Matthew Morrison

Early Life

Matthew James Morrison was born on October 30, 1978, in Fort Ord, California, to Mary Louise and Thomas Morrison. Raised in Chico, California, he has Scottish and English ancestry. His early passion for performing led him to join the Buena Park Youth Theater and later the Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) and the Orange County School of the Arts. While attending Los Alamitos High School, he participated in a musical alongside actress Jodie Sweetin. Morrison pursued further education at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts but left after two years to join the Broadway adaptation of "Footloose."

Career

Morrison's career began to take shape in 1999 when he appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" as part of the fictional boy band "Fresh Step." This experience paved the way for his casting in the Broadway musical "Footloose." In 2001, he joined the boy band LMNT, although he left before the release of their sole album, describing that year as the "worst year of my life." He gained significant recognition for his role as Link Larkin in the original cast of the musical "Hairspray" from 2002 to 2004 and starred in the Broadway premiere of "The Light in the Piazza," earning a Tony Award nomination. Morrison is perhaps best known for his role as Will Schuester on the hit television series "Glee," which aired from 2009 to 2015.

Personal Life

Morrison's personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. He was engaged to actress Chrishell Stause in 2006, but their relationship ended. In 2011, he began dating Renee Puente, and they became engaged in 2013 with the help of Elton John. The couple married on October 18, 2014, in Maui. They welcomed their first child, a son, on October 22, 2017, and their daughter was born on June 28, 2021, following a series of miscarriages. Morrison continues to balance his family life with his artistic endeavors, including music releases such as his self-titled album and "Where It All Began."