Braden Danner

Braden Danner is an American actor, writer, director, and producer born on July 13, 1975, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and has worked across theatre, television, and film. He is a relative of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Booth Tarkington, and was given his second middle name in the author's honor. His mother, Cheryl Danner, performed at The Comedy Store and The Improv in Los Angeles and later worked with improvisational comedy groups in Indianapolis, including Laff Staff alongside comedians Ray Combs and Robert G. Lee. Accompanying his mother to rehearsals as a child, Danner began singing and acting at home for family and friends. He has two sisters, photographer Diane Danner and Broadway and film actress Demaree Catherine Hill. He later attended Redlands High School in Redlands, California.

Danner began acting professionally at age six in television commercials in Indianapolis and subsequently appeared in regional theatre productions including The Music Man and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. In 1983, at age seven, he played the comedic role of Top Man opposite screen legend Ginger Rogers in Miss Moffat, directed by Joshua Logan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of South Pacific and Annie Get Your Gun. Shortly after completing Miss Moffat, he was introduced to talent agent Nancy Carson, who brought him to New York City to audition for the Tony Award-winning musical Nine, directed by Tommy Tune. After winning the role, Danner relocated to New York City with his mother and sisters. He made his Broadway debut as Young Guido's Schoolmate in Nine, appearing on Broadway between 1982 and 1987.

In 1984, Danner starred in the title role of Oliver! on Broadway alongside Patti LuPone and Ron Moody. The production marked his first collaboration with producer Cameron Mackintosh and original Oliver! director Peter Coe. Cameron Johann had originally been cast in the title role, with Danner beginning rehearsals as a member of the ensemble. Upon arriving from London, however, Coe and Mackintosh identified Danner as their Oliver, and he was elevated to the lead. LuPone recounts the first day of rehearsal in her memoir, noting that the director dismissed the original Oliver and that she feared she might be next. The production received a warm critical and popular reception, with critics describing Danner as an appealing Oliver, and celebrities including Michael Jackson and Mark Hamill attended performances. Despite only one negative review, it was sufficient to cause a primary backer to withdraw, and the show closed despite its overall popularity.

Later that year, Danner made his theatrical television debut on As the World Turns as Paul Ryan. He continued working in stage, radio, and television, appearing as Kurt in The Sound of Music with Jenna von Oÿ, and as John Henry in The Berkshire Theatre Festival's production of Member of the Wedding alongside Carrie Hamilton, Frances Foster, and David Schramm. In 1986, he performed as David in Lies My Father Told Me, written by Academy Award-winning writer Ted Allen. Theatre critic Peter Wynne wrote that Danner exhibited a greater emotional range than many adult performers, and Richard F. Shepard of The New York Times described his portrayal as a remarkably impressive achievement, noting his ability to move between wonderment, passion, resentment, and tears.

Also in 1986, Danner won the role of Gavroche in the original Broadway cast of Les Misérables, again working with Cameron Mackintosh. He rehearsed with directors Trevor Nunn and John Caird and originated the role of Victor Hugo's young hero, first performing it at the Opera House of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, he simultaneously began work on Nunn's next Broadway production, originating the role of Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. When both Les Misérables and Starlight Express opened on Broadway in March 1987, Danner became the first young actor in history to star in two Broadway shows simultaneously. Frank Rich, then chief theatre critic of The New York Times, wrote that Danner towered over most child actors. Other critics noted that he was embraced by the audience and elicited sobs while walking away with the most heart-tugging scene in the production. Les Misérables went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and Starlight Express became another Andrew Lloyd Webber commercial success. Danner's Broadway credits also include the play Oliver Oliver.

Danner performed eight shows a week for over a year before leaving Les Misérables in early 1988 to originate the role of Buddy McGillis on ABC's One Life to Live, for which he received a Young Artist Award nomination. During his time on the series he worked with actors including Loyita Chapel, Robert S. Woods, Erika Slezak, Clint Ritchie, Brenda Brock, and Ken Jenkins. After departing One Life to Live, he performed as Isaac in Joseph Papp and A.J. Antoon's production of Genesis at The New York Shakespeare Festival, now known as The Public Theater.

In 1989, Danner joined the original cast of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, the Disney television series that also launched the careers of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Keri Russell, and Ryan Gosling. The Disney Channel continued to rebroadcast his Season One performances through 1995. The series ran from 1989 to 1996.

In 2001, Danner moved to Los Angeles to study filmmaking at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. While there, he created music videos, commercials, and short films, and wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the short film Sincerely Hollis in 2003. He earned his degree from USC in 2004. Following his education, Danner worked across a range of productions including music videos, television news, educational programs, and reality television, and partnered with Google and Insights Entertainment to produce television, radio, and interactive media commercials.