Corbin Bleu

Corbin Bleu Reivers (born February 21, 1989), known professionally as Corbin Bleu, is an American actor, model, dancer, film producer and singer-songwriter. He performed in the High School Musical film series, Songs from the films also charted worldwide, with the song "I Don't Dance" peaking inside the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, It was also named as the official theme song for the 2007 Little League World Series, and the Discovery Kids drama series Flight 29 Down, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In!. His first lead role was in the film Catch That Kid (2004).
Guest-starring roles include appearances on Hannah Montana, The Amanda Show, Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, Malcolm & Eddie, and The Good Wife. He appeared on the show Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and the movie Free Style (2008). In 2009 he was cast as up-and-coming model Isaac Taylor in The CW Television Network drama The Beautiful Life: TBL. He has also pursued a music career, and released his debut album Another Side on May 1, 2007, which included the single "Push It to the Limit". The album debuted at number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 18,000 copies in its first week. Bleu released his second album, Speed of Light, on March 10, 2009, in the U.S, The album spawned the singles "Celebrate You" and "Moments That Matter", which was released with a music video.
Bleu played Usnavi in the Broadway company of In the Heights. Bleu was considered as host for The X Factor USA, Fake Off. In 2012, he returned to Broadway in the revival of Godspell. On September 4, 2013, he was announced as a contestant on the 17th season of Dancing with the Stars. He partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. Corbin and his partner made it to the finals, but became the runners-up behind Amber Riley. In 2016 Bleu played Ted in the Broadway company of Holiday Inn.
He has contributed to many charities, including Starlight Children's Foundation, and Make-A-Wish Foundation, and served Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas Eve lunch at a Los Angeles homeless shelter in 2008.

Bleu was born in Brooklyn New York, the son of Martha (née Callari) and David Reivers (born 1958), an actor. His mother is Italian American and his father is Jamaican American. He has three sisters: Jag, Phoenix, and Hunter. As a child, Bleu studied dance for several years, focusing on ballet and jazz.

Bleu appeared in television commercials starting at the age of two, for products such as Life cereal, Bounty, Hasbro, and Nabisco. He began taking jazz and ballet classes, usually being the only boy in the class. By the age of four he was a model with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York. He appeared in print ads for stores such as Macy's, Gap, Target, and Toys R Us, and appeared in fashion spreads in Child, Parents, and American Baby magazines, as well as having his image on toys and game packaging. At age six Corbin appeared in his first professional theater production off Broadway, at The Town Hall. This three-concert series, created, written, and hosted by Scott Siegel, took place over one weekend and included a tribute to David Merrick. Corbin Bleu played an abandoned homeless mute in the play Tiny Tim is Dead.

Bleu graduated from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He trained in dancing at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. He attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York as a theater major, following in his mother's footsteps. Bleu presents an appealing combination of star quality and adolescent normality. He graduated from high school in 2007 and was admitted to Stanford University, but declined to matriculate because of scheduling commitments. As of 2007 he continued to live at home with his parents and three younger sisters.

1996–05: Early career

Bleu moved with his family from New York to Los Angeles in 1996. He worked steadily in episodic television and feature film roles, including a recurring role on the short-lived ABC police drama High Incident and a guest star appearance on ER. His feature films from this period include the Tim Allen comedy Galaxy Quest, the sci-fi thriller Soldier, and the comedy Mystery Men, which starred Ben Stiller, and the drama Family Tree. Bleu also had roles in Malcolm & Eddie (1998), as Matthew, and Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (2000), as Nick Elderby. He also had small role in television series like The Amanda Show. Additionally, Bleu was developing his dance skills and in 2001 began intensive training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in the Los Angeles area. There he undertook a full gamut of dance instruction, including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, African, break dance, salsa, flamenco, and ballroom. Allen, the famous choreographer who starred in the TV series Fame, told Dance Spirit magazine, "I think [Bleu] really has a career. Success is one thing, but a career is a much longer, broader journey."

Bleu in January 2006

Bleu attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, a magnet school like the New York High School for the Performing Arts, which was portrayed in the movie and television series Fame, and which Bleu's mother had attended. During his freshman year, he won his first sizable film role in the teen action caper Catch That Kid, alongside Kristen Stewart and Max Thieriot. A remake of a Danish movie in 2002, it revolved around a girl and her friends who decide to rob a bank after learning that money is needed to aid her dying father. While Kristen Stewart played the role of female protagonist Maddy Phillips, Bleu played the part of her friend Austin while Max Thieriot played the part of her other friend, Gus. Released in theatres on February 6, 2004, Catch That Kid was met with less-than-ideal reviews, many having criticized it for its lack of originality. Although it was a box office flop, having only grossed $10 million, it served as an important step for Bleu, who was still building his acting career at the time. During high school, he performed in such student productions as Footloose and Grease, winning the honor of Theatre Student of the Year.

