Harry Connick Jr.
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Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and former television host. As of 2019, he has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
, with 16million in
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sales. He has had seven top20 U.S. albums, and ten number-one U.S. jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in U.S. jazz chart history as of 2009. Connick's best-selling album in the United States is his
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
album '' When My Heart Finds Christmas'' (1993). His highest-charting album is '' Only You'' (2004), which reached No.5 in the U.S. and No.6 in
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. He has won three
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
and two
Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
. He played Leo Markus, the husband of Grace Adler (played by
Debra Messing Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the television series ''Ned and Stacey'' on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox (1995–1997) an ...
) on the NBC sitcom ''
Will & Grace ''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a Gay men, gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra ...
'' from 2002 to 2006. Connick began his acting career playing a tail gunner in the
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
film '' Memphis Belle'' (1990). He played a serial killer in '' Copycat'' (1995) before being cast as a fighter pilot in the blockbuster ''
Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...
'' (1996). Connick's first role as a leading man was in '' Hope Floats'' (1998) with
Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...
. He also lent his voice to the animated cult classic ''
The Iron Giant ''The Iron Giant'' is a 1999 American animated science fiction film directed by Brad Bird and produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation. It is loosely based on the 1968 novel '' The Iron Man'' by Ted Hughes (which was published in the United ...
'' (1999). His first thriller film since ''Copycat'' was ''
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'' (2003) with
John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta, His accolades include a Primetime Em ...
. Additionally, he played a violent ex-husband in '' Bug'' (2006), and starred in two romantic comedies: '' P.S. I Love You'' (2007), and '' New in Town'' (2009) with
Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger ( ; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Renée Zellweger, various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four ...
. In 2011, he appeared in the family film '' Dolphin Tale'' as Dr. Clay Haskett and in its 2014 sequel.


Early life

Harry Connick Jr. was born and raised in
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
. His mother, Anita Frances Livingston (née Levy),Stated on ''Finding Your Roots'', PBS, March 25, 2012 was a lawyer and judge in New Orleans. His father,
Harry Connick Sr. Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Sr. (March 27, 1926 – January 25, 2024) was an American attorney who served as the district attorney of Orleans Parish (New Orleans), Louisiana, from 1973 to 2003. His son, Harry Connick Jr., is an American musician a ...
(1926–2024), was the
district attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer represen ...
of Orleans Parish from 1973 to 2003. He has an older sister named Suzanna. His parents also owned a
record store A record shop or record store is a retail outlet that sells recorded music. Per the name, in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, record shops only sold gramophone records. But over the course of the 20th century, record shops sol ...
. Connick's father was a Roman Catholic of Northern Irish descent, while his mother, who died of
ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different ...
when he was 13 years old, was
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
and from New York;Stephanie Mansfield
"Deconstructing Harry"
'' Vogue'', April 1998: pp. 211, 214, 216; online posting, ''connick.com''. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
his part-Jewish heritage would later inspire him to play Jewish doctor Leo on ''
Will & Grace ''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a Gay men, gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra ...
''. In addition to his career as a prosecutor, Connick Sr. also had a career performing weekly gigs at
French Quarter The French Quarter, also known as the (; ; ), is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. After New Orleans () was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city developed around the ("Old Square" in English), a ...
Clubs. Connick and his sister, Suzanna, were raised in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans. Harry Connick began learning to play keyboards at age three, playing publicly at age five, and recording with a local jazz band when he was ten. At the age of nine, Connick performed
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...
's Piano Concerto No. 3 Opus 37 with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra (now the
Louisiana Philharmonic The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The orchestra performs at the Orpheum Theater (New O ...
). Later he played a duet with
Eubie Blake James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983) was an American pianist and composer of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. Blake began his career in 1912, and during World War I he worked in partnership with the singer, drum ...
at the Royal Orleans Esplanade Lounge in New Orleans. The song was " I'm Just Wild About Harry". It was recorded for a Japanese documentary called ''Jazz Around the World''. The clip was also shown in a
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special called ''Worlds of Harry Connick, Junior.'' in 1999. His musical talents were developed at the
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is the regional, pre-professional arts training center for high school students in Louisiana. NOCCA opened in 1973 as a professional arts training center for secondary education, secondary schoo ...
and under the tutelage of Ellis Marsalis Jr. and
James Booker James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist and singer. Flamboyant in personality and style, and a pianist of extraordinary technical skill, he was dubbed "the Blac ...
. Connick attended Jesuit High School, Isidore Newman School, Lakeview School, and the
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is the regional, pre-professional arts training center for high school students in Louisiana. NOCCA opened in 1973 as a professional arts training center for secondary education, secondary schoo ...
, all in New Orleans. After an unsuccessful attempt studying jazz at
Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans is a Private university, private Jesuit university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the nam ...
as well as giving recitals in the classical and jazz piano programs at Loyola, he left the city. He lived at the 92nd Street YMHA in New York City while he was a student at
Hunter College Hunter College is a public university in New York City, United States. It is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York and offers studies in more than one hundred undergraduate and postgraduate fields across five schools ...
and the
Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
. There he met
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...
executive George Butler, who persuaded him to sign with the label. His first record, '' Harry Connick Jr.'', was mainly an album of instrumental standards. He soon acquired a reputation in jazz because of his regular performances at various high-profile New York City venues. His next album, '' 20'', featured vocals and added to his success.


