Christopher Jackson (actor)

A bald man in a frock smiles warmly.
Jackson in costume as George Washington in Hamilton

Christopher Jackson is an Emmy[1] and Grammy Award-winning American actor, musician, composer, and lyricist from Cairo, Illinois.

Early life

Jackson attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[2]

Broadway

In 2015 Jackson originated the role of President George Washington in the musical Hamilton on Broadway,[3][4] which won a Grammy Award for best cast album. He was also nominated for a Tony in 2016 for his performance as Washington. Jackson has previously performed on Broadway in In the Heights, Bronx Bombers, After Midnight, The Lion King,[5] Holler If Ya Hear Me,[6] and Memphis.[7]

Other work

Jackson's film and TV work includes Tracers, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, A Gifted Man, and Nurse Jackie.[8] Jackson is also a member of hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme.[9] He has been nominated for three Emmy Awards for composing music and lyrics for television, winning the “Outstanding Original Song” Award in 2011 for his lyrics to “What I Am,” which he co-wrote for Sesame Street with Bill Sherman.[10]

Personal life

Before the first run-through of the Off-Broadway production of In the Heights, Jackson learned that his son had been diagnosed with autism.[11] With his wife, he is an advocate for the organization Autism Speaks.[9] He is 6'2" tall.[12]

Credits

Theatre

Film

Television

Albums

New album in the works (as of 2014)

Awards

References

  1. amda.edu. "Chris Jackson wins a Daytime Emmy". AMDA blog website. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  2. Daniels, Karu (8 July 2014). "Broadway Audiences Hear Chris Jackson's Holler: Leading Man Plays Three Starring Roles in One Season". Playbill. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  3. Kennedy, Mark (17 July 2015). "3 presidents in ‘Hamilton’ put ‘blood into the statues’". Lima, Ohio. AP. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  4. Hoch, Danny (23 April 2015). "Sure, ‘Hamilton’ Is a Game-Changer, But Whose Game?". American Theatre. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. broadwayworld.com. "Christopher Jackson Theatre Credits". Broadway World website. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  6. McPhee, Ryan (7 April 2014). "Saul Williams, Tonya Pinkins & Christopher Jackson to Star in Tupac Shakur Musical Holler If Ya Hear Me". Broadway.com. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  7. Gans, Andrew (20 December 2011). "In the Heights and The Lion King, will join the cast of the Tony-winning Best Musical Memphis". Playbill. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  8. IMDB.com. "Chris Jackson IMDB". IMBD website. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  9. 1 2 freestylelovesupreme.com. "Freestyle Love Supreme - The Crew". Freestyle Love Supreme website. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  10. amda.edu. "Alumnus Christopher Jackson nominated for his 3rd Emmy Award!". AMDA blog. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  11. Purcell, Carey (9 October 2015). "Christopher Jackson On the "Incredible Moments" He's Shared With Lin-Manuel Miranda — Musicals, Marriage and Children". Playbill. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  12. Chris Jackson. "Chris Jackson Twitter". Twitter website. Retrieved 2015-12-15.

External links

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