Colm Wilkinson

At 80 years old, Colm Wilkinson has this physical status:

Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944) (also known as C. T. Wilkinson) is an Irish actor best known for originating Jean Valjean's role in Les Misérables (in the West End and Broadway) and for playing the title role in The Phantom of the Opera at the Sydmonton Festival and in the original Canadian production. He reprised Jean Valjean's role at Les Misérables' 10th Anniversary Concert (at The Royal Albert Hall), as well as appearing as a special guest at Phantom and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables' 25th Anniversary Concerts (at The O2 arena) and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables, as well as attending both "The Music of the Night" and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables

Early life

Colm was one of ten children born in Drimnagh, in 1944, in the downstairs room of his parents' house. He recalls a house that resonated with singing, poetry, and musical instruments. Both of his parents were excellent musicians. His mother, a native of Crossmolina, was a performer and was involved in amateur dramas, while his father's banjo and mandolin were a piece of his repertoire. Colm spent time with his father, a bricklayer, and was playing in bands part-time. He came to the United States on a tour and then went straight after leaving the family business to become a full-time professional musician.

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Life and career

In 1972, Wilkinson appeared in numerous Irish bands, including The Action (not to be confused with an English band of the same name) in Dublin; he went on to reprise his role in London and on the British national tour.

Wilkinson appeared on Che on the album for the musical Evita in 1976. Wilkinson launched a solo career as a singer-songwriter rather than applying for the role when the company was first announced in London.

In the original Jekyll and Hyde concept album, Wilkinson was also featured as Dr. Jekyll.

Wilkinson's eponymous album was released by 1977 in his childhood home in Ireland, where he was referred to as "C.T." Wilkinson "Miscellani" is a fictional character in the film "Wilkinson." The album debuted at Number 1 in the Irish Charts for eight weeks.

Wilkinson's solo debut on LP prompted him to register actively for vocal competitions. "Born to Sing" was his eventual representation of Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978, earning him his fifth position in the European competition for his efforts.

Colm appeared in Voices, a musical based on Joan of Arc's life and times, which appeared on stage at the Olympia Dublin in 1984. The show's music and lyrics were written by Tommy "TC" Doherty, a Derry-based composer, with the single 'Child of Destiny' being released at the time and now available on iTunes.

He worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber once more in 1985, originating the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera at the Sydmonton workshop. Wilkinson had been invited to appear in the show's debut on the West End but instead, he chose Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.

Les Misérables' London debut in October 1985 and then moved to Broadway in March 1987. The American Actors' Equity Association refused to hire Wilkinson in New York because the company's strict policy of excluding foreign actors from acting in a film set in America. At this point, producer Cameron Mackintosh declined to open the show unless Wilkinson performed Valjean, and Actors' Equity relented. Despite the temporary setback, Wilkinson took the lead role. For his appearance, he received the Helen Hayes Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Theatre World Award; he was nominated for the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Wilkinson and his family were relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, when he was given the opportunity to appear in The Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre (now Ed Mirvish Theatre). He has lived in Toronto ever since, and became a Canadian citizen in the early 2000s.

Wilkinson performed Valjean from August 1998 to January 1999, this time in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre. He returned to Valjean in Dublin, Ireland, from February, 1999 to May, 1999, not long after. He played in Shanghai from June, 2002 to July, 2002.

In 1995, Wilkinson appeared in Jean Valjean at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables.

Wilkinson, Susan Gilmour, and Gretha Boston undertook a cross-Canada concert tour in October-November 2007.

In the third season of Showtime's miniseries The Tudors, Wilkinson appears as Lord Darcy.

He was a member of the United States National Guard. On March 8, 2009, Senator Ted Kennedy's birthday party was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama arrived on the stage and performed "Happy Birthday" to Ted Kennedy, which was the highlight of the evening. On August 28, 2009, Wilkinson was also invited to attend the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at the Memorial Service for Senator Kennedy.

Wilkinson appeared in the National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., in front of a huge audience and on PBS, a live broadcast in America.

In January 2010, Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs was released as a solo album. It includes all of Wilkinson's hits from his cross-Canada tour in 2007. "Some of My Best Friends Are Songs" was his first album, which was released in 2002. As a duet, he and his son Aaron cover the Cat Stevens song "Father and Son." The album is a collection of show tunes, Wilkinson's personal favorites, and several songs from his stage appearances. Following his involvement in the tenth anniversary of Les Misérables' creation and a performance of "Gethsemane" from Jesus Christ Superstar, a musician who admitted to performing for 23 years, he gave him an hour-long film in North America. Fans and critics praised his supporting television show Stage Heroes: Colm Wilkinson, which premiered on the heels of Les Misérables.

Wilkinson, a special guest at Les Misérables' 25th Anniversary Concerts on October 3, 2010, alongside several other original cast members. He appeared in "Valjean Quartet" alongside Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones, and Simon Bowman (each of whom had previously appeared in various Les Misérable productions). During the Royal Variety Performance on December 16, 2010, this was released as a single (released in the United Kingdom) and performed live at the London Palladium.

He appeared – alongside a number of former Phantoms – at The Royal Albert Hall one year later, on October 2nd, 2011.

He is a Founding Artist of Theatre 20, a Toronto based musical theatre company founded by artists in 2009, and appeared in the 2011 National Theatre Company's “Wing Artists” performance at the Panasonic Theatre. Susan Gilmour, Louise Pitre, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Tamara Bernier Evans, and Adam Brazier are among the Founding Artists.

In the 2012 film version of Les Misérables, Wilkinson appeared as the Bishop of Digne. In a role in a production of the musical in Toronto in January 2014, he reprised his role.

Wilkinson was named one of the top singers of all time in a Rolling Stone Magazine readers' poll and is praised for his strong singing voice into his late 60s. He owes his longevity to coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy products, as well as ensuring proper sleep, diet, and exercise. He has also been described as being rather soft-spoken in order to avoid overworking his words.

Colm married Deirdre in 1970, whom he describes as a constant and essential service source over the past four decades. Aaron, Judith, Sarah, and Simon began their lives as a married couple in Bray in 1970 and went on to have four children. They have a home in Wicklow but they now live in Canada mainly. The family moved to Toronto in 1989 when Colm began a four-and-a-half-year stint as the title character of The Phantom of the Opera, originating the role in Canada. Judith is a curator, Simon and Sarah are graphic designers, and Aaron is a singer/songwriter. Wilkinson maintained that his wife and children accompany him on tour to avoid familial separation early in his music career.

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