Evan Farmer
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Evan Ragland Farmer, Jr. (born July 28, 1972) is an American business owner, television host, radio host, actor, musician, designer/customizer, and author. He is best known for his lead role as Jerry O'Keefe in the
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
Film and follow up television series 2gether, and as host and carpenter within the home-makeover television genre including Emmy-nominated ''
While You Were Out ''While You Were Out'' is an American reality series that aired episodes on the cable channel TLC. The format of the show is similar to TLC's ''Trading Spaces'' (which, in turn, is based on the BBC TV series ''Changing Rooms''). ''While You We ...
'' (TLC), '' Freestyle'' (
HGTV HGTV (an initialism for Home & Garden Television) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The network primarily broadcasts reality programming related to home improvement and real estate. As of February 2015, appr ...
), and ''Door Knockers'' (
DIY "Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
).


Early life

Farmer was born in
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
to American parents, and grew up in
Towson, Maryland Towson () is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Baltimore County and the second-most populous unincorpo ...
, and attended college at
Tulane University Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private university, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into ...
, where he studied architecture. He married Andrea Smith, a Merrel Footwear executive in 2005.


Career


Music

In 1997, Farmer was courted to join Russia's highest selling band in history: '' Na Na'' (also written Ha Ha). As part of the courtship, Farmer joined them on a stretch of their 1997 World Tour: '' Prykinda'' which included stadium performances throughout the former Soviet Union. Farmer ultimately declined to join the band amid concerns of being out of the country for extended stretches during a time when his mother was battling cancer. It was a year later, that Farmer found himself again on stage playing stadiums and arenas, this time with the spoof Boy band ''2gether'', which included opening for
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
on her 2000 '' Oops!... I Did It Again Tour''. Farmer co-wrote ''" You're My Baby Girl"'' for 2gether's first album '' 2ge+her'', and was an un-credited co-writer on several of the songs for the follow up album '' 2Ge+her Again''.


Acting

In New York City, Farmer found representation fro
Abrams Artists Agency
and began booking jobs as a print model and actor in national commercials and on soaps including a recurring stint on the ''
Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the third longest-running drama in television in American history. ''Guiding Light'' a ...
''. ;''The Fantasticks'' In 1998, Farmer joined the cast of the original
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 ...
production of ''
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 ...
'', as Matt (The Boy) in its 38th year, joining a celebrated legacy in the world's longest-running musical and the longest-running uninterrupted show of any kind in the United States. ;''Shaft'' While performing 8 shows a week in ''The Fantasticks'', Farmer spent the early part of the day auditioning for film and television work and began gaining the attention from casting directors who began flying him out to LA for screen tests. By 1998 he landed his first film role alongside
Christian Bale Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including ...
in '' Shaft''. ;''2Gether'' It was while filming ''Shaft'' that he won the lead role as Jerry O'Keefe in MTV's first made-for-TV movie, '' 2gether'', a film that copied the
mockumentary A mockumentary (a blend of ''mock'' and ''documentary''), fake documentary or docu-comedy is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on c ...
format of ''
This is Spinal Tap ''This Is Spinal Tap'' (also known as ''This Is Spınal Tap: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi'') is a 1984 American mockumentary film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Christopher Guest, M ...
'', but this time as a parody of the successful boy bands of the time period. The high ratings of the film spurred a TV series of the same name, as well as two back to back gold albums '' 2ge+her'' and '' 2Ge+her Again''. The TV series was cancelled at the end of season 2, shortly after the tragic passing of cast member
Michael Cuccione Michael James Cuccione (January 5, 1985 – January 13, 2001) was a Canadian child actor, singer, dancer, author, and cancer research activist. He was best known for his role as "Q.T." in the fictional boy band 2gether. Biography Personal li ...
. ;''Austin Powers'' In 2000, Farmer auditioned for the role of the Young Dr. Evil in the third of the
Austin Powers ''Austin Powers'' is a series of American spy action comedy films: '' Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery'' (1997), '' Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'' (1999) and ''Austin Powers in Goldmember'' (2002). The films were produced an ...
Franchise, ''
Austin Powers in Goldmember ''Austin Powers in Goldmember'' is a 2002 American spy comedy film directed by Jay Roach. It is the third in the ''Austin Powers'' film series and stars Mike Myers in four roles: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and Fat Bastard. Myers and M ...
'', but when the casting directors saw him walk in the room, they immediately handed him the audition materials for Young Number Two, the part originated by
Robert Wagner Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and ''Hart to Hart'' (1979– ...
and also portrayed by
Rob Lowe Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor, filmmaker, and podcast host. He made his acting debut at the age of 15 with ABC's short-lived sitcom ''A New Kind of Family'' (1979–1980). Following numerous television roles in ...
. Farmer became the third actor to step into the role. Farmer has also made guest star appearances in '' JAG'', ''
Working Class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...
'', '' DAG'', and voiced several characters on MTV's cartoons; ''
Daria ''Daria'' is an American adult animation, adult animated sitcom created by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis, Susie Lewis Lynn. The series ran from March 3, 1997, to January 21, 2002, on MTV. It focuses on the title character, Daria Morgendorffer, ...
'' and '' Celebrity Death Match''.