Career


''When Harry Met Sally...'', success on charts and in movies

Connick's reputation was growing, and director
Rob Reiner Robert Reiner (born March 6, 1947) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and liberal activist. As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence with the role of Michael Stivic, Mike "Meathead" Stivic on the CBS sitc ...
asked him to provide a soundtrack for his romantic comedy '' When Harry Met Sally...'' (1989), starring Meg Ryan and
Billy Crystal William Edward Crystal (born March 14, 1948)On page 17 of his book ''700 Sundays'', Crystal displays his birth announcement, which gives his first two names as "William Edward", not "William Jacob" is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. ...
. The soundtrack consisted of several
standards Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object t ...
, including " It Had to Be You", " Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and " Don't Get Around Much Anymore". The soundtrack earned double-platinum status in the United States. Connick won his first
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance for his work on the soundtrack. Connick made his screen debut in '' Memphis Belle'' (1990), based on a true story about a
B-17 Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during ...
bomber crew in World War II. In that year, he began a two-year world tour. In addition, he released two albums in July 1990: the instrumental jazz trio album '' Lofty's Roach Souffle'' and a big-band album of mostly original songs titled '' We Are in Love'', which also went double platinum. ''We Are in Love'' earned him his second consecutive Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal. "
Promise Me You'll Remember "Promise Me You'll Remember (Love Theme from ''The Godfather Part III'')" is a song written for ''The Godfather Part III'' (1990 in film, 1990), the third and final film in The Godfather (film series), ''The Godfather'' trilogy. Overview "Promise ...
", his contribution to the ''Godfather III'' soundtrack, was nominated for both an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
and a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
in 1991. In a year of recognition, he was also nominated for an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
for Best Performance in a Variety Special for his
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
special '' Swingin' Out Live'', which was also released as a video. In October 1991, he released his third consecutive multi-platinum album, '' Blue Light, Red Light'', on which he wrote and arranged the songs. Also in October 1991, he starred in '' Little Man Tate'', directed by
Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as leading actress in film. She has received List of awards and nominations re ...
, playing the friend of a
child prodigy A child prodigy is, technically, a child under the age of 10 who produces meaningful work in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to describe young people who are extraordinarily talented in some f ...
who goes to college. In November 1992, Connick released '' 25'', a solo piano collection of standards that again went platinum. He also re-released the album '' Eleven''. Connick contributed "A Wink and a Smile" to the ''
Sleepless in Seattle ''Sleepless in Seattle'' is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, from a screenplay she wrote with David S. Ward and Jeff Arch. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the film follows a journalist (Ryan) who becomes enamored ...
'' soundtrack, released in 1993. His multi-platinum album of holiday songs, '' When My Heart Finds Christmas'', was the best-selling Christmas album in 1993.


