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Michael Urie

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Michael Urie
Urie in 2016
Born
Michael Lorenzo Urie

(1980-08-08) August 8, 1980 (age 44)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationCollin College
Juilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1993–present

Michael Lorenzo Urie (born August 8, 1980) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Marc St. James on the ABC comedy drama television series Ugly Betty. He can be heard as Bobby Kerns in As the Curtain Rises, an original podcast soap opera from the Broadway Podcast Network.[1]

Early life and education

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Urie was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Plano. He is of Scottish and Italian descent.[2][3] He graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1998.[4]

Urie then studied at Collin County Community College before being accepted at the Juilliard School in New York City.[4] While there, he was a member of the Drama Division's Group 32 from 1999 to 2003.[5] Urie graduated from Juilliard in 2003.[4]

Career

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Urie, while still a student at Juilliard, performed in the world premiere of Love and Happiness (2001) at the Consolati Performing Arts Center, starring as a sixteen-year-old trying to get rid of his mother's boyfriend.[6]

He received the 2002 John Houseman Prize for Excellence in Classical Theatre from the Juilliard School. His classical credits include Shakespeare, Jacobean drama, and commedia dell'arte.[7]

Urie played the central character in the stage play WTC View as well as in the film adaptation.

He is on the board of Plum Productions and serves as its casting director. With the same company he has produced and appeared in Prachtoberfest and lowbrow (and a little bit tacky). As a freelance producer, he has worked on Like The Mountains and The Fantasticks (Four Players Theatre). He also directed the latter production.

In 2006, Urie began appearing in the ABC dramedy Ugly Betty as Marc St. James, the assistant of Wilhelmina Slater, played by Vanessa Williams. The show began with the concept that Wilhelmina would have a different assistant in each episode; thus Urie was originally billed as a guest star in the credits.[8] However, Williams loved their chemistry, and Urie was signed on as a full-time regular midway through the first season. He and the cast were nominated for Screen Actors Guild awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008.[9] The role earned Urie a Ewwy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2009. He remained with Ugly Betty until the show's cancellation in 2010.

During the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, Urie hosted TLC's reality-based series Miss America: Reality Check. The program followed the contestants participating in the 2008 Miss America Pageant.[10]

Urie has returned often to his theater roots, including directing a one-night celebrity-performed staging of Howard Ashman's unproduced musical Dreamstuff. The musical was reimagined by Howard's partners Marsha Malamet and Dennis Green and performed at Los Angeles's Hayworth Theatre as part of the Bruno Kirby celebrity reading series.[citation needed] He has also been on Live with Regis and Kelly and has also starred in the 2008 Disney blockbuster production Beverly Hills Chihuahua as the voice of Sebastian.

Urie originated the role of Rudi Gernreich in the 2009 off-Broadway play The Temperamentals, about the foundation of the early LGBT rights organization the Mattachine Society. Urie received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.[11]

Urie at the 2012 PaleyFest

In January 2012, Urie made his Broadway debut, joining the cast of the second revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in the role of Bud Frump.[12]

Urie has also started his own website for videoblogging and live chats.[13] In 2012, Urie also starred as the mysterious limo driver James in the film adaptation of Wendy Mass's children's book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written and directed by Tamar Halpern.

Urie was one of the leads in CBS's short-lived series Partners. The multi-camera comedy, from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, centered on lifelong friends and business partners – one straight and one gay.[14] The series premiered on September 24, 2012, but was cancelled after only six episodes had aired.[15]

His performance in 2013's one-man show Buyer & Cellar won him a Clarence Derwent Award[16] as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.[17]

In April 2015, Urie became the host of Cocktails & Classics on Logo TV, in which he and panels of celebrity friends watch and comment on classic movies while imbibing cocktails named or made for the films. Films profiled on the series have included All About Eve, Steel Magnolias, Valley of the Dolls, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Mommie Dearest.[18]

In November 2018, Urie starred as Arnold Beckoff in Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song revival on Broadway.[19][20]

He had a recurring role as Redmond, the gossipy book agent, in the popular TVLand drama-comedy series Younger, produced by Darren Star.[21]

