John Gallagher Jr.

John Howard Gallagher Jr. (born June 17, 1984) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his roles in various Broadway productions, such as the 2006 rock musical Spring Awakening, which garnered him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also took on roles in Green Day's Broadway musical, American Idiot and the 2011 Broadway production of Jerusalem. Gallagher was not only accomplished on stage but on screen as well. He was a familiar face in Aaron Sorkin's drama series The Newsroom and starred in the HBO mini-series Olive Kitteridge. A diverse actor, he took on a horror-thriller role in 10 Cloverfield Lane. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Gallagher was raised alongside his two older sisters. His parents, both folk musicians, instilled a passion for music that led him to play in numerous bands and eventually release his debut album, 'Six Day Hurricane'.

Before and throughout his Spring Awakening run, Gallagher was a member of the folk-rock group Old Springs Pike. He left the band and made an announcement in January 2008. He appeared in three major plays by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, getting critical acclaim for Rabbit Hole, his Broadway debut. He was well-received in his portrayal of Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening, which ran from 2006-2007. Following Spring Awakening, Gallagher starred in productions of the dramas, Port Authority and Farragut North. Gallagher also turned heads as Johnny, or 'Jesus of Suburbia', in American Idiot. He has appeared in many television programs, including The West Wing and Law & Order: SVU, and featured in films such as 'Pieces of April', 'The Heart Machine', and 'Short Term 12'.