John Barrowman: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Captainjack.jpg|thumb]][[Image:300torchwood actors.jpg|right|150px|thumb|John Barrowman with Torchwood co-star [[Eve Myles]]. Photo courtesy BBC]]
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
'''John Barrowman''' (born [[11th March]] [[1967]] in [[Glasgow#Real World|Glasgow]]) appeared as Captain [[Jack Harkness]], beginning in [[DW]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'' in 2005, leaving the series after the Series 1 finale, ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]''. Barrowman subsequently portrayed Captain Jack in a spin-off series, ''[[Torchwood]]'', which premiered in Autumn [[2006]] and has to date aired three seasons, the most recent in 2009. Barrowman has also reprised Captain Jack in several episodes of ''Doctor Who'' in 2007 and 2008, in a number of audio dramas produced for [[BBC Radio]], and the character also narrates the BBC Website feature ''The Monster Files''.  
{{Infobox Person
|image    = John Barrowman headshot.jpg
|job title = Actor, writer
|role      = [[Jack Harkness]]
|aka      = John Scot Barrowman
|time      = {{il|2005-2011, 2020 - (television)|2015 - 2020 (audio)}}
|non dwu  = {{il|''How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?''|''Any Dream Will Do''|''[[Tonight's the Night]]''| ''Dreamcoat''|''Titans''|''Arrow''}}
|imdb      = 0057882
|twitter  = JohnBarrowman
|official site = www.johnbarrowman.com
|clip      = John Barrowman Talks Captain Jack - Doctor Who The Fan Show
|story=[[#Credits|See credits section]]
}}{{you may|John Barrowman (in-universe)|n1=the parody character|Jon Bowman}}
'''John Scot Barrowman''', {{w|Order of the British Empire|MBE}} (born [[11 March (people)|11 March]] [[1967 (people)|1967]]<ref>[https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/person.php?name=JohnBarrowman Doctor Who Guide]</ref>) appeared as [[Captain]] [[Jack Harkness]], beginning in the television story ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'' in 2005, leaving the series after the [[series 1 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 1]] finale, ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]''. Barrowman subsequently portrayed Captain Jack in a spin-off series, ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', which premièred in October 2006. Barrowman has continued to appear as Captain Jack in several episodes of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' from 2007 to 2010 as well as a surprise cameo in the 2020 story ''[[Fugitive of the Judoon (TV story)|Fugitive of the Judoon]]'' and the 2021 New Year's Special ''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]''. He has also appeared in a number of audio dramas produced for [[BBC Radio]], and in the [[Big Finish Torchwood series]]. Barrowman also narrated the BBC Website feature ''[[Monster Files]]'' (in character) until [[Matt Smith]] took over [[David Tennant]]'s role as [[the Doctor]], after which [[Alex Kingston]] began narrating them.


Barrowman was raised in [[Wikipedia:Joliet|Joliet]], [[Wikipedia:Illinois|Illinois]], and graduated from Joliet West High School in [[1985]]. He is the son of a plant manager of the former Caterpillar Inc. tractor factory in Joliet. While still in high school, he won parts in several musical productions while still a freshman. Between [[1983]] and 1985 he performed in productions of ''Hello, Dolly!,'' ''Oliver!,'' ''Camelot'', ''L'il Abner'' and ''Anything Goes''.
In 2009, he wrote the ''[[Torchwood Magazine]]'' comic story ''[[The Selkie (comic story)|The Selkie]]'' with his sister, [[Carole E. Barrowman|Carole]], followed by the novel ''[[Exodus Code (novel)|Exodus Code]]'' in [[2012 (releases)|2012]] and the [[Torchwood (2016)|''Torchwood'' comic series]] beginning in [[2016 (releases)|2016]].


He attended university in [[Wikipedia:San Diego|San Diego]], and returned to the [[United Kingdom]] in [[1990]]. He has appeared in several West End musicals, including ''Anything Goes'', ''Miss Saigon'', ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''Matador'', ''Hair'', ''Grease!'' and ''The Phantom of the Opera''. He has also appeared in the West End in non-musical dramas, such as ''Rope'' and the 2005 production of ''A Few Good Men'', in which Barrowman starred opposite Rob Lowe. Most recently he starred in ''Cinderella'' at the New Wimbledon Theatre for the 2005-6 [[Christmas]] season.
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Barrowman was raised in {{w|Joliet}}, [[Illinois]], and graduated from Joliet West High School in 1985. He is the son of a plant manager of the former Caterpillar Inc. tractor factory in Joliet. While still a high school freshman, he won parts in several musical productions. Between 1983 and 1985, he performed in productions of ''Hello, Dolly!,'' ''Oliver!,'' ''Camelot'', ''L'il Abner'' and ''Anything Goes''. He attended university in [[San Diego]] before returning to the [[United Kingdom]] in 1989.


