Darren Criss

With a little help from the Internet and a lot of natural-born talent, Darren Criss went from acting in college theater productions to appearing on one of the most acclaimed shows on television, "Glee" (Fox, 2009-15). Criss first gained prominence after starring in the University of Michigan theater production "A Very Potter Musical" (2009), where he played iconic character Harry Potter. The multitalented Criss also wrote songs for the production, which became a viral hit after it was posted on YouTube that same year. The success of "A Very Potter Musical" and its sequel on the Internet launched Criss' acting career. In 2010, Criss joined the cast of "Glee" as a charismatic and confident show choir vocalist, who also happened to be an openly gay high school student. Criss covered Katy Perry's 2010 single "Teenage Dream" in his first appearance and saw his version of the track skyrocket to the top of the music charts following the episode's airing. His role model character also struck a chord with "Glee's" sizeable audience while launching Criss' career as a versatile and in-demand star for various entertainment platforms.