# Tituss Burgess
**Tituss Burgess** (born 1979) is an American actor and singer known for his high tenor voice, his origin of the role of Sebastian in Broadway's *The Little Mermaid*, and his Emmy-nominated performance as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix comedy *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) He spells his name with a double s, a distinction he has noted himself, since his most famous character, Titus Andromedon, carries only one.[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Athens, Georgia[3](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) |
| Voice | Tenor with a range spanning nearly four octaves; he describes his upper register as "probably more closely related to that of a woman"[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty) • [2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt) |
| Broadway debut | Eddie in *Good Vibrations*, 2005[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) |
| Signature TV role | Titus Andromedon on *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015–2019); four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) |
| Emmy total | Six nominations, including Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for Cole Tillerman in *Central Park* (2021)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) |
| Other stage leads | Harold Zidler in *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* (2023) and Mary Todd Lincoln in *Oh, Mary!* (2025)[3](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess) |
| Current | Clarence in *It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play*, Broadhurst Theatre, November 4, 2026 to January 3, 2027[5](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/tituss-burgess) |
## Early life and Broadway career
Burgess grew up in [Athens, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/athens-georgia), where he was directing the choir at the Baptist church his family attended at age 11.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty) He has described music as his entry into the entertainment industry, recalling that as a child choir director, "when you're out of tune, you're out of tune."[6](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/stories/tituss-burgess) After college and a stint at Disney World, he moved to New York in pursuit of a Broadway career.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/news/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/)
**Stage roles.** He made his Broadway debut as Eddie in *Good Vibrations* in 2005 and appeared the same year as Hal Miller in *Jersey Boys*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) He originated Sebastian the Crab in *The Little Mermaid*, which ran on Broadway from November 2007 to December 2008.[3](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess) In the 2009 revival of *Guys and Dolls* he played Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a role the Television Academy notes had traditionally been played by a white actor.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) In a Backstage interview he described Nicely-Nicely's showstopper "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" as a tougher assignment than leading the aquatic chorus of "Under the Sea," because he sings nothing else in that style during the show; he prepared with warm-up routines designed to trick his body into thinking he had already been performing.[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/spotlight-music-singing-64982/)
## Television breakthrough
Burgess first reached television audiences on [Tina Fey](https://www.edgepedia.org/tina-fey)'s NBC sitcom *30 Rock*, playing D'Fwan, a flamboyant hairdresser in the parody reality-within-the-show *Queen of Jordan*.[9](https://encorespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Home-Holidays-2015-Seattle-Mens-Chorus-Encore.pdf) What began as a one-line part grew into a four-episode role, and Fey and Robert Carlock then created the character Titus Andromedon for him on their next series, *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*.[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt) The show, created by Fey and Carlock and starring [Ellie Kemper](https://www.edgepedia.org/ellie-kemper), Jane Krakowski, Carol Kane, and Burgess, premiered on Netflix on March 6, 2015.[9](https://encorespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Home-Holidays-2015-Seattle-Mens-Chorus-Encore.pdf)
As Kimmy's gay, frustrated-actor roommate, Burgess became the series' breakout performer. His original song "Peeno Noir," a self-styled music video from the first season, became a viral hit.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty) He received four consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, won a Webby Award in 2015, and earned a Critics' Choice nomination in the same category.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) • [2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt) • [9](https://encorespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Home-Holidays-2015-Seattle-Mens-Chorus-Encore.pdf) He reprised the role in the 2020 interactive special *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend*, earning a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.[10](https://www.dgepress.com/disneybrandedtelevision/bios/tituss-burgess/)
The character's musical numbers drew directly on Burgess's own abilities. Composer [Jeff Richmond](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-richmond), who also scored *30 Rock*, would bring him ideas on paper, and Burgess says he co-wrote many of the melodies and weighed in on how campy or restrained each number should be.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty) The third season's parody of Beyoncé's *Lemonade*, in which Titus performs "Hot White Christmas"-style visual homages, was widely covered as one of the show's signature moments.[11](https://time.com/4669074/kimmy-schmidt-3-trailer/)
Burgess has been explicit that he is not his character. "People don't believe it, but I'm much more of an introvert than Titus is," he told *emmy* magazine, adding that summoning the character's energy all day is exhausting.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty)
