John Scot Barrowman (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish-born singer, actor, dancer, musical performer and media personality, best known on British television for his acting and presenting work for the BBC and for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in the science fiction series Doctor Who and Torchwood. Barrowman and his family emigrated to the United States when he was nine years old. Growing up in Illinois, his high school teachers encouraged his love for music and theatre and he studied performing arts at the United States International University in San Diego before visiting the United Kingdom and landing the role of Billy Crocker in Cole Porter's Anything Goes in London's West End.
As a television presenter and guest, Barrowman has appeared in a variety of light entertainment shows, including Live & Kicking and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical talent shows Any Dream Will Do, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, and I'd Do Anything. Barrowman was a contestant on the celebrity ice skating show Dancing on Ice and was a guest act for the Royal Variety Performance. In 1998, Barrowman was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and in 2006 he was voted Stonewall's "Entertainer of the Year".
In addition to appearing in several films and television series, Barrowman has featured on more than a dozen musical theatre recordings including cover tunes found on his 2007 album Another Side, and 2008's Music Music Music. Both albums reached the UK Top 40, as did his 2010 self-titled album, which reached number 11, his highest chart placing to date.
With his sister as co-author, Barrowman has published two memoirs and autobiographies, Anything Goes (2008) and I Am What I Am (2009).Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Acting career 2.1 Theatre 2.2 Television presenter 2.3 Prime time drama 2.4 Film and reality television 2.5 Doctor Who and Torchwood 3 Personal life 4 Awards and recognition 5 Filmography 6 Discography 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links
Early life
John Scot Barrowman was born in 1967 in the Mount Vernon area of Glasgow; the youngest of three siblings. Barrowman lived in Glasgow for the first eight years of his life.[1] His mother was a singer and worked as a clerk in a record shop,[2] and his father was employed by the Caterpillar heavy machinery company in the nearby village of Uddingston. In 1976, his father's company relocated the family to Aurora, Illinois in the United States, where his father managed the Caterpillar tractor factory. Barrowman recalls his family as loving, but strict and mindful of etiquette, always polite and respectful towards others.[1] Comparing the two countries where he was raised, Barrowman concludes: "Scotland gave us, as a family, closeness; America gave us the get-up-and-go."[1] The family settled in Joliet, Illinois, where Barrowman attended Joliet West High School in the heart of a "quintessentially middle-class conservative town".[3] Barrowman's high school music and English teachers changed the future course of his life, his music tutor instilling in him the love of performing, and his English teacher encouraging Barrowman to realize his true potential. His English teacher moved him into a Gifted Programme and coached Barrowman for the school's speech team. With the support of his teacher, Barrowman competed with other schools in statewide speech competitions, where he sharpened his skills reading scenes from plays.
Joliet West High School
As a freshman, Barrowman won parts in several musical productions and from 1983–1985 he performed in Hello, Dolly!, Oliver!, Camelot, Li'l Abner and Anything Goes. Looking back, he acknowledges that "without the support he received in high school, chances are that he would not now be appearing in royal command performances in the West End in front of the Royal Family or having Stephen Sondheim ask him to play opposite Carol Burnett."[4] Barrowman spent his senior year shoveling coal for an Illinois power company. His father had arranged the job (and similar jobs for his brother and sister) to give Barrowman the experience of manual labour. Barrowman's father told him: "If you want to do manual labor for the rest of your life you'll know that when you do it; it's a choice. But if you don't like it, you'll understand the importance of educating yourself and – if you decide what you want to do – being good at your craft or your skill." Barrowman worked for the power company for the entire summer, but did not like the job. Eventually, he convinced the company to move him to work in the storeroom.[5] Barrowman graduated from high school in 1985, and became a naturalized citizen of the United States[6] (although he maintains dual citizenship in the UK and the US).[6][7][8] After he graduated from high school, he moved to San Diego, California to study performing arts at the United States International University (USIU). As part of an exchange program, he returned to the United Kingdom, in 1989, to study Shakespeare for six months.[7] Acting career Theatre
