John Barrowman Biography: John Scot Barrowman MBE born March 11, 1967 is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer, and comic book writer. He is best known for his portrayal of Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who (2005–10; 2020–21) and its spin-off Torchwood (2006–11), as well as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse (2012–19). Born in Glasgow, Barrowman moved to Illinois with his family at the age of eight. There, his high school teachers inspired him to pursue performing arts at the United States International University in San Diego. He made his West End debut as Billy Crocker in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes and has since performed in numerous musicals on both the West End and Broadway, including Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, and Matador. Barrowman earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 1998 for his role in Sam Mendes.
John Barrowman Biography 2025
John Scot Barrowman MBE is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer and comic book writer. He is known for his roles as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and spin-off Torchwood, and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse.
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Born: 11 March 1967 (age 57 years), Mount Vernon, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Spouse: Scott Gill (m. 2013), Scott Gill (m. 2006–2013)
John Scot Barrowman was born in Mount Vernon, Glasgow, on March 11, 1967, as the youngest of three children. His mother, a singer, and his father, who worked for Caterpillar, provided a supportive environment. In 1975, the family relocated to the United States, settling in Joliet, Illinois, after his father was assigned to manage a tractor factory. At Joliet West High School, Barrowman found encouragement from his music and English teachers, who nurtured his talents and helped him participate in statewide speech competitions.
Despite facing teasing for his Scottish accent, he adapted his speech and thrived in various musical productions, performing in shows like Oliver!, Camelot, and Anything Goes alongside classmates like Anthony Rapp and Andy Dick. Barrowman’s high school experience significantly shaped his future, leading him to appreciate the importance of education and his craft. He also briefly worked in manual labor for an Illinois power company, a job arranged by his father to teach him the value of hard work and education.
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman MBE is a celebrated Scottish-American actor, author, singer, and television presenter, best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Torchwood. With a diverse career in theater, film, and television, Barrowman has gained a loyal fanbase and significant recognition.
Barrowman was born in 1967 in Glasgow and moved to the U.S. in 1975. He studied performing arts before starring in significant West End productions, leading to numerous television and film roles.
