Childhood and Education Journey of Darren Criss in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Darren Criss. A timeline of key moments.

Darren Criss is an American actor, singer, and songwriter recognized for his role in the television series Glee (2010–2015). He garnered significant acclaim, including Emmy and Golden Globe awards, for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018). Criss has also performed on Broadway, appeared in films, and released multiple musical albums, solidifying his presence in both the acting and music industries.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

February 5, 1987: Darren Criss is born

On February 5, 1987, Darren Everett Criss was born. He is an American actor, singer, and songwriter.

Others born on this day/year

1988: Family moved to Honolulu

In 1988, Darren Criss's family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii.

1992: Family resided in Honolulu until 1992

The Criss family resided in Honolulu until 1992, when his father started EastWest Bank.

2005: Graduation from St. Ignatius College Preparatory

In 2005, Darren Criss graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory.

2008: Studying Italian theater in Italy

In 2008, Darren Criss spent a semester abroad studying Italian theater at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy.

2009: Co-founding StarKid Productions

In 2009, Darren Criss co-founded StarKid Productions with friends and classmates from the University of Michigan. He also played Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical.

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2009: Graduation from the University of Michigan

In 2009, Darren Criss obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, majoring in Theater Performance and minoring in Musicology and Italian.

September 27, 2015: First Elsie Fest

On September 27, 2015, the first annual Elsie Fest, a music festival co-founded by Darren Criss featuring Broadway and pop music acts, was held in New York City.

2015: Co-founding Elsie Fest

In 2015, Darren Criss co-founded Elsie Fest, which is touted as "New York City's first outdoor music festival celebrating tunes from the stage and screen".