He has played the role of Joe Gillis in ''Sunset Boulevard'' in the West End and, briefly, on Broadway. His only other Broadway credit is the Stephen Sondheim revue ''Putting It Together'' ([[1999]]–[[2000]]).
He holds a dual United Kingdom/[[United States]] passport, which enables him to work on both sides of the Atlantic.


Barrowman appeared in the first run of the [[BBC]] children's variety show ''Live & Kicking'' in [[1993]]-[[1994]], co-hosting the show with Andi Peters and Emma Forbes, before moving on to ''The Movie Game'', a [[television]] game show.
John has said he would return to ''Doctor Who'' "at the drop of a hat" if he ever got the invitation. Nearly a decade later, he did receive an invitation from Chris Chibnall, who wanted him back on the show as Captain Jack Harkness in [[Series 12 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 12]].


He is probably best known in the [[United States]] for starring roles in several short-lived prime-time soap operas such as ''Titans'' with Yasmine Bleeth in 2000 and ''Central Park West'', as well as the low-budget cult film ''Shark Attack 3''.
=== Career ===
==== Stage ====
He has appeared in several [[West End]] musicals including ''Anything Goes'', ''Miss Saigon'', ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''Matador'', ''Hair'', ''Grease!'' and ''The Phantom of the Opera''. He has also appeared in the West End in non-musical dramas, such as ''Rope'' and the 2005 production of ''A Few Good Men'' (opposite Hollywood actor Rob Lowe). Most recently he starred in ''[[Cinderella]]'' at the New Wimbledon Theatre for the 2005-6 [[Christmas]] season.


Barrowman's musical abilities have been featured in film: he had a duet with Kevin Kline in the Cole Porter biopic ''De-Lovely'', and he can be seen singing "Springtime for Hitler" in the film of Mel Brooks' ''The Producers'', based on the Broadway adaptation of the original movie.
He has played the role of Joe Gillis in ''Sunset Boulevard'' in the West End and, briefly, on Broadway. His only other Broadway credit is the Stephen Sondheim revue ''Putting It Together'' (1999–2000).


Barrowman, who is openly gay, has been with his partner, British architect Scott Gill, since [[1991]]. Despite this long-standing relationship, Barrowman told ''The Herald'' of Glasgow that he had no plans to marry, saying, "Why would I want a 'marriage' from a belief system that hates me?". However, he and Gill became civil partners, but as Barrowman explained when the couple were interviewed by ''Attitude'' magazine, they do not want to call this a marriage "We're just going to sign the civil register. We're not going to have any ceremony because I'm not a supporter of the word marriage for a gay partnership.".  
==== TV ====
[[Image:Jb pantomime.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|John Barrowman on horseback]]
Barrowman appeared in the first run of the BBC Children's variety show ''Live & Kicking'' in 1993-1994, co-hosting the show with Andi Peters and Emma Forbes, before moving on to ''The Movie Game'', a television game show. ''Live & Kicking'' saw Barrowman interviewing numerous science fiction alumni, including William Shatner and visiting the sets of SF productions such as Gerry Anderson's ''Space Precinct'', as well as doing reports on video games.


Outside of ''Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'', Barrowman has become somewhat ubiquitous on UK television, hosting everything from morning chat shows to musical retrospectives and also lending his talents to charity events such as Children in Need (he introduced the broadcast of ''[[Time Crash]]'' in 2007). He also conducted one of [[David Tennant]]'s first television interviews after being named the new Doctor (more than a year before Barrowman found himself returning to ''Doctor Who'' opposite Tennant). In the summer of 2008, Barrowman served as one of the judges for both the UK [[BBC]] and Canadian [[CBC]] editions of the talent competition series, ''How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'', which saw the actor commuting transcontinentally.
Barrowman is probably best known in the United States for starring roles in several short-lived prime-time soap operas such as ''Titans'' and ''Central Park West.''


