John Gallagher Jr. is an American actor and musician who has made a significant impact in both movies and TV shows. However, his true passion lies in theatrical productions, where he has truly shined. With a background in music and acting, Gallagher Jr. has showcased his talents in various musical groups before making his mark on the stage. His portrayal of ‘Mortiz Stiefel’ in the rock musical ‘Spring Awakening’ earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He has also impressed audiences with his performances in plays like ‘American Idiot,’ ‘Jerusalem,’ and ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night,’ earning him accolades such as the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award. In addition to his stage work, Gallagher Jr. has appeared in popular TV series like ‘Law & Order,’ ‘The West Wing,’ and ‘NYPD Blue,’ but it was his role in the political drama series ‘The Newsroom’ that truly showcased his talent. He made his debut in movies with ‘Pieces of April’ and has since appeared in films like ‘Whatever Works,’ ‘Jonah Hex,’ and ’10 Cloverfield Lane.’ Notably, he took on the lead role in the critically acclaimed movie ‘Short Term 12.’
Quick Facts
- Girlfriend: Aubrey Plaza (ex)
- Also Known As: John Howard Gallagher Jr., Johnny Gallagher
- Age: 39 Years, 39 Year Old Males
- Family: father: John Gallagher, Sr., mother: June Gallagher
- Born Country: United States
- Actors
- Rock Musicians
- Height: 5’8″ (173 cm), 5’8″ Males
- U.S. State: Delaware
Childhood & Early Life
John Howard Gallagher Jr. was born on June 17, 1984, in Wilmington, Delaware, to June and John Gallagher. Both his parents are folk musicians. He has two older sisters. Gallagher Jr. had developed a passion for music since his early days. As a teenager, he composed music and also learned to play the guitar, the bass, the drums, and the harmonica. Gallagher Jr. played for bands such as ‘Not Now Murray,’ ‘What Now,’ ‘Annie’s Autograph,’ and ‘Old Springs Pike.’
Career
In 2003, Gallagher Jr. made his debut on stage, performing as ‘Jeff,’ the lover of the title character, in the play ‘Kimberly Akimbo.’ It was staged at the ‘Manhattan Theatre Club.’ The same year, he made his debut in movies, too. He portrayed ‘Timmy Burns’ in the movie ‘Pieces of April.’
Initially, Gallagher Jr. appeared in small roles in TV series. In 2002, he appeared in single episodes of the shows ‘Law & Order’ and ‘The West Wing.’ In 2003, he appeared in one episode of the series ‘Ed’ and in two episodes of the series ‘NYPD Blue.’
In 2006, Gallagher Jr. made his ‘Broadway’ debut. He portrayed ‘Jason Willette’ in the play ‘Rabbit Hole.’ It was written by David Lindsay-Abaire. Gallagher Jr. performed at the ‘Biltmore Theatre’ and also at the ‘Pacific Playwrights Festival.’ His performance was widely applauded by critics.
In 2006, Gallagher Jr. appeared as ‘Brett Mullen’ in the dark comedy–drama movie ‘Mr. Gibb.’ The same year, he performed as ‘Paul’ in two episodes of the comedy–drama series ‘Love Monkey.’
In 2006, Gallagher Jr. received the best role of his stage career. He performed as ‘Mortiz Stiefel’ in the rock musical ‘Spring Awakening.’ The play was about a group of teenagers struggling with the transition from childhood to adulthood. Gallagher Jr. played one of the prominent characters. He performed on and off ‘Broadway’ at the ‘Eugene O’Neill Theatre’ and the ‘Atlantic Theatre Company.’ His impressive performance earned Gallagher Jr. several awards, such as the ‘Tony Award’ for the ‘Best Featured Actor in a Musical’ and the ‘Broadway.com Audience Choice Award’ for the ‘Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical.’ He was nominated for a ‘Drama Desk Award,’ too.
In 2009, Gallagher Jr. performed as ‘Perry Singleton’ in the movie ‘Whatever Works,’ directed by Woody Allen. The same year, he gave another impressive performance on stage. He portrayed ‘Johnny,’ or ‘The Jesus of Suburbia,’ in the rock musical ‘American Idiot.’ ‘Johnny’ was the protagonist and a victim of drug abuse and nihilism. Gallagher Jr. performed at the ‘Berkeley Repertory Theatre’ and the ‘St. James Theatre.’ He essayed the role from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, Gallagher won the ‘Broadway.com Audience Choice Award’ for the ‘Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical.’
In 2012, Gallagher Jr. bagged a major role in the TV series ‘The Newsroom.’ It was aired on ‘HBO.’ The series featured him as ‘James Harper.’ In 2013, Gallagher Jr. performed in the lead role of ‘Mason’ in the movie ‘Short Term 12.’ His performance got him nominated for the ‘CinEuphoria Award’ for the ‘Best Supporting Actor.’ In 2016, he performed in the play ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night.’ Gallagher Jr. won the ‘Broadway.com Audience Choice Award’ for the ‘Favorite Featured Actor in a Play,’ for this performance. He will be seen in the upcoming movies ‘The Best of Enemies’ and ‘Underwater,’ to be released in 2019.
Family & Personal Life
Gallagher Jr. was in a relationship with actor Aubrey Plaza during his high-school days. Not much is known about his current relationship status.