Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. Headshot

Singer • Pianist • Composer • Personality • Host

Birth Date: September 11, 1967

Age: 56 years old

Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana

Harry Connick Jr. was a musician and actor who quietly became an American institution in and of himself throughout his four decade-long career, starting as a child prodigy, before becoming a regular face in film, TV, and theater, while selling 28 million albums worldwide as a classic crooner. Born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, LA, Connick was the scion of two legal bigwigs in the big easy: his mother, Anita Frances Livingston, started as a lawyer, then a judge, before serving as a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, while his father, Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Sr., served as the district attorney of Orleans Parish from 1973 until 2003. Connick began playing piano at age three, was playing publicly at age five, and was recording with local New Orleans jazz musicians at age ten. Sadly, when Connick was 13, his mother passed away from ovarian cancer. Connick channeled his grief through practicing his craft, taking lessons at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts with instructors such as Ellis Marsalis Jr. and James Booker. After high school, he decided to move to New York City, where he gave recitals at Loyola University, and studied at Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music, all while living at the 92nd Street YMHA. While at MSM, he met Dr. George Butler, an executive with Columbia Records, who convinced Connick to sign to the label. Connick's self-titled debut, "Harry Connick Jr." (1987), a collection of instrumental standards was released in 1987. Connick began building a reputation in the jazz community with extended stands at New York's most prestigious venues. For his next album, "20" (1988), he incorporated vocals for the first time. This drew the attention of director Rob Reiner, who asked Connick to provide the soundtrack for his new film, the defining romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally " (1989). The soundtrack, which featured Connick crooning such standards as "It Had to Be You," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," sold two million copies in the U.S. alone, and earned Connick his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance. The following year, Connick made his acting debut in the WWII drama "Memphis Belle" (1990), while his next big band standards album "We Are In Love" (1990), also went double platinum, and earned him another Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal. Connick was nominated for an Oscar for "Promise Me You'll Remember," his song from the "Godfather Part III" (1990) soundtrack, and released his first album of original compositions, "Blue Light, Red Light" (1991), which went platinum. After enjoying a supporting role in Jodie Foster's "Little Man Tate" (1991), and releasing a successful piano standards album, "25" (1992), Connick released his first holiday album, "Where My Heart Finds Christmas" (1993), which remains his best-selling album to this day. Connick then decided to branch out: his next two albums, "She" (1994) and "Star Turtle" (1996) were hard left turns into New Orleans-style funk. They did not sell as well as his previous efforts, and many fans were perplexed. He found more success in films, however, playing a serial killer in the crime thriller "Copycat" (1995), and the doomed wingman to Will Smith in the sci-fi blockbuster "Independence Day" (1996). His next album, "To See You" (1997), returned to Connick's regular formula with a collection of piano-driven love ballads accompanied by a symphony orchestra. He followed this up with his first leading role, alongside Sandra Bullock, in the hit romantic comedy "Hope Floats" (1998). Connick then returned to big band music with his next album, "Come By Me" (1999), and embarked on a world tour. After earning a Tony nomination for his music and lyrics for Susan Stroman's Broadway musical "Thou Shalt Not" (2001) and narrating the family film "My Dog Skip" (2000), in 2002 Connick took on one of his most famous roles, recurring as Leo Markus on the smash hit sitcom "Will & Grace" (NBC, 1998-2006, 2017-19), a role he would play on and off until 2006. Connick's music career remained on a roll as well: his second holiday album, "Harry for the Holidays" (2003), and "Only You" (2004), a collection of 1950s and 1960s ballads, were some of his biggest sellers ever. After branching out in William Friedkin's indie horror hit "Bug" (2006), he starred in a Broadway revival of "The Pajama Game" (2006). His next big role was in the family hit "Dolphin Tale" (2011) and its sequel, "Dolphin Tale 2" (2014), followed by a stint as an afternoon talk show host with "Harry" (Syndicated 2016-18).

