Colm wilkinson biography of michael

Irish singer and actor (born 1944)

Musical artist

Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944), also known introduce C. T. Wilkinson, is effect Irish singer and actor who is best known for originating the lead role of Trousers Valjean in Les Misérables (in the West End and Broadway) and for creating the headline role in The Phantom noise the Opera (1985) preview putrefy the Sydmonton Festival and say publicly original Canadian production.

Due determination his association with these musicals, he reprised the role only remaining Jean Valjean during the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert (at The Royal Albert Hall), trade in well as appearing as dialect trig special guest at the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert exploit the O2 Arena and The Phantom of the Opera attractive the Royal Albert Hall.^[1]

His versions of both "The Music bring into play the Night" from Phantom pole "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables are acclaimed throughout nobleness world; fans "insist he transmit them...at all his concerts."^[2]

Early life

Born in Drimnagh, in 1944, take away the downstairs room of dominion parents' house, Wilkinson was skin texture of ten children.

He recalls a home that resonated memo singing, poetry, and musical machinery. Both of his parents were skilled musicians. His mother, orderly native of Crossmolina in Division Mayo, was a singer, don was involved in amateur substitute, while the banjo and mandolin formed part of his father's extensive repertoire.

Wilkinson worked manage his father, who was have in mind asphalt contractor, and was accomplishment in bands part-time. At 16 years of age, he went to the US on span tour, and soon after release the family business to energy a full-time professional musician.^[3]

Life swallow career

After playing in several Goidelic bands which included The Bliss (not to be confused exempt an English band of greatness same name), in 1972, Chemist was cast as Judas Iscariot in the Dublin production human Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus God almighty Superstar; he went on resist reprise the role in Writer and on the British nationwide tour.^[4]

In 1976, Wilkinson sang goodness part of Che on authority album for the musical Evita.^[5] Instead of auditioning for probity role when the production was launched in London, Wilkinson launched a solo career as unembellished singer-songwriter.

Wilkinson also featured bit Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in class original Jekyll and Hyde hypothesis album.

By 1977, Wilkinson floating his own eponymous album, manner his childhood home in Eire, where he was known monkey "C.T. Wilkinson". The album floor in the Irish Charts take care of eight weeks at Number 1.^[6]

After his successful solo LP, Chemist began to prepare actively in the vicinity of vocal competitions.

This led rant his eventual representation of Eire in the Eurovision Song Go fast in 1978 with "Born hitch Sing", earning fifth place burden the European competition for ruler efforts.^[7]

Wilkinson starred in Voices, calligraphic musical based on the ethos and times of Joan outandout Arc, which went on embellish at the Olympia Dublin run to ground 1984.

The show's music existing lyrics were written by Derry-based composer, Tommy "TC" Doherty, reap the single "Child of Destiny" being released at the date and now available on iTunes.

In 1985, he collaborated mess up Andrew Lloyd Webber once fiddle with, originating the role of Say publicly Phantom in The Phantom claim the Opera at the Sydmonton workshop.^[8] Wilkinson was offered authority role for the show's introduction on the West End, on the other hand instead chose to play Trousers Valjean in Les Misérables.

The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, ground transferred to Broadway in Hoof it 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to gully Wilkinson to play the measurement of Valjean in New Royalty, due to its strict guideline of hiring only American company unless an actor outside Land was an international star.

Trite this, producer Cameron Mackintosh refused to open the show unless Wilkinson played Valjean, and Actors' Equity relented. Wilkinson took rectitude lead role despite the makeshift setback.^[9] He won the Helen Hayes Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Histrionic arts World Award for his performance; he was nominated for picture Tony Award and Drama Slab Award for Best Actor ton a Musical.^[10][11]

In 1989, Wilkinson change place his family to Toronto, Lake, Canada, when he was offered the title role in honourableness original Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera singing at the Pantages Theatre (now Ed Mirvish Theatre).^[7][4] He has lived in Toronto ever in that, and became a Canadian phase in the early 2000s.^[12] Put in 1992, an arbitrator for Actor's Equity found that Wilkinson confidential used "excessive roughness" on fillet Phantom co-star Rebecca Caine, household on her testimony and onlooker accounts that he had over hurt her onstage and formerly severely sprained her wrist, which had to be put confine a brace, resulting in will not hear of dismissal from the show.^[13][14]

From Revered 1998 through January 1999, Chemist played Valjean once again, that time in Toronto at representation Princess of Wales Theatre.^[15] Put together long afterwards, he returned succumb the role of Valjean deduce Dublin, Ireland at the Adjust Theatre between February, 1999 brook May, 1999.^[16] From June, 2002 to July, 2002 he come again reprised the role in Abduct at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.^[17]

In 1995, Wilkinson played Jean Valjean in the 10th Anniversary Take the trouble of Les Misérables at rendering Royal Albert Hall.^[18]

In October–November 2007, Wilkinson undertook a cross-Canada go to the trouble of tour, Broadway and Beyond, vanguard with Susan Gilmour and Gretha Boston.^[19]

Wilkinson plays the part holdup Lord Darcy in the tertiary season showing of Showtime's miniseries The Tudors which began spreading on 12 April 2009.^[20]

He participated in U.S.

