Colm Wilkinson
{{short description|Irish singer and actor (born 1944)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Colm Wilkinson
| image = Colm Wilkinson in 2007 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Wilkinson performing in 2007 in Ontario, Canada
| birth_name =
| alias = C. T. Wilkinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|6|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Drimnagh, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = {{hlist|Rock opera|Broadway theatre|musical theatre|folk rock}}
| occupation = {{Hlist|Singer|actor}}
| years_active = 1972–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|colmwilkinson.com}}
}}
Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944), also known as C. T. Wilkinson, is an Irish singer and actor who is best known for originating the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (in the West End and Broadway) and for creating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera (1985) preview at the Sydmonton Festival and the original Canadian production.
Due to his association with these musicals, he reprised the role of Jean Valjean during the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert (at The Royal Albert Hall), as well as appearing as a special guest at the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena and The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/les-miserables-in-concert-the-dream-cast-204176 |title=Les Miserables: In Concert - The Dream Cast (1995) - John Caird, Trevor Nunn, Gavin Taylor {{pipe}} Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related |website=AllMovie.com |access-date=2020-03-02}}
His versions of both "The Music of the Night" from Phantom and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables are acclaimed throughout the world; fans "insist he perform them...at all his concerts."{{Cite news |url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/former-phantom-star-colm-wilkinson-maskless-preps-toronto-191841915.html |title=Former 'Phantom' star Colm Wilkinson maskless as he preps for Toronto concert |first=Victoria |last=Ahearn |agency=The Canadian Press |location=Toronto |date=2011-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731001105/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/former-phantom-star-colm-wilkinson-maskless-preps-toronto-191841915.html |archive-date=2011-07-31 |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-09-07 |via=Yahoo}}
Early life
Born in Drimnagh, in 1944, in the downstairs room of his parents' house, Wilkinson was one of ten children. He recalls a home that resonated with singing, poetry, and musical instruments. Both of his parents were skilled musicians. His mother, a native of Crossmolina in County Mayo, was a singer, and was involved in amateur dramatics, while the banjo and mandolin formed part of his father's extensive repertoire. Wilkinson worked with his father, who was an asphalt contractor, and was playing in bands part-time. At 16 years of age, he went to the US on a tour, and soon after quit the family business to become a full-time professional musician.{{cite web|title=Wicklow Resident being Born to Sing|url=http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|work=Bray People|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217180919/http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|url-status=live}}
Life and career
After playing in several Irish bands which included The Action (not to be confused with an English band of the same name), in 1972, Wilkinson was cast as Judas Iscariot in the Dublin production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar; he went on to reprise the role in London and on the British national tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.colmwilkinson.com/bio3.html |title=Biography |website=Colmwilkinson.com |access-date=2020-03-02 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428213341/http://www.colmwilkinson.com/bio3.html |url-status=live }}
In 1976, Wilkinson sang the part of Che on the album for the musical Evita.[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KI1R6S Listing] amazon.com, accessed 3 April 2009 Instead of auditioning for the role when the production was launched in London, Wilkinson launched a solo career as a singer-songwriter.
Wilkinson also featured as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in the original Jekyll and Hyde concept album.
By 1977, Wilkinson released his own eponymous album, in his childhood home in Ireland, where he was known as "C.T. Wilkinson". The album charted in the Irish Charts for eight weeks at Number 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/wil/bio.asp|title=Colm Wilkinson|last=Maple Music Artist Biography|date=2000–2009|publisher=MapleMusic Ltd|access-date=11 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011012634/http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/wil/bio.asp|archive-date=11 October 2009|url-status=dead}}
After his successful solo LP, Wilkinson began to prepare actively for vocal competitions. This led to his eventual representation of Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978 with "Born to Sing", earning fifth place in the European competition for his efforts.LeBlanc, Larry.[http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4648772-1.html "Wilkinson Returns To Pop/soul Roots"], Allbusiness.com, 21 December 2002
Wilkinson starred in Voices, a musical based on the life and times of Joan of Arc, which went on stage at the Olympia Dublin in 1984. The show's music and lyrics were written by Derry-based composer, Tommy "TC" Doherty, with the single "Child of Destiny" being released at the time and now available on iTunes.
In 1985, he collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber once again, originating the role of The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera at the Sydmonton workshop.{{Cite interview |last=Wilkinson |first=Colm |interviewer=Robert Diamond |url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Interview_with_Colm_Wilkinson_20041216 |title=Interview with Colm Wilkinson |website=BroadwayWorld |date=16 December 2004 |language=en |access-date=3 April 2009 |archive-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118135928/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Interview_with_Colm_Wilkinson_20041216 |url-status=live }} Wilkinson was offered the role for the show's debut on the West End, but instead chose to play Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.