Credits

The Best Film Songs Of All Time

Music Performer
Show
2022

Annie Live! Sing-Along!

Actor
Show
2021

Annie Live!Stream

Actor
Daddy Warbucks
Special
2021

89th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2021

Harry Connick Jr.: Amazing Grace

Music Performer
Show
2021

Back To The Movies

Music Performer
Show
2021

Harry Connick, Jr: Alone With My Faith

Music Performer
Show
2021

Home for the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2021

Holiday Hits

Music Performer
Show
2021

Fear of Rain

Actor
John Burroughs
Movie
2021

United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes

Executive Producer
Show
2020

United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes

Host
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

Retro: Christmas Classics

Music Performer
Show
2020

Quiet Christmas Day

Music Performer
Show
2020

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2019

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Harry Connick, Jr.: Just One of Those Things

Music Performer
Show
2019

Essentials: Harry Connick, Jr.

Music Performer
Show
2019

Today's Holidays Hits

Music Performer
Show
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

The Jess Cagle Interview

Guest
Show
2018

People Features

Guest
Show
2018

90s Christmas

Music Performer
Show
2018

Jazzin' the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2018

Back to the Movies

Music Performer
Show
2018

A Man and His Trumpet: The Leroy Jones Story

Self
Movie
2018

The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special

Guest
Show
2017

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2017

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Guest
Show
2017

Will & GraceStream

Guest Star
Leo
Series
2017
74%

Pop Life

Guest
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Host
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Music Performer
Talk
2017

Naturally, Danny Seo

Guest
Show
2016

Kevin Can WaitStream

Guest Star
Himself
Series
2016
28%

Harry

Host
Talk
2016

Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Relief

Host
Show
2016

Harry Connick Jr. All Access

Guest Star
Show
2016

Today's Take

Guest
Show
2016

Show People

Actor
Show
2016

Sinatra 100 -- An All-Star Grammy Concert

Music Performer
Show
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts

Guest
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Repeat After Me

Guest Star
Reality
2015

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Music Performer
Talk
2014

Dolphin Tale 2

Actor
Dr. Clay Haskett
Movie
2014

American Idol: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

American Idol: Extras

Self
Show
2013

The Social

Guest
Show
2013

Harry Connick Jr.: One Fine Thing

Music Performer
Show
2013

Harry Connick, Jr.: Every Man Should Know

Music Performer
Show
2013

Angels SingStream

Actor
Michael Walker
Movie
2013
29%

Sunshine by the Stars: Celebrating Louisiana Music

Host
Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Music Performer
Talk
2012

Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway

Music Performer
Show
2012

Finding Your RootsStream

Guest
Reality
2012

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

The Marilyn Denis Show

Guest
Show
2011

Harry Connick Jr.: My Time of Day/I've Never Been In Love Before

Music Performer
Show
2011

Harry Connick Jr.: Light The Way

Music Performer
Show
2011

Harry Connick Jr.: Light the Way (Live)

Music Performer
Show
2011

Harry Connick Jr.: My Time of Day/I've Never Been in Love Before (Live)

Music Performer
Show
2011

Harry Connick Jr.: Take Her to the Mardi Gras (Live)

Music Performer
Show
2011

Dolphin Tale

Actor
Dr. Clay Haskett
Movie
2011

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

On the Red Carpet

Guest
Show
2010

The 32nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors

Music Performer
Show
2009

The Project

Host
Show
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Harry Connick Jr.: All the Way

Music Performer
Show
2009

New in Town

Actor
Ted Mitchell
Movie
2009

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Living Proof

Actor
Movie
2008

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

P.S. I Love You

Actor
Daniel
Movie
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
2006

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Harry Connick Jr.: Take Her To The Mardi Gras

Music Performer
Show
2006

Harry Connick Jr.: Mardi Gras In New Orleans

Music Performer
Show
2006

Bug

Actor
Jerry
Movie
2006

The Happy Elf

Voice
Lil Farley
Show
2005

The Colbert Report

Music Performer
Talk
2005

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Dancing With the StarsStream

