Sam Harris(I)
- Writer
- Music Department
- Actor
Sam Harris' diversified career has run the gamut from actor on Broadway, film and television to writer, singer, songwriter, director, producer, and author.
Known as "the original American Idol," Sam pulled a weekly audience of more than 25 million viewers on the premiere season of "Star Search," winning the title, Grand Champion, and the hearts of America. Jimmy Fallon called Sam's performance of Over the Rainbow "One of the greatest performances ever on television. Ever!"
His debut album, "Sam Harris," and the follow-up, "Sam-I-Am" both reached platinum status. "Standard Time" and "Different Stages" (both produced and conducted by the legendary Peter Matz) have been listed on numerous "Top 100 Records of All Time" lists. Other albums include "The Best of the Motown Sessions," "Revival," "On this Night," "Always," and "Sam Harris Live! - The Best of Christmas." His album "Free" features "Change is on the Way," which was written for and utilized by the Barack Obama Campaign. he co-wrote the anthem "My Reclamation," which was penned in response to Proposition 8, demanding equal LGBTQ marriage rights, and the anti-bullying song, "Don't Yuk my Yum." He can also be heard on numerous guest artist and cast recordings. Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as one of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."
Sam has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre, London's West End, with the Boston Pops, and many philharmonics across the country.
On Broadway, Sam received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in Tommy Tune's "Grease" and a Drama-League Award as well as a Tony, Outer Critic's Circle, and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman's "The Life." He also appeared on Broadway in Mel Brooks' "The Producers," and in the Broadway National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Sam has also starred in such musicals as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cabaret," "Hair," "Pippin," "The First Wives Club," "The Jazz Singer," and the self-penned shows "Hard Copy," "Different Hats," and "Revival" as well as the smash hit one man show "Sam," which was the most critically-acclaimed show of the Los Angeles season. In New York, he and long-time friend Liza Minnelli mounted "Schmoolie & Minnooli" - a concert of duets celebrating their friendship and the songs they love.
Sam has appeared at The White House, on numerous television specials and live productions, and has guested on virtually every talk show, his favorite being when he performed a stirring "You'll Never Walk Alone" on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in the week following September 11th. Oprah said, "Sam could make Jesus walk through the door!"
Sam's chameleonic career took a new turn as the hilarious Perry Pearl on the CBS sitcom, The Class, winning a People's Choice Award and prompting columnist Liz Smith to call him "the comedy breakout character of the television season." He has guest-starred on various series, several films, and was given his own segment on television's EXTRA called "Six Degrees of Sam."
Behind the scenes, Sam co-wrote the sitcom, Down to Earth, which ran for 4 years on TNT, and the Los Angeles stage musical Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! (both with Bruce H. Newberg). He also co-produced the television special Love Letter to New York, supervised and directed segments of Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary at Madison Square Garden, wrote music for the award-winning film Little Man, and co-wrote Liza's at the Palace, which won the 2009 Tony Award. He created and directed the concert event, New York's Finest - Broadway's Leading Men to critical acclaim, and he is the co-creator/producer of The Stay Proud Project television series.
His autobiographical book "Ham: Slices of a Life" (Simon & Schuster) received raves across the board and was developed into the one-man musical "Ham: A Musical Memoir," which played to resounding success in New York and Los Angeles, winning three prestigious Ovation Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Musical Direction (for longtime colleague Todd Schroeder). HAM was then filmed as the Pasadena Playhouse, debuted in Laemmle Theatres, and is now in wide release on all streaming platforms.
His next book, this time literary fiction entitled "The Substance of All Things," has been praised by prominent book review publications and is in development to become a limited series.
Sam is married to successful businessman, Danny Jacobsen, and they are the proud fathers of Cooper Harris-Jacobsen.
Known as "the original American Idol," Sam pulled a weekly audience of more than 25 million viewers on the premiere season of "Star Search," winning the title, Grand Champion, and the hearts of America. Jimmy Fallon called Sam's performance of Over the Rainbow "One of the greatest performances ever on television. Ever!"
His debut album, "Sam Harris," and the follow-up, "Sam-I-Am" both reached platinum status. "Standard Time" and "Different Stages" (both produced and conducted by the legendary Peter Matz) have been listed on numerous "Top 100 Records of All Time" lists. Other albums include "The Best of the Motown Sessions," "Revival," "On this Night," "Always," and "Sam Harris Live! - The Best of Christmas." His album "Free" features "Change is on the Way," which was written for and utilized by the Barack Obama Campaign. he co-wrote the anthem "My Reclamation," which was penned in response to Proposition 8, demanding equal LGBTQ marriage rights, and the anti-bullying song, "Don't Yuk my Yum." He can also be heard on numerous guest artist and cast recordings. Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as one of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."
Sam has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre, London's West End, with the Boston Pops, and many philharmonics across the country.
On Broadway, Sam received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in Tommy Tune's "Grease" and a Drama-League Award as well as a Tony, Outer Critic's Circle, and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman's "The Life." He also appeared on Broadway in Mel Brooks' "The Producers," and in the Broadway National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Sam has also starred in such musicals as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cabaret," "Hair," "Pippin," "The First Wives Club," "The Jazz Singer," and the self-penned shows "Hard Copy," "Different Hats," and "Revival" as well as the smash hit one man show "Sam," which was the most critically-acclaimed show of the Los Angeles season. In New York, he and long-time friend Liza Minnelli mounted "Schmoolie & Minnooli" - a concert of duets celebrating their friendship and the songs they love.
Sam has appeared at The White House, on numerous television specials and live productions, and has guested on virtually every talk show, his favorite being when he performed a stirring "You'll Never Walk Alone" on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in the week following September 11th. Oprah said, "Sam could make Jesus walk through the door!"
Sam's chameleonic career took a new turn as the hilarious Perry Pearl on the CBS sitcom, The Class, winning a People's Choice Award and prompting columnist Liz Smith to call him "the comedy breakout character of the television season." He has guest-starred on various series, several films, and was given his own segment on television's EXTRA called "Six Degrees of Sam."
Behind the scenes, Sam co-wrote the sitcom, Down to Earth, which ran for 4 years on TNT, and the Los Angeles stage musical Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! (both with Bruce H. Newberg). He also co-produced the television special Love Letter to New York, supervised and directed segments of Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary at Madison Square Garden, wrote music for the award-winning film Little Man, and co-wrote Liza's at the Palace, which won the 2009 Tony Award. He created and directed the concert event, New York's Finest - Broadway's Leading Men to critical acclaim, and he is the co-creator/producer of The Stay Proud Project television series.
His autobiographical book "Ham: Slices of a Life" (Simon & Schuster) received raves across the board and was developed into the one-man musical "Ham: A Musical Memoir," which played to resounding success in New York and Los Angeles, winning three prestigious Ovation Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Musical Direction (for longtime colleague Todd Schroeder). HAM was then filmed as the Pasadena Playhouse, debuted in Laemmle Theatres, and is now in wide release on all streaming platforms.
His next book, this time literary fiction entitled "The Substance of All Things," has been praised by prominent book review publications and is in development to become a limited series.
Sam is married to successful businessman, Danny Jacobsen, and they are the proud fathers of Cooper Harris-Jacobsen.