The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its strict policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star. At this, producer Cameron Mackintosh refused to open the show unless Wilkinson played Valjean, and Actors' Equity relented. Wilkinson took the lead role despite the temporary setback.{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/the-illusionist/|title=Garth Drabinsky's fatal flaw|date=9 April 2009|work=Maclean's|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701025206/https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/the-illusionist/|url-status=live}} He won the Helen Hayes Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Theatre World Award for his performance; he was nominated for the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.{{Cite web|url=http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/index2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815041300/http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/index2.html|title=Colm Wilkinson Online|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 August 2006}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.lesmis.com/pages/news/press_2_6_98.html |title=Les Misérables - Press - News About Colm Wilkinson |date=2 June 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121063917/http://www.lesmis.com/pages/news/press_2_6_98.html |archive-date=21 November 2008 |website=lesmis.com |language=en}}
In 1989, Wilkinson relocated his family to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, when he was offered the title role in the original Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera playing at the Pantages Theatre (now Ed Mirvish Theatre). He has lived in Toronto ever since, and became a Canadian citizen in the early 2000s.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/colm-wilkinson-talks-les-miserables/2013/03/21/ |title=Colm Wilkinson talks Les Miserables « Celebrity Gossip and Movie News |website=Tribute.ca |access-date=2020-03-02 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129112449/http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/colm-wilkinson-talks-les-miserables/2013/03/21/ |url-status=live }} In 1992, an arbitrator for Actor's Equity found that Wilkinson had used "excessive roughness" on his Phantom co-star Rebecca Caine, based on her testimony and witness accounts that he had repeatedly hurt her onstage and once severely sprained her wrist, which had to be put in a brace, resulting in her dismissal from the show.{{cite news |last=Godfrey |first=Stephen |date=1992-12-12 |title=The case of the 'brutish' Phantom |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=03190714&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA163990299&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |access-date=2024-06-18}}{{cite news |last=Godfrey |first=Stephen |date=1992-12-12 |title=Testimony reveals details of deteriorating relationship |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=mlin_oweb&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA163990450&retrievalId=b7353fae-c1ee-446e-99e8-7aa1ca19a4e1&inPS=true&linkSource=interlink&sid=bookmark-AONE |access-date=2024-06-18}}
From August 1998 through January 1999, Wilkinson played Valjean once again, this time in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre.{{cite web |url= https://www.playbill.com/article/colm-wilkinson-to-return-to-les-miz-in-toronto-in-july-1998-com-71560 |title= Colm Wilkinson To Return to Les Miz in Toronto in July 1998 |website= playbill.com |date= 25 September 1997 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 18 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200818095856/https://www.playbill.com/article/colm-wilkinson-to-return-to-les-miz-in-toronto-in-july-1998-com-71560 |url-status= live }} Not long afterwards, he returned to the role of Valjean in Dublin, Ireland at the Point Theatre between February, 1999 and May, 1999.{{cite web |url= https://www.playbill.com/article/wilkinson-returns-to-les-mis-in-dublin-1999-com-73487 |title= Wilkinson Returns to Les Mis in Dublin, 1999 |website= playbill.com |date= 18 February 1999 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 18 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200818134415/https://www.playbill.com/article/wilkinson-returns-to-les-mis-in-dublin-1999-com-73487 |url-status= live }} From June, 2002 to July, 2002 he again reprised the role in Shanghai at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.{{cite web |url= http://www.playbill.com/article/one-day-more-colm-wilkinson-returns-to-les-miz-in-chinese-premiere-june-22-july-7-com-104584 |title= One Day More! Colm Wilkinson Returns to Les Miz in Chinese Premiere, June 22-July 7 |website= playbill.com |date= 20 March 2002 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 15 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200915092325/https://www.playbill.com/article/one-day-more-colm-wilkinson-returns-to-les-miz-in-chinese-premiere-june-22-july-7-com-104584 |url-status= live }}
In 1995, Wilkinson played Jean Valjean in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the Royal Albert Hall.Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert
In October–November 2007, Wilkinson undertook a cross-Canada concert tour, Broadway and Beyond, along with Susan Gilmour and Gretha Boston.Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108894.html "Wilkinson's Broadway & Beyond Concert Tour to Begin in October"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906201557/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108894.html |date=6 September 2007 }}, Playbill.com, 18 June 2007
Wilkinson plays the part of Lord Darcy in the third season showing of Showtime's miniseries The Tudors which began airing on 12 April 2009.[http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Colm_Wilkinson_Stars_on_THE_TUDORS_412_20090411 Colm Wilkinson Stars on 'THE TUDORS' 4/12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708094946/http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Colm_Wilkinson_Stars_on_THE_TUDORS_412_20090411 |date=8 July 2011 }}, Broadwayworld.com, 11 April 2009
He participated in U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy's birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on 8 March 2009. The highlight of the evening was when President Barack Obama arrived on the stage and together with all the performers sang "Happy Birthday" to Ted Kennedy.{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/09/politics/washingtonpost/main4853643.shtml | title=Inside Ted Kennedy's Birthday Gala | work=CBS News | date=9 March 2009 | access-date=31 July 2010 | archive-date=12 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312003505/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/09/politics/washingtonpost/main4853643.shtml | url-status=dead }} Wilkinson also was asked to perform at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at the Memorial Service for Senator Kennedy on 28 August 2009, the evening before the Senator's funeral.
