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Harry Connick Jr.

Over the past two decades, Harry Connick Jr. has proven to be among the world's most successful and multi-talented artists. Connick first reached a mass audience as a pianist, singer and bandleader, securing his place in the public eye as a Renaissance man and versatile entertainer. His love of music and performing dates back to his childhood in New Orleans, where he studied piano with such luminaries as James Booker and Ellis Marsalis. He first performed publicly at age five, appeared on his first jazz recording at age ten, and released his self-titled major label debut for Columbia Records at 19, only a year after his high school graduation and his move to New York City. Connick achieved widespread success as a musician when director Rob Reiner asked him to contribute the score to his 1989 smash WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, leading to Connick's first multi-platinum album (also his first big band recording.)

At the same time, Connick has built a successful film career, appearing both on screen and soundtracks. After making his acting debut in MEMPHIS BELLE in 1990, he appeared the following year in LITTLE MAN TATE, Jodie Foster's directorial debut. His next role, as a homicidal sociopath in 1995's COPYCAT was scarily effective said the New York Times. For this film, The Tampa Tribune named him the most memorable in a cast that included Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver. Connick continued to display his acting range with a memorable turn in INDEPENDENCE DAY, one of the highest grossing films of all time.

There's no doubting Connick's impact, said the Los Angeles Times for his role in HOPE FLOATS alongside Sandra Bullock. This compelling leading man performance was recognized with a 1999 Blockbuster Award nomination for Favorite Actor - Drama/Romance. In addition, 1999 saw Connick lend his voice-over talents to the critically acclaimed features MY DOG SKIP and the animated THE IRON GIANT. For his work in director Linda Yellen's improvisational film THE SIMIAN LINE, Connick turned in what Variety termed an achingly honest performance for his role with Lynn Redgrave. His music has also contributed to the success of such films as GODFATHER III, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE and THE MASK.

As a television performer, Connick has starred in two holiday specials built around his best selling holiday albums When My Heart Finds Christmas (CBS) and Harry for the Holidays (NBC), and two Great Performances/PBS concert specials "Swingin' Out Live and Harry Connick Jr.: Only You In Concert" for which he won a 2004 Emmy. He teamed with IDT Entertainment (producers of The Simpsons) on The Happy Elf, a one-hour 3D animated holiday TV special which aired on NBC and was released on DVD during the 2005 holiday season. The story is based on his original children's song from the best selling Sony/Columbia Harry for the Holidays release. In addition, he starred opposite Glenn Close in the ABC TV adaptation of the musical South Pacific and played the recurring role of Dr. Leo Markus on the NBC series Will & Grace.

Although Connick will make his Broadway theatrical debut in The Pajama Game as Sid Sorokin in 2006, he is no stranger to the New York theater scene. His sold-out concert production "Harry Connick Jr. and His Orchestra - Live on Broadway," directed by Joe Layton was produced in 1990 at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre. And in 2001, he received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for Thou Shalt Not, directed by Susan Stroman at the Plymouth Theatre.

All of these achievements -- not to mention his album sales of over 25 million, his three Grammy awards, Emmy award, and Tony nomination -- reflect a creative energy that make Harry Connick Jr. unique in the world of contemporary entertainment.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2007.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Harry Connick Jr. Facts

Birth NameJoseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr.
OccupationActor, Musician
BirthdaySeptember 11, 1967 (56)
SignVirgo
BirthplaceNew Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Height6' 2" (1m88)  How tall is Harry Connick Jr. compared to you?
Awards2004 Emmy Awards: Outstanding Music Direction (for Great Performances)

Selected Filmography

Not available.