Barrowman is an avid Doctor Who fan beyond his work on the series, and this has been made evident in several DVD featurettes. In the Season 1 ''Doctor Who'' DVD set it's learned that Barrowman received a radio controlled Dalek for his birthday, and in the Season 3 set both he and fellow Who fan David Tennant make reference to the fact Barrowman's dog was named Tegan, after [[Tegan Jovanka]]. The blooper reel for Series 2 of Torchwood reveals that he has the [[Doctor Who theme]] as his ringtone when his mobile phone rings during filming.
Outside of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', Barrowman has become ubiquitous on UK television, hosting everything from morning chat shows to musical retrospectives and lending his talents to charity events such as ''[[Children in Need]]'' (he introduced the broadcast of ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'' in 2007). He also conducted one of [[David Tennant]]'s first television interviews after being named the new Doctor (more than a year before Barrowman found himself returning to ''Doctor Who'' opposite Tennant). In the summer of 2008, Barrowman served as one of the judges for both the UK [[BBC]] and Canadian [[CBC]] editions of the talent competition series, ''How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'', which saw the actor commuting transcontinentally.


In 2009, Barrowman hosted another talent series, ''[[Tonight's the Night]]'', which culminated in a viewer winning a chance to appear opposite Barrowman (playing Jack once again) in a specially written ''Doctor Who'' skit.
In 2009, Barrowman hosted another talent series, ''[[Tonight's the Night]]'', which culminated in a viewer winning a chance to appear opposite Barrowman (playing Jack once again) in a specially written ''Doctor Who ''skit. ''Tonight's the Night'' returned for a second season later in 2010.


John Barrowman is currently in talks to join the cast of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desperate_Housewives Desperate Housewives][http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/jul/31/john-barrowman-desperate-housewives]. However, the BBC has also indicated that a fourth season of ''Torchwood'' is also still a possibility. Reportedly, on-set photos taken during production of [[DW]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' suggest Barrowman will appear as Captain Jack.[http://io9.com/5233804/new-set-pics-reveal-just-how-freaktastic-david-tennants-final-doctor-who-story-will-be]
In 2010, John appeared in ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' as Patrick Logan, where he featured in 6 episodes. Barrowman also reprised the role of Captain Jack for a cameo in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time, Part Two]]''. A self-confessed ''Glee'' fan ("Gleek"), he was forced to turn down a guest spot on the series due to his ''Torchwood'' commitments.


==External links==
From 2012 onwards, he has had a recurring role as Malcolm Merlyn in ''Arrow''. In 2013 John signed a contract with the producers of ''Arrow ''making Malcolm Merlyn a permanent fixture in the series and thus John becoming part of the main cast.
{{imdb name|id=0057882|name=John Barrowman}} 
 
*[http://www.johnbarrowman.com johnbarrowman.com]
In 2013, he played himself in Peter Davison's 50th Anniversary sketch ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (TV story)|The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]''.
*[http://www.famtic.com/Person/151/John-Barrowman John Barrowman at Famtic.com]
 
{{Wikipedia|John_Barrowman}}
In 2018, he voiced the character of Flex Dexter in that year's ''[[Fireman Sam]]'' special, ''Fireman Sam: Set for Action!''
[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast|Barrowman, John]]
 
[[Category:Torchwood cast|Barrowman, John]]
In November 2018, he was announced as part of the line-up for the eighteenth season of ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! where he placed 3rd.''
[[Category:LGBT cast|Barowman, John]]
 
[[Category:Doctor Who fans]]
==== Film ====
Barrowman's musical abilities have been featured in film: he had a duet with Kevin Kline in the Cole Porter biopic ''De-Lovely'', and he can be seen singing "Springtime for Hitler" in the film of Mel Brooks' ''The Producers'', based on the Broadway adaptation of the original movie. He has also appeared in the low-budget cult film ''Shark Attack 3: Megalodon''.
 
Barrowman also portrays a version of himself in the comedy ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]''. While trying to get Barrowman to help their campaign to be included in ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', within the narrative [[Peter Davison]], [[Colin Baker]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]] discover that despite his openly gay persona he is actually married to a woman, with two children ([[David Tennant]] and [[Georgia Moffett]]'s daughter Olive portraying the toddler). Barrowman promises help on the condition they keep the discovery a secret.
 
=== Sexual misconduct allegations ===
Barrowman has been accused of indecently exposing himself on multiple occasions with, prior to 2015, at least one instance being recounted by [[Freema Agyeman]], in 2008, as taking place on the set of ''Torchwood''.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210430200909/https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/noel-clarke-videos-scenes-john-barrowman/</ref> Barrowman's alleged actions were common enough knowledge that it was referenced in the [[webcast]] ''[[The Ballad of Russell and Julie (webcast)|The Ballad of Russell and Julie]]'', a skit that Barrowman himself appeared in. In the webcast, [[David Tennant]], playing [[Russell T Davies]], recounts that he is having a hard time forgetting the mental image of Barrowman "getting his cock out" while working on ''Doctor Who''. Barrowman then winks at the camera.
 
