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Brian Kelly
James' inspiration for acting came from the example of his uncle, Brian Kelly, who starred as the father in TV's "Flipper". James uncle told him "Like any actor, he told me not to do it, but it did no good. Acting really took hold at Northwestern." https://playbill.com/article/three-true-stories-from-titanics-brian-darcy-james-com-101147 -
Born
Brain d'arcy James was born in Saginaw, Michigan. He grew up in the village of Bellanaleck in the County Fermanagh to a wealthy family. James is the son of Mary Kelly a seller of children's books, and Thomas F. James his stepfather a lawyer. His maternal grandfather was Harry Kelly, a former Governor of Michigan. James has 3 siblings younger brother Andrew James, Younger sister Kate James, and older sister Anne James. https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/brian-darcy-james/48936/ -
Acting
James' first time ever on stage was at the age of 13 belting out Billy Joel tunes https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/fall2015/feature/the-life-of-brian-broadway-star-brian-darcy-james.html -
Highschool gig
Before James arrived at Northwestern University he landed community theater gigs during high school. At age 16 James took the stage of Saginaw’s Pit & Balcony and wowed Jim Gaertner, who was holding auditions for a production of Annie. https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/fall2015/feature/the-life-of-brian-broadway-star-brian-darcy-james.html -
Highschool
James graduated from Nouvel Catholic Central High School of Saginaw Township in 1986. James remembers well the community theater productions that fed his love of theater https://www.svsu.edu/newsroom/news/2020/february/briandarcyjames/ -
Graduated
James graduated in 1990 from a private research university named Northwestern University with a Bachelor's in Science/Art in theater. https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/brian-darcy-james/48936/ -
Moved
James moved to New York City following his graduation from Northwestern University's School of Communication, arriving in 1991. Brian made a seemingly effortless turn from drama to musicals, with his rich drift, to comedy, and from stage to TV and film. https://newyorklifestylesmagazine.com/articles/2019/03/11.html#:~:text=And%20that%20he%20did%20following,stage%20to%20TV%20and%20film -
Meeting Jennifer
James met Jennifer his future wife when the two appeared in a 1994–95 Lincoln Center production of Carousel https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/fall2015/feature/the-life-of-brian-broadway-star-brian-darcy-james.html -
Married
James married Jennifer Prescott in 2000 and they have been married for 23 years since. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/brian-d-arcy-james#google_vignette -
Daughter
James' only daughter Grace James Prescott with wife Jennifer Prescott was born in 2001 -
Musical
On March 14, 2002, James performed in the show Sweet Smell of Success with stars like John Lithgow and Kelli O'Hara. https://playbill.com/article/the-screening-room-performances-from-sweet-smell-stars-john-lithgow-brian-darcy-james-and-kelli-ohara-video-com-216007 -
Tony Award
After participating in the show James received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell of Success. -
Broadway
James starred as Shrek in the musical The Broadway production of the show received a total of twelve Drama Desk Awards and eight Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical and acting awards for d'Arcy James -
NBC
James starred on NBC’s Smash from 2012 through 2013 as Frank's. Husband to Julia Houston in the show https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/podcast-brian-darcy-james-1235501444/ -
Spotlight
James is best remembered/recognized for his work in the Oscar-winning film, Spotlight (2015) https://healthyceleb.com/brian-darcy-james/ -
Hamilton
James starred as the original King George III in the Off-Broadway production of the musical Hamilton, with previews starting January 20, 2015, and officially opening on February 17 He left Hamilton after six weeks to star in Something Rotten! https://www.google.com/search?q=when+did+brian+d%27arcy+james+king+george+3+for+hamilton&rlz=1CAEVJI_enUS1060&oq=when+did+brian+d%27arcy+james+king+george+3+for+ham&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33i160l3.34675j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 -
Something Rotten
It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won one (Christian Borle as Best Featured Actor in a Musical) -
Netflix show
James joined the cast of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why, playing Andy Baker for two seasons https://deadline.com/2016/06/brian-darcy-james-cast-netflix-13-reasons-why-tnt-pilot-civil-1201773685/ -
Marathon
James participated in the Bank of Americas Chicago Marathon on October 8th, 2017. James ran a 26.2-mile-long challenge to raise money to support cancer patients and their loved ones served by the Cancer Support Community. https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/blog/2017/09/brian-darcy-james-runs-support-cancer-patients -
First Man
James added “astronaut” to his list of upcoming film roles. Which received 13 major nominations in 2019, winning 2 awards. http://www.briandarcyjames.com/brian-adds-astronaut-growing-list-upcoming-film-roles/ https://envelope.latimes.com/awards/titles/first-man/ -
Black lives matter supporter
James participated in a 3 series of fundraisers hoping to raise 1 Million dollars against police brutality and for Black Lives Matter Source: Instagram -
West Side Story
Started in the west side story as Officer Krupke. West Side Story won 10 Academy Awards, making it the musical film with the most Oscar wins (including Best Picture). It was the first film to share the Academy Award for Best Director between two people, with Wise winning in the Best Picture and Best Director categories. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3581652/characters/nm0195421#:~:text=Brian%20d'Arcy%20James%3A%20Officer%20Krupke&text=Jump%20to%3A,Photos%20(10) -
Into The woods
Into the Woods Revival after 20 years, Broadway started its filming in which Brian D'arcy James is part of -
Grammy's
GRAMMYS 2023 Brian d'Arcy James accepted his Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theater Album for the INTO THE WOODS Broadway cast recording http://www.briandarcyjames.com/a-grammy-win-for-into-the-woods/#:~:text=GRAMMYS%202023%3A%20Brian%20d'Arcy,for%20Best%20Musical%20Theater%20Album.