- Born
- Birth nameCheyenne David Jackson
- Height6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
- Cheyenne David Jackson is an American actor and singer. His credits include leading roles in Broadway musicals and other stage roles, as well as film and television roles, concert singing, and music recordings.
After beginning his acting career in regional theatre in Seattle, Washington, Jackson moved to Manhattan and was an understudy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Aida (2003). He next originated the role of Matthew in the workshop production of Altar Boyz (2004) for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and was replaced by Scott Porter for the Off-Broadway run. Jackson's first leading role on Broadway was in All Shook Up (2005), which earned him a Theatre World Award for "Outstanding Broadway Debut". Since then, on the New York stage, he has starred in The Agony & the Agony (2006), Xanadu (2007; Drama League, Drama Desk nominations), Damn Yankees (2008), Finian's Rainbow (2010; Drama Desk nomination), 8 (2011), The Heart of the Matter (2012), and The Performers (2013).
He has also appeared in a number of films, including the 2006 Academy Award-nominated United 93, in which his portrayal of Mark Bingham earned him the Boston Society of Film Critics 2006 award for Best Ensemble Cast. He also had a leading role in the 2014 independent romantic comedy ensemble, Mutual Friends, and guest roles in television series such as NBC's 30 Rock and Fox's Glee. Beginning in 2015, Jackson starred in the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story in its fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons.
In concert, Jackson has sold out Carnegie Hall twice: The Power of Two in 2010 and Music of the Mad Men Era in 2011. He also performs in cabarets. In addition to his Broadway cast albums, he has released three albums of popular music, including a joint album called The Power of Two with Michael Feinstein in 2008. In 2012, Jackson released two singles, "Drive" and "Before You", from his 2013 album I'm Blue, Skies. In 2016, Jackson released his third studio album, Renaissance, an album adapted and expanded from his solo concert Music of the Mad Men Era.
He also stars as Hades in Disney Channel's Descendants 3, along with actors Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce, Dove Cameron, and Sofia Carson with director Kenny Ortega. In 2020, he reunited with Descendants alumni Ortega and Stewart in Netflix's Julie and the Phantoms.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bonitao
- SpousesJason Landau(September 13, 2014 - present) (2 children)Monte Lapka(September 3, 2011 - 2013) (divorced)
- ChildrenWillowEthan
- ParentsSherri JacksonDavid Jackson
- Has fraternal twins with 2nd husband Jason Landau. Son, Evan and daughter, Willow born on October 7, 2016.
- Worked in advertising at a magazine in Seattle (WA) until he was nearly 27, but decided to pursue acting after the 9/11 attacks.
- Won Theatre World Award for outstanding Broadway debut in "All Shook Up".
- Dubbed by the "NY Post" as "Broadway's Sexiest Man".
- Did not start acting until he was in his late 20s.
- [on which actress he most admires] Jane Fonda is fiercely honest and open, and that's obvious from every performance she gives whether on film or the stage. She is a person who lives by her convictions and was willing to pay the price to pave the way for a whole generation of activists who came after her.
- [on his role as amfAR ambassador] There has to be action . . . It's not enough to just want change or wish change. I feel that if you have the means, if you are physically able to make a difference in someone else's life, you have a moral responsibility to do so.
- On the set of United 93 (2006) we spent so many hours bleeding, screaming, crying, praying, and trying to imagine every possibility of what these people were going through. It was an environment of deep dark places. But, at the end of the day the we could wash off our makeup and come out of those places.
- To be frank, I think I've missed out on big parts because I'm open. I've screen-tested on some really big projects, and you can't tell me that behind closed doors big execs aren't like, "We have Dean Cain or this gay guy who played Elvis on Broadway". I'm not that naive to think that that doesn't play into it.
- [on how to play a gay leading character] It's whatever serves the situation best. As for me, it's all about finding truth. Up until just recently [2010], I've never really played gay characters on television or Broadway or anything. If it's funny to me and it's real, I don't care if you're straight or gay or an alien or a dog. I want to make it real. Since I'm a gay man, I know what is honest and feels right.
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