Darren Criss

Early Life

Darren Everett Criss was born on February 5, 1987, in San Francisco, California, to Cerina and Charles William Criss. He is the youngest of two children, with an older brother, Charles "Chuck" Criss, who is a member of the band Freelance Whales. Criss's mother hails from Cebu, Philippines, and has a diverse heritage that includes Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish roots, while his father is of English, German, and Irish descent. Raised primarily in San Francisco, Criss spent a few years in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his father established EastWest Bank. He attended Catholic schools, completing his education at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and later earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan in 2009, majoring in theatre performance and minoring in musicology and Italian.

Career

Criss's artistic journey began at a young age, with violin lessons starting at five years old, and he later taught himself to play several other instruments, including guitar and piano. His professional stage debut occurred at age ten, and he became well-known for his role as Harry Potter in the musical parodies created by StarKid Productions, which he co-founded with friends from college. Criss gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Blaine Anderson on the hit television series Glee from 2010 to 2015. His performance in the miniseries The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story earned him a Primetime Emmy Award. In addition to acting, Criss has released several musical projects, including albums like A Very Darren Crissmas and Maybe Happy Ending, as well as various singles and EPs.

Personal Life

In January 2018, Criss announced his engagement to Mia Swier, whom he married on February 16, 2019. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Bluesy Belle Criss, on April 14, 2022, and their second child, a son named Brother László Criss, was born on June 3, 2024. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Criss is an advocate for LGBTQ rights and actively supports The Trevor Project, contributing to various charitable causes throughout his career.