Will Chase

Will Chase

Chase performs "Desert Island Top 5 Break-ups" at Broadway on Broadway, September 10, 2006
Born (1970-09-12) September 12, 1970
Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s) Lori Chase (m. 1998; div. 2008)
Stephanie Gibson (m. 2009; div. 2012)
Children

2

Daisy 16 (b. May 4 1999)

Gracie 14 (b. August 2 2001)

Will Chase (born September 12, 1970) is an American actor and singer, best known for his work in Broadway musicals and in his current role as country superstar Luke Wheeler on ABC's Nashville.

Early life

Chase was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, and is the youngest of three boys. He graduated from Western Hills High School and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied conducting with Robert Spano and majored in percussion.[1][2]

Career

He first performed in a Broadway show in 1998 as the Squeegee Man and Roger understudy in Rent; he also starred as the last Roger in the final Broadway company of Rent, which was recorded for the theatrical release entitled Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway.[3][4] His additional Broadway credits include Miss Saigon (with the original star Lea Salonga playing Kim to close the Broadway production), The Full Monty as Jerry Lukowski replacement (2001), Lennon (2005), and Aida (Radames replacement, 2003–04), another role originated by Pascal, and Tony in Billy Elliot the Musical.[5] He was also in A Little Princess the Musical as Captain Crewe.

In 2005, he played Neville Craven in the 2005 World AIDS Day The Secret Garden concert.[6] In 2006 he starred in the short lived High Fidelity on Broadway, and starred as Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, for which he received a nomination for the 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.[7] He appeared in The Pajama Game opposite Kate Baldwin at The Muny in July 2007.[8] He also starred in Oklahoma in 2007 at the Lyric Theatre opposite Kelli O'Hara, as well as the Broadway musical The Story of My Life, with Malcolm Gets in February 2009.[9] He was nominated for the 2013 Tony Awards for Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as John Jasper / Mr. Clive Paget in the revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Chase's television guest appearances include the recurring role of Pat Mahoney on Rescue Me, Cupid, Canterbury's Law, Law & Order, Third Watch, Conviction, and Queens Supreme. He had a small role in the 2000 film Shaft.[10] Chase guest-starred in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Passion" in July 2009.

His television appearances include Hallmark's The Lost Valentine alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt and Betty White, the 2011 season finale of Royal Pains (USA), Blue Bloods (CBS), and the ABC drama Pan Am. In 2012, he appeared on the series White Collar in the episode "Neighborhood Watch" and appeared on the series Unforgettable in the episode "The Comeback". He also guest starred as Michael Swift in the NBC series Smash.[11] He currently plays the role of country superstar Luke Wheeler on the television series Nashville.

He plays the title role in the 2013 film Butterflies of Bill Baker.[12] Chase voices Anga in A Warrior's Tail (2016).[13]

Personal life

Chase has two daughters with Lori Chase, to whom he was married from 1998 to 2008.[14] He married Stephanie Gibson on November 15, 2009; they filed for divorce in January 2010. He dated his Smash co-star Debra Messing from late 2011 to 2014.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Feldman, Ed.Spotlight on Will Chase Talkin'Broadway, accessed July 11, 2009
  2. ↑ BWW News Desk.The Story of My Life broadwayworld.com, January 8, 2009
  3. ↑ Rent Internet Broadway Database, accessed July 11, 2009
  4. ↑ "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway" Appears on DVD and Blu-Ray Feb. 3
  5. ↑ Will Chase Internet Broadway Database, accessed July 11, 2009
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth."Chase, Pasquale, Cavenaugh and More Join All-Star Secret Garden Benefit Concert," playbill.com, November 11, 2005
  7. ↑ Will Chase on BroadwayWorld.com
  8. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Chase and Baldwin Play The Pajama Game at the Muny Beginning July 23," playbill.com, July 23, 2007
  9. ↑ The Story of My Life" Internet Broadway Database, accessed July 11, 2009
  10. ↑ Will Chase Internet Movie Database, accessed July 11, 2009
  11. ↑ Will Chase Joins the Cast of SMASH on NBC
  12. ↑ Butterflies of Bill Baker imdb.com, accessed October 27, 2015
  13. ↑ Savva. Heart of the Warrior imdb.com, accessed October 27, 2015
  14. ↑ Lori Chase to host fundraiser
  15. ↑ Chiu, Melody. "Debra Messing and Will Chase Split". People.

External links

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