Barrowman's professional acting career began in London's West End in 1989, playing the role of Billy Crocker in Cole Porter's Anything Goes at the Prince Edward Theatre, alongside Elaine Paige as Reno Sweeney and Bernard Cribbins as Moonface Martin. He continued to appear in West End productions for the next decade, taking the title role of Domingo Hernandez in Matador at the Queen's Theatre in 1991; as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1992; as Claude in Hair at the Old Vic Theatre in 1993; as Chris in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1993; as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre from 1994–1995; and as Beast in Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre in 1999.[2] Barrowman was part of the musical Godspell in 1994, and was a soloist in two songs, "We Beseech Thee" and "On The Willows". He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1998 for originating the role of Cal Chandler in The Fix,[9] a performance he repeated in Cameron Mackintosh's 1998 gala concert Hey, Mr Producer!. Barrowman played the role of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and, briefly, on Broadway. His only other Broadway credit is in the role of Barry in the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together (1999–2000) at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre alongside Carol Burnett, George Hearn and Bronson Pinchot. In a review of Putting It Together, theater critic Tom Samiljan noted Barrowman's "fine baritone voice and suave looks".[10] In 2002, Barrowman appeared as Bobby in Sondheim's Company in the Kennedy Center's Stephen Sondheim Celebration.[11]
He returned to the role of Billy Crocker in Trevor Nunn's 2003 West End revival of Anything Goes,[12][13] and appeared in West End non-musical dramas, such as his role as Wyndham Brandon in Rope at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester in 1993, and he starred as Lieutenant Jack Ross opposite Rob Lowe in the 2005 production of A Few Good Men. Barrowman starred in pantomime productions of Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre (Christmas 2005–6) and in Jack and the Beanstalk at Cardiff's New Theatre (Christmas 2006–7). He played the title role in Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome over Christmas 2007–8[14] and as a guest act for the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in 2008.[15] Barrowman played the lead in the Robin Hood pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome for the 2008–2009 season.[16] He presented Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th birthday party in London's Hyde Park on September 14, 2008. Guests included Idina Menzel, Denise Van Outen, Elaine Paige, Lee Mead and the stars of I'd Do Anything. On September 14, 2009 John Barrowman took over from Roger Allam as Zaza/Albin in the West End revival of La Cage aux Folles, at the Playhouse Theatre.[17] Television presenter
Barrowman saluting in the style of Captain Jack Harkness from a float at the 2007 London Gay Pride parade.
Barrowman was one of the original hosts of Live & Kicking, a children's Saturday morning variety show on the BBC. During this time, he became known for his catchphrase, "it's a dirty rat!", which he used during phone-in game set in a haunted house. From 1993–1994, Barrowman reported on technology news as the host of the Electric Circus segment of the show. He appeared on the children's television game show, The Movie Game from 1994–1996. Barrowman was one of the regular presenters on Five channel's afternoon show 5's Company from 1997–1999.[18] Between 10 and 14 April 2006, Barrowman presented ITV's morning talk show This Morning whilst Phillip Schofield took an Easter break.[19] Barrowman read bedtime stories on the CBeebies channel between 1 May and 5 May 2006. That summer, Barrowman was on a Judges panel alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, and Zoe Tyler on BBC One's music talent show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?.[20] In the same year, Barrowman made two television appearances on New Year's Eve: He talked about spirituality and civil partnerships on BBC Television's Heaven & Earth, hosted by Gloria Hunniford,[21] and he appeared as a guest on Graham Norton's one-off BBC Television programme, The Big Finish,[21] teaming up with Craig Revel Horwood and Louis Walsh to take a lighthearted look at news stories in 2006. On 11 February 2007, Barrowman co-presented coverage of the BAFTA Film Awards, along with Ruby Wax for E!: Entertainment Television.[22] And, on 11 and 18 February 2007, Barrowman guest-presented two editions of Elaine Paige on Sunday, a pre-recorded BBC Radio 2 weekly musical theatre and film music showcase.[23]
