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8->''"You have out-gayed me, Barrowman!"''
9-->--'''Simon Amstell''', ''Series/NeverMindTheBuzzcocks''
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11[[Film/SharkAttack3Megalodon He's really wired]].
12
13John Barrowman, MBE, was born on 11 March 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland (no, he's not to our knowledge a ViolentGlaswegian). His family moved to [[UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Aurora, Illinois]] when he was 8 and his father was relocated there by Caterpillar. He picked up an American accent to avoid the bullying 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 [[TheMusical Musical Theatre]] actor/singer (there's an official recording of him as Raoul de Chagny in ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' available); in 1998 he received an Olivier Award nomination for playing Calvin Chandler in ''Theatre/TheFix'' (he lost to co-star Philip Quast). He also presented UK kids' TV show ''Series/LiveAndKicking''. He had several minor TV and film roles, including {{Soap Opera}}s such as ''Series/CentralParkWest'' and ''[=Titans=]''. He also appeared in the [[SoBadItsGood laughably terrible]] movie ''Film/SharkAttack3Megalodon'', in which he uttered the infamous [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1XOfHax6Q8 "line"]] (not safe for work!).
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15His biggest break was landing the role of Captain Jack Harkness in the revival of one of his favorite childhood shows, ''Series/DoctorWho''. This character, an [[ExtremeOmnisexual omnisexual]] time-traveling con-man, was so popular he got his own show, ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. He's also popped back to ''Doctor Who'' for the end of the third series, the fourth series finale, a cameo in David Tennant's final episode, the 50th anniversary comedy special ''Recap/TheFiveishDoctorsReboot'', an [[Recap/DoctorWhoS38E5FugitiveOfTheJudoon episode]] of the twelfth series, and in the 2021 New Year's special.
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17He has been a judge for three {{Talent Show}}s (''How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'', ''Any Dream Will Do'' and ''I'd Do Anything'') looking for new [[TheMusical Musical Theater]] stars. According to Denise Van Outen, he went skinny dipping in Creator/AndrewLloydWebber's swimming pool. 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.
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19In 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 ''Series/HotelBabylon'', where he played a Hollywood producer.
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21In 2010, he had a part on ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' as Patrick, a Neo-Terrorist, who had a rather "explosive" end. In 2012, he appeared in the ComicBook/GreenArrow adaptation ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' in a recurring role as Malcolm Merlyn, the Dark Archer and leader of the Undertaking. He continues to appear on the show and [[Series/LegendsOfTomorrow its]] [[Series/TheFlash2014 spinoffs]], ping-ponging between omnipresent Big Bad and AntiVillain.
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23He's released several [=CDs=], mostly of Broadway standards. He also has two autobiographical books out: ''Anything Goes'' and ''I Am What I Am'', alongside working in fiction with his sister Carole, a Torchwood novel called ''Exodus Code'', three Torchwood graphic novels, and a children's series called ''Hollow Earth.''
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25He's openly gay, though he acknowledges women can be attractive (even if he dislikes the idea of sex with them)[[note]]In his memoir ''Anything Goes'', he remarks that a female college friend of his was "absolutely gorgeous", then in a footnote says, "I'm gay, not blind."[[/note]]. He and his long-term partner Scott Gill were joined in a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_partnerships_in_the_United_Kingdom civil partnership]] on 27 December 2006 and got married in the state of California on 2 July 2013. Barrowman has stated that he took one look at Scott and [[LoveAtFirstSight knew he was the one]]. He was actually considered for the role of Will from ''Series/WillAndGrace'', but since RealityIsUnrealistic, he wasn't considered "[[StereotypeGay gay enough]]" by producers and the role was given to a straight actor.
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27His appeal has reached the level of internet memes, both as a sex symbol and in original flavor. Thanks to an appearance by Creator/DavidTennant on ''Series/NeverMindTheBuzzcocks'', it's become standard procedure for Whovians to blame any random thing that's bothering them on BARROWMAN! *shakes fist*
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29He used to have a dog called Tegan (after a companion of the Fifth Doctor), and he currently has a dog named Captain Jack.
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31Barrowman has run into slight difficulties in the "Me Too" era as he previously was known for occasionally humorously exposing himself on set as a prank, but for a time escaped serious backlash due to the last incident being over a decade ago and none were meant in a sexual context. However, after the exposure of fellow ''Who'' star [[Creator/NoelClarke Noel Clarke's]] sexual misconducts in 2021, Barrowman faced renewed scrutiny that ultimately saw Creator/TheBBC distance themselves from the actor and Captain Jack as a whole, cancelling various tie-in media meant to feature him.
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33----
34!!Tropes associated with this actor include:
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36* GenreThrowback: In concert he's a throwback to the great "easy listening" showmen of the '60s, '70s, and '80s like Music/DeanMartin or Music/AndyWilliams.
37* OohMeAccentsSlipping: His natural Scottish accent is constantly competing with the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanAccents Midwestern Accent]] he developed from his time in the United States. It's especially noticeable in his intonations. He insists that both accents come equally natural to him and that the American is rarely ever “put on,” but its fairly common to hear his voice being indecisive. His appearance on ''Series/{{QI}}'' (Series R, Episode 1 "Rude") is a fine example (he mostly sounds American but his Scottish comes through at times).

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