At a science fiction convention in 2015, [[Noel Clarke]], whilst reminiscing on filming ''[[Boom Town (TV story)|Boom Town]]'', similarly alleged that Barrowman exposed himself on set. A video recording of this incident later resurfaced in April 2021 following accusations of sexual harrasment against Clarke himself, bringing renewed attention to the accusations against Barrowman. On 7 May 2021, Barrowman issued a statement admitting to engaging in "tomfoolery" and apologising for his actions.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/john-barrowman-doctor-who-noel-clarke-b1843687.html</ref>
 
In response to the accusations, [[Big Finish Productions]] removed the planned ''Torchwood'' audio story ''[[Absent Friends (Torchwood audio story)|Absent Friends]]'' from its release schedule, with an unspecified Big Finish spokeperson confirming, "We have no plans to publish this title at this time."<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57114481</ref> A [[Titan Publishing Group]] graphic novel, called the ''[[Doctor Who 2021 Event (comic story)|Doctor Who 2021 Event]]'', that would have tied into [[TV]]: ''[[War of the Sontarans (TV story)|War of the Sontarans]]'' and featured Jack was also cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carr |first1=Flora |title=Doctor Who graphic novel centred around Captain Jack Harkness on hold after John Barrowman allegations |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-graphic-novel-john-barrowman-captain-jack-newsupdate/ |website=Radio Tmes |publisher=Immediate Media Company Ltd. |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
 
== Personal life ==
Barrowman, who is openly [[homosexuality|gay]], has been with his partner, British architect Scott Gill, since 1994. Despite this long-standing relationship, Barrowman told ''The Herald'' of Glasgow that he had no plans to marry, saying, "Why would I want a 'marriage' from a belief system that hates me?". Gill and he became civil partners, but as Barrowman explained when the couple were interviewed by ''Attitude'' magazine, they do not want to call this a marriage. "We're just going to sign the civil register. We're not going to have any ceremony because I'm not a supporter of the word marriage for a [[gay]] partnership." [[File:Jb pantomime.jpg|thumb|right|John Barrowman on horseback]]
 
Despite this, he and Gill ''did'' end up getting [[married]] on 2 July 2013.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/news/a495163/john-barrowman-marries-scott-gill-in-california.html John Barrowman Marries Scott Gill in Calfornia]</ref>
 
Barrowman, who is often disarmingly open about his private life, has to date published two volumes of memoirs, both written in conjunction with his sister, [[Carole E. Barrowman]]: ''Anything Goes'' (2008) and ''I Am What I Am'' (2009); in the latter, Barrowman covers his years working on ''Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood''.
 
Barrowman is an avid ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fan beyond his work on the series, and this has been made evident in several DVD featurettes. In the [[Series 1 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 1]] ''Doctor Who'' DVD set{{facts}} it's learned that Barrowman once received a radio-controlled [[Dalek]] for his birthday, and, in the [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 3]] set, he and fellow ''Who'' fan [[David Tennant]] mention that Barrowman's [[dog]] was named Tegan (after former companion [[Tegan Jovanka]]). The blooper reel for Series 2 of ''Torchwood'' reveals that he has the [[Doctor Who theme|''Doctor Who'' theme]] as his ringtone when his [[mobile phone]] rings during filming. Barrowman has stated his willingness to return to ''Torchwood'' and ''Doctor Who'', and has made it very clear he would return in a heartbeat, and that all the producers would need to do is ask.
 
Barrowman has also recorded several musical CDs which have been released internationally, as well as narrating audio book readings of ''Anything Goes'' and several ''Torchwood'' novels.
 
Although he normally speaks in an [[American]] accent because of his immigration to the United States as a young child, Barrowman can revert to his original [[Scotland|Scottish]] accent if needed (which he also uses whenever he converses with his relatives).
 
His family moved to the [[United States]] when he was young.
 