In 2018, Urie played Prince Hamlet in the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Hamlet in Washington, DC.[22] He reprised the role in mid-2019 for the company's "Free for All" production run.[23]

On September 13, 2019, it was announced that Urie would once again team up with his Ugly Betty co-star Becki Newton on a sitcom project for CBS and Warner Bros. Television called Fun, in which he would both co-star and serve as a co-executive producer with creator Michael Patrick King and fellow Ugly Betty showrunners Tracy Poust and Jon Kinnally.[24] CBS passed on the pilot of the series on May 4, 2020.[25]

In 2021, Urie starred in the Netflix Christmas romantic comedy Single All the Way.[26]

In 2023, Urie starred in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking.[27]

Personal life

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In 2009, Urie referred to himself as "a member of the LGBT community" on his website.[28] In a 2010 interview with The Advocate, he said that he was in a relationship with a man and identifies as "queer". He said it never felt wrong when he was with women previously.[29]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 WTC View Eric
2008 Beverly Hills Chihuahua Sebastian
2011 The Decoy Bride Steve Korbitz
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life James
2012 Petunia George McDougal
2013 He's Way More Famous Than You Himself
2014 Such Good People Richard Nearly
2019 Lavender Arthur Short film
2021 Swan Song Dustin
Single All the Way Peter
2023 Maestro Jerome Robbins
2024 Goodrich Terry

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Undressed Justin Episode: "Tangled Beards"
2004 Kat Plus One Roger Television film
2006–2010 Ugly Betty Marc St. James Main role
Nominated–Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor – Comedy
2008–2009 Mode After Hours Marc St. James Main role
2010 Under the Pink Carpet Himself Episode: "Michael Musto, Gay Marriage and Rugby"
Brain Trust Prof. Franklin Gordon Television film
Celebrity Ghost Stories Himself Episode #2.4
2012 Partners Louis McManus Main role
2013 Hot in Cleveland Jeffery Episode: "Cleveland Indians"
2014 Modern Family Gavin Sinclair Episodes: "Queer Eyes, Full Hearts", "Integrity"
2014–2016 The Good Wife Stephen Dinovera 4 episodes
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Guest judge
Workaholics Joey Episode: "Gayborhood"
2016 Almost Royal Himself Episode: "Romance"
2016–2021 Younger Redmond Recurring role
2018 After Forever Daniel Episodes: "Commitment" and "Accidents"
2019 The Good Fight Stephen Dinovera Episodes: "The One Where Diane Joins the Resistance" and "The One Where Kurt Saves Diane"
2019–2020 Almost Family Nate Recurring role
2020 Ms. Guidance Brant Finklestein Episode: "The Taming of the Jenny"
2021 The Bite Josh Recurring role
2023–present Shrinking Brian Main role
2023 American Dad! Mark Zuckerberg / Student (voice) 2 episodes
2023–2024 Krapopolis Hermes 10 episodes

Director and executive producer

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 House of Kai Milla Executive producer Television film
2012 He's Way More Famous Than You Director
Thank You for Judging Co-director; executive producer Documentary

Theater

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Year Title Role Venue Notes
2009 The Temperamentals Rudi Gernreich New World Stages[30] Off-Broadway
2010 Angels in America Prior Walter Signature Theatre Company
2011 The Cherry Orchard Yepikhodov Classic Stage Company
2012 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Bud Frump Al Hirschfeld Theatre Broadway replacement
2013 Buyer & Cellar Alex More Barrow Street Theatre
2014 Buyer & Cellar Alex More National Tour
2015 Buyer & Cellar Alex More Menier Chocolate Factory Off West End
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Hysterium Two River Theater
Shows for Days Car Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
2016 Homos, Or Everyone in America The Writer LAByrinth Theater Company Winner of the Obie Award for Performance
2017 The Government Inspector Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov The Duke on 42nd Street
Torch Song Arnold Beckoff Second Stage
2018 Hamlet Hamlet Shakespeare Theatre Company
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Bud Frump Kennedy Center Washington DC Run
2018–2019 Torch Song Arnold Beckoff Hayes Theater Broadway
2019 High Button Shoes Harrison Floy New York City Center Encores!
A Bright Room Called Day Gregor The Public Theater Off-Broadway
2020 Grand Horizons Brian Hayes Theater Broadway
2021 Chicken and Biscuits Logan Leibowitz Circle in the Square Theatre Broadway
2022 Jane Anger William Shakespeare Shakespeare Theatre Company's Klein Theatre
2023 The Da Vinci Code Robert Langdon Ogunquit Playhouse Regional
2023 Spamalot Sir Robin / Guard 1 / Brother Maynard Kennedy Center Nominated for Helen Hayes Award
2023–2024 St. James Theatre Broadway
2024 Once Upon a Mattress Prince Dauntless New York City Center Encores!
Hudson Theatre Broadway
2024–2025 Ahmanson Theatre Los Angeles Run

