# Corbin Bleu
**Corbin Bleu** (full name Corbin Bleu Reivers) is an American actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter best known for playing Chad Danforth in Disney's *High School Musical* film trilogy and for a subsequent career as a Broadway song-and-dance performer. Born in 1989 in Brooklyn, New York, he worked as a child actor and model before his Disney breakthrough, and since 2010 he has appeared in five Broadway productions, most recently as [Nick Carraway](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-carraway) in *The Great Gatsby*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088298/bio/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/corbin-bleu-486111)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and origin | Corbin Bleu Reivers, born 1989 in Brooklyn, New York, to actor David Reivers and Martha Callari; he dropped the family name professionally so he and his father could have separate identities[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088298/bio/) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html) |
| Breakout role | Chad Danforth, best friend of Troy Bolton, in *High School Musical* (2006), *High School Musical 2* (2007), and *High School Musical 3: Senior Year* (2008)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) |
| Disney Channel lead | Izzy Daniels, a young boxer who joins a double Dutch jump-rope team, in *Jump In!* (2007), co-starring his real-life father[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html) |
| Albums | *Another Side* (2007), which reached the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, and *Speed of Light* (2009)[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/corbin-bleu-mn0000476541) |
| Broadway debut | Usnavi in *In the Heights* (2010); later Broadway roles include Jesus in *Godspell* (2012), Ted Hanover in *Holiday Inn* (2016–2017), and Bill Calhoun/Lucentio in *Kiss Me, Kate* (2019)[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/corbin-bleu-486111) |
| Dance honors | Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show for *Holiday Inn*; runner-up with Karina Smirnoff on *Dancing with the Stars* (2013)[6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/corbin_bleu_bio_6270d428.pdf) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/corbin-bleu/) |
| Recent milestone | Originated Nick Carraway in the West End *The Great Gatsby* (2025), earning a 2026 Laurence Olivier Award nomination, then took the role to Broadway from March 30, 2026[8](https://shubert.nyc/press/corbin-bleu-and-john-behlmann-join-the-great-gatsby/) |
## Early life and beginnings
Bleu was born to a Jamaican-American father, the actor David Reivers, and an Italian-American mother, and began appearing in television commercials at age two, for products including Life cereal, Hasbro, and Nabisco. By age four he was a model with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York, and he took jazz and ballet classes from an early age, usually the only boy in the class.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088298/bio/) At age six he appeared in his first professional off-Broadway theater production.[9](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/17705/corbin-bleu)
The family moved to Los Angeles in 1996, where he landed a recurring role on the police drama *High Incident* and small parts in series such as *ER* and *Malcolm & Eddie* and films including *Galaxy Quest* and *Mystery Men* (both 1999).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088298/bio/) Starting in 2001, he studied dance at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and while enrolled as a theater major at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts he completed his studies via home schooling.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html) His first prominent film role was the second lead in the teen action-comedy *Catch That Kid* (2004) with [Kristen Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristen-stewart), and he starred as Nathan McHugh on the television series *Flight 29 Down* (2005–2007).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/corbin-bleu/)
## High School Musical and the Disney years
**Breakout.** In 2006 Bleu was cast as Chad Danforth, the basketball-playing best friend of Troy Bolton ([Zac Efron](https://www.edgepedia.org/zac-efron)), in the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) television movie *High School Musical*. He performed in the film's major song-and-dance numbers, most notably "Get'cha Head in the Game," which required synchronized basketball choreography.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/corbin-bleu/) The movie became a cultural phenomenon that launched its young cast to international fame, and Bleu reprised the role in *High School Musical 2* (2007) and *High School Musical 3: Senior Year* (2008), the first installment of the franchise to receive a theatrical release.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [10](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/disney-high-schools-bleu-could-be-breath-of-bel-air/26487346.html) During the franchise's peak he toured with his co-stars on the *High School Musical* concert tour, performing in arenas across North America and South America.[11](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/corbin-bleu-interview-great-gatsby-broadway/)
Disney kept him in lead roles. In *Jump In!* (2007), directed by Paul Hoen, he played Izzy Daniels, a promising young boxer who joins an all-girl team competing in double Dutch jump rope; his father played Izzy's father, a former boxer unsettled by his son's new sport.[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jump_in) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html) Bleu described the film as having a darker, more urban tone than *High School Musical*, and he hoped it would show he could play a softer-spoken, edgier character than the basketball hotshot.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html) Retrospective coverage has argued the film deserved more attention than it received, praising his performance opposite [Keke Palmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/keke-palmer).[13](https://time.com/6167355/best-disney-channel-original-movies/) He also made guest appearances on *Hannah Montana* and *Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide* during this period.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/)
## Music
Bleu's recorded debut as a singer, "Push It to the Limit," appeared on the *Jump In!* soundtrack. His first album, *Another Side*, was released on [Hollywood Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-records) on May 1, 2007, featuring a song co-written by Ne-Yo, and peaked within the [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) of the Billboard 200 albums chart. A second album, *Speed of Light*, followed in March 2009. He also contributed songs to Disney soundtracks including *High School Musical*, *Jump In!*, and *Tarzan* (2007).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/corbin-bleu-mn0000476541) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/)