On 24 May 2009, Wilkinson performed in the National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in front of a large audience and screened live across America on PBS.[http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=NJMEM National Symphony Orchestra: National Memorial Day Concert] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613051505/http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=NJMEM |date=13 June 2011 }} kennedy-center.org, accessed 31 July 2010
A solo album was released in January 2010 titled Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs. It covers all of the songs that Wilkinson performed on his cross-Canada tour in 2007. His previous album was released in 2002, titled "Some of My Best Friends Are Songs". In it, he and his son Aaron cover the Cat Stevens song, "Father and Son", as a duet. The album is a mix of show tunes, Wilkinson's personal favorites, and several songs from his stage productions. His support of PBS and listener-supported television in North America, following his participation in the tenth anniversary of the production of Les Misérables, brought him an hour-long program on which he performed songs including some selections from the album and a rendition of "Gethsemane", from Jesus Christ Superstar, a song that he admitted having hoped to perform for 23 years. His supporting television broadcast, Stage Heroes: Colm Wilkinson, aired on the heels of Les Misérables, brought positive reviews from fans and critic.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}
On 3 October 2010, Wilkinson was a special guest at the 25th Anniversary Concerts of Les Misérables, at the O2 Arena, alongside many other original cast members.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29814/original-les-miserables-cast-join-25th |first=Matthew |last=Hemley |title=Original Les Miserables cast join 25th anniversary celebrations at the O2 |newspaper=The Stage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013135355/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29814/original-les-miserables-cast-join-25th |archive-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-09-07}} He performed as part of a "Valjean Quartet"; alongside Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones and Simon Bowman (each of whom had previously played the role of Jean Valjean in various productions of Les Misérables). This was recorded as a single (released in the U.K.) and performed live at the London Palladium; during the Royal Variety Performance on 16 December 2010.
A year later, on 1 and 2 October 2011, he appeared – alongside a number of former Phantoms – at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Phantom of the Opera, at The Royal Albert Hall.
He is a Founding Artist of Theatre 20, a musical theatre company in Toronto formed by artists in 2009, and performed in Theatre 20's 2011 Concert Series at the Panasonic Theatre.{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|title=Colm Wilkinson, Louise Pitre and New Musical Amelia Will Be Heard in Toronto Concert Series|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149764-Colm-Wilkinson-Louise-Pitre-and-New-Musical-Amelia-Will-Be-Heard-in-Toronto-Concert-Series|access-date=9 August 2011|newspaper=Playbill|date=12 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021233651/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149764-Colm-Wilkinson-Louise-Pitre-and-New-Musical-Amelia-Will-Be-Heard-in-Toronto-Concert-Series|archive-date=21 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/toronto-artists-start-new-musical-theatre-company-1.1011874 |title=Toronto artists start new musical theatre company |publisher=CBC News |date=2011-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110044432/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/theatre/story/2011/01/21/theatre-20-toronto.html |archive-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=live |access-date=2020-09-07}} Other Founding Artists include Susan Gilmour, Louise Pitre, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Tamara Bernier Evans and Adam Brazier.