In the summer of 2004 Bleu landed a starring role in the television series Flight 29 Down, alongside Allen Alvarado, Hallee Hirsh, Lauren Storm, Jeremy James Kissner, Johnny Pacar and Kristy Wu, which aired for three seasons on the Discovery Kids network. The program, a juvenile version of the ABC series Lost, concerned a group of teenagers stranded on a tropical island after their plane crashes. Bleu played as Nathan McHugh, a Boy Scout whose leadership skills do not quite measure up to his self-confidence.

2006–08: High School Musical and breakthrough

Bleu at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2007

Although popular with its young audience, the success of Flight 29 Down pales in comparison to Bleu's next television project the Disney Channel original films High School Musical. The youngest of the six lead actors who were catapulted to fame by the film, Bleu portrayed the basketball player Chad Danforth, who tries to persuade his teammate Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) to give up his interest in theater and focus on winning the basketball championship. High School Musical premiered on January 20, 2006; with an audience of 7.7 million television viewers, it was the Disney Channel's most successful TV movie up to that point. The film, which also starred Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Vanessa Hudgens, and Monique Coleman in pivotal roles, became a major success and helped Bleu gain recognition among teenage audiences. The film’s soundtrack was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He joined co-stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman on the 51-date High School Musical: The Concert. Following to the worldwide success of High School Musical 2 Bleu reprised his role in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. The film broke opening weekend records and grossed over $250 million worldwide. The soundtrack for the film, featuring numerous contributions from Bleu, went on to sell over three million copies in the United States alone. The song "I Don't Dance" (2007), a duet with Lucas Grabeel, became him first top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). During this time, Bleu began song on soundtracks for the Disney Channel, and released a cover of "Two Worlds" (2007) to promote Tarzan. The phenomenon of High School Musical has changed Bleu's life, delivering him to the heights of media celebrity while still in his teens. He told TV Guide, "Well, I used to be able to go to a mall, and now I can't!" On the other hand, he has prepared well for this success "I know for me, as a person, I've pretty much stayed the same. I still have a great background. My dad comes with me everywhere I go and I wouldn't be able to do it without him, and [I'm] just glad to have him there to keep me grounded". For his role as Chad Danforth, the team captain of the school’s basketball team, he was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and a Young Artist Award and Teen Choice Awards in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

In 2007, Bleu starred in his next film, another Disney Channel original entitled Jump In!, which aired on January 12, 2007. Directed by Paul Hoen, the television movie revolved around a young boy named Izzy Daniels who trains regularly in order to try to follow in his fathers footsteps and win the Golden Glove, an amateur boxing tournament. While Bleu played the lead role of Daniels, Keke Palmer portrayed the role of Mary, his friend whom has a crush on Daniels. Again, Disney scored a crossover hit with the bouncy Jump In! soundtrack album, on which Bleu sings the track, Push It to the Limit. Reaching the screens on the Disney Channel that January, Jump In! was a major hit amongst young viewers and quickly became the highest rated premiere the network has ever since, breaking the previous record set by The Cheetah Girls 2 in 2006. Similar to High School Musical, its soundtrack was also a commercial hit, having achieved gold status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) three months after its release. He guest starred as Johnny Collins in the premiere two episode of Disney's Hannah Montana. He also had a small role as Spencer on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, appearing in the episodes entitled Guide to: The School Play and Guide to: Revenge & School Records. and Mother Goose Parade as Grand Marshal in 2006 and 2007. While with Disney Channel, Bleu also participated in the first ever Disney Channel Games and co-captained the blue team along with Jake T. Austin, Maiara Walsh, Cole Sprouse and Kiely Williams. A year before, he returned to repeat his captaincy of the blue team with Brenda Song, Vanessa Hudgens, Monique Coleman and Jason Earles. Also in 2007, he is Voice in The Secret of the Magic Gourd, He appeared on The Tyra Banks Show in 2008.

2009–present: Further success

Bleu at the Kids' Inaugural: "We Are the Future", January 2009

The following year, Bleu played the lead role in yet another film called Free Style. Opened in theatres in October 2009, the coming of age movie revolved around Cale Bryant, an eighteen year old man who tries to find himself by winning the Amateur National Motocross Championships. Other members of the cast list include Sandra Echeverría, Jesse Moss, Penelope Ann Miller and Madison Pettis. Disappointingly however, Free Style did not perform ideally in the box office, having only grossed $720,000 from a $10 budget. Over the next few years, Bleu continued to appear regularly on television, although he seemed to have taken a break from film. Some of his stand out roles during this period include the drama series The CW Television Network's new show The Beautiful Life: TBL. He joined co-stars Sara Paxton, Mischa Barton, Ben Hollingsworth, Ashley Madekwe and Nico Tortorella, The series was subsequently cancelled on 25 September 2009 after televising 2 episodes. In December 2009, the technology company HP became the show's sponsor and began airing the show's five episodes on YouTube. Also in 2009, he is Voice in Beyond All Boundaries, and appeared on Entertainment Tonight and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.

