Reeve Carney

Early life

Reeve Carney was born and raised in the West Village area of Manhattan with his brother Zane and sister Paris. He grew up in a family of musicians and actors: his father, John, was a songwriter for commercials, his mother, Marti, was a singer, actress and a jewelry designer and his grand-uncle was Academy Award-winning actor Art Carney. He learned how to play the piano at a young age, and began singing for radio and television commercials. At the age of 8, he was chosen to sing in a live performance and video at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with Peter, Paul and Mary. Two years later, he recorded "Childhood", a song with the New York City Children's Choir on Michael Jackson's 1995 album HIStory.

To get a music education, Carney attended the Academy of Music at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles with his brother, Zane, and future bandmates Aiden Moore and Jon Epcar. He went on to study at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, majoring in studio jazz guitar.

Career

Music

Carney started to play guitar at age 12 and three years later he was playing guitar professionally at B. B. King's night club in Los Angeles. When living in California, Carney released his first EP Looking Glass in 2004 and promoted it by performing with other musicians, including Jonny Lang. At age 22 he signed with Interscope and formed his jazz-infused rock namesake band, Carney, consisting of Carney (songwriter, vocals and guitar), his brother Zane (guitar), Aiden Moore (bass) and Jon Epcar (drums). The band's vision led the manager David Sonenberg to work with them. Carney released their first EP Nothing Without You in 2008 and their debut album, Mr. Green Vol. 1, in May 2010. In 2009 the band went on tour with The Veronicas in their Revenge Is Sweeter world tour and in 2011 they opened for Arcade Fire and U2 in Moncton, Canada on July 30 on the final date of the U2 360° Tour.

When acting on Broadway, Carney was invited to be part of the album Broadway's Carols for a Cure in 2011 ("St. Nicholas Sky" featuring T.V. Carpio) and 2013 ("A Savior is Born"). Carney also recorded the single "Rise Above 1" with Bono and The Edge in 2011, an adapted song from the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Apart from making his own music, Carney also wrote songs for soundtracks for films such as The Tempest (2010) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (2012). In October 2016 Carney released his debut solo album, Youth Is Wasted, which he wrote and produced himself. Since then Carney was on tour two times (Reeve Carney Fall Tour 2016 and Youth Is Wasted Tour 2017). Three songs from his album as well as the album itself were nominated in six categories on the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs). "Think of You" won Best Song – Acoustic, "Resurrection" won Best Song – Rock or Hard Rock and the album won Best Album – Adult Contemporary.

Acting

Carney made his first appearance on the big screen in the film The Saint of Fort Washington (1993) with a small role. In 1999, Carney got the role of the young Ishmael Chambers in the film Snow Falling on Cedars. His performance received favorable reviews and subsequently earned him the Best Performance in a Feature Film at the 21st Young Artist Awards in 2000. Carney was part of the cast of a few films as a child actor before he decided to focus totally on music. In 2010, he was hand-picked by the director Julie Taymor to play Ferdinand in a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. Taymor also suggested Carney for the lead role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway. During the auditions, Bono and The Edge, the show's musical composers, were surprised by Carney's vocals and he ended up being chosen for the role. He starred for 3 years as Spider-Man which began previews in November 2010. The rest of his bandmates performed as part of the pit orchestra for Turn Off the Dark. He played his final performance on Sunday, September 15, 2013. Meanwhile, in 2012, Carney played Taylor Swift's love interest in her "I Knew You Were Trouble" music video. Swift was a fan of Carney's band and came up with the idea.

In 2014, Carney was cast as Dorian Gray in the Showtime series Penny Dreadful. The show had three seasons (2014–2016). During the filming of the last season of Penny Dreadful, Carney was on Kenny Ortega's radar to play Riff Raff, the handyman, on Fox's remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He got the role on the two-hour musical television film The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again and recorded three of the songs on the film's soundtrack. The film premiered on the Fox network on October 20, 2016.