References

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  1. ^ "As the Curtain Rises – Broadway's First Digital Soap Opera | Broadway Podcast Network". October 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Copstick, Kate (August 3, 2010). "Interview: Michael Urie, Comedian". The Scotsman. Retrieved September 21, 2010. He is, he reveals, part Scots by descent.
  3. ^ "Michael Urie: Biography". NetGlimse.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Jones, Arnold Wayne (February 22, 2007). "It's an Ugly Job, But Somebody Has to Do It". Dallas Voice.
  5. ^ "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. February 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Sommer, Elyse. "Love and Happiness". CurtainUp. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
  7. ^ "Ugly Betty – Bios". ABC. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  8. ^ Jacqueline Cutler, "Celebrity Scoop: Michael Urie". Winston-Salem Journal. November 7, 2009.
  9. ^ Michael Urie – Awards
  10. ^ Regina Schaffer. "Miss America gets real (or just about as real as a beauty pageant can get)". The Press of Atlantic City (NJ). January 4, 2008. page B1.
  11. ^ Healy, Patrick (May 20, 2010). "Honors and the End for Temperamentals". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  12. ^ "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 revival)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  13. ^ "Michael Urie". MichaelUrie.net. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 16, 2012). "Ugly Betty's Michael Urie Gets Lead in Partners, Pooch Hall Joins Ray Donovan". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Partners".
  16. ^ "Annaleigh Ashford, Michael Urie Receive Equity's Clarence Derwent Award". ActorsEquity.org. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Meyer, Dan (August 15, 2019). "Upcoming Grand Horizons Star Michael Urie to Host The Acting Company's 2019 Fall Gala". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  18. ^ Cocktails & Classics at the Internet Movie Database.
  19. ^ "Acclaimed Torch Song Revival, with Michael Urie, Extends Again | Playbill". Playbill. October 23, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  20. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 20, 2018). "Torch Song To Re-Alight On Broadway In November In Former Home". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  21. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (September 28, 2016). "Younger: Darren Star on Ageism and Liza's 'Mid-Love Crisis' in Season 3". IndieWire. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  22. ^ "Shakespeare Theatre Company stages Hamlet with modern espionage twist". WTOP. February 5, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  23. ^ Howes, Sophia (July 18, 2019). "Review: Hamlet at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Free for All". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  24. ^ "Michael Urie, Becki Newton to Star in Michael Patrick King CBS Comedy" from The Hollywood Reporter (September 13, 2019)
  25. ^ "CBS Comedy Pilot Fun Starring Becki Newton & Michael Urie Not Going Forward". May 5, 2020.
  26. ^ Bugbee, Teo (December 2, 2021). "Single All the Way Review: Cookie Cutter Christmas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  27. ^ "Michael Urie stars in new show 'Shrinking'". ny1.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  28. ^ "Michael Urie on Playing an Activist and Assistant on The Temperamentals and Ugly Betty". New York. June 28, 2009.
  29. ^ "The Not So Ugly Truth". The Advocate. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014.
  30. ^ BWW News Desk (November 16, 2009). "Out Magazine 'Out 100' Includes Four Temperamentals, Gavin Creel, Neil Patrick Harris & More". Broadway World. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
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