Tituss Burgess
Burgess in 2008
Born (1979-02-21) February 21, 1979
Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Georgia (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2005–present
Known for

Tituss Burgess (born February 21, 1979)[1] is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in several Broadway musicals and is known for his high tenor voice. He is best known for starring as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020), for which he received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He was also featured in Schmigadoon! (2023).

On the Broadway stage, Burgess originated the role of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid and played the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls. In 2023, he played the role of Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge![2]

Personal life

Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Burgess attended Cedar Shoals High School where he was active in the theatre program. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Art degree in music.[3][4] [5] Burgess is openly gay. [6]

Career

2005–2014: Broadway debut

Burgess made his Broadway debut in the musical Good Vibrations as Eddie in 2005, and then appeared in Jersey Boys in 2005 as Hal Miller. Burgess originated the role of Sebastian the Crab in the Broadway musical The Little Mermaid in 2007 opposite Sierra Boggess, Sean Palmer, and Norm Lewis. Burgess portrayed Nicely-Nicely Johnson, traditionally played by a white actor, in the revival of Guys and Dolls in 2009. He has also performed in several regional theater productions, including The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Burgess performed at the "Broadway for Obama" benefit concert at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, Pennsylvania on October 20, 2008.[7] He performed at the "Broadway After Dark" benefit concert on October 26, 2008, in New York City,[8] and in a solo concert at Birdland in New York City on July 27, 2009.[9]

In July 2009, he was a performer on the R Family Vacations Summer Cruise.[10] Three months later, he was featured on an episode of the popular web show The Battery's Down. He appeared in Season 5 of 30 Rock as D'Fwan, a member of Tracy Jordan's wife's entourage. He reprised the role in Season 6. He was cast as The Caterpillar in the 2011 Broadway musical Wonderland in October 2010. A month later he dropped out of the project.[11]

In March 2013, Burgess performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising concert Broadway Backwards.[12] He was cast as The Witch, a role traditionally played by a female, in Into the Woods in a 2015 production by DreamCatcher Theatre, presented in Miami's Carnival Studio Theater at the Adrienne Arsht Center.[13]

2015–2019: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

On March 6, 2015, Netflix released the first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt which stars Burgess in a main role as Titus Andromedon, Kimmy's roommate. He received universal acclaim for his performance, with The New York Times saying the role was "tailor-made" for him.[14][15] For his performance in the first season, he received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2015 Critics' Choice Television Awards and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2015 ceremony.

In June 2016, Burgess and Norm Lewis reprised their roles of Sebastian the Crab and King Triton in the Hollywood Bowl concert event of The Little Mermaid opposite Sara Bareilles, Rebel Wilson, and Darren Criss.[16] He also took a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie (2016). He also was a guest star judge in the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2017). He also took guest roles in Miracle Workers (2019) and The Good Fight (2019).

2020–present: Return to Broadway

Since May 2020, he has starred in the musical cartoon series Central Park as Cole Tillerman, with Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn and Stanley Tucci.[17] Burgess starred as Remy in a benefit concert presentation of Ratatouille the Musical, an internet meme that originated on TikTok, inspired by the 2007 Disney/Pixar film. It streamed on TodayTix on January 1, 2021.[18] On December 2, 2021, he played Rooster Hannigan in the NBC special Annie Live!.[19]

In 2023, he played the Narrator in the second season of the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon!. From October 10 to December 17, 2023, he returned to Broadway in Moulin Rouge! as Harold Zidler.

