Colin Donnell

Early life and education

Colin Donnell was born in St. Louis, Missouri, as the youngest of three boys. He has Irish and French ancestry. He played the guitar and took singing lessons when he was 17. His introduction to the stage was at Kirkwood High School. He was a part of the choir and was in the background juggling and doing circus tricks, which led to being part of his first school musical production of Barnum. Donnell graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2005.

Career

Donnell has been part of many national stage tours, such as Mamma Mia! and Wicked. His first Broadway Theatre performance was in Jersey Boys as Hank Mejewski. His other stage credits include Follies, Meet Me in St. Louis, Johnny Baseball and many more. He played Billy Crocker in the 2011 Broadway revival of Anything Goes and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, and an Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer.

Donnell made his television debut by playing Mike Ruskin in the television series Pan Am. In 2012, Donnell was cast as Tommy Merlyn in television series Arrow, where he is a series regular in the first season and made occasional appearances in later seasons, including the final season.

In July and August 2013, Donnell starred as Berowne in the musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. He also appeared as Elizabeth Banks' husband in the crime thriller Every Secret Thing, which was released on May 15, 2015.

In January 2014, Donnell was cast as Monty in the 1960s-era Broadway musical Violet alongside Sutton Foster and Joshua Henry; previews began on March 28, and the show officially opened on April 20. In July, Donnell was cast to play Joshua Jackson's brother in Showtime original drama The Affair.

In 2015, he performed in the New York City Center Encores! production of the musical Lady, Be Good, alongside Tommy Tune, Erin Mackey and Patti Murin.

In March 2015, Donnell starred in Love Is A Four Letter Word, a pilot for NBC in which he played Sean, an ad agency partner; the show was not picked up to series. Donnell then landed a regular role in the NBC series, Chicago Med, playing a doctor in trauma surgery. On April 19, 2019, it was announced that Donnell was leaving the series after four seasons as a series regular.

A special Encores! Off-Center staged concert of Songs for a New World was performed at New York City Center June 27 through June 30, 2018. The production was directed by Kate Whoriskey and starred Shoshana Bean, Colin Donnell, Mykal Kilgore, and Solea Pfeiffer.

In 2022, Donnell and Patti Murin released a joint album titled "Something Stupid" on Broadway Records. The album was produced by Robbie Rozelle and co-produced by Yasuhiko Fukuoka. Luke Williams was the arranger and orchestrator. The album features a cross section of pop, Broadway, and Disney songs.

In 2024, Donnell was cast in the guest role of Brian Lange in CBS television series FBI: International for the final two episodes of the show's third season. In November of that same year, he starred as the Father in New York City Center's Encores! production of Ragtime opposite Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz. He’s set to reprise the role for its 2025 Broadway transfer.

Personal life

Donnell began dating actress Patti Murin in 2013 after they co-starred in a Shakespeare in the Park musical adaptation of Love's Labour's Lost. They became engaged in December 2014, and married on June 19, 2015, in New York City. Their first child, Cecily, was born on July 14, 2020. In October 2022, the couple announced that Murin was pregnant with their second child. Their second child, Lorelai, was born on April 2, 2023.

Donnell is a literary aficionado and a musician. He has two tattoos from his tour trips – one from Memphis and one from Dayton; which are five silhouettes of birds to represent his family, and a Fleur De Lis, because his mother is French.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

