Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer is an American actor and author who came to national prominence playing Kurt Hummel — the show choir's out gay tenor — on Glee (2009), a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2011. Openly gay from early in the show's run, Colfer became a role model for queer youth as Kurt's coming-out arc, his relationship with Blaine, and his navigation of bullying and family acceptance became some of the most emotionally resonant LGBTQ+ storylines in mainstream US teen television. He also wrote and starred in the film Struck by Lightning (2012), and his Land of Stories fantasy series for young readers became a New York Times bestseller, extending his reach to a generation of young fans. Colfer has spoken frequently about the letters he receives from LGBTQ+ youth and the responsibility he feels toward that audience.