Sam Harris
Background information
Birth name(s):	Samuel Kent Harris
Date of birth:	June 4, 1961 (1961-06-04) (age 48) Cushing, Oklahoma, United States
Birth location:	Cushing, Oklahoma
Official site:	SamHarris.com

Sam Harris (born Samuel Kent Harris, June 4, 1961, Cushing, Oklahoma) is an American pop and musical theatre recording artist as well as a television, stage and film actor.

[edit] Career

[edit] Singing

Harris got his start as the grand champion of Star Search in its premiere season; his first single, "Sugar Don't Bite," was a Top 40 hit, reaching #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1984. He is a recording artist with nine studio albums to his credit. He can also be heard on numerous concert, guest artist and cast recordings. He has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheater and London's West End. He has appeared with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, at the White House and has sung on a variety of television specials and live productions. On February 12, 2008, he released a new single entitled "War on War" that became an internet phenom with music videos made by the general public. The song became a part of his album, "Free," which was released that summer. The single "Change Is On The Way" was written to support the Obama campaign and was heard on numerous television shows and behind internet videos around the time of the election.

[edit] Stage

On Broadway, he received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in the Tommy Tune-directed revial of Grease, and a Drama League Award as well as Tony, Outer Critic's Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations for his work in Cy Coleman's Tony nominated musical The Life. He's also appeared on Broadway in Mel Brooks' Tony Award winning musical The Producers, in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and in the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Hair, and Pippin. He also starred in self-penned shows Hardcopy, Different Hats, Revival and his critically acclaimed show, SAM. Harris' most recent theatrical outing was the film-to-musical adaptation of The First Wives Club seen in a limited run at San Diego's The Old Globe Theatre in the summer of 2009.

[edit] Films

Harris has appeared in two feature films to date - In the Weeds (2000, as Johnathan) and the documentary Little Man (2005, as himself). Little Man was well-received at the Los Angeles Outfest and the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, winning Audience Awards at each for director Nicole Conn.^[1] Harris's partner, Danny Jacobsen, was one of the film's producers.[1]

[edit] Television

Harris co-created the television series Down to Earth (1984, which ran for 4 years and 104 episodes). He was a series regular on The Class (2006-2007 - Perry Pearl). Harris is also credited on "Rules of Engagement," (actor, 2 episodes, 2009), The Wayne Brady Show (2003 - Actor, 1 episode) and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001, music supervisor). He has also appeared on numerous talk shows including The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1997 and 2000 - 3 episodes), the Tonight Show (1994 - 1 episode), Brunch as a co-host (2006 - 1 episode), the Oprah Winfrey Show (1997 and 2001 - two episodes), Dr. Phil's 500th episode (2005) and The View (2007 - 1 episode).^[2]

[edit] Personal life

Harris and Danny Jacobsen, who is a director and presentation coach for numerous Blue Chip compnanies and also film producer,^[3] have been together since 1994. They adopted a son, Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobsen, in April 2008 ^[4] and the couple married on November 1, 2008.

A recovering alcoholic, Harris has been sober since 2004.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sam Harris - official website
• Sam Harris discography
• Sam Harris biography at CBS
• Sam Harris at the Internet Movie Database
• "I'm a Dad" by Sam Harris, Advocate.com, June 26, 2008