Mid-1990s: funk

In 1994, Connick decided to branch out. He released '' She'', an album of New Orleans
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
that also went platinum. In addition, he released a song called "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" for the soundtrack of '' The Mask'', starring
Jim Carrey James Eugene Carrey (; born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian and American actor and comedian. Known primarily for his energetic slapstick performances, he has received two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for BAFTA Awards and ...
, which is his most successful single in the United States to date. Connick took his funk music on a tour of the United Kingdom in 1994, an effort that did not please some of his fans, who were expecting a jazz crooner. Connick also went on a tour of the
People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
in 1995, playing at the Shanghai Center Theatre. The performance was televised live in China for what became known as the Shanghai
Gumbo Gumbo () is a stew that is popular among the U.S. Gulf Coast community, the New Orleans stew variation being the official state cuisine of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Gumbo consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfis ...
special. In his third film '' Copycat'' (1995), Connick played a serial killer who terrorizes a psychiatrist (played by
Sigourney Weaver Susan Alexandra ( ; born October 8, 1949), better known by her stage name Sigourney Weaver, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the late 1970s, she is known for her pioneering portrayals of action heroines in Blockbuster (entertainme ...
). The following year, he released his second funk album, '' Star Turtle'', which did not sell as well as previous albums, although it did reach No. 38 on the charts. However, he appeared in the most successful movie of 1996, ''
Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...
'', with
Will Smith Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, rapper, and film producer. Known for his work in both Will Smith filmography, the screen and Will Smith discography, music industries, List of awards and nominations re ...
and Jeff Goldblum.


Late 1990s: Jazz and ''Hope Floats''

For his 1997 release '' To See You'', Connick recorded original love songs, touring the United States and
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
with a full
symphony A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...
orchestra backing him and his piano in each city. As part of his tour, he played at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in
Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
, Norway, with his final concert of that tour in Paris being recorded for a
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...
special on
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
in 1998. He also continued his film career, starring in '' Excess Baggage'' (1997) opposite
Alicia Silverstone Alicia Silverstone ( ; born October 4, 1976) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the thriller ''The Crush (1993 film), The Crush'' (1993), earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further pro ...
and
Benicio del Toro Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez (; born February 19, 1967) is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actor. List of awards and nominations received by Benicio del Toro, His accolades include an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a British Academy ...
. In May 1998, he had his first leading role in director
Forest Whitaker Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, filmmaker, and activist. His accolades include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Best Actor Award at the ...
's '' Hope Floats'', with
Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...
being the female lead. In 1999 he released '' Come By Me'', his first album of
big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and ...
music in eight years, and embarked on a world tour, visiting the United States, Europe,
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, and
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. In addition, he provided the voice of Dean McCoppin in the animated film ''
The Iron Giant ''The Iron Giant'' is a 1999 American animated science fiction film directed by Brad Bird and produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation. It is loosely based on the 1968 novel '' The Iron Man'' by Ted Hughes (which was published in the United ...
''.


2000–2002: Broadway debut, musicals, ''Will & Grace''

Connick wrote the score for
Susan Stroman Susan P. Stroman (born October 17, 1954) is an American theatre director, choreographer, and performer. Her notable theater productions include ''Oklahoma!'', ''The Music Man'', ''Crazy for You (musical), Crazy for You'', ''Contact (musical), Co ...
's Broadway
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
'' Thou Shalt Not'', based on
Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, ; ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of Naturalism (literature), naturalism, and an important contributor to ...
's novel '' Thérèse Raquin'' which was written in 2000. The play premiered in 2001. His music and lyrics earned him a
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
nomination. He was also the narrator of the film '' My Dog Skip'', released in that year. In March 2001, Connick starred in a television production of '' South Pacific'' with
Glenn Close Glenda Veronica Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress. In a career spanning over five decades on Glenn Close on screen and stage, screen and stage, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Glenn Close, numerous ac ...
; it was televised on the ABC network. He also starred in '' Mickey'', a movie;
John Grisham John Ray Grisham Jr. (; born February 8, 1955) is an American novelist, lawyer, and former politician, known for his best-selling legal thrillers. According to the Academy of Achievement, American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 37 ...
wrote the screenplay. In October 2001, he released two albums: '' Songs I Heard'', featuring big band re-workings of children's show themes, and '' 30'', featuring Connick on piano with guest appearances by several musical artists. ''Songs I Heard'' won Connick a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album; he toured performing songs from the album, holding matinees. At the performances each parent in attendance had to be accompanied by a child. In 2002, he received a for a "system and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra." Connick appeared as Grace Adler's boyfriend and later husband, Leo Markus on the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
sitcom ''
Will & Grace ''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a Gay men, gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra ...
'' from 2002 to 2006.


