Chris Colfer

Christopher Paul Colfer Bio

Christopher Paul Colfer (born May 27, 1990) is an American actor, singer, and author who gained international recognition for portraying Kurt Hummel on the television musical series Glee from 2009 to 2015. Colfer received critical acclaim for his performance, earning the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film, along with three consecutive People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor from 2013 to 2015. Beyond television, Colfer has established himself as a writer and producer, creating the New York Times bestselling The Land of Stories children’s book series and writing and starring in the film Struck by Lightning (2012). He has continued publishing works for children and young adults while expanding into directing and other creative projects.

Early Life and Background

Christopher Paul Colfer was born on May 27, 1990, in Clovis, California, to parents Timothy Colfer and Karyn Colfer. He is of Irish ancestry and has described his family as very Irish, noting that Saint Patrick’s Day is a significant celebration in their household. During his childhood, Colfer spent three months confined to a hospital bed following lymph node surgery, an experience that left a scar on his neck and that he credits with sparking his interest in fictional worlds.

When Colfer was seven years old, his younger sister was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Colfer has spoken about how she experienced difficult seizures, which shifted much of his parents’ attention to her health needs. Craving attention himself but finding it diverted, Colfer retreated into his imagination and began writing fairy tales as a coping mechanism. His grandmother served as his first editor, encouraging him during elementary school when he first attempted to write a novel inspired by fairy tales, a work that would later become The Land of Stories. He dedicated his first published novel to her in 2012.

Colfer attended Clovis East High School in Clovis, California, where he was involved in the speech and debate program, winning champion titles including ninth place in State Competition for Dramatic Interpretation. He also participated in drama club, the FFA, served as president of the Writer’s Club, edited the school’s literary magazine, and captained Destination ImagiNation. As a high school senior, he wrote, starred in, and directed Shirley Todd, a gender-reversed spoof of the musical Sweeney Todd.

Path to Celebrity

Colfer’s first theatrical experience was in a community theatre production of West Side Story. He then appeared as Kurt von Trapp in The Sound of Music with Good Company Players, which later inspired the naming of his Glee character. At age 18, he starred as Russel Fish in the short film Russel Fish: The Sausage and Eggs Incident, portraying an awkward teenager who must pass a Presidential Physical Fitness test or lose his admission to Harvard University.

Colfer’s breakthrough came in 2009 when he auditioned for the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. He originally auditioned for the role of Artie Abrams, a character who uses a wheelchair, but creator Ryan Murphy was so impressed by Colfer’s talent that he created the character of Kurt Hummel specifically for him. Murphy scrapped a planned character called Rajish to add Kurt to the show after recognizing Colfer’s unique and special qualities.

Christopher Paul Colfer Career

Early Career (2009–2011)

Colfer made his television debut in 2009 as Kurt Hummel on Fox’s Glee. Kurt was depicted as a fashionable gay countertenor who faced bullying at school due to his sexuality and participation in the unpopular Glee Club. Colfer’s performance quickly drew critical attention for its depth and authenticity. The role launched his professional acting career and established him as a rising talent in Hollywood.

In 2011, Colfer was named to the Time 100, Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing his impact on popular culture at a remarkably young age. That same year, he signed a book deal with Little, Brown and Company to write two novels for children, marking the beginning of his successful literary career.

Breakthrough (2011–2015)

Colfer achieved major breakthrough success with his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on Glee. He won the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series, Miniseries or Television Film, becoming one of the youngest winners in that category. In his acceptance speech, he thanked Ryan Murphy for being his fairy godfather and dedicated the award to bullied children. He was also nominated twice for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for this role.

In 2012, Colfer wrote, starred in, produced, and novelized the film Struck by Lightning, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The coming-of-age comedy followed his character, who is struck and killed by lightning and then blackmails his classmates into contributing to a literary magazine. That same year, he published The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, the first book in his bestselling children’s series, which reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in the Children’s Chapter Books category.

Colfer continued expanding his literary work with The Land of Stories series, releasing The Enchantress Returns (2013), A Grimm Warning (2014), Beyond the Kingdoms (2015), An Author’s Odyssey (2016), and the final installment Worlds Collide (2017). He also published a picture book, The Curvy Tree (2015), based on a fairy tale from the main series, and guest-wrote an episode of Glee titled “Old Dog, New Tricks” in 2014. He appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie in 2016.

Notable Works and Milestones

Colfer’s career spans multiple creative fields. His Land of Stories book series has sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into numerous languages. He announced in 2017 that he would make his directorial debut with a film adaptation of The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, serving as writer and executive producer. In July 2025, it was confirmed that Warner Bros. Pictures had acquired the rights to the series. Colfer also starred as Boyd in the horror film The Restoration at Grayson Manor, which premiered in 2025, and released a new children’s book series beginning with Roswell Johnson Saves the World in 2024.

Christopher Paul Colfer Award Nominations

Colfer received multiple award nominations throughout his career, demonstrating his impact on both television and music. He earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on Glee. He also received a Grammy Award nomination related to his Glee performances. These nominations highlighted his versatility as both an actor and recording artist during the show’s run.

Christopher Paul Colfer Awards Won

Colfer has won several prestigious awards recognizing his achievements in television and entertainment. He received the Golden Globe Award in 2011 and three consecutive People’s Choice Awards from 2013 to 2015, establishing him as a beloved figure in comedy television.

Christopher Paul Colfer Family

Colfer was born in Clovis, California, to Timothy Colfer and Karyn Colfer. His parents supported his creative interests from an early age. He has a younger sister who was diagnosed with severe epilepsy when he was seven years old. Colfer has spoken about how this family experience shaped his childhood and influenced his creative development.

Personal Life

Colfer publicly stated that he is gay during a 2009 interview with Chelsea Handler. He has been in a relationship with actor and producer Will Sherrod since 2013. Colfer is an active supporter of the It Gets Better campaign and The Trevor Project, organizations supporting LGBTQ youth. He created an It Gets Better video after a Glee episode aired and dedicated his 2011 Golden Globe Award to bullied kids in LGBTQ communities. He also filmed an anti-bullying public service announcement with Elmo for Sesame Street in Communities in 2013 and served as co-chair for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party in 2013 and 2014.