## Stage career
**Broadway.** Bleu made his Broadway debut as Usnavi in the Tony-winning musical *In the Heights* in 2010, a role he has described as life-altering.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [14](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207102/corbin-bleu-on-the-great-gatsby-his-broadway-career-and-finding-purpose-onstage/) He followed with Jesus in the Broadway revival of *Godspell* (2012) and Ted Hanover in *Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical* (2016–2017), a performance that won him the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show.[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/corbin-bleu-486111) • [6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/corbin_bleu_bio_6270d428.pdf) In the 2019 Roundabout Theatre Company revival of *Kiss Me, Kate* at [Studio 54](https://www.edgepedia.org/studio-54) he played Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/corbin-bleu-486111)
Regional and [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) work has been a consistent thread. He starred as Don Lockwood, the role made famous by [Gene Kelly](https://www.edgepedia.org/gene-kelly), in *Singin' in the Rain* at The Muny in St. Louis during its 2018 centennial season, and as Billy Crocker in *Anything Goes* at Arena Stage the same year; a St. Louis review called him "an indisputable triple threat."[6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/corbin_bleu_bio_6270d428.pdf) • [15](https://www.broadwayworld.com/st-louis/article/BWW-Review-SINGIN-IN-THE-RAIN-is-a-Splashy-Summer-Hit-20180628) In 2023–2024 he played Seymour in *Little Shop of Horrors* Off-Broadway, a casting he has described as history-making.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [14](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207102/corbin-bleu-on-the-great-gatsby-his-broadway-career-and-finding-purpose-onstage/)
**The Great Gatsby.** Director Marc Bruni, who had directed Bleu as Don Lockwood at The Muny, suggested him for Nick Carraway in the stage musical of *The Great Gatsby*. In 2025, in what marked his first stage appearance in London, Bleu created the part in the musical's West End staging at the London Coliseum, playing eight performances weekly and receiving a nomination for Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards, the first of his career. He joined the Broadway company at the Broadway Theatre on March 30, 2026, opposite [Reeve Carney](https://www.edgepedia.org/reeve-carney) as [Jay Gatsby](https://www.edgepedia.org/jay-gatsby) and [Eva Noblezada](https://www.edgepedia.org/eva-noblezada) as Daisy Buchanan.[11](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/corbin-bleu-interview-great-gatsby-broadway/) • [8](https://shubert.nyc/press/corbin-bleu-and-john-behlmann-join-the-great-gatsby/) He has called the Olivier nomination a turning point in a stage career that by then spanned more than 15 years on Broadway.[14](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207102/corbin-bleu-on-the-great-gatsby-his-broadway-career-and-finding-purpose-onstage/)
## Screen work after Disney
Bleu's post-Disney screen career has consisted largely of guest roles and independent films. His film credits include *Free Style* (2009), a motocross drama that drew mixed reviews, *To Write Love on Her Arms* (2012), *Nurse 3D* (2013), and *The Monkey's Paw*; his television appearances include *The Good Wife*, *Blue Bloods*, *Psych*, *Castle*, *The Fosters*, *The Middle*, *Chicago Med*, *Supergirl*, and *Dynasty*.[16](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1206664-free_style/reviews) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) He competed on *Dancing with the Stars* in 2013 with partner [Karina Smirnoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/karina-smirnoff), finishing as runner-up, and won the first season of the competition series *The Real Dirty Dancing* in 2022.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/corbin-bleu/) • [17](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/corbin-bleu/profile/)
He has also returned to the franchise that made him famous. In *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series* on Disney+, he appeared as himself, directing a documentary storyline in the third season and returning as a special guest star in seasons three and four.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/) • [18](https://cora.ucc.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/23a2f8bf-ba6a-44b3-a0c7-f6baa915fe88/content) In 2021 he reunited on screen with his former co-star [Monique Coleman](https://www.edgepedia.org/monique-coleman) in the Lifetime holiday film *A Christmas Dance Reunion*.[6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/corbin_bleu_bio_6270d428.pdf)
## References
1. [Corbin Bleu – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088298/bio/)
2. [Corbin Bleu – Bio and Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Corbin-Bleu/)
3. [Corbin Bleu – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/corbin-bleu-486111)
4. [Corbin Bleu is rockin' but has no time for misbehaving, Los Angeles Times (2007)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-06-et-bleu6-story.html)
5. [Corbin Bleu – Biography, Discography & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/corbin-bleu-mn0000476541)
6. [Corbin Bleu official biography (PDF)](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/corbin_bleu_bio_6270d428.pdf)
7. [Corbin Bleu – Actor, Model, Dancer, Producer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/corbin-bleu/)
8. [Corbin Bleu and John Behlmann Join The Great Gatsby, The Shubert Organization (2026)](https://shubert.nyc/press/corbin-bleu-and-john-behlmann-join-the-great-gatsby/)
9. [Corbin Bleu, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/17705/corbin-bleu)
10. [Disney High School's Bleu could be breath of Bel Air, Irish Independent (2008)](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/disney-high-schools-bleu-could-be-breath-of-bel-air/26487346.html)
11. [Corbin Bleu on How High School Musical Prepared Him for Broadway, Ticketmaster (2026)](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/corbin-bleu-interview-great-gatsby-broadway/)
12. [Jump In! – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jump_in)
13. [10 Nostalgic Disney Channel Original Movies to Stream Right Now, Time (2022)](https://time.com/6167355/best-disney-channel-original-movies/)
14. [Corbin Bleu on The Great Gatsby, His Broadway Career and Finding Purpose Onstage, Broadway.com (2026)](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207102/corbin-bleu-on-the-great-gatsby-his-broadway-career-and-finding-purpose-onstage/)
15. [Review: Singin' in the Rain is a Splashy Summer Hit, BroadwayWorld St. Louis (2018)](https://www.broadwayworld.com/st-louis/article/BWW-Review-SINGIN-IN-THE-RAIN-is-a-Splashy-Summer-Hit-20180628)
16. [Free Style – Audience Reviews, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1206664-free_style/reviews)
17. [Corbin Bleu Biography, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/corbin-bleu/profile/)
18. [Stick to the Status Quo? Music and the Production of Nostalgia on Disney+ (academic article)](https://cora.ucc.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/23a2f8bf-ba6a-44b3-a0c7-f6baa915fe88/content)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Be to Bl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 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