2003–2005: ''Connick on Piano'' and ''Only You''

In July 2003, Connick released his first instrumental album in fifteen years, '' Other Hours Connick on Piano Volume 1''. It was released on
Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ens ...
' new label Marsalis Music leading to a short tour of nightclubs and small theaters. Connick appeared in the film ''
Basic Basic or BASIC may refer to: Science and technology * BASIC, a computer programming language * Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base * Basic access authentication, in HTTP Entertainment * Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film ...
''. In October 2003, he released his second Christmas album, '' Harry for the Holidays; it'' went gold and reached No. 12 on the ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart. He also had a television special on
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
featuring
Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ...
,
Nathan Lane Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane; February 3, 1956) is an American actor. Since 1975, he has been Nathan Lane on screen and stage, on stage and screen in both comedic and dramatic roles. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Na ...
,
Marc Anthony Marco Antonio Muñiz (born September 16, 1968), known professionally as Marc Anthony, is an American singer and actor. He is the top selling salsa artist of all time. A four-time Grammy Award, eight-time Latin Grammy Award and twenty-nine-tim ...
, and Kim Burrell. '' Only You'', his seventeenth album for Columbia Records, was released in February 2004. A collection of 1950s and 1960s ballads, ''Only You'', was in the top ten on both sides of the
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
and was certified gold in the United States in March 2004. The ''Only You'' big band toured the U.S., Australia, with a few stops in Asia. ''Harry for the Holidays'' was certified platinum in November 2004. A music DVD ''Harry Connick Jr."Only You" in Concert'' was released in March 2004, after it had first aired as a ''Great Performances'' special on
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
. The special won him an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
for Outstanding Music Direction. The DVD received a Gold & Platinum Music VideoLong Form awards from the RIAA in November 2005. An animated holiday special, '' The Happy Elf'' aired on NBC in December 2005; Connick was the composer, the narrator, and one of the executive producers. The show was released on DVD soon afterwards. The holiday special was based on his original song ''The Happy Elf'', from his 2003 album ''Harry for the Holidays''. Another album from Marsalis Music was recorded in 2005, '' Occasion : Connick on Piano, Volume 2'', a duo album with Harry Connick Jr. on piano and
Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ens ...
on saxophone. A music DVD, '' A Duo Occasion'' was filmed at the
Ottawa International Jazz Festival The Ottawa Jazz Festival is a music festival held annually in Ottawa, Canada. It showcases a wide range of jazz genres, including swing, jive, fusion jazz, hot jazz, boogie as well as diverse cultures and traditions. The festival claims to brin ...
2005 in
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
; it was released in November 2005. He appeared in another episode of the ''Will & Grace'' sitcom in November 2005, he was in three more episodes in 2006.


2006–2008: ''The Pajama Game'', ''Bug,'' and ''P.S. I Love You''

'' Bug'', a film directed by
William Friedkin William David Friedkin (; August 29, 1935 – August 7, 2023) was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in doc ...
, is a psychological thriller filmed in 2005 starring Connick,
Ashley Judd Ashley Tyler Ciminella, known professionally as Ashley Judd (born April 19, 1968), is an American actress and activist. She grew up in a family of performing artists, the daughter of country music singer Naomi Judd and the half-sister of country ...
, and Michael Shannon. The film was released in 2007. He starred in the Broadway revival of ''
The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his chor ...
'', produced by the Roundabout Theater Company, along with
Michael McKean Michael John McKean (; born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, composer, singer, and musician. Over his career he has received a Grammy Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...
and
Kelli O'Hara Kelli Christine O'Hara (born April 16, 1976) is an American actress and singer, most known for her work on the Broadway and opera stages. An eight-time Tony Award nominee, O'Hara won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her perfor ...
, at the ''
American Airlines Theatre The Todd Haimes Theatre (previously known as the American Airlines Theatre and originally the Selwyn Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 227 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S. Built ...
'' in 2006. It ran from February 23 to June 17, 2006; five benefit performances ran rom June 13 to 17. Connick's performance was highly acclaimed; David Rooney wrote in '' Variety'', "With his handsome wholesomeness and those mellifluous Sinatra-esque pipes, it's hard to imagine a leading man more tailor-made for this 1954 show." The ''Pajama Game'' cast recording was nominated for a Grammy, after being released as part of Connick's double disc album Harry on Broadway, Act I. He hosted
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel (TWC) is an American pay television television channel, channel owned by Weather Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Media Group. The channel's headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia. Launched on May 2, 1982, the channel ...
's miniseries '' 100 Biggest Weather Moments'' which aired in 2007. He was part of the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037, released in November 2007. He sat in playing piano on Bob French's 2007 album ''Marsalis Music Honors Series: Bob French''. He appeared in the film '' P.S. I Love You'', released in December 2007. The third album in the ''Connick on Piano'' series, '' Chanson du Vieux Carré'' was released in 2007, and Connick received two Grammy nominations for the track "Ash Wednesday" for the Grammy awards in 2008. ''Chanson du Vieux Carré'' was released simultaneously with the album '' Oh, My NOLA''. He toured North America and Europe in 2007, and toured Asia and Australia in 2008 as part of his My New Orleans Tour. Connick wrote two songs and did the arrangements for
Kelli O'Hara Kelli Christine O'Hara (born April 16, 1976) is an American actress and singer, most known for her work on the Broadway and opera stages. An eight-time Tony Award nominee, O'Hara won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her perfor ...
's album which was released in May 2008; he also sang a duet on the recording. He was the featured singer at the Concert of Hope immediately preceding
Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...
's mass at
Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. The stadium opened in April 2009, replacing the Yankee S ...
in April 2008. He had the starring role of Dr. Dennis Slamon in the Lifetime television film '' Living Proof'' (2008). His third Christmas album, '' What a Night!'', was released in November 2008. Connick has a vast knowledge of musical genres and vocalists, even gospel music. One of his favorite gospel artists is Stellar Award winner and Grammy nominated artist Kim Burrell of
Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
. Chris Gray of the Houston Press said, "... when Harry Connick Jr. assembled a symphony orchestra for
Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...
's appearance at Yankee Stadium in 2008, he wanted Burrell on vocals"