Corbin Bleu made his Broadway stage debut in 2010 as the lead character, bodega-owner Usnavi, in the critically acclaimed musical In the Heights. and guest starred in one episode of The Good Wife as DJ Javier Berlin in October 2010. in 2010, Corbin starred in the short comedy film I Owe My Life to Corbin Bleu, alongside Andrew Caldwell, Drake Bell, Sarah Hyland, Ryan Pinkston, Sterling Knight, Matt Prokop, Matt Shively and Josh Sussman. In 2011, he performed the voice Lou in The Little Engine That Could, and he performed the voice Flip in Tonka Chuck and Friends: Big Air Dare. In 2012, Bleu also has a role in the indie horror anthology Scary or Die, a collection of five short horror films sure to please genre junkies. The actor, who also co-produced the project, appears in the short called "Clowned" which finds him transforming into a flesh-hungry circus-dweller after being bitten by a face-painted vagrant. In 2012, he join the cast of Godspell as Jesus beginning April 17 at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Bleu takes over the role from original star Hunter Parrish, who will play his final performance on April 15. and guest starred in one episode of Blue Bloods as Officer Blake in 2012. In 2012, he performed the voice Drew in Twinkle Toes, Bleu starred in the drama film To Write Love on Her Arms (originally titled Renee) in 2012, with Kat Dennings, Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend. The film began production in Orlando, Florida, in February 2011.

Bleu at a performance of The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, December 2010

In March 2013, Bleu also has a role in the horror film The Monkey's Paw. Adapted by Macon Blair from W. W. Jacobs’s story, The Monkey’s Paw will air on Chiller, the cable network dedicated to horror programming, in 2013. Directed by Brett Simmons, the movie will co-star C. J. Thomason and Stephen Lang. and guest starred in one episode of Franklin & Bash as Jordan Allen French in 2013. In April 2013, Bleu was cast in the role of Jeffrey King on the ABC daytime soap opera, One Life to Live, alongside Erika Slezak and Laura Harrier. In 2013, Bleu starred in the film Sugar about a runaway girl living on the streets of Venice, Los Angeles. Also in 2013, Bleu appeared in the horror films Nurse 3D, alongside Paz de la Huerta and Katrina Bowden. In 2014 he also appeared as a guest star in Psych, the USA Network television series in Season 8. and guest starred in one episode of Drop Dead Diva as Michael in 2014.

Bleu’s only release in 2015 was the moderately successful Megachurch Murder, in which he played a Marcus King, with Tamala Jones, Shanica Knowles and Romeo Miller. In addition, Bleu appeared in Family Shots with The Human Race Theatre Company. Although he hasn’t starred in any new major roles on television lately, Bleu did make a guest appearance in an episode of the family drama, The Fosters in 2016. Bleu made his appearance in episode nineteen of the third season, playing the role of Mercutio, a character who appears in Brandon’s (the oldest child of the Fosters family) school musical production of Romeo and Juliet. He also had a small role as Spencer on Castle in February 2016. Broadway is also where Bleu currently hangs his hat. The actor originated the leading role in Holiday Inn, a musical based on the 1942 Fred Astaire film of the same name. The production includes an incredibly complicated tap number with fireworks built into the stage. Returning to his tap dancing roots was "like riding a bike". Bleu told The New York Times in 2016, "It just felt so good to have everything released through my feet again." His former Disney co-stars appear to be big fans of Bleu's new endeavor Lucas Grabeel and Zac Efron sent '90s kids' hearts aflutter when they stopped by a performance in October 2016.

Upcoming projects

Corbin Bleu has gotten himself involved with lately the actor has also been working on an upcoming independent movie entitled, Ovid and the Art of Love. Filmed partially at the old St. Agnus Church in Michigan, the project also stars John Savage, Tamara Feldman and Tara Summers. According to online sources, filming for Ovid and the Art of Love has just recently ended putting it in the post production stage. Although no official release date for the movie has been announced as of yet, it’s speculated that the movie will be making its way to the theatres sometime by the end of 2016. Bleu also working on an upcoming passion project, The Day I Died. The movie is going to be a very real and raw depiction of a story we see in the news way too many times. The movie want to show the consequences of bullying and both sides of the crossroads taken by the bullied, and really want it to be an inspiration to stand strong, because their lives are way more important than what their bully may make it seem.