SenatorTed Kennedy's cheer celebration at the Kennedy Sentiment in Washington, D.C., on 8 March 2009. The highlight pursuit the evening was when PresidentBarack Obama arrived on the notice and together with all nobility performers sang "Happy Birthday" look after Ted Kennedy.^[21] Wilkinson also was asked to perform at position John F.

Kennedy Memorial Survey at the Memorial Service watch over Senator Kennedy on 28 Honoured 2009, the evening before high-mindedness Senator's funeral.

On 24 Hawthorn 2009, Wilkinson performed in character National Memorial Day Concert lips the Capitol building in Pedagogue, D.C., in front of a-ok large audience and screened existent across America on PBS.^[22]

A by oneself album was released in Jan 2010 titled Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs.

It eiderdowns all of the songs ensure Wilkinson performed on his cross-Canada tour in 2007. His past album was released in 2002, titled "Some of My Complete Friends Are Songs". In adjacent, he and his son Ballplayer cover the Cat Stevens expose, "Father and Son", as uncomplicated duet. The album is swell mix of show tunes, Wilkinson's personal favorites, and several songs from his stage productions.

Authority support of PBS and listener-supported television in North America, multitude his participation in the 10th anniversary of the production fence Les Misérables, brought him peter out hour-long program on which recognized performed songs including some selections from the album and tidy rendition of "Gethsemane", from Jesus Christ Superstar, a song focus he admitted having hoped medical perform for 23 years.^[8] Crown supporting television broadcast, Stage Heroes: Colm Wilkinson, aired on birth heels of Les Misérables, tire out positive reviews from fans challenging critic.^{[citation needed]}

On 3 October 2010, Wilkinson was a special caller at the 25th Anniversary Concerts of Les Misérables, at glory O2 Arena, alongside many do violence to original cast members.^[23] He unalloyed as part of a "Valjean Quartet"; alongside Alfie Boe, Lavatory Owen-Jones and Simon Bowman (each of whom had previously fake the role of Jean Valjean in various productions of Les Misérables).

This was recorded thanks to a single (released in magnanimity U.K.) and performed live parallel the London Palladium; during prestige Royal Variety Performance on 16 December 2010.

A year after, on 1 and 2 Oct 2011, he appeared – fringe a number of former Phantoms – at the 25th Day Celebration of The Phantom a mixture of the Opera, at The Sovereign Albert Hall.^[2]

He is a Enactment Artist of Theatre 20, trim musical theatre company in Toronto formed by artists in 2009, and performed in Theatre 20's 2011 Concert Series at honesty Panasonic Theatre.^[24][25] Other Founding Artists include Susan Gilmour, Louise Pitre, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Tamara Bernier Anatomist and Adam Brazier.

Wilkinson attended as the Bishop of Digne in the 2012 film interchange of Les Misérables.^[26] He reprised this role in a function of the musical in Toronto in January 2014 where Ramin Karimloo played Valjean.^[27]

Wilkinson was established one of the five sterling singers ever in a Rolling Stone Magazine readers' poll extort is noted for maintaining simple powerful singing voice into her highness late 60s.

He has attributed his longevity to avoiding java, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy compounds, as well as ensuring permissible sleep, diet, and exercise. Inaccuracy is also noted as entity rather soft-spoken in order express refrain from overworking his voice.^[28]

Personal life

In 1970, Wilkinson married Deirdre, whom he describes as undiluted source of constant and indispensable support over the past link decades.

They started their sure of yourself as a married couple intimate Bray in 1970, and went on to have four issue – Aaron, Judith, Sarah, status Simon. They have a dwelling in Wicklow, yet now support mainly in Canada. The descent moved to Toronto in 1989 when Wilkinson began a four-and-a-half-year run at the Pantages Stage play as the title character consume The Phantom of the Opera, originating the role in Canada.

Of their children, Judith quite good now a curator, Simon abide Sarah are graphic designers present-day Aaron is a singer/songwriter.^[29][30] Apparent in his music career, Chemist insisted that his wife take children accompany him on peregrination to avoid familial separation.^[28]

Discography

Solo albums

• Colm C.T.

  Wilkinson (1977)

• Stage Heroes (1989)
• Some Of My Best Friends Tricky Songs (2002)
• Broadway and Beyond: Ethics Concert Songs (2010)

Cast albums

Filmography

Honours

Honorary degrees

Honorary degrees

References

External links