## Voice work and screen roles
Burgess voices Cole Tillerman in the Apple TV+ animated musical comedy *[Central Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-park-tv-series)*, a performance that brought his sixth Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in 2021.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess) • [10](https://www.dgepress.com/disneybrandedtelevision/bios/tituss-burgess/) His film work includes the Netflix films *Set It Up* and *Dolemite Is My Name*, and the [Aretha Franklin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aretha-franklin) biopic *Respect*; he voiced Sunny, Oracle of the Sun, in Netflix's animated musical *[Spellbound](https://www.edgepedia.org/spellbound-2024-film)* (2024).[10](https://www.dgepress.com/disneybrandedtelevision/bios/tituss-burgess/) On television he has appeared as the Narrator in season two of *Schmigadoon!*, as Rooster Hannigan in *Annie Live!*, and in guest roles including God's Brother in *Miracle Workers* and Wade V in *The Good Fight*.[12](https://www.metacritic.com/person/tituss-burgess/) • [10](https://www.dgepress.com/disneybrandedtelevision/bios/tituss-burgess/)
## Return to Broadway
Burgess rejoined *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* on Broadway as Harold Zidler from October 10 to December 17, 2023.[3](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess) In 2025 he took over the title role of [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-todd-lincoln) in *Oh, Mary!* for a limited engagement from March 18 to April 6, and returned for a second run from June 23 to August 2.[3](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess) • [13](https://shubert.nyc/press/six-time-emmy-nominee-tituss-burgess-to-join-oh-mary/) Next he stars as Clarence in *It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play*, directed by Jerry Zaks, at the Broadhurst Theatre, with previews beginning November 4, 2026 and the nine-week engagement running through January 3, 2027.[5](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/tituss-burgess) • [14](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207753/andrew-rannells-megan-hilty-and-tituss-burgess-to-star-in-broadways-its-a-wonderful-life-a-live-radio-play/)
## Voice and artistry
Burgess's vocal range spans nearly four octaves, and he can also reach a low A, lower still, he says, "in the morning, or if I'm sick."[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt) His vocal hero is the soprano [Renée Fleming](https://www.edgepedia.org/renee-fleming); he counts among his life highlights singing for her and then walking her through his technique when she asked, "How do you produce that noise?"[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt) He has credited a voice teacher who is first a speech pathologist with revolutionizing his approach to technique and vocal health.[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/spotlight-music-singing-64982/)
He has also used his platform to advocate for representation. Speaking on a 2015 Advertising Week panel, he recalled the director of *The Little Mermaid* telling him he had insisted Disney cast actors of all races because a fictional underwater story had no reason to be "lily white," and said that seeing a character like Titus Andromedon growing up would have left him "really scared or really inspired."[15](https://time.com/4054308/uzo-aduba-tituss-burgess-dascha-polanco-diversity-television/) He remains spiritually active at Middle Collegiate Church in Manhattan's East Village and recorded an album to support the church's justice work.[16](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/is-tituss-burgess-like-his-meme-able-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-character-well-yes-and-no/2017/07/18/1d6474f6-6713-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html)
## References
1. [Tituss Burgess, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tituss-burgess)
2. [Tituss Burgess on His Vocal Hero, His Bespoke Pinot Noir, and Why He Shaves His Head, Vanity Fair (April 14, 2016)](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt)
3. [Tituss Burgess (Performer), Playbill](https://playbill.com/person/tituss-burgess)
4. [The High and The Mighty, Television Academy Features (August 8, 2017)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/high-and-mighty)
5. [Tituss Burgess On Stage, New York Theatre Guide](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/tituss-burgess)
6. ['Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' star Tituss Burgess creates new music at home, KCRW Press Play (May 18, 2020)](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/stories/tituss-burgess)
7. [Meet Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's "Peeno Noir" Superstar, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/tituss-burgess-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/)
8. [Spotlight on Music and Singing, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/spotlight-music-singing-64982/)
9. [TITUSS BURGESS, Encore Spotlight (Seattle Men's Chorus program)](https://encorespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Home-Holidays-2015-Seattle-Mens-Chorus-Encore.pdf)
10. [Tituss Burgess, Disney Branded Television Press bio](https://www.dgepress.com/disneybrandedtelevision/bios/tituss-burgess/)
11. [Kimmy Schmidt Just Created the Most Hilarious Homage to Beyoncé, Time](https://time.com/4669074/kimmy-schmidt-3-trailer/)
12. [Tituss Burgess, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/tituss-burgess/)
13. [Six-Time Emmy-Nominee Tituss Burgess to Join OH, MARY!, Shubert Organization](https://shubert.nyc/press/six-time-emmy-nominee-tituss-burgess-to-join-oh-mary/)
14. [Andrew Rannells, Megan Hilty and Tituss Burgess to Star in Broadway's It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207753/andrew-rannells-megan-hilty-and-tituss-burgess-to-star-in-broadways-its-a-wonderful-life-a-live-radio-play/)
15. [Uzo Aduba: Orange Is the New Black Has Not Single-Handedly Solved TV's Diversity Problem, Time](https://time.com/4054308/uzo-aduba-tituss-burgess-dascha-polanco-diversity-television/)
16. [Is Tituss Burgess like his meme-able 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' character? Well, yes and no., The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/is-tituss-burgess-like-his-meme-able-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-character-well-yes-and-no/2017/07/18/1d6474f6-6713-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html)
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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 Bu to Ce*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license