DARING DARREN CRISS
Stars In Ryan Murphy's Upcoming Hollywood
Creator Ryan Murphy has shaped the careers of many performers. Lea Michele and Evan Peters, to name two. But there’s one who seems to stand out among them all: Darren Criss.
The kid from San Francisco, California, began performing on stage. His debut was in 42nd Street Moon’s production of Fanny, which led to roles in other main stage productions. But none were quite like Criss in the YouTube cult classic, A Very Potter Musical. The web series garnered more than 16 million views on the video platform.
Then, just a year after A Very Potter Musical, Darren Criss was tapped to play Blaine Anderson on Ryan Murphy‘s tv hit Glee. He is the love interest of Chris Colfer‘s character, Kurt Hummel. Criss danced onto the Glee scene singing Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream” with head-turning charisma.
“Darren is a comedic actor, and a Broadway musical star and an overall sensation: Mr. Charisma,” Ryan Murphy said of Criss in a New York Times profile. “I just knew he had the ability to go dark.”
And dark he went to star as serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who murdered fashion mogul Gianni Versace. That story played out in season two of Murphy’s American Crime Story, The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
It was only a matter of time before Darren Criss would star in another Ryan Murphy production. Next up is a “love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown” — a series aptly called Hollywood. The post-World War II drama marks the first Netflix-only series Ryan Murphy has created. Darren Criss has signed on as a producer, as well, which is his first TV credit in that role.
His involvement could earn him another Emmy and Golden Globe (the role of Andrew Cunanan got him both), whether it’s as the lead actor or producer. The American Crime Story performance has set a high bar, but one Darren Criss could launch himself over.
Darren Criss is one of PROVOKR’s favorite Ryan Murphy babe, for obvious reasons. His success will continue, and one thing is for sure: Darren Criss dares to provoke and push the boundaries of his talent, making his career one to follow.
