Brian d'Arcy James Biography

Brian d"Arcy James is currently in production shooting the first season of the NBC/Dreamworks Studios TV show SMASH. Brian plays "Frank Houston," Debra Messing's husband in a cast that includes Angelica Huston and Katharine McPhee. Brian also appeared in the pilot episode as Assistant District Attorney Wheeler in the J. J. Abrams-produced PERSON OF INTEREST, which began airing in September 2011 on CBS.

On the stage, he most recently earned rave reviews in the Broadway play TIME STANDS STILL by Donald Margulies, starring along side Laura Linney, Christina Ricci and Eric Bogosian at the Cort Theater. Brianoriginated the role of 'Dan Goodman' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL at Second Stage Theater and reprised his role in the Broadway production in the summer of 2010. He was nominated for a TONY in 2009 for his performance of 'Shrek' in SHREK THE MUSICAL. He also won the Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk Award for that role.

Another recent highlight includes singing for President Obama and the First Family in the East Room for "A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House."

Brian's work in film includes being cast as Ted Frank in the upcoming HBO film GAME CHANGE with Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as Senator John McCain.Brian will also appear in the soon-to-be-released feature film FRIENDS WITH KIDS, written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt starring Jon Hamm, Kristin Wiig, and Megan Fox. He can also be seen in GHOST TOWN with Ricky Gervais as 'Irish Eddie,' a tattooed gangster. Brian has appeared in the ABC series Cashmere Mafia, and FX's Rescue Me. He recently co-created, co-produced and starred in an original, improvised comedy TV pilot called SHINY PEOPLE about the unique world of corporate entertainment.

A Broadway veteran, Brian received a 2002 Tony nomination, a Drama Desk nomination, an Outer Critics Circle nomination and a Drama League Honor for his star turn as 'Sidney Falco' in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. For his performances Off-Broadway, he received a 2000 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and a Drama League Award Nomination for THE WILD PARTY at Manhattan Theatre Club. He also received a 2001 OBIE AWARD, Drama Desk Award nomination, Outer Critics Circle Nomination, Backstage Garland Award, and LA Weekly Award for hissoloperformance in Conor McPherson"s THE GOOD THIEF. Brian says that his role as the unnamed narrator in this play is his most memorable role to date.He reprised that role in 2010 for a one night-only performance celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Keen Company, the New York City theater company that originally produced the play and gave him the opportunity to star.

Brian received rave reviews for the Atlantic Theater Company's production of PORTAUTHORITY, his second Conor McPherson play. For his role, Brian was nominated for a Lucille Lortel award for Outstanding Lead Actor and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for the 2009 season.

Brian started his career on Broadway when he appeared in BLOOD BROTHERS in 1993,taking over the lead role of 'Mickey' for a limited time before leaving to join Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed production of CAROUSEL at Lincoln Center. He continued with strong performances in TITANICin the standout role of 'Barrett the Stoker', for which he received his first Drama League Nomination and a FANY Award.

In 2007, he originated the role of 'Brendan' in Martin McDonagh'sTony and Drama Desk nominated play THE LIEUTENANTOF INISHMORE, starred with Kristen Chenoweth in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of THE APPLE TREE, and starred with Keith Carradine in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELSas the scene-stealing, crude con-man 'Freddy Benson.'

He has appeared in the plays THE PAVILION, FLIGHT, ANCESTRAL VOICES at Lincoln Center and PUBLIC ENEMY by Kenneth Branagh. He starred in the Encores production of PARDON MY ENGLISH, and appeared in the original companies ofFLOYD COLLINS for Playwrights Horizons and Irving Berlin"s WHITE CHRISTMAS in San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles.

An accomplished and sought-after concert performer, Brian has appeared in esteemed concert halls all over the world. Highlights include performing for President Clinton at the "Kennedy Center Honors" honoring Charlton Heston as well as his 2010 White House performance for President Obama and the First Family. He has made subsequent visits to the Kennedy Center, first for "Hamlisch on Hamlisch" followed by The NSO Pops/Sondheim at 80. He has appeared at venues ranging from LA's Disney Hall to Madison Square Garden with Barry Manilow; from the Boston Pops with Keith Lockhart to numerous solo stints at Carnegie Hall.

His numerous recordings include but are not limited to his 2004 debut Solo Album entitled "From Christmas Eve to Christmas Morn" (featuring his original popular holiday song "Michigan Christmas"), "Shrek the Musical," "Irving Berlin"s White Christmas," "Carousel," "Floyd Collins," "The Wild Party," and "Sweet Smell of Success" among many others. He can be heard along with numerous Broadway performers singing Alan Menken and Steven Schwartz's original songs in the Disney feature film "Enchanted."

Brian d'Arcy James resides in New York City with his wife and daughter. He has supported and performed many times for an organization in his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan, called the Field Neurosciences Institute (FNI). The mission of the FNI is the prevention, early diagnosis, care and cure of neurological diseases, disorders and injuries.