# Cheyenne Jackson
**Cheyenne Jackson** (born 1975 in Newport, Washington) is an American actor and singer whose full name is Cheyenne David Jackson[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). His career spans leading roles in Broadway musicals, film and television work, concert singing, and music recordings[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/). He is known on stage for originating Chad in *All Shook Up* (2005) and starring in *Xanadu* (2007) and the revival of *Finian's Rainbow* (2009), and on television for *30 Rock*, *American Horror Story*, and *Call Me Kat*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). He has received a Grammy nomination and a Daytime Emmy nomination[3](https://www.grammy.com/artists/cheyenne-jackson/18502/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/awards/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975, Newport, Washington[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) |
| Broadway breakthrough | Originated Chad in *All Shook Up* (2005); Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) |
| Signature Broadway roles | Sonny in *Xanadu* (2007), Woody Mahoney in *Finian's Rainbow* (2009), Paul Katami in *8* (2011), Mary's Teacher in *Oh, Mary!* (2025)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [5](https://playbill.com/person/cheyenne-jackson-vault-0000037960) |
| Film | Mark Bingham in the Academy Award-nominated *United 93* (2006); *Behind the Candelabra* (2013); *Descendants 3* (2019)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) |
| Television | Danny Baker on *30 Rock* (2009–2013), Dustin Goolsby on *Glee* (2010), *American Horror Story* seasons 5–8, Max on *Call Me Kat* since 2020[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) |
| Awards | Theatre World Award (2005); Grammy nominee, Best Musical Theater Album, *West Side Story* (2015); Daytime Emmy nominee, *Julie and the Phantoms* (2021)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) • [3](https://www.grammy.com/artists/cheyenne-jackson/18502/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/awards/) |
| Recordings | *The Power of Two* with Michael Feinstein (2009), *I'm Blue, Skies* (2013), *Renaissance* (2016)[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976) |
## Early life
Jackson grew up in rural Newport, Washington, in a devout family that attended church twice a week and listened mostly to [Christian music](https://www.edgepedia.org/christian-music); he began singing in church at age eight[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/). He was named after his father's favorite Western television series, *Cheyenne* (ABC, 1955–1963)[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/). After high school he moved to Spokane and then Seattle, working as a bank teller, waiter, and health club worker while performing in regional theater[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/).
His regional theater credits include *West Side Story*, *[The Most Happy Fella](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-most-happy-fella)*, *Children of Eden*, *Hair*, *Carousel*, *Damn Yankees*, *The Rocky Horror Show*, and *Kismet*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). Early on he also worked as a backup singer for artists including [Vanessa Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/vanessa-williams) and [Heather Headley](https://www.edgepedia.org/heather-headley)[8](https://playbill.com/article/celebrate-cheyenne-jacksons-birthday-with-a-look-at-his-broadway-career).
## Broadway career
Jackson moved to New York City in 2002 and made his Broadway debut as an understudy for both male leads in *Thoroughly Modern Millie*, followed by service as standby for *Aida*[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). He originated the role of Matthew in the 2004 workshop production of *Altar Boyz* for the New York Musical Theatre Festival[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/).
**Leading roles.** His first leading Broadway role was Chad, the Elvis-inspired lead of *All Shook Up* (2005), which brought the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut plus Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). He took over the lead role of Sonny in *Xanadu* on Broadway in 2007, earning Drama League and Drama Desk nominations[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson). He played Joe Hardy in the Encores! production of *Damn Yankees* (2008)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) and Woody Mahoney in *Finian's Rainbow*, first in Encores! and then in the 2009 Broadway revival, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson).
**Later stage work.** Jackson appeared on Broadway in the benefit reading of *8* (2011) as Paul Katami and starred off-Broadway in *The Heart of the Matter* (2012)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [5](https://playbill.com/person/cheyenne-jackson-vault-0000037960). He was in the original Broadway cast of *The Performers* (2012) as Mandrew[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [5](https://playbill.com/person/cheyenne-jackson-vault-0000037960), and sang Dr. Neville Craven in the 25th Anniversary Concert of *The Secret Garden* (2016)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). In 2019 he performed as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince in *Into the Woods* at the [Hollywood Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-bowl), and he reprised the roles in the 2022 Broadway revival, briefly stepping in for his late friend [Gavin Creel](https://www.edgepedia.org/gavin-creel)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206395/cheyenne-jackson-on-the-filthy-fun-and-full-body-buzz-of-oh-mary/).
**Recent theater.** In 2024 he played Sir Harry in the Encores! concert revival of *[Once Upon a Mattress](https://www.edgepedia.org/once-upon-a-mattress)* at New York City Center and Georges in *La Cage aux Folles* at the [Pasadena Playhouse](https://www.edgepedia.org/pasadena-playhouse), a production directed by Sam Pinkleton[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [11](https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/LA-CAGE-running-Release-.docx.pdf). In 2025 he joined the Broadway production of [Cole Escola](https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-escola)'s *Oh, Mary!* at the Lyceum Theatre as Mary's Teacher, a casting that came when Pinkleton called him after directing him in *La Cage aux Folles*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/) • [10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206395/cheyenne-jackson-on-the-filthy-fun-and-full-body-buzz-of-oh-mary/).
