Lucas Grabeel

Lucas Grabeel

Grabeel while performing in High School Musical: The Concert
Background information
Birth name Lucas Stephen Grabeel
Born (1984-11-23) November 23, 1984
Springfield, Missouri, United States
Genres Pop rock, dance pop, teen pop, Country pop, R&B
Occupation(s) Actor, singer-songwriter, dancer, director, producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2004–present
Labels Walt Disney
Associated acts Ashley Tisdale, Drew Seeley
Website www.lucasgrabeel.com/

Lucas Stephen Grabeel (/ˈɡreɪbiːl/; born November 23, 1984) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, dancer, director and producer. As a stage performer, he is best known for his role as Ryan Evans in the High School Musical film series, and as Ethan Dalloway in the third and fourth installments of the Halloweentown series: Halloweentown High (2004) and Return to Halloweentown (2006). He also appeared as a young Lex Luthor in the television series Smallville. He currently plays Toby Kennish in the ABC Family/Freeform drama Switched at Birth. He provides the voice of Deputy Peck in the Disney Junior TV series Sheriff Callie's Wild West.

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Grabeel was born in Springfield, Missouri on November 23, 1984, the son of Jean (née Harman) and Stephen Grabeel.[1] Before transferring to and graduating from Kickapoo High School in Springfield in 2003, he attended Logan-Rogersville Elementary, Middle and High School. He also played drums for a local church and initiated a men's a cappella singing group at a high school. At school, he found passions in the guitar and the accordion while also enjoying dance. He can dance in the styles of jazz, ballet, hip-hop and tap.[2] While in Rogersville, Missouri, he regularly attended Harmony Baptist Church, where he was a part of the children's and youth groups.[3] During the summer of 2002, He attended the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) at Missouri State University. In a letter written to protest eliminating MFAA, Grabeel stated, "I wouldn't be where I am at if it weren't for my time at MFAA." His time there, as he refers to it, is what led him to move to LA and pursue an acting career.

Following his graduation, Grabeel moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. After two months living there, Grabeel landed his first television role in a commercial for toothpaste and then eventually went to star in other commercials for Lego and Hot Wheels. Soon after, he starred in his first film role as Ethan Dolloway in the third installment of the Halloweentown series Halloweentown High. He subsequently reprised this role in the series' fourth installment Return to Halloweentown.

High School Musical

Grabeel and Ashley Tisdale in the High School Musical: The Concert

In 2006, he was cast in the role of Ryan Evans, the fraternal twin brother of Sharpay Evans (played by Ashley Tisdale), in the Emmy Award-winning made-for-television Disney movie High School Musical. He reprises his role in the television sequels High School Musical 2 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year. In 2007, he joined co-stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman on the 51-date High School Musical: The Concert. In early 2009, Billboard believed that Grabeel and Tisdale's track "I Want It All" should be nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category however, the song did not make the final shortlist.[4] During his time in High School Musical, Grabeel (along with his co-stars) had a total of six tracks chart in the Billboard Hot 100.[5][6][7][8] Furthermore, he was the first artist to debut in the Billboard Hot 100 with two simultaneous new entries in one week.[9] While with Disney Channel, Grabeel also participated in the first ever Disney Channel Games and co-captained the green team along with Ashley Tisdale, Mitchel Musso, Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment and Kyle Massey. A year later, he returned to repeat his captaincy of the green team with Dylan Sprouse, Miley Cyrus, Monique Coleman and Brandon Baker.

Subsequent acting career

Grabeel has made television guest appearances in TV series such as Boston Legal, 'Til Death, Veronica Mars and Smallville, where he portrayed a young Lex Luthor in 2006 and reprised the role as a clone of Lex Luthor in the series' 10th season In 2011. In 2007, he filmed the movie, The Adventures of Food Boy with Brittany Curran, as the lead Ezra. Other film projects Grabeel was involved with include the animated film, At Jesus' Side, where he voiced a dog named Jericho.[10] He also filmed the independent film, Alice Upside Down,[11] as the character of Lester McKinley, based on the "Alice book series" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. In 2008, he also appeared in the movie Milk, a biopic about the slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Grabeel played a friend and supporter of Milk, photographer Danny Nicoletta. He also appeared in the 2008 Walt Disney Pictures film College Road Trip as Scooter, which features other Disney stars Raven-Symoné, Brenda Song and Margo Harshman. He also stars in the independent movie Lock and Roll Forever alongside Ore Ska Band.[12] Grabeel also guest starred in an episode of The Cleveland Show.