In 2007, Barrowman was a judge on the BBC One TV series Any Dream Will Do, hosted by Graham Norton. The show searched for a new, unknown actor to play the role of Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, eventually choosing Lee Mead.[24] Barrowman guested on the BBC Two comedy panel quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Series 19, Episode 5), challenging host Simon Amstell to a "gay-off". He also guested on Al Murray's Happy Hour, The Charlotte Church Show, and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. On 27 July 2007, Barrowman guest hosted The Friday Night Project, on Channel 4, with Justin-Lee Collins and Alan Carr.[25] In 2008 Barrowman presented a primetime BBC game show called The Kids Are All Right. On the show, four adults compete against seven "smart and sassy" children for cash in four rounds "testing their brainpower, knowledge and speed of response".[26] On 16 February 2008, and 23 February 2008, Barrowman presented the National Lottery Draw. On the 1st of March 2008, Barrowman appeared on the panel of the Eurovision Song Contest selection show, Eurovision: Your Decision on BBC 1, alongside Carrie Grant and Sir Terry Wogan. On the 29 April, 30 April, and 1 May 2008 he presented This Morning. Barrowman began featuring as a judge on the Canadian version of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? in June 2008. In 2008, Barrowman became the presenter for Animals at Work, a children's television show on CBBC that showcases "animals with extraordinary skills that make people's lives easier and safer";[27] Animals at Work began in 2009 with 26 episodes.[28] He began hosting Tonight's the Night on BBC in April 2009.[29]
In February 2010 Barrowman appeared as a guest host on UK shopping channel QVC [30] Prime time drama
Barrowman's television career began with several appearances in short-lived prime-time soap operas. Barrowman first starred as Peter Fairchild in Central Park West (1995)[31] a show American film critic Ken Tucker calls "a tale of ritzy, ditsy New York City careerists—some struggling to make it, others plotting to retain their status and power."[32] Television critic David Hiltbrand called Barrowman's character a "Prince Charming...a virtuous, hardworking assistant DA who keeps getting distracted by women who swoon in his path."[33] Tucker noted Barrowman's character of Peter Fairchild to be "physically an eye-widening cross between John Kennedy Jr. and Hugh Grant".[32] The show lasted for two seasons on CBS, from September 1995 to June 1996. Next, Barrowman appeared as Peter Williams in Titans (2000) alongside Yasmine Bleeth on NBC. According to writer Joanna Bober, in Titans, Barrowman plays a "ruthless mogul" who gains "control of the family's private aviation company (a fleet of 'Titans') from his semi-retired father" while increasing the profitability of the company amidst a series of soap opera intrigues.[34] Titans lasted one season and was canceled after airing 11 episodes. Barrowman was also considered for the role of Will in the popular US series Will and Grace, but the producers felt he was "too straight" and the role eventually went to Eric McCormack instead. Commenting on the decision, Barrowman remarked, "The sad thing is it's run by gay men and women."[35] He later expressed contempt for the idea that all gay men act the same way.[36]
On 25 March 2008, Barrowman made a guest appearance in episode 22 of the BBC's comedy-drama show Hotel Babylon.[37] Entertainment Weekly reported that Barrowman would appear in the 2010 season of Desperate Housewives, "for a minimum of five episodes, portraying Patrick Logan, the ex boyfriend at the center of the Angie Bolen (Drea de Matteo) mystery."[38] On 23 February 2010 Barrowman announced on The One Show that his contract had been extended to a total of six episodes. It has also been announced that Barrowman is in talks with Ryan Murphy to appear in the FOX hit series Glee. Film and reality television
Barrowman appeared as Ben Carpenter in the low-budget film Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002). His musical abilities are featured in several film roles: as Jack in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely (2004), singing a duet with Kevin Kline on the song Night and Day;[12] and in the role of the lead tenor Stormtrooper in The Producers (2005), singing Springtime for Hitler. Barrowman co-presented and performed in the BBC One series The Sound of Musicals (2006).[39]