Television hosting

It was while Farmer was in New York City promoting the TV Series 2gether, that he discovered hosting as a potential new career path when the producers of ''
Total Request Live ''Total Request Live'' (known commonly as ''TRL'') was an American television program broadcast on MTV that premiered on September 14, 1998. TRL featured popular music videos played during its countdown, and was also used as a promotion tool by ...
(TRL)'' called him in frantic need of a replacement host for
Carson Daly Carson Jones Daly (born June 22, 1973) is an American television host, radio personality, Television producer, producer, and celebrity, television personality. Prior to 2003, Daly was a VJ (media personality), VJ on MTV's ''Total Request Live'', ...
, who was unable to get to the set for the live broadcast. With minutes to air-time, Farmer ran from his hotel room and hosted the live show, his first time in that role. With several follow up substitutions for Daly over the next year, Farmer began focusing more effort away from acting and towards Host, a career he found far more fulfilling and interesting. ;''While You Were Out'' By 2003, Farmer was in the perfect position to leverage his construction, and architecture background to the burgeoning home make over genre, and became the host of TLC's ''
While You Were Out ''While You Were Out'' is an American reality series that aired episodes on the cable channel TLC. The format of the show is similar to TLC's ''Trading Spaces'' (which, in turn, is based on the BBC TV series ''Changing Rooms''). ''While You We ...
'', a show where an individual sets up a friend or family member with a surprise room redecoration with the help of a crew of designers and carpenters in only 2 days. ;''Top 20 Countdown'' In 2010, Farmer took over as host of CMT's weekly show, '' Top 20 Countdown'' for which he was also a producer, replacing Lance Smith, who held the job for eight years. The show ended in 2013 amid reorganization at parent company
Viacom Viacom, an abbreviation of Video and Audio Communications, may refer to: * Viacom (1952–2006), a former American media conglomerate * Viacom (2005–2019), a former company spun off from the original Viacom * Viacom18, a joint venture between Par ...
. During that period, Farmer filmed two television pilots as Host; the first for A&E titled ''Dance Marathon'' and the second for CMT titled ''CMT's Dance Revolution'', neither of which caught traction. ;''In Residence'' In 2015 Farmer filmed the pilot episode as Host of a new series for
United Airlines United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois.
and AFAR Magazine, titled ''In Residence: London'', which seeks to provide viewers with a local's "insider perspective" of travel destinations serviced by the airlines. ;''Other shows'' Farmer hosted the short-lived reality game show, ''Bride vs. Bride'', which aired on
We TV We TV (stylized as WE tv) is an American pay television channel. Owned by AMC Networks since its September 1997 launch, it is oriented mainly towards lifestyle and entertainment programming. As of February 2015, approximately 85.2 million Ameri ...
in 2006. He also hosted ''Over the Top Holiday'' and '' FreeStyle''.


Radio hosting

From 2010 to 2013, Farmer joined as co-host of a weekly syndicated radio show called CMT Radio Insider along with award-winning Lisa Dent, of the Lisa Dent and Ramblin' Ray Show (
WUSN WUSN (99.5 FM) is a country radio station in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by Audacy, Inc. and branded as "US✶99", it is based at Two Prudential Plaza in the Loop, and transmits from atop the John Hancock Center with an HD Radio signal. History ...
).


References


External links

*
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farmer, Evan 1972 births Living people American male pop singers American male soap opera actors American male television actors American male voice actors American male writers American pop musicians American television personalities Male actors from Baltimore Towson High School alumni Tulane University alumni 2gether (band) members 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers