Steven Michael Kazee (born October 30, 1975) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for starring as Guy in the musical Once for which he was awarded the 2012 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. Kazee began his professional acting career in the mid-2000s, and from 2005 until 2013 acted in a series of Broadway productions including Spamalot, 110 in the Shade, and Once. Following the success of Once, Kazee acted on multiple television series, most notably playing Gus Pfender in the fifth season of Shameless. Kazee returned to theater in 2018, starring as Edward in the Chicago tryout of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
Early life and education Kazee was born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky."Tisch To Honor Oliver Stone At West Coast Benefit Gala" nyu.edu, October 4, 2013 He is an alumnus of Fairview High School and Morehead State University."Kazee to star in 'Pretty Woman' Musical" moreheadstate.edu, September 26, 2017 Kazee moved to New York City in 2002 and received his MFA from the Graduate Acting Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 2005.
Career Theatre He appeared in the New York Shakespeare Festival's As You Like It in June 2005.Simonson, Robert. "Lynn Collins and Brian Bedford Offer the Bard's 'As You Like It' in Central Park, June 25", Playbill.com, June 25, 2005 He appeared in Seascape on Broadway in November 2005 as the Leslie understudy." Seascape Cast" Playbill, retrieved November 23, 2017 In January 2006, he appeared as Timmy Cleary in The Subject Was Roses, which played at the Kennedy Center.Toscano, Michael. "Review. 'The Subject Was Roses'", theatermania.com, January 17, 2006 He was later cast as a replacement for Sir Lancelot in Spamalot on Broadway in April 2006." Spamalot Cast" Playbill, retrieved November 23, 2017. In 2007, he starred as Bill Starbuck in the revival of 110 in the Shade on Broadway,"Complete Cast of '100 in the Shade' at Studio 54 Announced" broadway.com In 2008, he played Sobinsky in To Be Or Not To Be, which ran from September 16 through November 16 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Kazee starred as Guy in the stage adaptation of Once,"'Once' is Headed to Broadway" broadwayworld.com, December 6, 2011 He originated the role off-Broadway when it opened at the New York Theatre Workshop on December 6, 2011. Once began previews on Broadway on February 28, 2012, and opened on March 18, 2012, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Kazee made several TV appearances promoting Once, including Late Show with David Letterman and Today Show.Jones, Kenneth. "The Leading Men. Steve Kazee, the Traveling Heart of Broadway's 'Once'" Playbill.com, March 17, 2012. Kazee won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth; Hetrick, Adam. "2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announced; 'Once' Earns 11 Nominations" Playbill.com, May 1, 2012, accessed December 2, 2016 Kazee and the cast of Once won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
He is featured on Christina Perri's song "A Thousand Years, Pt. 2", which appears on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)."'Twilight' Twice: Christina Perri Explains 'Thousand Years – Part 2", mtv.com, November 12, 2012.
In 2017 it was announced that Kazee would star in the stage adaptation of the 1990 film Pretty Woman, opposite Samantha Barks in her Broadway debut. The musical, titled Pretty Woman: The Musical, was directed by Jerry Mitchell and premiered in Chicago in March 2018 and later opened on Broadway in August 2018."Samantha Barks and Steve Kazee to Walk Down the Street in Broadway's Pretty Woman" broadwayworld.com, September 26, 2017.Clement, Olivia. " 'Pretty Woman' Musical Finds Its Broadway Home, Sets Summer 2018 Opening", Playbill.com, November 21, 2017. After performing as Edward in the Chicago production, Kazee left Pretty Woman: The Musical due to "family reasons." He was replaced by Andy Karl when the production transferred to Broadway.
Television In 2006, Kazee played Dumas Shepherd in an episode of the television series Conviction. In 2007, he appeared as Michael Barlow in Medium and Mark Green in Numb3rs."Kazee TV", tvguide.com, retrieved November 23, 2017. In 2008, he appeared on NCIS as Michael Locke. In 2009, he played Dominic Humphreys on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Kazee had a starring role on the CMT's Working Class (2011), in which he played Nick Garrett.Peter, Thomas. "Ed Asner and Steve Kazee to Star in CMT Sitcom", Playbill.com, October 18, 2010.
In 2013 he appeared on Elementary as Jeff HinesGioia, Michael. "Tony Winner Steve Kazee Will Guest Star on CBS Drama 'Elementary'", Playbill.com, September 12, 2013. and on Drop Dead Diva as Dustin Wycott."BWW TV Exclusive: First Look at Tony Winner Steve Kazee on Lifetime's 'Drop Dead Diva'", broadwayworld.com, October 23, 2013. In 2015, he played Gus Pfender in a recurring role in season 5 and 6 of Showtime's series Shameless.Andreeva, Nellie. "Steve Kazee Joins Showtime’s 'Shameless'" , deadline.com, May 28, 2014.
Personal life Kazee was previously in a relationship with actress Megan Hilty from 2005 until 2012.
In October 2018, it was confirmed that Kazee was in a relationship with Jenna Dewan. In September 2019, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child together. In February 2020, he and Dewan became engaged. He and Dewan had their son on March 6, 2020. In January 2024, it was announced that the couple were expecting their second child together. He and Dewan had their daughter on June 14, 2024.
Theatre credits Sources: Playbill;"Steve Kazee Broadway" Playbill (vault), retrieved November 23, 2017 BroadwayWorld"Steve Kazee Credits" broadwayworld.com, retrieved November 23, 2017 Year Title Role TheatreNotes2004Cabaret & MainPerformerWilliamstown Theatre FestivalRegional productionEurydiceFather 2005 As You Like ItEnsemble Delacorte TheaterShakespeare in the Park 2005–2006 Seascape Leslie Booth TheatreBroadway revival2006 The Subject Was Roses Timmy Cleary Kennedy CenterWashington, D.C. revival Monty Python's SpamalotSir Lancelot (and others) Shubert TheatreBroadway replacement 2007 110 in the Shade Bill Starbuck Studio 54Broadway revival 2008 To Be or Not to Be Sobinsky Samuel J. Friedman TheatreOriginal Broadway production2009Pirates! (Or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd)The Pirate KingHuntington Theatre CompanyOriginal Boston productionTales of the CityEugene O'Neil TheaterStaged readings2011–2013OnceGuyNew York Theatre WorkshopOriginal off-Broadway production Bernard B. Jacobs TheatreOriginal Broadway production 2018 Pretty Woman: The Musical Edward Oriental TheatreOriginal Chicago production2018Love Actually LiveJaimeThe WallisOriginal production
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Working Class Nick Garrett Main role2013 Elementary Jeff Hines Episode: "We Are Everyone" Drop Dead Diva Dustin Wycott Episode: "Guess Who's Coming" 2015–2016 Shameless Gus Pfender 14 episodes2016 NashvilleAndreeva, Nellie. " 'Nashville': Steve Kazee Cast As Recurring" deadline.com, November 6, 2015 Riff Bell 2 episodes DrewClement, Olivia. "Steve Kazee to Star in Nancy Drew Spinoff" Playbill, March 2, 2016 Ned Nickerson Unsold TV pilot (CBS)2018BlindspotClem2 episodes2019The Walking DeadFrankEpisode: "Omega"Tempting FateElliott CartwrightTV movie2021-2025The Rookie Jason Wyler 5 episodes
Awards and nominations Sources: Playbill; IBDB"Kazee Awards" ibdb.com, retrieved November 23, 2017
Year Award Category Work Result 2007 Helen Hayes Award Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production The Subject Was Roses 2012 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalOnce Drama League Award Distinguished Performance rowspan=2 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical"Steve Kazee — Nominee for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical" broadway.com, retrieved November 23, 2017 2013 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album(shared with Cristin Milioti, Steven Epstein, Martin Lowe, Glen Hansard, and Markéta Irglová)
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