Christopher Paul Colfer (born in Clovis, California on May 27th, 1990) is an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. Colfer won the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his performance as Kurt Hummel on Glee and was nominated for a 2010 SAG Award for the same role. In 2011, at 20 years old, Colfer was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. For two years in a row he has been nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category for his portrayal of Kurt. On June 8, 2011, Colfer signed a book deal to write two children's novels, the first of which, The Land of Stories (which he had his first ideas for when he was 7 years old) is scheduled for release in 2012. He grew up performing in community and regional theater, and when he was 14, assistant-directed a theatrical benefit for Valley Children’s Hospital. He was very active throughout high school: he was involved in drama, was the president of the writer’s club, was editor of the school literary magazine and was a speech and debate champion. At the end of his senior year, he wrote, directed and starred in a musical spoof of “Sweeney Todd,” titled “Shirley Todd,” in which all of the roles were gender-reversed. He starred as “Mr. Lovett”. While pursuing a career in film and television, he worked mornings before school in the cafeteria as a cookie scooper and summers as a clerk at a dry cleaners. He currently plays Kurt Hummel in FOX’s new 2009 show, GLEE. This is his first TV role. He is openly gay.