== Acting credits ==
As [[Jack Harkness|"Captain Jack Harkness"]]
=== Television ===
==== ''Doctor Who'' ====
===== Series 1 =====
* ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'' / ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]''
* ''[[Boom Town (TV story)|Boom Town]]''
* ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'' / ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]''
 
===== Series 3 =====
* ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]''
* ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'' / ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]''
 
===== Series 4 =====
* ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''
* ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''
 
===== Series 12 =====
* ''[[Fugitive of the Judoon (TV story)|Fugitive of the Judoon]]''
 
===== New Year's Special =====
* ''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]''
 
==== ''Torchwood'' ====
===== Series 1 =====
* ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]''
* ''[[Day One (TV story)|Day One]]''
* ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]''
* ''[[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]]''
* ''[[Small Worlds (TV story)|Small Worlds]]''
* ''[[Countrycide (TV story)|Countrycide]]''
* ''[[Greeks Bearing Gifts (TV story)|Greeks Bearing Gifts]]''
* ''[[They Keep Killing Suzie (TV story)|They Keep Killing Suzie]]''
* ''[[Random Shoes (TV story)|Random Shoes]]''
* ''[[Out of Time (TV story)|Out of Time]]''
* ''[[Combat (TV story)|Combat]]''
* ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]''
* ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]''
 
===== Series 2 =====
* ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]''
* ''[[Sleeper (TV story)|Sleeper]]''
* ''[[To the Last Man (TV story)|To the Last Man]]''
* ''[[Meat (TV story)|Meat]]''
* ''[[Adam (TV story)|Adam]]''
* ''[[Reset (TV story)|Reset]]''
* ''[[Dead Man Walking (TV story)|Dead Man Walking]]''
* ''[[A Day in the Death (TV story)|A Day in the Death]]''
* ''[[Something Borrowed (TV story)|Something Borrowed]]''
* ''[[From Out of the Rain (TV story)|From Out of the Rain]]''
* ''[[Adrift (TV story)|Adrift]]''
* ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]''
* ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]''
 
===== Series 3 =====
* ''[[Children of Earth]]''
** ''[[Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)|Day One]]''
** ''[[Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)|Day Two]]''
** ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)|Day Three]]''
** ''[[Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)|Day Four]]''
** ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)|Day Five]]''
 
===== Series 4 =====
* ''[[The New World (TV story)|The New World]]''
* ''[[Rendition (TV story)|Rendition]]''
* ''[[Dead of Night (TV story)|Dead of Night]]''
* ''[[Escape to LA (TV story)|Escape to LA]]''
* ''[[The Categories of Life (TV story)|The Categories of Life]]''
* ''[[The Middle Men (TV story)|The Middle Men]]''
* ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]''
* ''[[End of the Road (TV story)|End of the Road]]''
* ''[[The Gathering (TV story)|The Gathering]]''
* ''[[The Blood Line (TV story)|The Blood Line]]''
 
As "Himself"
* ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (TV story)|The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]''
 
=== Audio ===
As [[Jack Harkness|"Captain Jack Harkness"]]
==== ''Torchwood'' ====
===== Audio dramas =====
* ''[[Lost Souls (audio story)|Lost Souls]]''
* ''[[Asylum (audio story)|Asylum]]''
* ''[[Golden Age (audio story)|Golden Age]]''
* ''[[The Dead Line (audio story)|The Dead Line]]''
* ''[[The Devil and Miss Carew (audio story)|The Devil and Miss Carew]]''
* ''[[Submission (audio story)|Submission]]''
* ''[[The House of the Dead (audio story)|The House of the Dead]]''
 
==== Big Finish ''Torchwood'' ====
===== Series 1 =====
* ''[[The Conspiracy (audio story)|The Conspiracy]]''
* ''[[Uncanny Valley (audio story)|Uncanny Valley]]''
 
===== Series 2 =====
* ''[[The Victorian Age (audio story)|The Victorian Age]]''
* ''[[Broken (audio story)|Broken]]''
 
===== Series 4 =====
* ''[[The Death of Captain Jack (audio story)|The Death of Captain Jack]]''
 
===== Series 5 =====
* ''[[The Green Life (audio story)|The Green Life]]''
* ''[[Serenity (audio story)|Serenity]]''
* ''[[Expectant (audio story)|Expectant]]''
 
===== Specials =====
* ''[[The Torchwood Archive (audio story)|The Torchwood Archive]]''
* ''[[Outbreak (audio story)|Outbreak]]''
* ''[[Believe (audio story)|Believe]]''
 
===== ''The Story Continues'' =====
* ''[[Aliens Among Us 1]]''
** ''[[Changes Everything (audio story)|Changes Everything]]''
** ''[[Aliens & Sex & Chips & Gravy (audio story)|Aliens & Sex & Chips & Gravy]]''
** ''[[Orr (audio story)|Orr]]''
** ''[[Superiority Complex (audio story)|Superiority Complex]]''
 
* ''[[Aliens Among Us 2]]''
** ''[[Love Rat (audio story)|Love Rat]]''
** ''[[A Kill to a View (audio story)|A Kill to a View]]''
** ''[[The Empty Hand (audio story)|The Empty Hand]]''
 
