Biography

When he was first cast in "Rent", producers had just one problem: he always sang with his eyes closed. They brought this to his attention; he has never done this since.

Attended and graduated from Syosset High School, along with Judd Apatow, Idina Menzel and Natalie Portman.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1996 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Rent", but lost to Nathan Lane in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".

Was on the cover of Newsweek magazine with his "Rent" co-star Daphne Rubin-Vega, who played opposite him as Mimi Marquez in the original Broadway cast.

Released his second solo album, "Civilian" (2004), on Sh-K-Boom Records on November 2, 2004, the day of the presidential election.

Ignorance is bliss. I wish I still had some.

Billy Joel is one of my hugest idols.

Rent will allow me to get my own apartment. I've always mooched off of girlfriends.

I am definitely less green than I was back then. What meant by that was that I wasn't an actor and really at that point had no intention of continuing to pursue acting. What I did in "Rent" was just very natural. From day one, I just connected to the role and the music and I think that's why I was successful in it.

[on his experiences in the rock musical "Rent"] When I was doing the play, it was hard for me to understand why people reacted so strongly to it. I thought it was great, but I didn't understand until I left why it had such a visceral impact. Now I known that when you watch it, whatever your individual issues are, you feel like a little bit of something has been lifted off your shoulders. And that so rare.