Early in 2009, Grabeel was voted Most Likely to Do Big Things in 2009 by MTV and had an exclusive interview with them. He mentions the release of another music video for his track Get Your Ass On.[13] He also mentioned his latest movie project, The Legend of the Dancing Ninja, where he played the lead Tokyo Jones alongside David Hasselhoff.[14] In May 2009 he portrayed the role on stage of Matt in the Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones musical, The Fantasticks with Eric McCormack and Harry Groener at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.[15]

Since the summer of 2011, Grabeel has been starring in the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, in which he plays the brother of one of the two girls that were mistakenly switched at birth in the hospital.[16]

In March 2012 I Kissed A Vampire was released in the U.S. where Lucas stars alongside Drew Seeley and Adrian Slade.[17]

In January 2014 he provided his first-ever voice over role for an animated series, Deputy Peck on Sheriff Callie's Wild West.

Musical projects

Aside his involvement in the High School Musical soundtracks, Grabeel has recorded a song called "You Know I Will" for the soundtrack of The Fox and the Hound 2 and also recorded his own version of the Michael Bolton track "Go the Distance", from Disney's Hercules, for DisneyMania 5. In 2007, Grabeel co-wrote and recorded a song called "You Got It"[18] which was released on iTunes on August 19, 2007[19] while its accompanying music video was released on his official website. Grabeel also recorded another original song called "Trash Talkin'" which was released November 15, 2008 on YouTube.[20] Grabeel also sings in the iTunes show I Kissed a Vampire, in which, he stars. In early 2009, he appeared at the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), an AIDS charity event, in Beverly Hills performing George and Ira Gershwin's "I Can't Be Bothered Now".[21][22] He also recorded and released a new track titled '135n8' in early 2014 with the music video being uploaded to his YouTube account.

14341 Productions

In 2007, Grabeel founded a production company called 14341 Productions. His role within involves overseeing many projects from writing, directing and executive producing. The company have produced projects such as the short films The Real Son, Smoke Break; the music videos for "Get Your Ass On" and "You Got It". They also produced a TV pilot called Regarding Beauregard which was Grabeel's directorial debut. They are currently working on a short film, The Adventures of Chuckle Boy, and have just released a short film The Dragon.[23] They debuted their work at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.[24]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Halloweentown High Ethan Dalloway Disney Channel Original Movie
2005 Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth Charlie/Gertrude/Ophelia
2006 Return to Halloweentown Ethan Dalloway Main Role, Disney Channel Original Movie
High School Musical Ryan Evans Main Role, Disney Channel Original Movie
2007 High School Musical 2 Ryan Evans Main Role, Disney Channel Original Movie
Alice Upside Down Lester McKinley Main Role
2008 Milk Danny Nicoletta
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Ryan Evans Main Role
Lock and Roll Forever Donni
At Jesus' Side Jericho Main Role
The Adventures of Food Boy Ezra Chase Main Role
College Road Trip Scooter
The Real Son Freddie Deasnman Main Role
2010 The Legend of the Dancing Ninja Nikki Main Role
2011 Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Ryan Evans Cameo Role, Disney Channel Original Movie
2012 I Kissed a Vampire Dylan Knight
2014 Dragon Nest: Warrior's Dawn Gerrant (voice)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Boston Legal Jason Matheny Episode: The Ass Fat Jungle
2006 'Til Death Pete Pratt Episode: Pilot
Smallville Young Lex Luthor Season 6; episode 5 "Reunion"
2005–2006 Veronica Mars Kelly Kuzzio/Wanna Score Boy 2 episodes
2009 Glenn Martin DDS Singer (voice) Episode: Deck the Malls
2010 The Cleveland Show Nerd #2 (voice) Episode: Love Rollercoaster
Family Guy Anthony (voice) Episode: Go, Stewie, Go
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Guillermo Seidel Season 10; episode 18 "Field Mice"
2011 Smallville Alexander Luthor/Conner Kent/Superboy/Kon-El Season 10; episode 13 "Beacon", episode 16 "Scion"
2011–present Switched at Birth Toby Kennish Main Role
2012 Family Guy Seymour Krelborn (voice) Episode: Brian's Play
Robot Chicken Justin Bieber (voice) Episode: Robot Chicken's ATM Christmas Special
2013–2015 DreamWorks Dragons Gustav (voice) 5 episodes
2013 Pound Puppies Percy (voice) Episode: "Cuddle Up Buttercup"
2014–present Sheriff Callie's Wild West[25] Deputy Peck (voice)
My Picturesque Body Randy
2014 Chopped Himself Episode: Chopped Tournament of Stars: Actors
2015 Doraemon Big G (singing voice) Episode: Big G's Big Show
Family Guy Amusement Park Manager Episode: Guy, Robot
2016 TBA Pinky Malinky[26] Pinky Malinky (voice) Main Role
Other
Year Title Role Notes
2009–present I Kissed a Vampire Dylan Web series

