Michael Lorenzo Urie (born August 8, 1980) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of
Marc St. James
Marcus St. James (born Marcus Weiner) is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama series ''Ugly Betty'' and spin-off (media), spin-off web-series ''Ugly Betty#Mode After Hours, Mode After Hours''. He is played by Michael Urie.
Backgroun ...
on the ABC
dramedy
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...
television series ''
Ugly Betty
''Ugly Betty'' is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which was originally broadcast on ABC. It premiered on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian t ...
''. He can be heard as Bobby Kerns in ''As the Curtain Rises'', an original podcast soap opera from the Broadway Podcast Network.
Early life and education
Urie was born in
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, and raised in
Plano. He is of Scottish and Italian descent.
He graduated from
Plano Senior High School
Plano Senior High School (commonly Plano, Plano Senior High, or PSHS) is a public high school, public secondary school in Plano, Texas, serving students in grades eleventh grade, 11–twelfth grade, 12. The school is part of the Plano Independ ...
in 1998.
Urie then studied at
Collin County Community College
Collin College is a public community college district in Texas. Founded in 1985, the district has grown as the county has grown from around 5,000 students in 1986 to more than 58,000 credit and noncredit students.
Formerly known as the Coll ...
before being accepted at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...
in New York City.
While there, he was a member of the Drama Division's ''Group 32'' from 1999 to 2003. Urie graduated from Juilliard in 2003.
Career
Urie, while still a student at Juilliard, performed in the world premiere of ''Love and Happiness'' (2001) at the Consolati Performing Arts Center, starring as a sixteen-year-old trying to get rid of his mother's boyfriend.
He received the 2002
John Houseman
John Houseman (born Jacques Haussmann; September 22, 1902 – October 31, 1988) was a Romanian-born British-American actor and producer of theatre, film, and television. He became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director ...
Prize for Excellence in Classical Theatre from the Juilliard School. His classical credits include Shakespeare,
Jacobean drama, and ''
commedia dell'arte
(; ; ) was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is also known as , , and . Charact ...
''.
Urie played the central character in the stage play ''
WTC View'' as well as in the film adaptation.
He is on the board of Plum Productions and serves as its casting director. With the same company he has produced and appeared in ''Prachtoberfest'' and ''lowbrow (and a little bit tacky)''. As a freelance producer, he has worked on ''Like The Mountains'' and ''
The Fantasticks
''The Fantasticks'' is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the 1894 play ''The Romancers'' (''Les Romanesques'') by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neigh ...
'' (Four Players Theatre). He also directed the latter production.
In 2006, Urie began appearing in the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
dramedy ''
Ugly Betty
''Ugly Betty'' is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which was originally broadcast on ABC. It premiered on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian t ...
'' as
Marc St. James
Marcus St. James (born Marcus Weiner) is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama series ''Ugly Betty'' and spin-off (media), spin-off web-series ''Ugly Betty#Mode After Hours, Mode After Hours''. He is played by Michael Urie.
Backgroun ...
, the assistant of
Wilhelmina Slater
Wilhelmina Vivian Slater (born Wanda Slater) is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty''. She is played by Vanessa Williams, who received a supporting actress award at the 2007 and 2008 NAACP Image Awards, a Best TV Vil ...
, played by
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She resigne ...
. The show began with the concept that Wilhelmina would have a different assistant in each episode; thus Urie was originally billed as a guest star in the credits. However, Williams loved their chemistry, and Urie was signed on as a full-time regular midway through the first season. He and the cast were nominated for Screen Actors Guild awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008. The role earned Urie a
Ewwy Award
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2009. He remained with ''Ugly Betty'' until the show's cancellation in 2010.
During the
2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike
From November 5, 2007, to February 12, 2008, all 12,000 film and television screenwriters of the American labor unions Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) went on strike.
The Writers Guild of America ...
, Urie hosted
TLC
TLC may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Television
* ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2
* TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network
** TLC (Asia), an A ...
's
reality-based series ''
Miss America: Reality Check''. The program followed the contestants participating in the 2008
Miss America
Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...
Pageant.
[Regina Schaffer. "Miss America gets real (or just about as real as a beauty pageant can get)". ''The Press of Atlantic City'' (NJ). January 4, 2008. page B1.]