2009–2011: ''New in Town and'' ''Your Songs''

The film '' New in Town'' starring Connick and
Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger ( ; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Renée Zellweger, various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four ...
began filming in January 2008; it was released in January 2009. Connick's album '' Your Songs'' was released on CD, September 22, 2009. In contrast to Connick's previous albums, this album is a collaboration with a record company producer, the multiple
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
winning
music executive A music executive or record executive is a person within a music company, in particular, a record label who works in senior management and makes executive decisions over the label's artists. Their role varies greatly but in essence, they can over ...
Clive Davis Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1 ...
.Harry Connick Jr. Announces New Album Produced by Clive Davis
, vintageguitar.com, July 30, 2009
Connick starred in the Broadway revival of '' On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'', which opened at the St. James Theatre in November 2011 in previews. It closed in January 2012, after 29 previews and 57 performances. Connick appeared on the May 4, 2010, episode of ''
American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' season 9, where he acted as a mentor for the top 5 finalists. He appeared again the next night on May 5 to perform "And I Love Her". In 2011, he appeared in the family film '' Dolphin Tale'' as Dr. Clay Haskett and in its 2014 sequel.


2012–2019: ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', ''Harry'', and ''Every Man Should Know''

On January 6, 2012,
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
president Robert Greenblatt announced at the
Television Critics Association The Television Critics Association (TCA) is a group of approximately 200 American and Canadian television critics, journalists and columnists who cover television programming for newspapers, magazines and web publications. The TCA accepts appli ...
winter press tour that Connick had been cast in a four-episode arc of NBC's long-running legal drama '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' as new Executive ADA, David Haden, a prosecutor who is assigned a case with Detective Olivia Benson (
Mariska Hargitay Mariska Magdolna Hargitay Mariska says her own first name and the name of her father; the interviewer, James Lipton, also says her full name near the start of the show. (; born January 23, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and philanthrop ...
). On June 11, 2013, Connick released a new album of all original music titled ''Every Man Should Know''. Connick debuted the title track live on the May 2, 2013, episode of ''
American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' and appeared on ''
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by ...
'' the following week to discuss his new project. A 2013 US summer tour was announced in support of the album. Connick returned to ''American Idol'' to mentor the top four of season 12. He performed "Every Man Should Know" on the results show the following night. Connick was on the judging panel for seasons 13, 14 and 15 of ''American Idol'', airing in 2014 to 2016. '' Angels Sing'', a family Christmas movie released in November 2013 by
Lionsgate Lions Gate, Lion Gate or similar terms may refer to: Gates *Lion Gate at Mycenae in Greece *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, now in Turkey *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the gardens of Hampton Court Pala ...
, afforded Connick an onscreen collaboration with fellow musician
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
. The two wrote a special song exclusively for the movie. Shot in
Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...
, ''Angels Sing'' features actor/musicians
Connie Britton Connie Britton (born Constance Elaine Womack; March 6, 1967) is an American actress. Her accolades include nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. She gained prominence for her roles in the television series ''S ...
,
Lyle Lovett Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957) Lyle Lovett Pageat Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007 is an American country singer and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded 14 albums and released 25 singles to dat ...
, and
Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...
and is directed by Tim McCanlies, who previously worked with Connick in ''The Iron Giant''. A one-hour weekday daytime talk show starring Connick called '' Harry'' debuted on September 12, 2016. The series ran until May 23, 2018. Connick was nominated for a Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host for both years of the show. In January 2019, it was announced that Connick was hired by piano instruction software company Playground Sessions as a video instructor. On October 25, 2019, he released a new album of
Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became Standard (music), standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway the ...
compositions rearranged by Connick himself, including “ Anything Goes” and “ You Do Something To Me.” After selecting the songs, and writing and orchestrating the arrangements, he assembled and conducted the orchestra which features his longtime touring band with additional horns and a full string section. Along with his album, Connick announced his return to Broadway on September 16, 2019, with ''Harry Connick Jr. — A Celebration of Cole Porter'', a multimedia celebration of the Cole Porter songbook. The production was conceived and directed by Connick himself with the addition of theatrical and film elements accompanied by a company of dancers and an onstage orchestra.


