Constantine Maroulis

Constantine Maroulis was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 17, 1975, to Greek American parents. He grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, where he developed an early interest in music, learning the trumpet at Eisenhower Middle School. He later sang in high school bands such as Lady Rain and Milkbone, and graduated from Ramapo High School in 1993. Maroulis earned a B.F.A. in Music Theater from the Boston Conservatory and performed in off-Broadway roles and independent films. He trained as an acting apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and performed as Roger Davis in the Broadway international touring company of “Rent.” Before gaining national attention, Maroulis appeared on the dating show “Elimidate,” was an extra in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and a voice-over artist for “Astro Boy.”

In 2004, Maroulis auditioned for the fourth season of “American Idol,” benefiting from the expanded age range for contestants. He became known for his rock-oriented style on the show, where he finished as the sixth-place finalist. His rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” earned critical acclaim, leading to an invitation from Queen guitarist Brian May to record the track for “Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen” (2005). Maroulis also performed a notable version of “My Funny Valentine” during the competition. Following “American Idol,” he released “Constantine” (2007), his self-titled solo album, which debuted at number 75 on the Billboard charts. He also sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at major sporting events, including for the New York Yankees (2013) and at Madison Square Garden (2009), and “God Bless America” at the 2009 Men’s U.S. Open.

Maroulis achieved significant Broadway success, starring as Drew in “Rock of Ages” (2008), for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (2009). Critics praised his vocal performances in the role. He later took on the dual title role in Frank Wildhorn’s “Jekyll and Hyde” (2012-2013), earning a Drama League Award Nomination for a Distinguished Performance. Maroulis has appeared in various television programs, including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Z Rock,” “Unforgettable,” and “Madam Secretary.” In 2023, he starred as Alan Freed in the Off-Broadway production of “Rock and Roll Man” and in 2024, in “East Carson Street.” Throughout his career, Maroulis has been recognized with awards such as the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund’s Humanitarian Award for Artistic Achievement (2007) and was selected as Broadway.com’s “Broadway Star of the Year” (2009).