Urie has returned often to his theater roots, including directing a one-night celebrity-performed staging of
Howard Ashman
Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...
's unproduced musical ''Dreamstuff''. The musical was reimagined by Howard's partners Marsha Malamet and
Dennis Green
Dennis Earl Green (February 17, 1949 – July 21, 2016) was an American football coach. During his National Football League (NFL) career, Green coached the Minnesota Vikings for 10 seasons. He coached the Vikings to eight playoff appearances in ...
and performed one night only at Los Angeles's
Hayworth Theatre
The Hayworth Theatre is a theater and performing arts center at 2511 Wilshire Boulevard in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The facility houses 99-seat, 42-seat and 49-seat auditoriums and a 1,500 square-foot ballroom used f ...
as part of the
Bruno Kirby
Bruno Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr.; April 28, 1949 – August 14, 2006) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in ''City Slickers'', '' When Harry Met Sally...'', ''Good Morning, Vietnam'', ''The Godfather Part II'', and ' ...
celebrity reading series. He has also been on ''
Live with Regis and Kelly
''Live with Kelly and Ryan'' (or simply ''Live'') is an American syndicated morning talk show hosted by Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Executive produced by Michael Gelman, the ''Live with...'' show formula has aired under various hosts since ...
'' and has also starred in the 2008 Disney blockbuster production ''
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
''Beverly Hills Chihuahua'' is a 2008 American comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the first in the ''Beverly Hills Chihuahua'' series. It is directed by Raja Gosnell and was released on October 3, 2008. The films stars Piper Perabo, Ja ...
'' as the voice of Sebastian.
Urie originated the role of
Rudi Gernreich
Rudolf "Rudi" Gernreich (August 8, 1922 April 21, 1985) was an Austrian people, Austrian-born American fashion designer whose avant-garde clothing designs are generally regarded as the most innovative and dynamic fashion of the 1960s. He purposef ...
in the 2009
off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
play ''
The Temperamentals
''The Temperamentals'' is a 2009 play by Jon Marans. It chronicles the founding of the Mattachine Society, the first sustained LGBT rights organization in the United States, and the love affair of two of its founding members, Harry Hay (Thoma ...
'', about the foundation of the early
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
rights organization the
Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society (), founded in 1950, was an early national gay rights organization in the United States, perhaps preceded only by Chicago's Society for Human Rights. Communist and labor activist Harry Hay formed the group with a collection ...
. Urie received a
Lucille Lortel Award
The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre. The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatre ...
for Outstanding Lead Actor.
In January 2012, Urie made his Broadway debut, joining the cast of the second revival of ''
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' may refer to:
* ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' (book), a 1952 book written by Shepherd Mead and the inspiration for the musical of the same name.
* ''How to Succeed in Bu ...
'' in the role of Bud Frump.
Urie has also started his own website for videoblogging and live chats.
In 2012, Urie also starred as the mysterious limo driver James in the film adaptation of
Wendy Mass's children's book ''
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life'', written and directed by
Tamar Halpern.
Urie was one of the leads in CBS's short-lived series ''
Partners''. The multi-camera comedy, from ''
Will & Grace
''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra Messing), ...
'' creators
Max Mutchnick
Jason Nidorf "Max" Mutchnick (born November 11, 1965) is an American television producer. He has received an Emmy Award, a People's Choice Award, and several Golden Globe Award nominations.
Early life and education
Mutchnick was born in Chicago ...
and
David Kohan
David Sanford Kohan (born April 16, 1964) is an American television producer and writer. After writing for ''The Wonder Years'' and ''The Dennis Miller Show'', Kohan co-created and produced ''Will & Grace'', ''Boston Common'', ''Good Morning, M ...
, centered on lifelong friends and business partners – one straight and one gay. The series premiered on September 24, 2012, but was cancelled after only six episodes had aired.
His performance in 2013's one-man show ''
Buyer & Cellar'' won him a
Clarence Derwent Award The Clarence Derwent Awards are theatre awards given annually by the Actors' Equity Association on Broadway in the United States and by Equity, the performers' union, in the West End in the United Kingdom.
Clarence Derwent (23 March 1884 – 6 Aug ...
as well as a
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...
for
Outstanding Solo Performance.
