CHEYENNE JACKSON, born on this date, is an American actor and singer. His credits include leading roles in Broadway musicals and other stage roles, as well as film and television roles, concert singing, and music recordings.

After beginning his acting career in regional theatre in Seattle, Washington, Jackson moved to Manhattan and was an understudy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Aida (2003). He next originated the role of Matthew in the workshop production of Altar Boyz (2004) for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and was replaced by Scott Porter for the Off-Broadway run. Jackson’s first leading role on Broadway was in All Shook Up (2005), which earned him a Theatre World Award for “Outstanding Broadway Debut”. Since then, on the New York stage, he has starred in The Agony & the Agony, Xanadu; Drama League, Drama Desk nominations), Damn Yankees, Finian’s Rainbow; Drama Desk nomination), 8, The Heart of the Matter, The Performers, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, and Once Upon a Mattress.

He has also appeared in a number of films, including the 2006 Academy Award-nominated United 93, in which his portrayal of Mark Bingham earned him the Boston Society of Film Critics 2006 award for Best Ensemble Cast. He also had a leading role in the 2014 independent romantic comedy ensemble, Mutual Friends, and guest roles in television series such as NBC’s 30 Rock and Fox’s Glee. Beginning in 2015, Jackson starred in the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story in its fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons.

Jackson is an LGBT rights advocate. He is an international ambassador for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research).  Jackson is also a national ambassador and spokesperson for the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a non-profit organization devoted to serving the needs of LGBT youth.

He began dating Monte Lapka, a physicist, in 2000. The two married in September 2011, in New York City. In July 2013, they announced plans to divorce. They filed for divorce in September 2013.

In October 2013, Jackson announced he was dating actor Jason Landau on his official Instagram account. They announced their engagement in February 2014 and married in Encino, California, in September 2014. Jackson and Landau became the parents of twins in October 2016.

Jackson has discussed his struggles with alcoholism, and in 2023 said that he had relapsed after 10 years of sobriety.