In 2017, Carney joined the cast of the Citadel Theatre production of Hadestown as Orpheus. The production reunited Carney with his Spider-Man co-stars Patrick Page and T.V. Carpio. Carney continued with the musical for its run at the Royal National Theatre in 2018 and reprised the role in the Broadway production, which began previews on March 22 and opened on April 17, 2019. He departed the role on November 19, 2023, after 6 years. He reprised the role for his West End debut from February to March 2025 for a limited engagement opposite his original Broadway cast co-stars Eva Noblezada, Page, Amber Gray and André de Shields.

He is currently portraying The Emcee in Cabaret in the West End opposite his wife and former Hadestown co-star Eva Noblezada as Sally Bowles, who recently finished playing the role on Broadway. He joined the production on September 22, 2025 for a limited engagement until January 2026.

In 2021, it was announced that Carney had signed on to star as Jeff Buckley in a film about the latter's life, career and death. The film is tentatively titled as Everybody Here Wants You. The film has support from Buckley's family; his mother Mary Guibert, the film's co-producer, said "this will be the only official dramatisation of Jeff's story".

Personal life

From 2008 to 2011, Carney was in a relationship with Australian musician Lisa Origliasso of the Veronicas. From 2011 to 2012, he had dated actress Ashley Greene. In 2016, Carney began a relationship with actress Victoria Justice, which lasted for a couple years. The two had first met as co-stars while working on The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again.

In 2019, Carney entered a relationship with his Hadestown co-star Eva Noblezada. They announced their engagement on March 14, 2025, and were married seven months later in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Discography

As solo artist

Studio albums

Extended plays

Live albums

Soundtracks and cast albums

Singles

As part of ''Carney''