Barrowman took part in the reality television series Dancing on Ice on ITV1 in January and February 2006. Resembling a real ice skating competition, ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean trained celebrities to compete on the show.[40] Barrowman's skating partner was World Junior Gold Medalist and three-time Russian champion Olga Sharutenko. Although a favourite to win,[41] on 4 February, Barrowman and Sharutenko faced Stefan Booth and Kristina Cousins in the skate off and were eliminated by the judge's vote of 3 to 2.[42] Doctor Who and Torchwood
Barrowman is best known in the UK for his role in the BBC's science fiction drama Doctor Who. When the series was revived in 2005, Barrowman came on board as recurring guest character Captain Jack Harkness, an omnisexual time traveller from the 51st century. His first appearance as Harkness was in the two-part story "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances", going on to appear in the next three episodes, "Boom Town", "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways". The character of Captain Jack Harkness became so popular, he was given his own show. Torchwood, a Doctor Who spin-off series featuring a team of alien hunters based in modern day Cardiff, premiered in 2006. Ken Tucker describes Barrowman's role on Torchwood as "dashing" and "celestially promiscuous", and "like Tom Cruise with suspenders, but minus the Scientology." On the show, Captain Jack Harkness "tracks down—and occasionally beds—ETs with the help of his quartet of bedazzled groupies—slash—Experts in Their Fields: One's a doctor, one's a cop, one's a scientist, and one... makes tea piping hot. It's like the Justice League of Extended-Pinkie Nerds."[43] Barrowman continued to guest star in Doctor Who in 2007, appearing in "Utopia", "The Sound of Drums", and "Last of the Time Lords". Barrowman also participated in a Doctor Who special on the BBC's The Weakest Link.[44] In 2008, Barrowman appeared in the two-part 2008 series finale, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" and reprised the role of Captain Jack Harkness in the "Doctor Who: Tonight's the Night" special.[45] In 2010, Barrowman returned to Doctor Who with a cameo in The End Of Time along with other previous stars. Barrowman was rumoured to be reprising the role of Captain Jack Harkness in Series 6 of Doctor Who, alongside Matt Smith. Series 3 of Torchwood was broadcast in July 2009 as a miniseries of five episodes called Children of Earth;[46] Series 4 was scheduled to begin developing in January 2010 and is said to be airing in summer 2011.[47] Both Doctor Who and Torchwood became popular in the United States on the BBC America network.[48] Personal life
Barrowman and Gill kiss on stage at Pride 2007
Barrowman met his partner Scott Gill during a production of Rope at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1993, after Gill came to see Barrowman in the play.[49] The couple have houses in London and Cardiff. In late 2005, Barrowman said he had no plans to marry.[50] However, a year later, Barrowman and Gill became civil partners on December 27, 2006. Barrowman and Gill do not want to call their relationship a marriage: "We're just going to sign the civil register. We're not going to have any ceremony because I'm not a supporter of the word marriage for a gay partnership."[36][51] Barrowman explains: "Why would I want a 'marriage' from a belief system that hates me?"[50] A small ceremony was held in Cardiff with friends and family,[52] with the cast of Torchwood and executive producer Russell T Davies as guests.[49][53]
Barrowman is bidialectal. He learned an American accent after school children picked on his Scottish accent when he moved to the U.S.[54] His accent is often called Mid-Atlantic.[6] On The Friday Night Project, Barrowman said that he still speaks in a Scottish accent when he is with his parents.[25]
Barrowman's memoir and autobiography, Anything Goes, was published in 2008 by Michael O'Mara Books.[55] His sister, English professor and journalist Carole Barrowman, helped write the book using her brother's dictations.[56] In 2009, Barrowman published I Am What I Am,[57] his second memoir detailing his recent television work and musings on fame. In the book, Barrowman reveals that when he was just beginning his acting career, management sent a gay producer to talk to him. The producer told Barrowman that he should try to pretend to be heterosexual in order to be successful. Barrowman was offended by the incident, and it made him more aware of the importance of his role as a gay public figure: "One of my explicit missions as an entertainer is to work to create a world where no one will ever make a statement like this producer did to me to anyone who’s gay."