* ''[[Aliens Among Us 3]]''
** ''[[Poker Face (audio story)|Poker Face]]''
** ''[[Tagged (audio story)|Tagged]]''
** ''[[Herald of the Dawn (audio story)|Herald of the Dawn]]''
 
* ''[[God Among Us 1]]''
** ''[[Future Pain (audio story)|Future Pain]]''
** ''[[The Man Who Destroyed Torchwood (audio story)|The Man Who Destroyed Torchwood]]''
** ''[[See No Evil (audio story)|See No Evil]]''
** ''[[Night Watch (audio story)|Night Watch]]''
 
* ''[[God Among Us 2]]''
** ''[[Hostile Environment (audio story)|Hostile Environment]]''
** ''[[Another Man's Shoes (audio story)|Another Man's Shoes]]''
** ''[[Eye of the Storm (audio story)|Eye of the Storm]]''
 
* ''[[God Among Us 3]]''
** ''[[A Mother's Son (audio story)|A Mother's Son]]''
** ''[[Day Zero (audio story)|Day Zero]]''
** ''[[Thoughts and Prayers (audio story)|Thoughts and Prayers]]''
 
==== ''The Lives of Captain Jack '' ====
* ''[[The Lives of Captain Jack (audio anthology)|The Lives of Captain Jack]]''
** ''[[The Year After I Died (audio story)|The Year After I Died]]''
** ''[[Wednesdays For Beginners (audio story)|Wednesdays For Beginners]]''
** ''[[One Enchanted Evening (audio story)|One Enchanted Evening]]''
** ''[[Month 25 (audio story)|Month 25]]''
* ''[[The Lives of Captain Jack: Volume Two]]''
** ''[[Piece of Mind (audio story)|Piece of Mind]]''
** ''[[What Have I Done? (audio story)|What Have I Done?]]''
** ''[[Driving Miss Wells (audio story)|Driving Miss Wells]]''
* ''[[The Lives of Captain Jack: Volume Three]]''
** ''[[Crush (audio story)|Crush]]''
** ''[[Mighty and Despair (audio story)|Mighty and Despair]]''
** ''[[R&J (audio story)|R&J]]''
 
== Writing credits ==
=== Prose ===
* ''[[Exodus Code (novel)|Exodus Code]]'' (with [[Carole E. Barrowman]])
 
=== Comics ===
* ''[[The Selkie (comic story)|The Selkie]]'' (with [[Carole E. Barrowman]])
* [[Torchwood (2016)|''Torchwood'' comic series]]
 
== External links ==
{{imdb name|id=0057882}}
{{twitter|JohnBarrowman}}
{{official website|www.johnbarrowman.com}}
 
== Footnotes ==
=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}
{{NameSort}}
 
 
[[es:John Barrowman]]
[[fr:John Barrowman]]
[[ru:Джон Барроумен]]
 
[[Category:Articles that were originally Wikipedia forks]]
[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast]]
[[Category:Torchwood regular cast]]
[[Category:The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot cast]]
[[Category:Actors who portrayed Jack Harkness]]
[[Category:Video game actors]]
[[Category:Post-2005 Doctor Who cast reprising their roles at Big Finish]]
[[Category:The Lives of Captain Jack voice actors]]
[[Category:Torchwood cast reprising their roles at Big Finish]]
[[Category:BBC Audio audiobook readers]]
[[Category:Torchwood novelists]]
[[Category:Comic writers]]
[[Category:BAFTA Cymru award nominees]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award nominees]]
[[Category:National Television Award nominees]]
[[Category:Actors who were credited in the Doctor Who opening titles]]
[[Category:Webcast actors]]
[[Category:Totally Doctor Who guests]]
[[Category:Actors interviewed on Doctor Who Confidential]]
[[Category:Actors interviewed on Torchwood Declassified]]
[[Category:People interviewed on The Fan Show]]
[[Category:Aliens Among Us voice actors]]
[[Category:Big Finish regular cast]]
[[Category:Doctor Who cast reprising their roles at BBC Radio]]
[[Category:Torchwood cast reprising their roles at BBC Radio]]
[[Category:God Among Us voice actors]]
[[Category:BFTW voice actors]]
[[Category:Doctor Who cast reprising their roles in Torchwood]]

Latest revision as of 20:19, 3 November 2024

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John Scot Barrowman, MBE (born 11 March 1967[1]) appeared as Captain Jack Harkness, beginning in the television story The Empty Child in 2005, leaving the series after the series 1 finale, The Parting of the Ways. Barrowman subsequently portrayed Captain Jack in a spin-off series, Torchwood, which premièred in October 2006. Barrowman has continued to appear as Captain Jack in several episodes of Doctor Who from 2007 to 2010 as well as a surprise cameo in the 2020 story Fugitive of the Judoon and the 2021 New Year's Special Revolution of the Daleks. He has also appeared in a number of audio dramas produced for BBC Radio, and in the Big Finish Torchwood series. Barrowman also narrated the BBC Website feature Monster Files (in character) until Matt Smith took over David Tennant's role as the Doctor, after which Alex Kingston began narrating them.