Studio albums

Extended plays

Other appearances

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. Nondorf, Tom. (February 26, 2011). "THE LEADING MEN: ''Spider-Man''{{'}}s Reeve Carney and Patrick Page, Plus ''Rain''{{'}}s Fab Four".
2. Grandjean, Patricia. (February 5, 1995). "An Ordinary Boy In the Weirdness Of Hollywood". The New York Times.
3. "Spider-Man's Reeve Carney talks about Bono, Edge and his band".
4. Gamerman, Ellen. (March 1, 2010). "A Rocker in a Tangled Web". The Wall Street Journal.
5. Mellini, Michael. (December 16, 2010). "Reeve Carney on the Pressure and Pleasure of Starring in ''Spider-Man''".
6. (May 21, 2009). "The Veronicas Ruthlessly Remove The Love Willows From Their Tour".
7. Cox, Gordon. (November 2, 2013). "Harvey Fierstein, Reeve Carney Fight AIDS With 'Carols for a Cure' CD". Variety.
8. (July 2, 2011). "'Spider-Man' star Reeve Carney in new video with Bono, the Edge".
9. "The Tempest (2010) – Soundtrack".
10. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012) – Soundtrack".
11. Kuchik, Natalie. (October 11, 2016). "Reeve Carney announces tour dates for fall 2016". AXS.
12. "Reeve Carney".
13. Damoui, Yasmin. (October 11, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Reeve Carney- "Truth" / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch.
14. (October 27, 2016). "SMC Spotlight Series No.1 {{!}} Reeve Carney 'Youth Is Wasted' Album Review & Exclusive Interview – SMC SPOTLIGHT!".
15. "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS – Independent Music Awards". Independent Music Awards.
16. (August 2023). "Reeve Carney". ascap.com.
17. Goldenthal, Elliot. (December 2, 2010). "On Scoring The Tempest and the Exclusive Video Premiere of "O Mistress Mine"".
18. Ryzik, Melena. (September 8, 2010). "Reeve Carney's Star Rises With 'Spider-Man' Musical". The New York Times.
19. Healy, Patrick. (December 16, 2010). "'Spider-Man' Opening Delayed Again".
20. Gans, Andrew. (December 17, 2010). "''Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark'' Will Now Open in February 2011".
21. "Cast list for Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark at the Foxwoods Theatre".
22. Peterson, Tyler. (December 13, 2012). "VIDEO: Taylor Swift Debuts New Music Video, 'I Knew You Were Trouble' Feat. Reeve Carney".
23. "Penny Dreadful".
24. "Dorian Gray Played by Reeve Carney – Penny Dreadful {{!}} SHOWTIME".
25. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again".
26. Radish, Christina. (October 20, 2016). "'The Rocky Horror Picture Show': Reeve Carney on Playing Riff Raff & the 'Penny Dreadful' Finale". Collider.
27. Gans, Andrew. (October 11, 2017). "''Spider-Man''{{'}}s Patrick Page, Reeve Carney, and T.V. Carpio Will Reunite for ''Hadestown'' in Canada".
28. (April 17, 2019). "''Hadestown'' Opens on Broadway April 17".
29. (2025-08-11). "Cabaret announces new West End cast – with Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney leading".
30. Greene, Andy. (1 March 2021). "Reeve Carney to Star in Jeff Buckley Biopic 'Everybody Here Wants You'".
31. Embley, Jochan. (2 March 2021). "Jeff Buckley biopic: Reeve Carney to star as late musician in upcoming film".
32. Richards, Will. (1 March 2021). "Official Jeff Buckley biopic confirmed, to be co-produced by his mother".
33. Tran, Diep. (June 25, 2009). "The Veronicas Eat L.A.".
34. Corneau, Allison. (October 24, 2012). "Ashley Greene, Reeve Carney Split".
35. Fisher, Kendall. (December 21, 2016). "Victoria Justice and Reeve Carney Are Dating: Get the Latest on Their Romance".
36. Tran, Diep. (July 24, 2023). "Hadestown's Eva Noblezada Is Looking Forward to Not Performing 8 Shows a Week".
37. Rice, Emmy. (March 15, 2025). "Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney are Engaged".
38. Hall, Margaret. (October 29, 2025). "Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney Are Married".
39. (July 2, 2011). "Billboard 200".
40. (July 2, 2011). "Cast Albums".
41. (July 2, 2011). "Top Rock Albums".
42. (November 12, 2016). "Billboard 200".
43. (November 12, 2016). "Soundtrack Albums".
44. (November 12, 2016). "Top Rock Albums".
45. "Hadestown (Original Broadway Cast Recording) on iTunes". iTunes.
46. "Billboard 200 chart".
47. "Cast Albums chart".
48. "Independent Albums chart".
49. "Reeve Carney Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
50. "Reeve Carney Album & Song Chart History – Rock Songs". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
51. "Reeve Carney Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Songs". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
52. "Reeve Carney Album & Song Chart History – Adult Pop Songs". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
53. "Reeve Carney Album & Song Chart History – Canadian Hot 100". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
54. (May 24, 2008). "Hot Singles Sales Chart".
55. "Spread (2009) – Soundtrack".
56. "What Is That Song I Heard on CSI: Miami?".
57. [https://playbill.com/article/patrick-page-reeve-carney-lillias-white-robert-cuccioli-more-to-star-in-the-tempest-off-broadway Patrick Page, Reeve Carney, Lillias White, Robert Cuccioli, More to Star in The Tempest Off-Broadway]
58. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Reeve-Carney-Ryan-McCartan-Javier-Munoz-And-More-Lead-FAUST-THE-CONCERT-At-The-Soraya-20240904 Reeve Carney, Ryan McCartan, Javier Munoz And More Lead FAUST: THE CONCERT At The Soraya]
59. [https://www.theatermania.com/news/hadestown-original-broadway-stars-to-reunite-for-west-end-production_1758722/ Hadestown Original Broadway Stars to Reunite for West End Production]
60. (August 11, 2025). "Cabaret announces new West End cast – with Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney leading".
61. Gans, Andrew [https://playbill.com/article/eva-noblezada-will-return-to-broadways-the-great-gatsby-in-february-reeve-carney-joins-cast-in-march Eva Noblezada Will Return to Broadway's The Great Gatsby in February; Reeve Carney Joins Cast in March] Playbill, January 14, 2026
62. (April 3, 2018). "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED".
63. Lefkowitz, Andy. (April 2, 2019). "Hadestown, Tootsie & Oklahoma! Lead 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations".
64. Evans, Greg. (May 16, 2019). "'Be More Chill', 'Pretty Woman' Top Broadway's Audience Choice Awards".
65. (November 20, 2019). "2020 Grammy Nominees". grammy.com.