Will Chase
A versatile Broadway leading man with a powerhouse voice who transitioned seamlessly into playing a country music star on network television.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American actor and singer·Birthday: September 12·Generation X
Biography
Will Chase built a career on magnetic presence and a soaring tenor voice, becoming a reliable star in the demanding world of Broadway. He first turned heads as Roger in the final cast of 'Rent,' a role that showcased his rock edge. This led to a string of classic leading man parts, from the ambitious journalist in 'The Full Monty' to the charismatic Billy Flynn in 'Chicago.' His breakthrough into wider recognition came with the ABC drama 'Nashville,' where he didn't just act but fully embodied country superstar Luke Wheeler, performing original songs that cracked the Billboard charts. Chase has consistently moved between stage and screen, bringing a grounded intensity to every role, whether he's navigating Shakespeare in the Park or directing for the stage himself.
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.
Will was born in 1970, 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 Will Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Will's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
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
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
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
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as country music star Luke Wheeler for multiple seasons on the hit ABC television series 'Nashville.'
- Played the lead role of Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway revival of 'Chicago.'
- Originated the role of Roger Davis in the final Broadway company of the musical 'Rent.'
- Performed as Sir Galahad in the 2023 Broadway revival of 'Monty Python's Spamalot.'
Did You Know?
He performed the song "When the Right One Comes Along" on 'Nashville,' which charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.
He is a trained opera singer and studied at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
He played a recurring role on the TV series 'Smash' as Michael Swift, the ex-husband of Debra Messing's character.
He is married to actress and singer Lori Holmes.
“The stage demands truth, even when you're singing someone else's words.”