In 2009, he wrote the Torchwood Magazine comic story The Selkie with his sister, Carole, followed by the novel Exodus Code in 2012 and the Torchwood comic series beginning in 2016.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early life[[edit] | [edit source]]

Barrowman was raised in Joliet, Illinois, and graduated from Joliet West High School in 1985. He is the son of a plant manager of the former Caterpillar Inc. tractor factory in Joliet. While still a high school freshman, he won parts in several musical productions. Between 1983 and 1985, he performed in productions of Hello, Dolly!, Oliver!, Camelot, L'il Abner and Anything Goes. He attended university in San Diego before returning to the United Kingdom in 1989.

He holds a dual United Kingdom/United States passport, which enables him to work on both sides of the Atlantic.

John has said he would return to Doctor Who "at the drop of a hat" if he ever got the invitation. Nearly a decade later, he did receive an invitation from Chris Chibnall, who wanted him back on the show as Captain Jack Harkness in Series 12.

Career[[edit] | [edit source]]

Stage[[edit] | [edit source]]

He has appeared in several West End musicals including Anything Goes, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, Matador, Hair, Grease! and The Phantom of the Opera. He has also appeared in the West End in non-musical dramas, such as Rope and the 2005 production of A Few Good Men (opposite Hollywood actor Rob Lowe). Most recently he starred in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre for the 2005-6 Christmas season.

He has played the role of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and, briefly, on Broadway. His only other Broadway credit is the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together (1999–2000).

TV[[edit] | [edit source]]

Barrowman appeared in the first run of the BBC Children's variety show Live & Kicking in 1993-1994, co-hosting the show with Andi Peters and Emma Forbes, before moving on to The Movie Game, a television game show. Live & Kicking saw Barrowman interviewing numerous science fiction alumni, including William Shatner and visiting the sets of SF productions such as Gerry Anderson's Space Precinct, as well as doing reports on video games.

Barrowman is probably best known in the United States for starring roles in several short-lived prime-time soap operas such as Titans and Central Park West.

Outside of Doctor Who and Torchwood, Barrowman has become ubiquitous on UK television, hosting everything from morning chat shows to musical retrospectives and lending his talents to charity events such as Children in Need (he introduced the broadcast of Time Crash in 2007). He also conducted one of David Tennant's first television interviews after being named the new Doctor (more than a year before Barrowman found himself returning to Doctor Who opposite Tennant). In the summer of 2008, Barrowman served as one of the judges for both the UK BBC and Canadian CBC editions of the talent competition series, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, which saw the actor commuting transcontinentally.

In 2009, Barrowman hosted another talent series, Tonight's the Night, which culminated in a viewer winning a chance to appear opposite Barrowman (playing Jack once again) in a specially written Doctor Who skit. Tonight's the Night returned for a second season later in 2010.

In 2010, John appeared in Desperate Housewives as Patrick Logan, where he featured in 6 episodes. Barrowman also reprised the role of Captain Jack for a cameo in The End of Time, Part Two. A self-confessed Glee fan ("Gleek"), he was forced to turn down a guest spot on the series due to his Torchwood commitments.

From 2012 onwards, he has had a recurring role as Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow. In 2013 John signed a contract with the producers of Arrow making Malcolm Merlyn a permanent fixture in the series and thus John becoming part of the main cast.

In 2013, he played himself in Peter Davison's 50th Anniversary sketch The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

In 2018, he voiced the character of Flex Dexter in that year's Fireman Sam special, Fireman Sam: Set for Action!

In November 2018, he was announced as part of the line-up for the eighteenth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! where he placed 3rd.

Film[[edit] | [edit source]]

Barrowman's musical abilities have been featured in film: he had a duet with Kevin Kline in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, and he can be seen singing "Springtime for Hitler" in the film of Mel Brooks' The Producers, based on the Broadway adaptation of the original movie. He has also appeared in the low-budget cult film Shark Attack 3: Megalodon.

