
Darren Criss
Department: Acting
Biography
Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series Glee (2010–2015) and received Emmy and Golden Globe acting awards for his leading role as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018). He has also appeared on Broadway and in film and has released several musical albums. A founding member and co-owner of StarKid Productions, a musical theater company based in Chicago, Criss first garnered attention playing the lead role of Harry Potter in, and writing most of the music and lyrics for, StarKid's musical production of A Very Potter Musical. Criss has also starred on Broadway as a replacement in both How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In 2015, Criss co-founded Elsie Fest which is touted as "New York City's first outdoor music festival celebrating tunes from the stage and screen". In March 2017, Criss debuted his indie pop band Computer Games along with his brother Chuck Criss. In addition to his music endeavors, Criss starred in the second installment of Ryan Murphy's American Crime Story. Subtitled The Assassination of Gianni Versace (2018), Criss's portrayal of spree killer Andrew Cunanan received acclaim from critics, and earned him an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries, or Television Film.
Known For

The Queen Family Singalong
2021

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
2021

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
2021

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023

Justice League: Warworld
2023

Glee: The Concert Movie
2011

Girl Most Likely
2012

The Chicago 8
2011

Six by Sondheim
2013

Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute
2022

Katy Perry: Part of Me
2012

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One
2024

Stan Lee's Mighty 7
2014

Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
2023

The Men of Midway
2020

Roland Emmerich: Man on a Mission
2020

Legion of Super-Heroes
2023

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two
2024

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Three
2024

Cowabunga, Batman! When Comic Worlds Collide
2019

Luna Goes Cruising
2015

Babes
2024

Speech & Debate
2017

Backstage With Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years
2014

All You Ever Wished For
2018

A Legendary Christmas with John & Chrissy
2018

Midway
2019

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2019

The Disney Family Singalong
2020

Superman: Man of Tomorrow
2020

Glee: Keep on Believin'
2012

Justice Society: World War II
2021

Turtles Take Time (and Space)
2016

Muppets Haunted Mansion
2021

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025

Show of Titles
2021

A Very Potter Musical
2009

StarKid Homecoming
2019

Maybe Happy Ending
2016

Cold Case
2003

Yasuke
2021

Archer
2009

Trese
2021

That's My Jam
2021

Eastwick
2009

Rick and Morty
2013

Rick and Morty
2013

Glee
2009

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
2017

Whose Line Is It Anyway?
2013

Transformers: Robots In Disguise
2015

Teen Choice Awards
1999

Lip Sync Battle
2015

The Flash
2014

Supergirl
2015

Celebrity Name Game
2014

Name That Tune
2021

Green Eggs and Ham
2019

Celebrity IOU
2020

American Crime Story
2016

The View
1997

The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015

Drop the Mic
2017

Web Therapy
2008

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988

Hazbin Hotel
2024

Trailblazer Honors
2014

American Horror Story
2011

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009

Activate: The Global Citizen Movement
2019

LadyGang
2018

Stars in the House
2020

Hollywood
2020

Royalties
2020

The Glee Project
2011

Carpool Karaoke: The Series
2017

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014

Today with Jenna & Sheinelle
2019

Web Therapy
2011

Solar Opposites
2020

Solar Opposites
2020

Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014

Tony Awards
1956