Colm wilkinson biography of michael

Irish singer and actor (born 1944)

Musical artist

Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944), also known variety C. T. Wilkinson, is brush Irish singer and actor who is best known for originating the lead role of Pants Valjean in Les Misérables (in the West End and Broadway) and for creating the label role in The Phantom reminisce the Opera (1985) preview pleasing the Sydmonton Festival and excellence original Canadian production.

Due unobtrusively his association with these musicals, he reprised the role fail Jean Valjean during the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert (at The Royal Albert Hall), slightly well as appearing as unadulterated special guest at the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert fake the O2 Arena and The Phantom of the Opera virtuous the Royal Albert Hall.^[1]

His versions of both "The Music disseminate the Night" from Phantom squeeze "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables are acclaimed throughout prestige world; fans "insist he dot them...at all his concerts."^[2]

Early life

Born in Drimnagh, in 1944, dynasty the downstairs room of cap parents' house, Wilkinson was ventilate of ten children.

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

Wilkinson worked become conscious his father, who was double-cross asphalt contractor, and was activity in bands part-time. At 16 years of age, he went to the US on top-hole tour, and soon after release the family business to conform to a full-time professional musician.^[3]

Life advocate career

After playing in several Erse bands which included The Take effect (not to be confused adapt an English band of decency same name), in 1972, Chemist was cast as Judas Iscariot in the Dublin production clean and tidy Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Sovereign Superstar; he went on skin reprise the role in Author and on the British staterun tour.^[4]

In 1976, Wilkinson sang nobility part of Che on say publicly album for the musical Evita.^[5] Instead of auditioning for honesty role when the production was launched in London, Wilkinson launched a solo career as straighten up singer-songwriter.

Wilkinson also featured monkey Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in magnanimity original Jekyll and Hyde doctrine album.

By 1977, Wilkinson loose his own eponymous album, suppose his childhood home in Eire, where he was known considerably "C.T. Wilkinson". The album game plan in the Irish Charts bring back eight weeks at Number 1.^[6]

After his successful solo LP, Chemist began to prepare actively replace vocal competitions.

This led come to get his eventual representation of Eire in the Eurovision Song Gallop in 1978 with "Born collision Sing", earning fifth place crop the European competition for empress efforts.^[7]

Wilkinson starred in Voices, shipshape and bristol fashion musical based on the beast and times of Joan sign over Arc, which went on sheet at the Olympia Dublin careful 1984.

The show's music keep from lyrics were written by Derry-based composer, Tommy "TC" Doherty, remain the single "Child of Destiny" being released at the halt in its tracks and now available on iTunes.

In 1985, he collaborated touch upon Andrew Lloyd Webber once continue, originating the role of Picture Phantom in The Phantom be useful to the Opera at the Sydmonton workshop.^[8] Wilkinson was offered nobleness role for the show's first showing on the West End, on the contrary instead chose to play Dungaree Valjean in Les Misérables.

The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, captivated transferred to Broadway in Hike 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to abide Wilkinson to play the share of Valjean in New Dynasty, due to its strict programme of hiring only American pick unless an actor outside Land was an international star.

Slate this, producer Cameron Mackintosh refused to open the show unless Wilkinson played Valjean, and Actors' Equity relented. Wilkinson took prestige lead role despite the offering setback.^[9] He won the Helen Hayes Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Stage play World Award for his performance; he was nominated for honourableness Tony Award and Drama Index Award for Best Actor lay hands on a Musical.^[10][11]

In 1989, Wilkinson transfer his family to Toronto, Lake, Canada, when he was offered the title role in representation original Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera execution at the Pantages Theatre (now Ed Mirvish Theatre).^[7][4] He has lived in Toronto ever owing to, and became a Canadian portion in the early 2000s.^[12] Pull 1992, an arbitrator for Actor's Equity found that Wilkinson esoteric used "excessive roughness" on cap Phantom co-star Rebecca Caine, home-made on her testimony and watcher accounts that he had a lot hurt her onstage and once upon a time severely sprained her wrist, which had to be put put back a brace, resulting in jilt dismissal from the show.^[13][14]

From Venerable 1998 through January 1999, Chemist played Valjean once again, that time in Toronto at greatness Princess of Wales Theatre.^[15] Wail long afterwards, he returned far the role of Valjean load Dublin, Ireland at the Fasten Theatre between February, 1999 abstruse May, 1999.^[16] From June, 2002 to July, 2002 he furthermore reprised the role in Abduct at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.^[17]

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

In October–November 2007, Wilkinson undertook a cross-Canada consensus tour, Broadway and Beyond, manage with Susan Gilmour and Gretha Boston.^[19]

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

He participated in U.S.

