Ryan Molloy
Encyclopedia
Ryan Molloy is a British singer, songwriter and actor, who replaced Holly Johnson
as the lead singer in Frankie Goes to Hollywood
. He has also been successful in musical theatre, appearing in a number of hit musicals in the UK.
Originally from North Shields
in Tyneside
, he attended Monkseaton High School
. He left high school at the age of 16 in 1989. Molloy later moved to London to train as an actor. He attended The Poor School
;and later also trained at the University of California
(UCLA), Los Angeles
and New York
.
He began his musical career in the late 1990s, singing with a number of bands, including Ultra
, supporting Jamiroquai
and The Lighthouse Family.
He appeared in a number of dramatic roles, including London productions of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and Macbeth
. In 2004 he gained a chorus role in the controversial production of Jerry Springer - The Opera. Molloy was a member of the original cast at the National Theatre
, and went on to play the parts of the transvestite Tremont and the Angel Gabriel, for which he gained an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in the West End
hit Taboo
, playing Steve Strange
alongside Boy George
and Lyn Paul
.
In October 2004 Molloy was chosen from 200 candidates as the new lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, appearing in a special charity show for The Prince’s Trust at Wembley Arena
, and on their subsequent tour.
An established songwriter as well as singer and actor, he spent some time in 2005 working with Dave Stewart
of Eurythmics
on the spoof documentary Platinum Weird
, which also involved Christina Aguilera
, Gwen Stefani
and Carmen Electra
. He has also written new songs for Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
In 2006 Molloy starred in the role of Stuart in the touring production of Ben Elton
's Rod Stewart
musical, Tonight's The Night
. He also appeared at Jools Holland
s' Jam House Club for the Edinburgh Festival
in August 2006, together with his band Suntan.
In March 2008, Molloy was cast as Frankie Valli
in the West End
premiere of Jersey Boys
at the Prince Edward Theatre
, a role that he will continue in through 2011. On December 31, 2008 Molloy appeared on The Weakest Link West End Special, and was the fifth contestant voted off.
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :...
as the lead singer in Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
. He has also been successful in musical theatre, appearing in a number of hit musicals in the UK.
Originally from North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
in Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
, he attended Monkseaton High School
Monkseaton High School
Monkseaton Community High School is a mixed, comprehensive school situated in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, England for 13-18 year olds. There are 800 students on roll, 280 of whom are in the sixth form...
. He left high school at the age of 16 in 1989. Molloy later moved to London to train as an actor. He attended The Poor School
The Poor School
The Poor School and Workhouse Theatre is a drama school situated in King's Cross, London, England.It was created in 1986 by Paul Caister, in response to the need for a first class acting training which was financially within the reach of all or almost all...
;and later also trained at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(UCLA), Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
He began his musical career in the late 1990s, singing with a number of bands, including Ultra
Ultra (boy band)
Ultra is an English male pop band, which was most successful in the late 1990s. The original line-up consisted of James Hearn , Michael Harwood , Jon O'Mahony and Nick Keynes .-Musical history:Although sometimes mistakenly described as a...
, supporting Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
and The Lighthouse Family.
He appeared in a number of dramatic roles, including London productions of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
. In 2004 he gained a chorus role in the controversial production of Jerry Springer - The Opera. Molloy was a member of the original cast at the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, and went on to play the parts of the transvestite Tremont and the Angel Gabriel, for which he gained an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
hit Taboo
Taboo (musical)
Taboo is a stage musical with a book by Mark Davies , lyrics by Boy George, and music by George and Kevan Frost....
, playing Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
alongside Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
and Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group The New Seekers in the early 1970s...
.
In October 2004 Molloy was chosen from 200 candidates as the new lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, appearing in a special charity show for The Prince’s Trust at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, and on their subsequent tour.
An established songwriter as well as singer and actor, he spent some time in 2005 working with Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
of Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
on the spoof documentary Platinum Weird
Platinum Weird
Platinum Weird is a musical collaboration formed in 2004 between Dave Stewart and Kara DioGuardi. It is also the subject of an elaborate hoax placing the band in 1974, including a half hour mockumentary produced for television network VH1 and a series of bogus World Wide Web fan sites and related...
, which also involved Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
and Carmen Electra
Carmen Electra
Tara Leigh Patrick , professionally known as Carmen Electra, is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, singer, and dancer...
. He has also written new songs for Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
In 2006 Molloy starred in the role of Stuart in the touring production of Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
's Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
musical, Tonight's The Night
Tonight's The Night (2003 musical)
Tonight's the Night is a "compilation musical" by comedian Ben Elton, based on the music of Rod Stewart. It opened in October 2003 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, and ran for just over a year...
. He also appeared at Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
s' Jam House Club for the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in August 2006, together with his band Suntan.
In March 2008, Molloy was cast as Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
in the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
premiere of Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is a documentary-style musical, based on one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons...
at the Prince Edward Theatre
Prince Edward Theatre
The Prince Edward Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster.The theatre was designed in 1930 by Edward A. Stone, with an interior designed by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet...
, a role that he will continue in through 2011. On December 31, 2008 Molloy appeared on The Weakest Link West End Special, and was the fifth contestant voted off.