Barrowman also portrays a version of himself in the comedy The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. While trying to get Barrowman to help their campaign to be included in The Day of the Doctor, within the narrative Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy discover that despite his openly gay persona he is actually married to a woman, with two children (David Tennant and Georgia Moffett's daughter Olive portraying the toddler). Barrowman promises help on the condition they keep the discovery a secret.

Sexual misconduct allegations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Barrowman has been accused of indecently exposing himself on multiple occasions with, prior to 2015, at least one instance being recounted by Freema Agyeman, in 2008, as taking place on the set of Torchwood.[2] Barrowman's alleged actions were common enough knowledge that it was referenced in the webcast The Ballad of Russell and Julie, a skit that Barrowman himself appeared in. In the webcast, David Tennant, playing Russell T Davies, recounts that he is having a hard time forgetting the mental image of Barrowman "getting his cock out" while working on Doctor Who. Barrowman then winks at the camera.

At a science fiction convention in 2015, Noel Clarke, whilst reminiscing on filming Boom Town, similarly alleged that Barrowman exposed himself on set. A video recording of this incident later resurfaced in April 2021 following accusations of sexual harrasment against Clarke himself, bringing renewed attention to the accusations against Barrowman. On 7 May 2021, Barrowman issued a statement admitting to engaging in "tomfoolery" and apologising for his actions.[3]

In response to the accusations, Big Finish Productions removed the planned Torchwood audio story Absent Friends from its release schedule, with an unspecified Big Finish spokeperson confirming, "We have no plans to publish this title at this time."[4] A Titan Publishing Group graphic novel, called the Doctor Who 2021 Event, that would have tied into TV: War of the Sontarans and featured Jack was also cancelled.[5]

Personal life[[edit] | [edit source]]

Barrowman, who is openly gay, has been with his partner, British architect Scott Gill, since 1994. Despite this long-standing relationship, Barrowman told The Herald of Glasgow that he had no plans to marry, saying, "Why would I want a 'marriage' from a belief system that hates me?". Gill and he became civil partners, but as Barrowman explained when the couple were interviewed by Attitude magazine, they do not want to call this a marriage. "We're just going to sign the civil register. We're not going to have any ceremony because I'm not a supporter of the word marriage for a gay partnership."

John Barrowman on horseback

Despite this, he and Gill did end up getting married on 2 July 2013.[6]

Barrowman, who is often disarmingly open about his private life, has to date published two volumes of memoirs, both written in conjunction with his sister, Carole E. Barrowman: Anything Goes (2008) and I Am What I Am (2009); in the latter, Barrowman covers his years working on Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Barrowman is an avid Doctor Who fan beyond his work on the series, and this has been made evident in several DVD featurettes. In the Series 1 Doctor Who DVD set[additional sources needed] it's learned that Barrowman once received a radio-controlled Dalek for his birthday, and, in the Series 3 set, he and fellow Who fan David Tennant mention that Barrowman's dog was named Tegan (after former companion Tegan Jovanka). The blooper reel for Series 2 of Torchwood reveals that he has the Doctor Who theme as his ringtone when his mobile phone rings during filming. Barrowman has stated his willingness to return to Torchwood and Doctor Who, and has made it very clear he would return in a heartbeat, and that all the producers would need to do is ask.

Barrowman has also recorded several musical CDs which have been released internationally, as well as narrating audio book readings of Anything Goes and several Torchwood novels.

Although he normally speaks in an American accent because of his immigration to the United States as a young child, Barrowman can revert to his original Scottish accent if needed (which he also uses whenever he converses with his relatives).

His family moved to the United States when he was young.

Acting credits[[edit] | [edit source]]

As "Captain Jack Harkness"

Television[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 3[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 4[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 12[[edit] | [edit source]]
New Year's Special[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 2[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 3[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 4[[edit] | [edit source]]

As "Himself"

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

As "Captain Jack Harkness"

Torchwood[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio dramas[[edit] | [edit source]]

Big Finish Torchwood[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 2[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 4[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series 5[[edit] | [edit source]]
Specials[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Story Continues[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Lives of Captain Jack [[edit] | [edit source]]

Writing credits[[edit] | [edit source]]

Prose[[edit] | [edit source]]

Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Citations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Doctor Who Guide
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210430200909/https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/noel-clarke-videos-scenes-john-barrowman/
  3. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/john-barrowman-doctor-who-noel-clarke-b1843687.html
  4. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57114481
  5. ↑ Doctor Who graphic novel centred around Captain Jack Harkness on hold after John Barrowman allegations. Immediate Media Company Ltd..
  6. ↑ John Barrowman Marries Scott Gill in Calfornia
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