Discography

For his work with the High School Musical film series, see High School Musical discography.

Extended play

Title Album details
Sunshine
  • Released: June 22, 2011[27]
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Label: Road Dawg

Singles

Year Title
2007 "You Got It"[28]
2014 "135n8"[29]

Other appearances

Year Title Album
2006 "You Know I Will" The Fox and the Hound 2
2007 "Go the Distance" DisneyMania 5
"Jenny Got a Fever" Alice Upside Down
"Gotta Rock"
"Let It Snow" Disney Channel Holiday
2011 "Baby" Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure
2012 "Outta My Head" I Kissed a Vampire
"Just a Little Peck" (with Adrian Slade & Drew Seeley)
"Happily Afterlife" (with Adrian Slade & Drew Seeley)

Awards

Awards
Year Result Award Category Nominated Work
2011 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Male Switched at Birth
2013 Nominated Choice TV Actor: Drama
2014 Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Ozarks son continues Hollywood climb, News-Leader.com, September 13, 2005; Retrieved April 6, 2009
  2. ↑ Lucas Grabeel – Biography, IMDB.com, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  3. ↑ Lucas Grabeel, AtJesusSide.com, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  4. ↑ And The Best Song Oscar Nominees Should Be...., Billboard, January 21, 2009; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  5. ↑ Fergie Scores Third Solo No. 1 On Hot 100, Billboard, August 30, 2007; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  6. ↑ We're All In This Together – The Billboard Hot 100, Billboard, February 11, 2006; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  7. ↑ I Don't Dance – The Billboard Hot 100, Billboard, August 8, 2007; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  8. ↑ What Time Is It – The Billboard Hot 100, Billboard, November 8, 2007; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  9. ↑ Chart Beat – High School Musical Charting, Billboard, February 2, 2006; Retrieved April 7, 2009
  10. ↑ AtJesusSide Cast, AtJesusSide.com, Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  11. ↑ Alice Upside Down, Alice Upside Down the Movie (Official Website), Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  12. ↑ Sony does Japanese 'Musical', Variety, October 30, 2007; Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  13. ↑ Our Male Pop Rookies Plan Music-Industry And Hollywood Takeover In 2009, MTV, January 13, 2009; Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  14. ↑ The Legend of the Dancing Ninja, Internet Movie Database, Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  15. ↑ The Fantasticks, Reprise.org, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  16. ↑ Two Switched at Birth teens fuel new ABC Family drama Zap2it.com, Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  17. ↑ "TWIST Chats with Lucas Grabeel!". Twist. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  18. ↑ Lucas Stephen Grabeel (writer) – You Got It, ASCAP.com, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  19. ↑ Lucas Grabeel – You Got It – Single, iTunes, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  20. ↑ Lucas Grabeel – Trash Talkin' (Fan Upload), YouTube.com, Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  21. ↑ The Brothers Gershwin: George & Ira – The 25th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) , Stage LA, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  22. ↑ Recording of 'I Can't Be Bothered Now', YouTube.com, ; Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  23. ↑ 14341, 14341.com, Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  24. ↑ Lucas Grabeel & 14341 Productions Interview, Popstar.com, February 9, 2009; Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  25. ↑ http://www.disneydreaming.com/2012/06/23/lucas-grabeel-will-voice-a-character-on-disney-juniors-sheriff-callies-wild-west-with-mandy-moore/
  26. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/_LlLO8v7m4//
  27. ↑ "Sunshine – EP by Lucas Grabeel". iTunes US. Apple. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  28. ↑ ""You Got It" by Lucas Grabeel". iTunes US. Apple. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  29. ↑ ""135n8" by Lucas Grabeel". iTunes US. Apple. Retrieved January 31, 2014.

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