Matthew Morrison
A Broadway song-and-dance man who brought his triple-threat talents to television, inspiring a generation as the heart of the hit series 'Glee'.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American actor, dancer, and singer·Birthday: October 30·Generation X
Biography
Long before he became Mr. Schue, Matthew Morrison was honing his craft in the demanding world of New York theater. His Broadway breakthrough came with the role of Link Larkin in 'Hairspray,' showcasing his charismatic voice and precise dance moves. He earned a Tony nomination for his leading role in 'The Light in the Piazza,' proving his depth in more dramatic musical fare. Television fame arrived globally in 2009 when he was cast as Will Schuester, the earnest and sometimes cringeworthy Spanish teacher and glee club director on 'Glee.' For six seasons, Morrison anchored the show, his performance blending mentorship, vulnerability, and show-stopping musical numbers. His career, which also includes film work and solo music albums, remains rooted in a performer's love for the live stage, even as his face became familiar in living rooms worldwide.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role in 'The Light in the Piazza'.
- Starred as Will Schuester for all six seasons of the globally successful television series 'Glee'.
- Originated the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway production of 'Hairspray'.
- Released a self-titled solo pop album in 2011, which charted in several countries.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the boy band LMNT in the early 2000s before it was famous.
He performed for U.S. troops overseas in 2004 with the USO.
He attended the same high school as actor Chad Michael Murray.
He made his Broadway debut in the chorus of 'Footloose' in 1998.
““I'm a song and dance man, that's what I do.””