2020–present: ''Alone With My Faith and'' ''Annie''

Harry released his new album ''Alone With My Faith'' on March 19, 2021. With the
Coronavirus Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the comm ...
pandemic casting a long shadow in 2020, Connick retreated to his home studio during the lockdown and emerged with an album of new music. He arranged all of the songs, played every instrument, and sang every part. In addition to the familiar, traditional songs, Connick wrote and recorded new tracks that tell the story of his experience coping during lockdown and feeling the full spectrum of emotions that came with it. Both the album cover and the music videos for “Amazing Grace” and “Alone With My Faith” were conceived and directed by Harry's daughter Georgia Connick. ''Alone With My Faith'' earned Connick his 16th career GRAMMY nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album as part of the 64th annual GRAMMY awards. Harry joined the cast of Annie Live! as Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks - opposite Taraji P. Henson's devious Miss Hannigan. The live production aired December 2, 2021, on NBC and also coincided with the release of the ''Annie Live! Cast Album'' – the original soundtrack of the NBC television event. Connick Jr. was a judge in the 2023 revival of ''
Australian Idol ''Australian Idol'' is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the ''Idol'' franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program '' Pop Id ...
'' and the Australian version of ''
The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...
'', released in 2025. He starred as the main character John Allman in the 2024 Netflix film '' Find Me Falling''.


Touring Big Band members

The following musicians have toured as the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band since its inception in 1990: * Piano and vocalsHarry Connick Jr. * Drums Shannon Powell, Duffy Jackson, Arthur Latin II ( Winard Harper, Jeff "Tain" Wattssubs) * Bass Ben Wolfe, Neal Caine * GuitarJonathan Dubose Jr., Evan Vidar ( Bryan Suttonsubs) * Piano, KeyboardsHarry Connick Jr., Howard Kaplan, Jonathan Batiste * Lead trumpet Roger Ingram (Dave Stahl, Walter White, Walt Johnsonsubs) * 2nd trumpetDan Miller, Derrick Gardner, Bijon Watson, Sal Cracchiolo ( Earl Gardner, Greg Gisbert, Darryl Shawsubs) * 3rd trumpet Jeremy Davenport, Joe Magnarelli, Mark Braud * 4th trumpet Leroy Jones, Mark Braud * Lead alto saxophoneBrad Leali, Mike Smith, Jon Gordon, Ned Goold, Geoff Burke * 2nd alto saxophoneMark Sterbank, Will Campbell, Ned Goold * 1st tenor saxophone Jerry Weldon (Geoff Burke sub) * 2nd tenor saxophoneJimmy Greene, Ned Goold * Baritone saxophoneDave Schumacher ( Howard Johnsonsub) * ClarinetLouis Ford * Lead trombone Mark Mullins, John Allred, Jeff Bush * 2nd trombone Craig Klein, John Allred * 3rd trombone Lucien Barbarin, Craig Klein * Bass tromboneJoe Barati * VocalsJonathan Dubose Jr., Jonathan Batiste (The Honolulu Heartbreakers – subs)


