Biography
Who is John Barrowman?
Early life
John Barrowman Scot Barrowman was born in Glasgow on March 11, 1967. He spent the first eight years of his life in Scotland before his family relocated to the United States in 1975. His father managed a factory in Illinois, where John attended Joliet West High School. During his school years, teachers encouraged his passion for the performing arts, helping him develop his theatrical skills and overcome early challenges with his accent.
After graduating from high school in 1985, John attended the University of Iowa and DePaul University to study drama and music. He later performed at a theme park in Nashville before studying performing arts at the United States International University. As part of a student exchange program, he returned to the UK to study Shakespearean performance.
Stage and television career
John made his professional West End debut in October 1989, playing Billy Crocker in Anything Goes at the Prince Edward Theatre. Throughout the 1990s, he appeared in numerous major theatrical productions, including The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, and Hair. His performance in The Fix earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical in 1998. He also performed on Broadway in Putting It Together alongside Carol Burnett.
Transitioning to television, John achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of Captain Jack Harkness in the science fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood. He later expanded his television portfolio by appearing as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse series Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. In addition to acting, he has worked as a television presenter and served as a judge on various entertainment programs, including Dancing on Ice.
Music and writing
Alongside his acting work, John has released multiple musical albums featuring cover tunes and musical theatre tracks. His albums, including Another Side and Music Music Music, achieved positions on the UK Albums Chart, with his self-titled release reaching number eleven.
John has also pursued a writing career, co-authoring two memoirs with his older sister, Carole Barrowman. The siblings teamed up again to write several young adult fantasy novel series, including Hollow Earth and The Orion Chronicles, publishing multiple books together.
Personal life
John holds dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, having become a naturalized U.S. Citizen while retaining his British citizenship. He is married to Scott Gill. Throughout his career, he has divided his time between projects in both North America and the United Kingdom, contributing to television, theatre, literature, and music.
Birthday and age
John Barrowman was born on March 11, 1967, which makes John 59 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. John shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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