Wilkinson appeared as the Bishop of Digne in the 2012 film production of Les Misérables.{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-xpm-2012-dec-31-la-et-cm-colm-wilkinson-original-jean-valjean-on-les-miserables-movie-20121230-story.html |title= Colm Wilkinson, original Jean Valjean, on Les Miserables movie |newspaper= LA Times |date= 31 December 2012 |access-date= 16 April 2020 |archive-date= 28 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200728165029/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-xpm-2012-dec-31-la-et-cm-colm-wilkinson-original-jean-valjean-on-les-miserables-movie-20121230-story.html |url-status= live }} He reprised this role in a performance of the musical in Toronto in January 2014 where Ramin Karimloo played Valjean.{{cite web |url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/01/03/colm_wilkinson_talks_about_jan_11_return_to_les_miz.html |title= Colm Wilkinson talks about Jan. 11 return to Les Miz |website= The Star |date= 3 January 2014 |access-date= 16 April 2020 |archive-date= 29 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200729060705/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/01/03/colm_wilkinson_talks_about_jan_11_return_to_les_miz.html |url-status= live }}
Wilkinson was voted one of the five greatest singers ever in a Rolling Stone Magazine readers' poll and is noted for maintaining a powerful singing voice into his late 60s. He has attributed his longevity to avoiding coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy products, as well as ensuring proper sleep, diet, and exercise. He is also noted as being rather soft-spoken in order to refrain from overworking his voice.
Personal life
In 1970, Wilkinson married Deirdre, whom he describes as a source of constant and essential support over the past four decades. They started their life as a married couple in Bray in 1970, and went on to have four children – Aaron, Judith, Sarah, and Simon. They have a home in Wicklow, yet now live mainly in Canada. The family moved to Toronto in 1989 when Wilkinson began a four-and-a-half-year run at the Pantages Theatre as the title character of The Phantom of the Opera, originating the role in Canada. Of their children, Judith is now a curator, Simon and Sarah are graphic designers and Aaron is a singer/songwriter.{{Cite web |url=http://cdbaby.com/cd/aaronwilkinson |title=Aaron Wilkinson {{pipe}} More Pricks Than Kicks |website=CD Baby Music Store |via=cdbaby.com |date=3 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224105538/http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/aaronwilkinson |archive-date=24 December 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/article43.html|newspaper=Irish Post|access-date=28 December 2012|title=Hysterical Fans Fixate on Dublin Singing Star|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114074402/http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/article43.html|archive-date=14 November 2013}} Early in his music career, Wilkinson insisted that his wife and children accompany him on tour to avoid familial separation.{{cite web|title=Colm Wilkinson|url=http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|publisher=Bray People news|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217180919/http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|url-status=live}}
Discography
Solo albums
- Colm C.T. Wilkinson (1977)
- Stage Heroes (1989)
- Some Of My Best Friends Are Songs (2002)
- Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs (2010)
Cast albums
- Evita (1976)
- Les Miserables (1985 London Cast)
- Les Misérables (1987 Broadway Cast)
- Highlights From Jekyll and Hyde (1990)
- Phantom of the Opera (1990 Canadian Cast)
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1985
| Che | Segment "High Flying, Adored" |
| 1995
| Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert | |
| 2009–2010
| Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy | 3 episodes |
| 2010
| Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Concert | Finale – Special Guest |
| 2011
| The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall | Finale – Special Guest |
| 2012
| National Board of Review Award for Best Cast |
Honours
- {{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} He was awarded the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage by the Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin in 2018.{{Cite web |url=http://trinitynews.ie/2018/08/malala-yousafzai-natalie-dormer-and-sadiq-khan-among-guests-to-visit-hist-and-phil/ |title=Natalie Dormer, Rejjie Snow and Sadiq Khan among guests to visit Hist and Phil |first=Peter |last=Kelly |date=27 August 2018 |website=Trinity News |language=en |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011202328/http://trinitynews.ie/2018/08/malala-yousafzai-natalie-dormer-and-sadiq-khan-among-guests-to-visit-hist-and-phil/ |url-status=live }}
=Honorary degrees=
;Honorary degrees
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website |http://www.colmwilkinson.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|929356|Colm Wilkinson}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- [http://lesmis.com/ LesMis.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111015005644/http://www.theatre20.com/ Theatre 20 Official Site]
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box|
before=The Swarbriggs Plus Two
with "It's Nice to Be in Love Again" |
title=Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest |
years=1978 |
after=Cathal Dunne
with "Happy Man" |
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1978|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkinson, Colm}}
Category:Irish expatriates in Canada
Category:Irish male musical theatre actors
Category:Musicians from County Dublin
Category:Male actors from County Dublin
Category:Irish male guitarists
Category:Canadian male musical theatre actors
Category:20th-century Irish male singers
Category:21st-century Irish male singers
Category:20th-century Irish guitarists
Category:21st-century Irish guitarists