Connick and New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina

Connick, a New Orleans native, is a founder of the Krewe of Orpheus which is a music-based New Orleans krewe. Its name is derived from
Orpheus In Greek mythology, Orpheus (; , classical pronunciation: ) was a Thracians, Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned Ancient Greek poetry, poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in se ...
of classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus has parades on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street in New Orleans on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday), which is the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). On September 2, 2005, Connick helped organize and appeared in the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
-sponsored live telethon concert, '' A Concert for Hurricane Relief'', for relief in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
. He spent several days touring the city to draw attention to the plight of citizens stranded at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and other places. At the concert he paired with host
Matt Lauer Matthew Todd Lauer (; born December 30, 1957) is a former American television news personality, best known for his work with NBC News. After serving as a local news personality in New York City on WNBC, his first national exposure was as the ne ...
and entertainers including
Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer and actor. He has released 17 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, five for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those albums have reached number one on ...
,
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American Country music, country singer. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold almost 50 million albums worldwide ...
,
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...
,
Mike Myers Michael John Myers, (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. His accolades include seven MTV Movie & TV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2002, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood W ...
, and
John Goodman John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is an American actor. He rose to prominence in television before becoming an acclaimed and popular film actor. Goodman has received List of awards and nominations received by John Goodman, various acc ...
. On September 6, 2005, Connick was made the honorary chair of
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. The international ...
's Operation Home Delivery, a long-term rebuilding plan for families who survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and along the
Gulf Coast The Gulf Coast of the United States, also known as the Gulf South or the South Coast, is the coastline along the Southern United States where they meet the Gulf of Mexico. The coastal states that have a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico are Tex ...
. His actions in New Orleans earned him a Jefferson Award for Public Service. Connick's album '' Oh, My NOLA'', and '' Chanson du Vieux Carré'' were released in 2007; a tour called the My New Orleans Tour followed.


Musicians' Village

Connick and
Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ens ...
devised an initiative to help restore New Orleans' musical
heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset A heritage asset is an item which has value because of its contribution to a nation's society, knowledge and/or culture. Such items are usually physical assets, but some countries also ...
.
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. The international ...
and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Connick and Marsalis announced on December 6, 2005, plans for a Musicians' Village in New Orleans. The Musicians' Village includes Habitat-constructed homes, with an ''Ellis Marsalis Center for Music'', as the area's centerpiece. The Habitat-built homes provide musicians, and anyone else who qualifies, the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing. In 2012, Connick and Marsalis received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.


Personal life

Connick married former
Victoria's Secret Victoria's Secret is an American lingerie, clothing and beauty products, beauty retailer. Founded in 1977 by a Stanford graduate student and his wife, Roy Raymond, Roy and Gaye Raymond, the company's five lingerie stores were sold to Les Wexner i ...
model Jill Goodacre, the daughter of sculptor Glenna Goodacre, at New Orleans' St. Louis Cathedral on April 16, 1994. The song "Jill" from his album '' Blue Light, Red Light'' (1991) is about her. They have three daughters named Georgia (born 1996), Sarah (born 1997), and Charlotte (born 2002). The family previously lived in both New Orleans and
New Canaan, Connecticut New Canaan () is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,622 according to the 2020 census. The town is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region. About an hour from New York City by train, the town ...
. Connick briefly relocated his family to
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
whilst he worked on ''
Australian Idol ''Australian Idol'' is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the ''Idol'' franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program '' Pop Id ...
'' in 2023, and all three of his daughters opted to remain there instead of returning to the U.S. with their parents when his work finished. In December 1992, Connick was arrested by New York's Port Authority Police and charged with possessing a 9mm pistol at JFK International Airport. After spending the day in jail, he agreed to make a public service television commercial warning against carrying a pistol in New York City without a license. The court agreed to drop all charges if he stayed out of trouble for six months. Connick is a practicing
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
, though he also identifies with his Jewish heritage. As a Louisiana native of mixed Irish Catholic and Jewish descent, he has also been described as a Creole. He is a supporter of his hometown NFL team, the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
. He was caught on camera in 2010 at
Super Bowl XLIV Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champions New Orleans Saints and the American Football Conference (AFC) champions Indianapolis Colts to decide the National Football League (NFL) c ...
, which the Saints won, by the television crew of ''
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by ...
'' during the post-game celebrations. DeGeneres' mother Betty was on the sidelines watching the festivities when she spotted Connick in the stands sporting a
Drew Brees Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. A member of the New Orleans Saints for most of his career, Brees is sec ...
jersey. Connick wrote his daughter Sarah's debut song "A Lot Like Me" in 2011, which she released under the name Kate Connick, using her middle name professionally. The song was released to celebrate the debut of
American Girl American Girl is an American line of dolls released on May 5, 1986, by Pleasant Company. The dolls portray eight- to fourteen-year-old girls of various ethnicities, faiths, nationalities, and social classes throughout different time periods ...
's newest historical characters Cecile Rey and Marie Grace Gardner. The proceeds from the song went towards the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.