[58] To this end, Barrowman is active in his community supporting the issues that matter to him most. He worked with Stonewall, a gay rights organization in the UK, on the "Education for All" campaign against homophobia in the schools. In April 2008, the group placed posters on 600 billboards that read, "Some people are gay. Get over it!" Barrowman contributed his support to the project asking people to join him and "Help exterminate homophobia. Be bold. Be brave. Be a buddy, not a bully."[4][59] In the same month, Barrowman spoke at the Oxford Union about his career, the entertainment industry, and gay rights issues. The event was filmed for the BBC programme The Making Of Me, in an episode exploring the science of homosexuality.[60]
Prior to the 2010 general election, Barrowman was one of 48 celebrities who signed a letter warning voters against Conservative Party policy towards the BBC.[61]
On the 16th June 2010, Barrowman met with the current Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron as a representative of the LGBT Community[62] Awards and recognition
Barrowman was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1998 for originating the role of Cal Chandler in The Fix.[9]
He was voted the 2006 Stonewall "Entertainer of the Year"[63] and placed third in Broadcast magazine's "Hottest Commodity" poll in November 2006.[64] Barrowman appeared on the Out 100 list for 2008,[65] an annual list of notable LGBT people compiled by Out magazine. FilmographyYear Title Medium Role 1987 The Untouchables Film (uncredited) 1995-1996 Central Park West TV Series Peter Fairchild 2000 Putting It Together TV Special The Young Man Titans TV Series Peter Williams 2002 Shark Attack 3: Megalodon Film Ben Carpenter 2004 Method Film Timothy Stevens De-Lovely Film Jack / Musical Performer 2005 The Producers Film Lead Tenor 2005–2010 Doctor Who TV Series Captain Jack Harkness 2006 – Torchwood TV Series 2009 – Tonight's the Night TV Series Himself / Captain Jack Harkness My Family TV Series The Doctor (guest) 2010 Desperate Housewives TV Series Patrick Logan (5 episodes) 2011 Broadway: The Next Generation Film Himself
DiscographyYear Title Album Artist Label Notes 1994 Songs from Grease John Barrowman JAY Records Studio recording Grease from JAY Records Godspell London Cast JAY Records Studio Recording by JAY Records 1997 Aspects of Lloyd Webber John Barrowman JAY PRODUCTIONS 1998 The Fix Original London Cast Relativity Hey Mr Producer! Various Artists First Night Records Performing "One, Two, Three" from The Fix 2002 The Musicality of Andrew Lloyd Webber Various Artists JAY Records Performing "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Essential Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber Various Artists Metro Music Performing "High Flying, Adored" from Evita Greatest Songs from the Musicals Various Artists Soho Performing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from The Lion King and "Grease" from Grease Loving You Various Artists JAY Records Performing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from The Lion King 2003 Anything Goes 2003 London Cast First Night Records Reflections from Broadway John Barrowman JAY Records Studio album 2004 Swings Cole Porter John Barrowman JAY Records Studio album – reached #19 on the US Jazz Billboard Chart De-Lovely Original Soundtrack Columbia Performing "Night and Day" The Producers Original Soundtrack Sony BMG Performing "Springtime for Hitler" 2006 Just So World Premiere Cast First Night Records 2007 Aspects of Lloyd Webber John Barrowman JAY Records Studio album (re-issue of 1997 album) Another Side John Barrowman Sony BMG Studio album (first pop album) – reached #22 on the UK Albums Chart. 2008 The Essential John Barrowman John Barrowman Metro/Union Square Compilation album – didn't chart on the UK Albums Chart (but did reach #27 on the UK Budget Albums Chart). Songs taken from albums recorded between 1994 and 2006. Music Music Music John Barrowman Epic/Sony UK Studio album (second pop album) – reached #35 on the UK Albums Chart, led by the digital-only single "What About Us?", which failed to chart on the Top 75 singles chart (#122). "I Made It Through The Rain" became his first proper singles chart entry when it debuted at #14 on the UK singles chart after being championed by Chris Moyles. 2009 At His Very Best John Barrowman Metro/Union Square Compilation album – didn't chart on the UK Albums Chart (but did reach #19 on the UK Budget Albums Chart). 2CD compilation featuring recordings made between 1994 and 2006. 2010 John Barrowman John Barrowman Arista Studio album (release date 1st Mar 2010) – debuted at #11 on the UK Top 40 Albums Chart, week of 1–7 March 2010. This was the highest chart rating of any of Barrowman's albums to date.
