# Nolan Gerard Funk
**Nolan Gerard Funk** is a Canadian actor, singer, and dancer known for the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) musical film *Spectacular!* (2009), the Broadway revival of *Bye Bye Birdie* (2009–2010), and recurring television roles as Hunter Clarington on *Glee* and Collin Jennings on *Awkward*.[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) Born in 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia, he began his career as a competitive athlete before moving into acting in 2001.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/) |
| Breakthrough | Nikko Alexander in the Nickelodeon TV movie musical *Spectacular!* (2009), opposite Victoria Justice[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) |
| Broadway | Conrad Birdie in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of *Bye Bye Birdie*, 2009–2010[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Funk-Doyle-Trimm-Hoty-Ephraim-and-Schwencke-Join-Roundabouts-BIRDIE-20090528) |
| Signature TV roles | Hunter Clarington on *Glee* (2012–2013); Collin Jennings on *Awkward* (16 episodes, 2013–2015)[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/3626/nolan-gerard-funk) |
| Notable films | *House at the End of the Street* (2012), *Riddick* (2013), *The Canyons* (2013)[5](https://www.fandango.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk-222981/film-credits) |
| Background | Former national-level gymnast and diver; fluent in French and German[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/) |
| Modeling | Face of Versace for the spring-summer 2014 collection, alongside Lady Gaga[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-432090/biographie/) |
## Early life and athletics
Funk was born in 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/) Before acting, he competed on the national level in Canada as both a gymnast and a diver.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/) In a 2009 interview with *Seventeen*, he said he began toddler gymnastics at around age 3 or 4 and began training seriously at 6, aiming for the Olympics before foot problems, including a broken foot, ended that path.[8](https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/reviews/a3616/spectacular-nolan-funk/) He has described individual sports as a form of performance, "doing something really private in a public arena," and has drawn a line from that experience to his acting.[9](https://www.justjared.com/video/2595429/) He is fluent in French and German and has an older sister, Natanya.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/) • [1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk)
## Breakthrough: Spectacular! and Broadway
Funk moved into film and television in 2001 with guest appearances on episodic series aimed at young viewers, including *Smallville*, *Supernatural*, and the feature *X2* (2003).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/) His break came as the lead in Nickelodeon's TV movie musical *Spectacular!* (2009), in which he played Nikko Alexander, a self-centered rock band frontman, opposite [Victoria Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/victoria-justice) and [Tammin Sursok](https://www.edgepedia.org/tammin-sursok).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/) The premiere drew over 14 million viewers in its first week in the United States, the soundtrack reached number one, and Funk's song "Break My Heart" entered the [Billboard charts](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-charts).[10](https://www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com/)
The same year he joined the cast of Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of *Bye Bye Birdie*, the first new Broadway production of the musical after a 48-year absence, playing teen idol Conrad Birdie opposite [John Stamos](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-stamos), Gina Gershon, and [Bill Irwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-irwin) at the new [Henry Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-miller)'s Theatre.[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Funk-Doyle-Trimm-Hoty-Ephraim-and-Schwencke-Join-Roundabouts-BIRDIE-20090528) The limited engagement opened on October 15, 2009 and closed on January 24, 2010, after 40 previews and 117 performances, when the principal actors' contracts expired.[11](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2009/12/03/Bye-Bye-Birdie-leaving-Broadway-nest/42901259855637/) Reviews of his performance were mixed: one fan review site praised his 1960s-styled singing voice,[10](https://www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com/) while *Backstage* wrote that his Birdie came across as "a refugee from a 1980s boy band."[12](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/bye-bye-birdie-5-61366/)
## Television
Funk's teen-idol profile carried into recurring television work. On *Glee*, he played Hunter Clarington, the leader of the Dalton Academy Warblers show choir, in the series' fourth season in 2012 and 2013; his rendition of [Flo Rida](https://www.edgepedia.org/flo-rida)'s "Whistle" drew favorable notice.[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/) On MTV's *Awkward*, he played Collin Jennings, an intellectual new student from a wealthy family, appearing in 16 episodes between 2013 and 2015.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/3626/nolan-gerard-funk) • [13](https://shesaidmediasaid.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/awkward-interview-nolan-gerard-funk-on-being-the-new-kid-in-school/) He has said the *Awkward* casting director brought him in after seeing him on *Glee*.[13](https://shesaidmediasaid.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/awkward-interview-nolan-gerard-funk-on-being-the-new-kid-in-school/)
His later guest and recurring credits span a wide range of series: Cooper Seldon on *Arrow* (2014–2016), Daniel Sharp on *Quantico*, Seth Landon on *Major Crimes*, Addison on *Dear White People*, Troy on *The Catch*, Angel Eyes on *Counterpart*, Josh on *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*, Andrew Goldling on *She's Gotta Have It*, Van White on *The Flight Attendant* (2020), and Dan Fallon on *Partner Track* (2022).[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/3626/nolan-gerard-funk) • [14](https://www.metacritic.com/person/nolan-gerard-funk/)