Discography

* '' Dixieland Plus'' (1977) * '' Pure Dixieland'' (1979) * '' Harry Connick Jr.'' (1987) * '' 20'' (1988) * ''
When Harry Met Sally ''When Harry Met Sally...'' is a 1989 American romantic comedy film directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby, it follows the title characters from the time they meet ...
'' (1989) oundtrack album* '' We Are in Love'' (1990) * '' Lofty's Roach Souffle'' (1990) * '' Blue Light, Red Light'' (1991) * '' 25'' (1992) * ''Eleven'' (1992) Pure Dixieland''">e-release of '' Pure Dixieland''* '' When My Heart Finds Christmas'' (1993) * '' Forever For Now'' (1993) ompilation album released in the UK* '' She'' (1994) * '' Star Turtle'' (1996) * '' To See You'' (1997) * '' Come by Me'' (1999) * '' 30'' (2001) * '' Songs I Heard'' (2001) * '' Thou Shalt Not'' (2002) ast recording* '' Other Hours: Connick on Piano, Volume 1'' (2003) * '' Harry for the Holidays'' (2003) * '' Only You'' (2004) * '' Occasion: Connick on Piano, Volume 2'' (2005) * '' Harry on Broadway, Act I'' (2006) ast recording* '' Oh, My NOLA'' (2007) * '' Chanson du Vieux Carré : Connick on Piano, Volume 3'' (2007) * '' What a Night! A Christmas Album'' (2008) * '' Your Songs'' (2009) * '' In Concert on Broadway'' (2011) ive album* ''Music from The Happy Elf: Connick on Piano, Volume 4'' (2011) * ''Smokey Mary'' (2013) * ''Every Man Should Know'' (2013) * ''That Would Be Me'' (2015) * ''True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter'' (2019) * ''Alone With My Faith'' (2021)


Filmography


Film


Television


Broadway

* 1990 ''An Evening with Harry Connick Jr. and His Orchestra'' (special, concert) * 2001 '' Thou Shalt Not'' (Broadway Musical)composer * 2006 ''
The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his chor ...
'' (Broadway Musical) * 2010 '' Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway'' (special, concert)Tix On Sale Today For Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway
broadwayworld.com, May 4, 2010
* 2011 '' On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'' (Broadway Musical) * 2019 ''Harry Connick, Jr. - A Celebration of Cole Porter'' (special, concert)


References


Further reading


Harry Connick Jr. interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' November 2009
* *

adio transcript 2005. ''The Music Show''. Presented by Andrew Ford.
Article on Connick's United States patent 6,348,648
for a "system and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra."


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Connick, Harry Jr. 1967 births 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century American jazz composers 20th-century Roman Catholics 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American jazz composers 21st-century Roman Catholics American baritones American crooners American jazz bandleaders American jazz pianists American jazz singers American male film actors American male jazz composers American male musical theatre actors American male jazz pianists American male pop singers American male singer-songwriters American male stage actors American male television actors American people of Jewish descent American Roman Catholics Catholics from Louisiana Columbia Records artists Grammy Award winners Hunter College alumni Isidore Newman School alumni Jazz arrangers Jazz musicians from New Orleans Jazz-funk pianists Jewish American composers Jewish jazz musicians Jewish American male actors Jewish American musicians Jesuit High School (New Orleans) alumni Living people Male actors from New Orleans Manhattan School of Music alumni Singers from New Orleans Primetime Emmy Award winners Singer-songwriters from Louisiana Swing pianists Swing singers Theatre World Award winners Traditional pop music singers Judges in American reality television series