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Anthony Rapp

 
Artist: Anthony Rapp
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Anthony Rapp

Similar Artists:

Talking Heads, The Smiths, New Order, Peter Gabriel, The Cure, Crowded House, The B-52's

Performed Songs By:

Clark Gesner
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Vocals Representative Album: "Look Around"

Biography

Singer/actor Anthony Rapp is probably best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson's hit musical Rent (performing in the show from its off-Broadway debut to Chicago and London), for which Rapp shared an OBIE award with the rest of the cast for his stirring performance. In addition to appearances in several movies over the years (Adventures in Babysitting, Dazed and Confused, Road Trip, etc.), Rapp issued his solo debut recording, Look Around, in January of 2001 on the Orchard label. Picking from a melting pot of influences (such '80s acts as the Cure and New Order, '90s alt-rockers Superchunk and Nirvana, as well as the Beatles, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin), Rapp's debut proved to be quite varied musically, as he supported the debut's release with appearances at colleges and small clubs. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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Actor: Anthony Rapp
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Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: 1972 in Joliet, Illinois
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '90s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Adventures in Babysitting, Rent, Open House
  • First Major Screen Credit: Adventures in Babysitting (1987)

Biography

A film and stage actor who got his big break as one of the original cast members of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway production of Rent, Anthony Rapp has appeared as a supporting actor in a number of films. Born in the Chicago suburb of Joilet on October 26, 1971, Rapp had acting aspirations even as a young child, and at the age of ten, he managed to land the title role in a Broadway production of The Little Prince. Unfortunately, the show didn't make it to opening night, but Rapp subsequently found work in a touring company of The King and I, and at the age of 14, he won an Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in the Broadway production of Precious Sons.

Rapp made his film debut at the age of 15 with a lead role in Adventures in Babysitting (1987). After graduating from high school, he moved to New York City and attended NYU until he dropped out to pursue film work in California. He appeared in supporting roles in such features as Dazed and Confused and Six Degrees of Separation (both 1993) and did some directing and scriptwriting, but it was not until he was cast as the narrator of Rent that his career began to take off. The play's success guaranteed Rapp both steady work and new opportunities, and he stayed with the production until 1998, closing it in London's West End. He also continued to appear on the big and small screens, doing guest stints on such shows as The X-Files and popping up in character roles in such films as Road Trip (2000), which cast him as an unctuous college student. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Anthony Rapp
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Anthony Rapp

Anthony Rapp in Providence, RI
Born Anthony Mortimer Rapp
October 26, 1971 (1971-10-26) (age 38)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Official website

Anthony Mortimer Rapp (born October 26, 1971) is an American stage and film actor and singer best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the role in the film version and The Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009. He also performed the role of Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Rapp is currently touring the U.S.A. with Rent and will also be in Japan and South Korea.

Contents

Early life

Rapp was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Mary Lee (née Baird) and Douglas Rapp.[1] After his parents' divorce, he was raised by his mother, a trained nurse.[2] Rapp attended high school at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois and theatre camp at the prestigious Michigan Interlochen Arts Camp. In Junior High, Rapp won numerous awards for his singing.[3] Rapp's brother is playwright, novelist, and filmmaker Adam Rapp.

Career

At the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Mo. after performing in Rent, June 7, 2009

Rapp first performed on Broadway in 1981 in the flop The Little Prince and the Aviator, a musical based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel The Little Prince. The show closed during previews. He also appeared in the 1987 movie Adventures in Babysitting, which was directed by Chris Columbus. Columbus would later direct Rapp in the film version of RENT.

Rapp has gone on to appear in several movies and Broadway shows, most notably as intellectuals. His notable work includes films Dazed and Confused, A Beautiful Mind, School Ties, Road Trip, the stage and film versions of Six Degrees of Separation, An American Family, Danny Roane: First Time Director and, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Rapp is probably best known for playing Mark Cohen in the off-Broadway and original Broadway casts of Jonathan Larson's musical RENT. For his audition for the musical, Rapp sang R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", and received his callback in September 1994.[3] He reprised that role in the film adaptation, which was released on November 23, 2005. Rapp has embraced his role as an unofficial spokesperson for the musical and has given numerous television and print interviews regarding the show and its development. Some of Rapp's photographs from rehearsals of Rent have been published.

In 2000, Rapp released a solo CD, entitled Look Around. He is represented as a keynote speaker by Greater Talent Network speakers bureau. Rapp returned to Rent on July 30, 2007, for a six week run, along with original cast member Adam Pascal.[4] Rapp and Adam Pascal continued in their return to Broadway's Rent through Oct. 7 at the Nederlander Theatre.[5]

Rapp and Pascal, along with fellow original cast member Gwen Stewart, reprised their roles of Mark and Roger in a national tour of RENT beginning January 6, 2009.[6][7]

Rapp recently worked on a production of Without You, a one man show based on his memoirs concerning RENT, the death of Jonathan Larson and the death of his mother. It premiered at City Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA. He recently presented this piece in New York at Joe's Pub on September 29, 2009.

Personal life

Rapp, a self-identified "queer," is an advocate in show business for LGBT rights, having first come out as bisexual at the age of 18 to his mother over the phone.[8] He has three cats named Basket, Chicken, and Twink.[3]

In 2006, Rapp released a memoir about his days in RENT, as well as his mother's struggle with cancer and his experiences growing up, entitled Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent. It was re-released in paperback on October 31, 2006.[3]

He still remains close friends with many of his RENT castmates, such as Daphne Rubin-Vega, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Taye Diggs, and Jesse L. Martin.

Work

Theater

Television

Filmography

Discography

Bibliography

  • Rapp, Anthony (2006). Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0743269764. 

References

  1. ^ http://www.playbill.com/features/article/98032-STAGE_TO_SCREENS_Chatting_with_Playwright_and_Screenwriter_Adam_Rapp
  2. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/21/DDGU9GJ8SC1.DTL
  3. ^ a b c d Rapp, Anthony (2006). Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 309. ISBN 0743269764. 
  4. ^ Brian Scott Lipton (21 August 2007). "Pascal and Rapp Extend Rent Engagement Until October 7". TheaterMania. http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10675. Retrieved 2008-06-11. 
  5. ^ Kenneth Jones; Robert Simonson (21 August 2007). "Pascal and Rapp, Bohemian Heroes for a New Generation of Rent-Heads, Extend to Oct. 7". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110462.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11. 
  6. ^ Kenneth Jones (28 February 2008). "Playbill News: Pascal and Rapp Will Tour in Rent in 2009". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115471.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11. 
  7. ^ Rent tour schedule
  8. ^ Rapp, Anthony (October 28, 1997). "Life in the Rapp family - 'Rent' star Anthony Rapp interviews his dad" ([dead link]). The Advocate. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_n745/ai_20789565?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 

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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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