## Film
While his television work stayed in youth-oriented fare, Funk's film roles moved toward adult material. He played Tyler, a high school antagonist, in the thriller *House at the End of the Street* (2012) opposite [Jennifer Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-lawrence), Max Thieriot, and [Elisabeth Shue](https://www.edgepedia.org/elisabeth-shue).[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) In 2013 he appeared in three films: as Luna, the youngest recruit of a mercenary crew, in *Riddick* opposite [Vin Diesel](https://www.edgepedia.org/vin-diesel); as Tyler Morris in the found-footage horror film *Evidence*; and as Ryan, part of the central love triangle with Lindsay Lohan and James Deen, in Paul Schrader's *The Canyons*, written by Bret Easton Ellis, which screened at the Venice International Film Festival.[1](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk) • [15](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/nolan-gerard-funk-the-canyons) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/)
He has described the contrast as deliberate, saying he did not want to play one kind of character and citing [Michael Fassbender](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-fassbender)'s range between art films and commercial work as a model.[15](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/nolan-gerard-funk-the-canyons) Later films include the musical film *Hello Again* (2017), an adaptation of Michael John LaChiusa's stage work in which he played a soldier opposite [Jenna Ushkowitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/jenna-ushkowitz);[16](https://stagebuddy.com/film/interview-nolan-gerard-funk-character-hello-loves-going-genre-genre) *Berlin, I Love You* (2019); *Blumhouse's Truth or Dare* (2018); and *Wildlike* (2014), an independent drama from Killer Films opposite [Brian Geraghty](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-geraghty), which is his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes at 93 percent.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/) • [17](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nolan-funk)
## Modeling and other work
Funk's athletic build carried into a modeling career: he became a celebrity face of the [Italian fashion](https://www.edgepedia.org/italian-fashion) house Versace as an ambassador for its spring-summer 2014 collection, appearing in campaigns alongside Lady Gaga for women's wear.[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-432090/biographie/) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/) In a 2019 interview in Dubrovnik, he recalled attending the Vanity Fair Oscar party with Gaga and described her constant reinvention as something he tried to bring to his own acting.[18](https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/lifestyle/interviews/item/7327-interview-nolan-gerard-funk-i-would-love-to-film-something-in-dubrovnik-in-the-future)
Earlier in his career he was a spokesperson for Nickelodeon's "The Big Green Help" environmental campaign and publicly supported the charity Champions Against Bullying, and he received a Leo Award nomination in 2007 for his work on the Canadian youth series *renegadepress.com*.[10](https://www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com/)
## Recent work
Funk's credits in the 2020s include the films *Confession* (2022), *The Long Night* (2022), *Five Gold Rings* (2024), and *Raptus* (2025), and the upcoming film *Eternity*, in which he plays Calvin Wells.[5](https://www.fandango.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk-222981/film-credits) • [19](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-432090/filmographie/) Across his career he has accumulated more than 50 film and television credits since 2001.[20](https://www.archytele.com/person/nolan-gerard-funk)
## References
1. [Nolan Gerard Funk, Glee Wiki](https://glee.fandom.com/wiki/Nolan_Gerard_Funk)
2. [Nolan Gerard Funk, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk/)
3. [Funk, Doyle, Trimm, Hoty, Ephraim and Schwencke Join Roundabout's 'BYE BYE BIRDIE', BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Funk-Doyle-Trimm-Hoty-Ephraim-and-Schwencke-Join-Roundabouts-BIRDIE-20090528)
4. [Nolan Gerard Funk, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/3626/nolan-gerard-funk)
5. [Nolan Gerard Funk Filmography and Movies, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/nolan-gerard-funk-222981/film-credits)
6. [Nolan Gerard Funk, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289173/)
7. [Nolan Gerard Funk : Sa biographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-432090/biographie/)
8. [Seventeen Interviews Spectacular Star Nolan Funk!, Seventeen](https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/reviews/a3616/spectacular-nolan-funk/)
9. [Just Jared Spotlight presents Nolan Funk, Just Jared](https://www.justjared.com/video/2595429/)
10. [Bye Bye Birdie On Broadway](https://www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com/)
11. ['Bye Bye Birdie' leaving Broadway nest, UPI](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2009/12/03/Bye-Bye-Birdie-leaving-Broadway-nest/42901259855637/)
12. [Bye Bye Birdie, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/bye-bye-birdie-5-61366/)
13. [Awkward Interview: Nolan Gerard Funk On Being The New Kid In School, She Said Media Said](https://shesaidmediasaid.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/awkward-interview-nolan-gerard-funk-on-being-the-new-kid-in-school/)
14. [Nolan Gerard Funk, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/nolan-gerard-funk/)
15. [Nolan Gerard Funk Joins the Cool Kids, Interview Magazine](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/nolan-gerard-funk-the-canyons)
16. [Interview: Nolan Gerard Funk on His Character in 'Hello, Again', StageBuddy](https://stagebuddy.com/film/interview-nolan-gerard-funk-character-hello-loves-going-genre-genre)
17. [Nolan Gerard Funk, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nolan-funk)
18. [Interview: Nolan Gerard Funk, The Dubrovnik Times](https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/lifestyle/interviews/item/7327-interview-nolan-gerard-funk-i-would-love-to-film-something-in-dubrovnik-in-the-future)
19. [Nolan Gerard Funk : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-432090/filmographie/)
20. [Nolan Gerard Funk: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/nolan-gerard-funk)
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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 › Canadian actors › Surnames Cr to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: 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