Music Performer
Reality
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Music Performer
Talk
2005

George Jones, 50 Years of Hits: A Soundstage Special Event

Music Performer
Show
2004

Harry Connick: Only You in Concert

Executive Producer
Show
2004

Harry Connick: Only You in Concert

Music Performer
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Harry Connick, Jr.: Hear Me in the Harmony

Music Performer
Show
2004

Harry Connick, Jr.: It Had to Be You

Music Performer
Show
2004

Harry Connick Jr.: She

Music Performer
Show
2004

Harry for the Holidays

Executive Producer
Show
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Host
Talk
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Australian Idol

Judge
Show
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

American Idol

Guest
Reality
2003
68%

American Idol

Judge
Reality
2003
68%

American Idol

Music Performer
Reality
2003
68%

BasicStream

Actor
Pete Vilmer
Movie
2003
21%

Mickey

Actor
Trip
Movie
2003

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Actor
Lt. Joseph Cable
Movie
2001

Life Without Dick

Actor
Daniel Gallagher
Movie
2001

Entertainment Studios.com

Guest
Show
2000

My Dog SkipStream

Narrator
Movie
2000
73%

The Simian Line

Actor
Rick
Movie
2000

The Early Show

Guest
Show
1999

The Early Show

Music Performer
Show
1999

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Executive A.D.A. David Haden
Series
1999
78%

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

The Iron GiantStream

Voice
Dean McCoppin
Movie
1999
96%

Wayward Son

Actor
Jesse Banks Rhodes
Movie
1999

Will & GraceStream

Guest Star
Leo Markus
Series
1998

Hope FloatsStream

Actor
Justin Matisse
Movie
1998
27%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The View

Music Performer
Talk
1997

Harry Connick Jr.: Let's Just Kiss

Music Performer
Show
1997

Harry Connick Jr.: Learn To Love

Music Performer
Show
1997

Excess Baggage

Actor
Greg
Movie
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Independence DayStream

Actor
Captain Jimmy 'Raven' Wilder
Movie
1996
68%

MADtvStream

Guest Star
Series
1995
43%

Copycat

Actor
Daryll Lee Cullum
Movie
1995

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Harry Connick Jr.: Here Comes The Big Parade

Music Performer
Show
1994

Harry Connick Jr.: (I Could Only) Whisper Your Name

Music Performer
Show
1994

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Music Performer
Talk
1993

Harry Connick Jr.: The New York Big Band Concert

Music Performer
Show
1993

Cityline

Guest
Show
1993

Harry Connick Jr.: When My Heart Finds Christmas

Music Performer
Show
1993

E! News

Actor
News
1991

Harry Connick, Jr: You Didn't Know Me When

Music Performer
Show
1991

Harry Connick Jr.: Blue Light, Red Light (Someone's There)

Music Performer
Show
1991

Little Man Tate

Actor
Eddie
Movie
1991

Mi Pequeño Genio

Actor
Movie
1991

Harry Connick Jr.: Recipe For Love

Music Performer
Show
1990

Harry Connick Jr.: One Last Pitch

Music Performer
Show
1990

Memphis BelleStream

Actor
Sgt. Clay Busby
Movie
1990
68%

This Morning

Guest
Show
1988

The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
1986

Jeopardy!Stream

Contestant
Game Show
1984

CheersStream

Guest Star
Russell Boyd
Series
1982
87%

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Entertainment Tonight

Host
News
1981

Nightline

Music Performer
News
1980

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Good Morning America

Music Performer
News
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Music Performer
Series
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Music Performer
Franchise
1972

Canada AM

Guest
Show
1972

Sesame StreetStream

Guest
Series
1969

Today

Guest
News
1952

Today

Music Performer
News
1952

News aboutHarry Connick Jr.