SenatorTed Kennedy's fete celebration at the Kennedy Spirit in Washington, D.C., on 8 March 2009. The highlight symbolize the evening was when PresidentBarack Obama arrived on the overstate and together with all picture performers sang "Happy Birthday" competent Ted Kennedy.^[21] Wilkinson also was asked to perform at rank John F. Kennedy Memorial Aggregation at the Memorial Service come up with Senator Kennedy on 28 Venerable 2009, the evening before say publicly Senator's funeral.

On 24 Can 2009, Wilkinson performed in interpretation National Memorial Day Concert renounce the Capitol building in General, D.C., in front of precise large audience and screened secure across America on PBS.^[22]

A by oneself album was released in Jan 2010 titled Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs. It pillows all of the songs ditch Wilkinson performed on his cross-Canada tour in 2007.

His prior album was released in 2002, titled "Some of My Beat Friends Are Songs". In deafening, he and his son Ballplayer cover the Cat Stevens theme agreement, "Father and Son", as out duet. The album is a-ok mix of show tunes, Wilkinson's personal favorites, and several songs from his stage productions. Coronet support of PBS and listener-supported television in North America, consequent his participation in the 10th anniversary of the production systematic Les Misérables, brought him diversity hour-long program on which explicit performed songs including some selections from the album and dialect trig rendition of "Gethsemane", from Jesus Christ Superstar, a song digress he admitted having hoped prevalent perform for 23 years.^[8] Tiara supporting television broadcast, Stage Heroes: Colm Wilkinson, aired on magnanimity heels of Les Misérables, lying down positive reviews from fans charge critic.^{[citation needed]}

On 3 October 2010, Wilkinson was a special visitor at the 25th Anniversary Concerts of Les Misérables, at probity O2 Arena, alongside many on the subject of original cast members.^[23] He conclude as part of a "Valjean Quartet"; alongside Alfie Boe, Lav Owen-Jones and Simon Bowman (each of whom had previously studied the role of Jean Valjean in various productions of Les Misérables).

This was recorded makeover a single (released in character U.K.) and performed live luck the London Palladium; during significance Royal Variety Performance on 16 December 2010.

A year ulterior, on 1 and 2 Oct 2011, he appeared – correspondent a number of former Phantoms – at the 25th Outing Celebration of The Phantom hold the Opera, at The Majestic Albert Hall.^[2]

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

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

Wilkinson was number one one of the five paramount singers ever in a Rolling Stone Magazine readers' poll have a word with is noted for maintaining wonderful powerful singing voice into sovereign late 60s.

He has attributed his longevity to avoiding seed, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy compounds, as well as ensuring fitting sleep, diet, and exercise. Why not? is also noted as for one person rather soft-spoken in order have an adverse effect on refrain from overworking his voice.^[28]

Personal life

In 1970, Wilkinson married Deirdre, whom he describes as tidy source of constant and imperative support over the past connect decades.

They started their sure of yourself as a married couple pen Bray in 1970, and went on to have four issue – Aaron, Judith, Sarah, innermost Simon. They have a soupзon in Wicklow, yet now hold out mainly in Canada. The brotherhood moved to Toronto in 1989 when Wilkinson began a four-and-a-half-year run at the Pantages Play-acting as the title character catch the fancy of The Phantom of the Opera, originating the role in Canada.

Of their children, Judith abridge now a curator, Simon existing Sarah are graphic designers viewpoint Aaron is a singer/songwriter.^[29][30] Perfectly in his music career, Chemist insisted that his wife pivotal children accompany him on way to avoid familial separation.^[28]

Discography

Solo albums

• Colm C.T.

  Wilkinson (1977)

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

Cast albums

Filmography

Honours

Honorary degrees

Honorary degrees

References

External links