Kiril Kulish

Kiril Jacob Kulish (born February 16, 1994) is an American actor, singer and dancer who is best known for portraying the title role in the original American production of Billy Elliot the Musical, which earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, making him one of the youngest winners of the award.

Kiril Kulish
Kulish in 2012
Born
Kiril Jacob Kulish

(1994-02-16) February 16, 1994
San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer, singer
Years active2008–present
WebsiteKirilKulish.com

Early and personal life

Kulish was born in San Diego, California on February 16, 1994. His parents, Raisa Kulish and Phil Axelrod, are Jewish immigrants from Ukraine.[1] His older brother, Victor, is a singer/songwriter and recording engineer, and his older sister Beata is a TV/film producer.[2][3] He grew up speaking Russian, Ukrainian, and English.[4] He started studying ballet at age five and ballroom dancing at age 8. He studied at the San Diego Academy of Ballet, and was the youngest male to be admitted to their junior company.[5] Kiril was the winner of the Junior division Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix in 2006, 2007, and 2008 [6] and won the Hope Award in the Pre-Competitive division in 2006.[7] Kiril Kulish won first place in Latin Ballroom at the USA National Dance Championships in 2006 and 2007.[8] In 2012 and 2013 Kiril Kulish became the Youth USA Champion in Latin Dance Sport and will represent USA in Beijing and Paris.

Acting career

Billy Elliot the Musical

At a press launch in New York on April 22, 2008, it was announced that Kulish would be one of three boys to play the title role in the original Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical, along with David Álvarez and Trent Kowalik. Kulish performed in the musical's first preview performance on October 1, 2008.[9] On June 7, 2009, Kulish, along with Trent Kowalik and David Álvarez, won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest winners of the award.[10] In all, Billy Elliot was nominated for 15[11] Tony Awards, and won 10,[12] including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. Kulish's last performance in Billy Elliot was on Saturday October 3, 2009.[13]

Later Work

Film: Sonata (Pre-Production) Landon Goldberg

Crossing Young Andrei

Damaged Brad

Choreographer

Chasing Mem’ries Musical at the Geffen Playhouse starring Tyne Daly and Robert Forster

Television:

Dancing with the Stars Pro

HBO Anthology Series Secret Service Style Agent-Co Star

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards Himself

Good Morning America Himself

NBC Sports Special Himself

ABC The View Billy Elliot

ABC Live with Regis and Kelly Himself

ABC Live with Regis and Michael Himself

CBS Morning Show Himself

ABC Daytime Salutes BC/EFA Himself (Full List Available upon request)

Theater/Performance: “Baz — A Musical Tour de Force” Las Vegas (Baz Lehrman show)

In late 2009, Kulish performed the lead role in the ballet The Nutcracker.[14] In 2010, he attended the ballroom championship at USA Dance Southwest Regional Championship in Long Beach, CA. On October 27, 2012, Kiril performed alongside Jon Secada, Debbie Gravitte, Liz Callaway, and a host of award-winning singers from around the world in Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical at the Shrine Theater in Los Angeles.[15] In 2016, Kulish joined season 22 of Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer in their troupe. Kulish currently resides in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York.

Theatre credits
Year Title Role Theatre Note
1 October 2008-
3 October 2009		 Billy Elliot: The Musical Billy Imperial Theatre Broadway debut
2009 holiday season The Nutcracker Occidental Grand Aruba Palm Beach
27 October 2012 Loving the Silent Tears Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California

Accolades
Awards
YearAwardCategoryRoleShowResultRef.
2009 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Billy Elliot Billy Elliot the Musical Won [12]

References
  1. "'I have the urge to dance wherever I am'". 15 May 2008.
  2. "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
  3. "Jewish performances capture multiple Tonys | www.thejewishadvocate.com | The Jewish Advocate". Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  4. "Welcome to Kiril Kulish's website".
  5. Kulish Official site kirilkulish.com, accessed March 11, 2009
  6. Youth America Grand Prix listing, 2007 Archived 2013-04-16 at archive.today yagp.org
  7. Youth America Grand Prix listing, 2006 Archived 2012-07-30 at the Wayback Machine yagp.org
  8. Kulish Official site kirilkulish.com, accessed December 25, 2012
  9. "Homepage".
  10. "2009 Tony Award Winners: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish For 'Best Leading Actor in a Musical'".
  11. Healy, Patrick (5 May 2009). "'Billy Elliot' Leads Tony Nominations". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  12. "Tony Awards Official Website - Past Winners 2009". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  13. "Playbill News: Ko and Hennig Will Join Cast of Broadway's Billy Elliot; Kulish, Gwynne, Bologna Depart". www.playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2009-09-03.
  14. "Tony Award-Winning Billy Elliot Alum Kiril Kulish Flies into Florida Nutcracker".
  15. "The Musical - Loving the Silent Tears". 15 September 2012.
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