Frank William Chase Bio
Frank William Chase (born September 12, 1970) is an American actor, director, and singer best known for his work on Broadway and for portraying country music star Luke Wheeler on ABC’s Nashville. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, he trained at Western Hills High School and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music before launching his professional career in Chicago regional theater. He made his Broadway debut in 1998 and has since appeared in acclaimed productions including Rent, Miss Saigon, The Full Monty, Aida, Billy Elliot the Musical, and Something Rotten! On television, he is recognized for Nashville as well as appearances in Smash, Stranger Things, and Dopesick. He has also written and directed award-winning short films while continuing to act across film, television, and theater.
Early Life and Background
Frank William Chase was born on September 12, 1970, in Frankfort, Kentucky, to Betty and Jerry Chase. He grew up as the youngest of three sons in his family. He attended Western Hills High School in his hometown and later pursued higher education at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied conducting with Robert Spano and percussion. His early training in music provided a strong foundation for his future career as both a singer and performer on stage.
During his time at Oberlin, Chase focused on developing his musical abilities, which would later serve him well in Broadway productions requiring strong vocal performance. His combination of acting training and musical education prepared him for the demanding world of professional theater. After completing his studies, he began his professional career performing in Chicago’s vibrant regional theater scene, where he gained valuable experience and recognition.
Path to Acting
Chase launched his professional acting career in Chicago, performing in regional theater productions and earning three Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for his work. He then played the role of Chris in the second national tour of Miss Saigon, which helped establish his credentials in large-scale musical productions. This experience prepared him for the transition to Broadway, where he would soon make his mark.
He made his Broadway debut in 1998 as the Squeegee Man and understudy for the roles of Mark and Roger in Rent. His talent and dedication led to him eventually taking over the role of Roger in the final Broadway company of Rent, which was recorded for the theatrical release Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. This early exposure to one of Broadway’s most beloved shows provided Chase with national recognition and opened doors to further opportunities in New York theater.
Frank William Chase Career
Early Career (1998–2005)
Following his debut in Rent, Chase quickly built an impressive Broadway resume with appearances in several major productions. In the early 2000s, he performed in Miss Saigon during its Broadway run with original star Lea Salonga playing Kim to close the production. He also appeared in The Full Monty in 2001 and took over the role of Radames in Aida from 2003 to 2004. In 2005, he appeared in Lennon on Broadway and played Neville Craven in the 2005 World AIDS Day The Secret Garden concert.
In 2006, Chase starred in High Fidelity on Broadway and played Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. For his performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman, he received a nomination for the 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. The following year, he appeared in The Pajama Game opposite Kate Baldwin at The Muny in St. Louis and starred in Oklahoma at the Lyric Theatre opposite Kelli O’Hara.
Breakthrough (2006–2019)
Chase continued building his reputation as a versatile stage performer with appearances in The Story of My Life on Broadway in 2009. From 2009 to 2011, he played the role of Tony in Billy Elliot the Musical, one of the most physically demanding roles in Broadway history. In August 2012, he temporarily filled in for Matthew Broderick as Jimmy Winter in Nice Work If You Can Get It on Broadway. His performance in the 2013 Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, marking a significant milestone in his career.
On television, Chase guest starred as Michael Swift in the NBC series Smash before going on to star for three seasons as country superstar Luke Wheeler on ABC’s Nashville. His other television appearances include Quantico, HBO’s The Deuce, Rescue Me, The Lost Valentine, Blue Bloods, and Pan Am. He played the title role in the 2013 film Butterflies of Bill Baker, which earned him the Best Actor award at the Chain Film Festival. He also voiced the wolf Angee in A Warrior’s Tail in 2016.
Notable Works and Milestones
Chase assumed the role of William Shakespeare from Christian Borle in the Broadway musical Something Rotten! in 2016 while simultaneously filming HBO’s The Deuce and ABC’s Time After Time. He played abusive father Neil Hargrove in the second season of Netflix’s Stranger Things in 2017 and appeared in HBO’s Sharp Objects in 2018. He starred as Fred Graham and Petruchio opposite Kelli O’Hara in the 2019 Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate, further cementing his reputation as one of Broadway’s leading men.
Frank William Chase Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Frank William Chase has received recognition from major theater institutions. In 2013, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He has also received nominations from the Joseph Jefferson Awards for his work in Chicago regional theater and a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in Kiss of the Spider Woman at Signature Theatre.
Frank William Chase Awards Won
Frank William Chase has earned critical acclaim and awards for his performances in both theater and film. In 2013, he won Best Actor at the Chain Film Festival for his portrayal of the title role in Butterflies of Bill Baker. His short film directing work has also received recognition, with Dagger earning awards and Trunk Show winning Best Short Film at the 2021 Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Chain Film Festival Best Actor | 1 | 2013 |
| Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival Best Short Film (Trunk Show) | 1 | 2021 |
Frank William Chase Family
Frank William Chase has two children, Daisy and Gracie Chase, who are both actors. His daughters appeared alongside him in the short film Trunk Show in 2021, which won Best Short Film at the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival. Chase has maintained a close relationship with his children throughout his career and has involved them in his creative projects.
Personal Life
Frank William Chase was married to Lori Davis from 1996 to 2008, and they had two children together. He was subsequently married to actress Stephanie Gibson from 2009 until their divorce in 2012. He was in a relationship with actress Debra Messing from 2011 to 2014. Since 2015, Chase has been in a relationship with musician Ingrid Michaelson.