Harry Connick, Jr.

HARRY CONNICK, JR. is among today's most successful and multi- talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both the music and acting arenas. In addition to his role in "Dolphin Tale," he returned to Broadway to star in the revival of the musical "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever."

His love of music and performing dates back to his childhood in New Orleans, where he studied piano with such luminaries as James Booker and Ellis Marsalis. He first performed publicly at age five, appeared on his first recording at age ten, and released his self-titled major label debut for Columbia Records at 19, only a year after his high school graduation and his move to New York City. In the two decades since, he has released more than 20 albums, totaling more than 25 million in sales, and has received numerous music honors, including three Grammy Awards.

Connick's initial foray into the world of motion pictures came in 1989 when director Rob Reiner asked him to perform a number of standards for the romantic comedy smash "When Harry Met Sally." The movie's soundtrack brought Connick mainstream success, becoming his first multi-platinum album and also earning him his first Grammy, for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance.

The following year, he made his feature film acting debut in the World War II drama "Memphis Belle." His acting credits also include Jodie Foster's "Little Man Tate"; Jon Amiel's "Copycat"; "Independence Day," with Will Smith; "Hope Floats," opposite Sandra Bullock; "Mickey," written by John Grisham; William Friedkin's "Bug"; Richard LaGravenese's "P.S. I Love You," with Hilary Swank; and "New in Town," opposite Renée Zellweger.

On the small screen, Connick starred in the ABC presentation of the musical "South Pacific" and played the recurring role of Grace's love interest, Dr. Leo Markus, on the hit NBC series "Will & Grace." In addition, he won an Emmy Award for the PBS Great Performances concert special "Harry Connick, Jr: Only You," and earned Emmy nominations for the Great Performances concert specials "Swinging Out Live" and "Harry Connick, Jr. In Concert on Broadway." He also starred in two holiday specials, "When My Heart Finds Christmas" and "Harry for the Holidays," both built around his best-selling holiday albums.

In 2006, Connick made his Broadway acting debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of "The Pajama Game," earning nominations for Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical. He had earlier received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for the 2001 musical "Thou Shalt Not." In 1990, he played to sold-out audiences in "An Evening with Harry Connick, Jr. and His Orchestra - Live on Broadway" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. In the summer of 2010, he again performed in concert on Broadway, in a sold-out limited engagement at the Neil Simon Theatre.

© 2011 Warner Bros. Pictures