Dancing with the Stars

In September 2013, Bleu runners-up the seventeenth season of ABC's dancing competition Dancing with the Stars. He partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. The partners scored high with the judges, earning a 26/30, making them the first safe couple of the night. Keyshawn Johnson and Sharna Burgess, however, were the first to be eliminated this week, leaving 11 couples in the ballroom. Corbin and his partner made it to the finals, but became the runners-up behind Amber Riley.

Performances

2006–07: Another Side

Bleu's first professionally recorded song was titled "Circles" or "Circles in My Mind" for his then TV show, Flight 29 Down. Bleu signed a contract with Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned label. His debut album Another Side, was released in May 2007. The album debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 album charts, selling 18,000 in its first week. The album fuses rhythm and blues with hip-hop and other pop genres in an upbeat, wholesome commercial blend. Bleu, who admires Prince, Michael Jackson, and Justin Timberlake, cowrote five songs on the album. In 2007 he toured in support of Another Side with the teen sister duo Aly & AJ.

Bleu in 2008

Blue worked with Ne-Yo on "I Get Lonely," and with other performers such as Matthew Gerrard and Eric Hudson. A music video for his first single, "Push It to the Limit", premiered on the Disney Channel, and was used to promote the movie Jump In! "Push It to the Limit" reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 15. He sings the duet "Still There For Me" with Vanessa Hudgens for him debut album. Bleu toured with fellow High School Musical cast members from late November 2006 to late January 2007 in High School Musical: The Concert, and with Drake Bell and Ally & AJ performing in about 40 different cities. To promote his debut album, Bleu performed at the NextFest tour with the teen sister duo Aly & AJ and Drake Bell with Special Guest Bianca Ryan.

On Another Side, he wrote or co-wrote five of the album's twelve songs. He wrote two songs that appear as bonus tracks on the European version. One of those tracks was titled "Shake It Off", an ode to the musician Prince.

2008–09: Speed of Light

In an interview with Billboard, Bleu stated that he had begun working on his follow-up album. "There will be a lot of differences with the second album. First of all, it's just more personal. I'm involved in every aspect of the writing. As far as the direction of the music, it's very different. I wanted this album to have something that was a little bit of rock, a little bit of R&B and a little bit of pop."

Producer Eric Hudson was attached to the project, along with songwriter/lyricist Claude Kelly. Bleu performed the planned tracks "Close", "Whatever It Takes", and "Champion" on a summer concert tour with singer/actor Justin Stein. Speed of Light was released on March 10, 2009, via Hollywood Records. The album's first single, "Moments That Matter", was performed by Bleu at Kids' Inaugural: "We Are the Future". The album failed to debut on Billboard Top 200 album charts.

According to sources, the album sold less than 4,000 in its first week, despite promotion from Myspace. The album spawned the singles "Celebrate You" and "Moments That Matter," which was released with a music video. In 2009, he sings the duet "If We Were a Movie" with Miley Cyrus for the Hannah Montana 3 soundtrack album.

Voice and musical ability

According to his interview with Paul Wontorek, Bleu discusses that he is naturally a Lyric Baritone. His trained voice has been described as being "decent and pleasant which fits well into both pop and R&B". As a musical theatre performer, Bleu has claimed that he is a huge fan of Brian d'Arcy James and says that he gets vocal influences from him. Due to his dancing, songwriting, and dance-influenced sound, Corbin Bleu has earned comparisons to Justin Timberlake.

Bleu at the Summer with the Stars, Red Carpet in 2011

In 2008, Bleu's net worth was $5 million. In January 2009, Bleu had Wavefront Lasik Surgery with celebrity Lasik surgeon Dr. Rajesh Khanna. In 2013, his personal wealth equaled about $10 million. In 2016, Bleu's net worth was $4 million.

In 2011, Bleu is a frequent volunteer worker, working for charities such as Starlight Children's Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and served Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas Eve lunch at a Los Angeles homeless shelter with Debby Ryan in 2008. Bleu has been a supporter of Do Something, hosting the sixth annual Do Something Awards in 2009. In May 2011, Bleu also attended the Do Something Awards kick-off event. He teamed up with Aimee Teegarden, Kevin Jonas and JoJo during the event to honor the thirteen nominees for the Do Something Award and to award $100,000 in recognition of their outstanding activism.

In 2011, Bleu began dating actress Sasha Clements, who he first met in a Toronto grocery store. On October 15, 2014, Bleu proposed to Clements in front of Cinderella's Castle at Orlando's Disney World with an engagement ring placed inside a glass slipper. They later appeared on TLC reality series Say Yes to the Dress, which documented the bride-to-be's search for the perfect wedding gown. They married in front of 160 guests at Hummingbird Nest in Santa Susana, California on July 23, 2016.

Films

TV movies

TV

As a producer

Theatre

• Another Side (2007)
• Speed of Light (2009)