"Ladies, your viewing figures just went up!"
He's really wired.
John Barrowman was born March 11th, 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland (no, he's not to our knowledge a
Violent Glaswegian). His family moved to Aurora, Illinois when he was 8, and his father was relocated there by Caterpillar. He picked up an American accent to avoid the torment other kids were leveling at him. Went to Joliet West High School as a teen where he performed in many school productions. Made his name as a
Musical Theatre actor/singer (there's an official recording of him as Raoul de Chagny in
The Phantom of the Opera available); in 1998 he received an Olivier Award nomination for playing Calvin Chandler in
The Fix (he lost to co-star Philip Quast). He also presented UK kids' TV show
Live And Kicking. He had several minor TV and film roles, including
Soap Operas such as
Central Park West and
Titans. He also appeared in the
laughably terrible movie
Shark Attack 3: Megalodon, in which he uttered the infamous "
line
" (not safe for work!).
His biggest break was landing the role of Capt. Jack Harkness in the revival of one of his favorite childhood shows,
Doctor Who. This character, an
omnisexual time traveling con-man, was so popular he got his own show,
Torchwood. He's also popped back to
Doctor Who for the end of the third series and for the fourth series finale, as well as a cameo in David Tennant's final episode.
He was also a judge for three
Talent Shows (
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?,
Any Dream Will Do and
I'd Do Anything) looking for new
Musical Theater stars. According to Denise Van Outen, he went skinny dipping in
Andrew Lloyd Webber's swimming pool.
He has a penchant for getting a certain organ out in front of his co-stars. About the only person he hasn't (successfully) done it to is
Lis Sladen. He
apologised
to the UK for doing so during a live radio broadcast. There was a webcam, although said bit was not shown on-line.
He also took part in a talent show as a contestant - ITV's
Dancing On Ice, series 1; he was voted off surprisingly early and many feel he was robbed.
In 2008, his helming of the quiz show
The Kids Are All Right at around the same time he was on
Doctor Who,
Torchwood and
I'd Do Anything, as well as his tendency to pop up in a lot of other places have led to "theories" of an army of Barrowman clones running around.
Also in 2008, he featured in
Hotel Babylon, where he played a Hollywood producer.
In 2010, he had a part on
Desperate Housewives as Patrick, a Neo-Terrorist. Just... don't expect him back.
He was blown-up. Hard to come back from that. Then again...In 2012, he's appearing in the
Green Arrow tv show
Arrow as the
Big Bad, Malcolm
Merlyn, the Dark Archer and leader of the evil organisation Oliver is trying to take down.He's released several CDs, mostly of Broadway standards. He also has two autobiographical books out:
Anything Goes and
I Am What I Am.
He's openly gay, though he acknowledges women can be attractive (even if he dislikes the idea of sex with them). He and his long term partner Scott Gill were joined in a
civil partnership
on December 27, 2006. (Incidentally, Barrowman has stated that he took one look at Scott and
knew he was the one.)
He was actually considered for the role of Will from
Will and Grace, but since
Reality Is Unrealistic, he wasn't considered "
gay enough" by producers and the role was given to a straight actor.
His appeal has reached the level of internet memes, both as a
Memetic Sex God and in original flavor. Thanks to an appearance by
David Tennant on "
Never Mind the Buzzcocks," it's become standard procedure for Whovians to blame any random thing that's bothering them on BARROWMAN! *shakes fist*
He used to have a dog called Tegan (after a companion of the Fifth Doctor), and he currently has a dog named Captain Jack.
Tropes He Personifies:
- Camp Gay
- Chivalrous Pervert: His... abruptness
with fans at conventions is legendary, and he's been happily together with his partner for over 20 years. - Even the Guys Want Him: Exhibit A: If you look closely, you can see the exact moment a man becomes gay for Barrowman.

- Everything's Better With Sequins
- Fake American: Somewhat. He was born and spent the early part of his life in Scotland but moved to the U.S. when he was young and speaks in a fluent American accent. However he has said he does have a Scottish accent that he uses around his family and which he has demonstrated in interviews. (During one interview
when his sister Carole came on and they began talking together, they both lost their American accents in a matter of seconds.) - Genre Throwback: In concert he's a throwback to the great "easy listening" showmen of the '60s, '70s, and '80s like Dean Martin or Andy Williams — WITH SHOWTUNES!
- Intergenerational Friendship : According his Twitter feed, he spends most of his time on the Arrow set with younger actors such as Willa Holland, Colton Haynes, Emily Bett Rickards
and Colin Donnell to name a few. - Keet: Ticks just about every box on the list (the one possible exception being "small" seeing as he's over six feet tall.) Watch his reaction when co-star Carol Burnett's skirt falls down during a rehearsal.

- Mr. Fanservice: The picture on this page says it all.
- Older Than They Look: That fanservice shot in the top left corner? He was 38 when that was taken.
- One of Us: Exhibit A:
He has, in his possession, the Dalek that shot him in "The Parting of the Ways." He keeps it in his front hall to greet people who enter his home. He also had Nicholas Briggs record new (and more Barrowman-ish) phrases to greet people when they walk by.- He also enjoys working conventions because it gives him a chance to add to his massive t-shirt collection.
- Opposites Attract: Barrowman's partner Scott is apparently quiet, bookish, and introverted. They've been together for nearly twenty years.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Observe.
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