## Film and television
Jackson's film debut was the short film *Curiosity* (2005)[9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson). His portrayal of [Mark Bingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-bingham), one of the passengers who fought back on United Flight 93, in the 2006 Academy Award-nominated *United 93*, earned him the Boston Society of Film Critics 2006 award for Best Ensemble Cast[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/). Other films include *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), [Steven Soderbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-soderbergh)'s HBO biopic of Liberace, in which Jackson played Billy Leatherwood[9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson) • [12](https://www.metacritic.com/person/cheyenne-jackson/); Ira Sachs' *Love Is Strange* (2014)[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/); and Disney's *Descendants 3* (2019)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/).
On television, he played the Canadian actor [Danny Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-baker) on NBC's *30 Rock* for four seasons (2009–2013), his first high-profile TV role, followed by recurring parts on Fox's *Glee* (2010) as swim coach Dustin Goolsby[9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). Beginning in 2015 he appeared in the FX horror anthology *American Horror Story* in its fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/). Since 2020 he has co-starred as Max in the Fox comedy *Call Me Kat*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). He voiced Caleb Covington in Netflix's *[Julie and the Phantoms](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-and-the-phantoms)* (2020), a performance that brought a 2021 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Fiction Program[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/awards/) • [12](https://www.metacritic.com/person/cheyenne-jackson/). In 2022 he competed on *The Masked Singer*, finishing in third place[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/).
## Music and recordings
Jackson's recording career includes cast albums for *All Shook Up* (2005), *Xanadu* (2008), and *Finian's Rainbow* (2009)[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976). In 2009 he recorded *The Power of Two*, a duet album with the cabaret and jazz singer Michael Feinstein, and the two performed the material together at [Carnegie Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/carnegie-hall)[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976) • [9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson). His first full-length album of original music, *I'm Blue, Skies* (2013), was made with collaborators including Sia; *Renaissance* (2016) was adapted from his stage show *Cheyenne Jackson's Cocktail Hour: Music of the Mad Men Era*[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976). His 2014 recording of *West Side Story* with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, in which he sang Tony, brought a 2015 Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album[6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976) • [3](https://www.grammy.com/artists/cheyenne-jackson/18502/).
He has performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, including the sold-out shows *The Power of Two* in 2010 and *Music of the Mad Men Era* in 2011, and at the Kennedy Center in 2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/). On December 8, 2025, he made his Carnegie Hall solo debut, an autobiographical two-hour concert directed by Warren Carlyle that also launched a national tour; reviews singled out his baritone and his pacing, and the evening closed with "I Am What I Am" and a rendition of [Kacey Musgraves](https://www.edgepedia.org/kacey-musgraves)' "Rainbow" dedicated to his children[13](https://stageandcinema.com/2025/12/15/cheyenne-jackson-carnegie-hall-review/).
## Personal life and recognition
Shortly after moving to Seattle, Jackson met his future life partner, the physicist Monte Lapka[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/). He now lives in Los Angeles with his husband, Jason Landau, and their twins[10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206395/cheyenne-jackson-on-the-filthy-fun-and-full-body-buzz-of-oh-mary/) • [9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson). He has served as an international ambassador for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and as national ambassador for the Hetrick-Martin Institute; Out Magazine named him its 2008 Entertainer of the Year[9](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson).
## References
1. [Cheyenne Jackson, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/)
2. [Cheyenne Jackson, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cheyenne-Jackson/)
3. [Cheyenne Jackson, Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/cheyenne-jackson/18502/)
4. [Cheyenne Jackson – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2091145/awards/)
5. [Cheyenne Jackson (Performer), Playbill Vault](https://playbill.com/person/cheyenne-jackson-vault-0000037960)
6. [Cheyenne Jackson Biography and Discography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheyenne-jackson-mn0000549976)
7. [Cheyenne Jackson – Actor, Singer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cheyenne-jackson/)
8. [Celebrate Cheyenne Jackson's Birthday With a Look at His Broadway Career, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/celebrate-cheyenne-jacksons-birthday-with-a-look-at-his-broadway-career)
9. [Cheyenne Jackson, Los Angeles Philharmonic](https://www.laphil.com/people/cheyenne-jackson)
10. [Cheyenne Jackson on the Filthy Fun and Full-Body Buzz of Oh, Mary!, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206395/cheyenne-jackson-on-the-filthy-fun-and-full-body-buzz-of-oh-mary/)
11. [La Cage aux Folles press release, Pasadena Playhouse](https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/LA-CAGE-running-Release-.docx.pdf)
12. [Cheyenne Jackson, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/cheyenne-jackson/)
13. [Concert Review: Cheyenne Jackson (Carnegie Hall Debut / National Tour Launch), Stage and Cinema](https://stageandcinema.com/2025/12/15/cheyenne-jackson-carnegie-hall-review/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license