Andrew Rannells

A handsome, immensely gifted actor-singer, Andrew Rannells broke into showbiz with a string of roles in animated projects like "Street Sharks" (syndicated, 1994-95), "Pokémon" (syndicated, 1998-99; Kids WB!, 1999-2006; Cartoon Network, 2006- ) and "Sonic X" (Fox, 2003-04), where he also earned credits directing the entire voiceover cast.

He achieved stardom, however, on Broadway when he dazzled in "Hairspray" and "Jersey Boys" before originating the role of Elder Kevin Price in the irreverent smash "The Book of Mormon." Rannells made the leap to screen acting with small roles in the films "Sex and the City 2" (2010) and "Bachelorette" (2012), but made a bigger impression recurring as Elijah, the hot-tempered, gay ex-boyfriend of Hannah (Lena Dunham) on "Girls" (HBO, 2012- ).

Openly gay himself, Rannells landed the part of a lifetime as one-half of a happy gay couple who hire a surrogate and find themselves meshing and clashing with her family on Ryan Murphy's controversial sitcom "The New Normal" (NBC, 2012-13). Enormously talented and likable, Andrew Rannells proved equally adept on stage and on screen.

Born Aug. 23, 1978 in Omaha, NE, Andrew Scott Rannells had his start working in voiceover roles on several animated series, including "Street Sharks" (syndicated, 1994-95), "Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776" (PBS, 2002-03), "Shaman King" (Fox, 2001-02) and "Fighting Foodons" (Fox, 2001-02). He voiced the most famous Riverside redhead in "Archie's Weird Mysteries" (PAX, 1999-2000) and "The Archies in Jugman" (2003), lent his pipes to "Pokémon" (syndicated, 1998-99; Kids WB!, 1999-2006; Cartoon Network, 2006- ) and "Cubix: Robots for Everyone" (Fox, 2001-03) and did voiceover and directorial duty on "Sonic X" (Fox, 2003-04).

Having a powerful voice came in handy as well when the actor jumpstarted his Broadway career, landing such high-profile roles as Link Larkin in "Hairspray," Bob Gaudio in "Jersey Boys" and, most famously, originating the role of Elder Kevin Price in "The Book of Mormon," for which he earned nominations for Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League awards. For his work, including his show-stopping "I Believe" number, Rannells won a Grammy as one of the featured performers on the musical's original cast recording.

Singled out by many reviewers as the show's secret weapon, the openly gay Rannells impressed Lena Dunham with his "Mormon" performance enough so that she wrote a recurring role for him on her edgy series "Girls" (HBO, 2012- ) as Elijah, the recently out-of-the-closet ex-boyfriend of Hannah (Dunham) who left her speechless upon their awkward reunion with the parting shot, "It was nice to see you. Your dad is gay."

In his frequent appearances, Rannells clashed memorably with Hannah and her friends, including slapping the tightly wound Marnie (Allison Williams) after a confrontation. After small roles in as a chorus member singing at the wedding of Stanford and Anthony (Willie Garson and Mario Cantone) in "Sex and the City 2" (2010) and a "freelance stripper" in "Bachelorette" (2012), Rannells landed one of the lead roles on Ryan Murphy's sitcom "The New Normal" (NBC, 2012-13).

The series followed a committed gay couple (Rannells and Justin Bartha) who decide to have a baby and hire a surrogate (Georgia King) whose own mother and daughter (Ellen Barkin and Bebe Wood) become part of this modern, blended family.

By Jonathan Riggs