Darren Criss Biography: Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies & TV Shows

Darren Everett Criss is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and musician celebrated for his versatile performances in television, film, and theater.

He rose to fame as Blaine Anderson on Fox’s Glee (2010–2015), earning an Emmy Award for his role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018).

Criss is also known for his Broadway performances, including starring roles in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015) and American Buffalo (2022), and for co-founding the theater company StarKid Productions.

Profile

• Full Name: Darren Everett Criss
• Stage Name: Darren Criss
• Born: February 5, 1987
• Age: 38 years old
• Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Singer-Songwriter, Musician
• Height: 1.73 m
• Parents: Cerina Bru, Charles William Criss
• Siblings: Charles “Chuck” Criss
• Spouse: Mia Swier (m. 2019)
• Children: Bluesy Belle Criss, Brother László Criss
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Darren Everett Criss, born on February 5, 1987, in San Francisco, California, grew up in a musically inclined household with his parents, Cerina Bru and Charles William Criss, and his older brother, Charles “Chuck” Criss.

Raised in the city’s culturally rich environment, he began performing at age 10, studying violin and appearing in local theater. Criss attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, graduating in 2005, and later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Michigan in 2009, where he co-founded StarKid Productions.

Of mixed Filipino, English, and Irish descent through his mother and father, respectively, Criss was raised Catholic.

Career

Darren Criss began his career in theater, co-founding StarKid Productions in 2009 while at the University of Michigan, where he starred in viral musicals like A Very Potter Musical. His breakout role came in 2010 when he joined Glee as Blaine Anderson, a charismatic Warbler whose romance with Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) became a cultural touchstone for LGBTQ+ representation.

His performance, including singing covers like “Teenage Dream,” earned him widespread recognition and a Teen Choice Award. Early roles also included guest spots on Cold Case (2009) and Eastwick (2009), showcasing his versatility.

Criss’s career expanded with his Broadway debut in 2012, replacing Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, followed by a critically acclaimed run as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2015. His portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018) won him an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award, marking a high point in his dramatic work.

He also starred in Hollywood (2020) on Netflix and appeared in films like Girl Most Likely (2012) and Midway (2019). As a musician, Criss released the EP Homework (2017) and formed the band Computer Games with his brother, releasing the album Lost Boys Life (2017).

In recent years, Criss has continued to balance theater, television, and music. He starred in American Buffalo on Broadway in 2022 alongside Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fishburne and joined Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! in 2024 as a standby for roles like Abraham Lincoln.

His 2023 single “Christmas Dance” and ongoing music projects reflect his creative drive. Criss’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, including his work with organizations like The Trevor Project, and his commitment to diverse storytelling have solidified his influence as a multifaceted artist with a lasting impact on stage and screen.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @darrencriss
• Facebook Handle: Darren Criss
• Twitter Handle: @DarrenCriss

Personal Life

Darren Criss married Mia Swier, a musician and television producer, on February 16, 2019, in New Orleans after dating since 2010.

The couple welcomed their daughter, Bluesy Belle Criss, in April 2022, and their son, Brother László Criss, in June 2024.

Filmography

• Cold Case (2009) – Guest Role
• Eastwick (2009) – Josh Burton
• Glee (2010–2015) – Blaine Anderson
• Girl Most Likely (2012) – Lee
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) – Sutemaru (Voice, English Dub)
• The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018) – Andrew Cunanan
• Midway (2019) – Lieutenant Eugene Lindsey
• Hollywood (2020) – Raymond Ainsley
• Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) – The Caretaker
• American Buffalo (2022) – Bobby (Broadway Play)
• Oh, Mary! (2024) – Standby for Abraham Lincoln and others (Broadway Play)

Discography

• A Very Potter Musical (2009) – StarKid Productions, Soundtrack
• Human (2010) – EP
• Homework (2017) – EP
• Lost Boys Life (2017) – Computer Games, Album
• “Christmas Dance” (2023) – Single

Net Worth

Darren Criss’s estimated net worth is approximately $5 million USD, derived from his extensive work as an actor in Glee, American Crime Story, and Hollywood, as well as his Broadway performances in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Buffalo.

Additional income comes from his music career, including solo EPs, Computer Games, and StarKid Productions’ viral musicals.