Theatre credits

DateTitleRoleVenue/Location
October 31, 2003 – February 8, 2004La Cage aux FollesJacobDowntown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport, CT
October 5, 2004 – January 16, 2005Jersey BoysBarry Belson/Hal Miller/EnsembleLa Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA
February 2 – April 24, 2005Good VibrationsEddieEugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway
November 6, 2005 – July 31, 2006Jersey BoysBarry Belson/Hal Miller/EnsembleAugust Wilson Theatre, Broadway
September 26 – November 26, 2006The WizThe Lion La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA
July 26 – September 9, 2007The Little MermaidSebastian the CrabDenver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver, CO
November 3, 2007 – December 7, 2008Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway
March 1 – June 14, 2009Guys and DollsNicely-Nicely JohnsonNederlander Theatre, Broadway
December 8–30, 2012A Wind in the Willows ChristmasMr. ToadTwo River Theater, Red Bank, NJ
January 22, 2015 – February 15, 2015Into the WoodsThe WitchArsht Center, Miami, FL
June 3–6, 2016The Little MermaidSebastian the CrabHollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
January 1, 2021Ratatouille the MusicalRemyOnline Benefit Concert
December 2, 2021AnnieRooster HanniganGold Coast Studios, Bethpage, NY
October 10 – December 17, 2023Moulin Rouge!Harold ZidlerAl Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Are You Joking?Hank Trenton
2016The Angry Birds MoviePhotog (voice)
CatfightJohn
2018Set It UpCreepy Tim
Then Came YouJulian
2019I Hate KidsThe Amazing Fabular
Dolemite Is My NameTheodore Toney
The Addams FamilyGlenn (voice)
2021RespectJames Cleveland
Hot Mess HolidayHimself
2023The Slumber PartyMesmer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Schoolhouse RockNarratorEpisode: "The Rainforest" (Earth Rock series)
The Battery's DownMr. Z2 episodes
2011A Gifted ManLarry the GuardEpisode: "In Case of Discomfort"
2011–201230 RockD'Fwan4 episodes
2012Blue BloodsPriestEpisode: "The Life We Chose"
2013Royal PainsKristoffEpisode: "Bones to Pick"
2015–2019Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtTitus AndromedonSeries regular, 52 episodes (seasons 1-4)
2016Match GameHimselfRegular panelist
2016–2018Elena of AvalorCharoca (voice)2 episodes
2017Julie's GreenroomHimselfEpisode: "Costumer Service"
RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsHimself (Guest Judge)Episode: "Pop Art Ball"
2019Miracle WorkersGod's brotherEpisode: "1 Day"
The Good FightWade V.Episode: "The One with the Celebrity Divorce"
2020Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the ReverendTitus AndromedonNetflix television movie
DishmantledHimself (host)10 episodes
Sing On!Himself (host)Series regular
2020–presentCentral ParkCole Tillerman, Kelleth Vanbeaceler (voices)Series regular
2021Annie Live!Rooster HanniganTelevision special
Name That TuneHimselfGuest
2022TeletubbiesNarratorSeries regular (2022 Netflix reboot)
Name That TuneHimselfGuest
2023Schmigadoon!NarratorSeason Two Regular
The Wonder YearsLonnieEpisode: "One Small Step"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Grand Theft Auto VBob Mulét Credited under "The Local Population." Notable voice appearance in WCTR program, "Chakra Attack," as the "Potato Water Guy" in the coconut water discussion.

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
2008 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical The Little Mermaid Nominated
2015 Webby Award Best Actor Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Won
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Gold Derby TV Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Won
Dorian Award TV Performance of the Year, Actor Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2016 Nominated [20]
2017 Nominated
2018 Nominated
2018 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend Nominated
2021 Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Central Park: A Fish Called Snakehead Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Tituss Burgess". Playbill Vault. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Tituss Burgess – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  3. ↑ "Alumni Spotlight: Tituss Burgess (AB '01)". UGA Alumni Association. February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bullseye With Jesse Thorn: Titus Burgess". February 1, 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Tituss Burgess Airs His Laundry | Death, Sex & Money". Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  6. ↑ Davies, Hannah J. (May 15, 2020). "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Tituss Burgess: 'I'm the most boring of the rainbow of gay men'". The Guardian.
  7. ↑ Gans, Andrew (October 8, 2008). "Broadway for Obama Concert to Feature Lopez, Burgess, Hicks, Dixon and More". playbill.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Gans, Andrew (October 26, 2008). "Broadway After Dark Features Braxton, Burgess, Dandridge, Sengbloh and More Oct. 26". playbill.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012.
  9. ↑ Gans, Andrew (June 19, 2009). "Guys and Dolls' Burgess to Play Birdland in July". playbill.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew (July 11, 2009). "All Aboard!: R Family Vacations Summer Cruise, with McArdle, Burgess, Jackson, Departs July 11". playbill.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Caterpillar Change-Up in Wonderland: E. Clayton Cornelious Replaces Tituss Burgess in New Musical". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  12. ↑ "And I Am Telling You..." Tituss Burgess – 2013 Broadway Backwards. YouTube. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Tituss Burgess Will Be The Witch in Miami Into the Woods; Sondheim Gives Blessing". Playbill. January 6, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  14. ↑ Drumming, Neil (March 20, 2015). "Tituss Burgess on a Role Tailor-Made for Him on 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  15. ↑ Martin, Michael (March 4, 2015). "Why Tituss Burgess Makes Tina Fey Laugh". Out. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ LEASE EVENT: Disney's The Little Mermaid in Concert Archived April 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, hollywoodbowl.com; accessed December 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ Central Park (Animation, Comedy, Musical), Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn, 20th Century Fox Television, Angry Child Productions, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, May 29, 2020, archived from the original on November 1, 2020, retrieved October 28, 2020{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ↑ "'Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical' All-Star Cast to Include Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess & Adam Lambert". December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 11, 2021). "Tituss Burgess Joins Cast Of NBC's 'Annie Live!' Musical Event". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  20. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (January 12, 2016). "'Carol' Earns Multiple Mentions as Dorian Award Nominees Are Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
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