Reeve Carney

Reeve Jefferson Carney was born on April 18, 1983, in Manhattan, New York City, into a family deeply involved in the arts; his mother was a jewelry designer with a music degree and his father composed jingles. Early in life, Carney participated in his father’s jingles and at the age of 10, he recorded with Michael Jackson for the 1995 album “HIStory.” He developed his musical talents early, learning piano and later guitar, and spent his high school years performing in blues clubs in Los Angeles. This informal education complemented his formal studies at the Academy of Music at Alexander Hamilton High School and a brief period at USC’s Thornton School of Music before he decided to focus on his music career.

Carney’s professional trajectory highlights a blend of musical and acting achievements. He signed with Interscope/Universal at 22, subsequently forming the band Carney with his brother Zane. The band released albums such as “Mr. Green Vol. 1” (2010). His acting career began with minor roles, including “The Saint of Fort Washington” (1993), gaining recognition for his role as Young Ishmael Chambers in “Snow Falling on Cedars” (1999) which earned him a Young Artist Award. However, a major turning point arrived in 2010 when he originated the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark,” performing songs written by U2’s Bono and The Edge. This role, along with his subsequent portrayal of Dorian Gray in Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful” (2014-2016), solidified his presence in both live theater and television.

His commitment to both disciplines continued with his performance as Riff Raff in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again” (2016). Carney’s musical endeavors also include his solo album “Youth is Wasted” (2016), recorded independently in his New York apartment. He further distinguished himself by originating the role of Orpheus in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Hadestown,” a role he reprised for its West End debut in 2025. In 2021, it was announced he would portray Jeff Buckley in the biopic “Everybody Here Wants You,” demonstrating his ongoing dual career in music and acting. Carney’s career is marked by consistent engagement in prominent projects across diverse entertainment platforms.