In April 2015, Urie became the host of ''Cocktails & Classics'' on
Logo TV
Logo TV (often shortened to Logo, and stylized as Logo.) is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment progra ...
, in which he and panels of celebrity friends watch and comment on classic movies while imbibing cocktails named or made for the films. Films profiled on the series have included ''
All About Eve
''All About Eve'' is a 1950 American Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It is based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, although Orr does ...
'', ''
Steel Magnolias
''Steel Magnolias'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Academy Award winner Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. The picture is a film adaptation ...
'', ''
Valley of the Dolls'', ''
Breakfast at Tiffany's'', and ''
Mommie Dearest
''Mommie Dearest'' is a memoir and exposé written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of actress Joan Crawford. Published in 1978, it attracted much controversy for its portrayal of Joan Crawford as a cruel, unbalanced, and alcoholic m ...
''.
In November 2018, Urie starred as Arnold Beckoff in
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Forbes Fierstein ( ; born June 6, 1952) is an American actor, playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for his theater work in ''Torch Song Trilogy'' and ''Hairspray'' and movie roles in ''Mrs. Doubtfire'', '' Independence Day'', and ...
's ''
Torch Song
A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affecte ...
'' revival on Broadway.
He had a recurring role as Redmond, the gossipy book agent, in the popular TVLand drama-comedy series ''
Younger'', produced by Darren Star.
In 2018, Urie played Prince Hamlet in the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of ''Hamlet'' in Washington, DC. He reprised the role in mid-2019 for the company's "Free for All" production run.
On September 13, 2019, it was announced that Urie would once again team up with his ''Ugly Betty'' co-star
Becki Newton
Rebecca Sara Newton is an American actress, known for her roles as Amanda Tanen on ''Ugly Betty'' and Quinn Garvey on ''How I Met Your Mother''.
Early life
Newton was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Thomas Newton and Jennifer Ne ...
on a sitcom project for
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
and
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
called ''Fun'', for which both would co-star and co-executive produce with creator
Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King (born September 14, 1954) is an American director, writer, and producer. He is best known for directing and writing for ''Sex and the City'' and its film adaptations, and for co-creating the television comedies '' The Comeb ...
and fellow ''Ugly Betty'' showrunners
Tracy Poust
Tracy Poust is a producer and writer known for her work on the American television sitcom ''Will & Grace'' (1998–2006, 2017–2020) and the ABC show ''Ugly Betty'' (2006–2010).
References
External links
*
Guide to Comedy pageat the BBC ...
and
Jon Kinnally
Jon Kinnally is an American television writer and producer, most notable for his work on the multi- Emmy award and Golden Globe Award nominated TV show ''Will & Grace''.
Life and career
A graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego, K ...
. CBS passed on the pilot of the series on May 4, 2020.
In 2021, Urie starred in the
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
Christmas romantic comedy ''
Single All the Way
''Single All the Way'' is a 2021 Canadian Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Michael Mayer and written by Chad Hodge. The plot follows a man (Michael Urie) who convinces his best friend (Philemon Chambers) to pretend to be his boyfriend w ...
''.
Personal life
In 2009, Urie referred to himself as "a member of the
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
community" on his website. In a 2010 interview with ''
The Advocate'', he said that he was in a relationship with a man and identifies as "
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...
". He said it never felt wrong when he was with women previously.
Filmography
Film
Television
Director and executive producer
Theater
References
External links
*
*
*
Entertainment Weekly interviewwith Michael Urie and the actors who portray TV assistants Lloyd (
Entourage
An entourage () is an informal group or band of people who are closely associated with a (usually) famous, notorious, or otherwise notable individual. The word can also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* L'entourage, French hip hop / rap collecti ...
) and Kenneth (
30 Rock
''30 Rock'' is an American satirical sitcom television series created by Tina Fey that originally aired on NBC from October 11, 2006, to January 31, 2013. The series, based on Fey's experiences as head writer for ''Saturday Night Live'', takes ...
).
Interview from Broadway World (August 21, 2007)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urie, Michael
1980 births
21st-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
American people of Italian descent
American people of Scottish descent
Drama Desk Award winners
Juilliard School alumni
American LGBT actors
LGBT male actors
LGBT people from Texas
Living people
Male actors from Texas
Queer actors
Queer men
Participants in American reality television series
People from Plano, Texas
Theatre World Award winners