Before making his TV debut in 2009 on the witch drama "Eastwick" and nabbing a retro guest spot on "Cold Case", he sang in coffeehouses and did a weekly Disney-themed performance at Maggiano's at a local mall. He is best known for portraying Blaine Anderson, the openly gay Dalton Warbler turned McKinley Gleek/Kurt's boyfriend on FOX's Emmy-nominated "Glee" and expert coverer of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". The four-time Billboard charting singer has since taken his golden voice to Broadway in 2012 for a run of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and to several animated projects like "The Wind Rises" and "Archer". He also has a cameo in the music video for Capital Cities' "Kangaroo Court" and a small part in the film "Girl Most Likely" opposite Kristen Wiig.