References

References

1. (October 9, 2007). "Happy Birthday to Colin Donnell! · Jersey Boys Blog". Jerseyboysblog.com.
2. (November 18, 2011). "In Focus: Irish American actor Colin Donnell- VIDEO". IrishCentral.com.
3. "From Kirkwood to Curtain Calls". Kirkwood City Lifestyle.
4. "Anything Goes' Charmer Colin Donnell on His Wicked Awesome Fans and High School Musical Story". Broadway.com.
5. "JBB Interview Exclusive: Howard Tucker Interviews Colin Donnell! · Jersey Boys Blog". jerseyboysblog.com.
6. "IU alumnus takes the auditorium stage in 'Mamma Mia!'".
7. "Anything Goes Costars Sutton Foster and Colin Donnell Will Reunite in Violet on Broadway {{!}} TheaterMania".
8. (October 18, 2007). "JBB Interview Exclusive: Howard Tucker Interviews Colin Donnell! · Jersey Boys Blog". Jerseyboysblog.com.
9. "Colin Donnell Biography". broadwayworld.com.
10. (November 28, 2017). "Arrow crossover episode made a fan theory come true".
11. Francisco, Eric. (May 4, 2018). "'Arrow' Has a Rare Comics Easter Egg in Tommy's Return Episode".
12. "Exclusive: 'Arrow' brings back Colin Donnell, Josh Segarra for final season".
13. BWW News Desk. "Daniel Breaker, Colin Donnell, Rebecca Naomi Jones & More Set for COMEDY OF ERRORS and LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST in the Park!". BroadwayWorld.com.
14. Carina Adly MacKenzie. (May 15, 2013). "'Arrow' Season 1 finale: Colin Donnell speaks out on Tommy's terrible fate and what's next – Zap2it & Features". Zap2it.
15. BWW News Desk. "Breaking News: Colin Donnell & Joshua Henry Join Sutton Foster in VIOLET on Broadway!". BroadwayWorld.com.
16. "AP News: Local". AP News.
17. "Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell to join Sutton Foster". U-T San Diego.
18. "Jarett Wieselman on Twitter". Twitter.
19. BWW News Desk. "Tommy Tune, Colin Donnell, Erin Mackey & More Will Star in Encores! LADY, BE GOOD". BroadwayWorld.com.
20. "Broadway Legend Tommy Tune Will Return to the Stage for Lady, Be Good at Encores!". Broadway.com.
21. Nellie Andreeva. (March 5, 2015). "Meta Golding, Colin Donnell, Monet Mazur Join NBC Pilot 'Love Is A 4 Letter Word' – Deadline Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood.
22. Nellie Andreeva. (May 29, 2015). "Colin Donnell Cast In 'Chicago Med' As New Regular – Deadline Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood.
23. (May 29, 2015). "Colin Donnell Joins 'Chicago Med'". The Hollywood Reporter.
24. Ausiello, Michael. (April 19, 2019). "Colin Donnell Confirms Chicago Med Departure: 'Sorry to Say It's True'".
25. Culwell-Block, Logan. (November 18, 2022). "Broadway Spouses Patti Murin and Colin Donnell Release Joint Album Something Stupid November 18".
26. Petski, Denise. (April 24, 2024). "'FBI: International' Casts Colin Donnell In Final 2 Episodes Of Season 3 Following Luke Kleintank's Exit".
27. Green, Jesse [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/theater/ragtime-review-city-center.html Review: A Vocally Splendid ‘Ragtime’ Raises the Roof] New York Times, October 31, 2024
28. Webber, Stephanie. (December 20, 2014). "Arrow Star Colin Donnell Engaged to Patti Murin".
29. Vulpo, Mike. (June 20, 2015). "Colin Donnell Is Married! Arrow Star Says "I Do" to Patti Murin While Channeling Scenes From The Bachelorette".
30. "Patti Murin and Colin Donnell Expecting First Child — a Baby Girl: 'We're Overwhelmingly Happy'".
31. (July 17, 2020). "Patti Murin and Colin Donnell Welcome Daughter Cecily Philips: 'She's Gonna Change the World'".
32. (October 25, 2022). "Patti Murin and Colin Donnell Expecting Second Baby Girl: 'We're So Excited'".
33. "Colin Donnell". Facebook.
34. "Colin Donnell Proves His Theatre Credentials".
35. Gordon, David[https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/ragtime-reveals-additional-broadway-casting_1679899/ Ragtime reveals additional Broadway casting] WhatsOnStage, May 28, 2025