| Birthname: | Kiril Jacob Kulish |
| Birth Date: | 16 February 1994 |
| Birth Place: | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Yearsactive: | 2008–present |
| Website: | KirilKulish.com |
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.
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.
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, including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. Kulish's last performance in Billy Elliot was on Saturday October 3, 2009.[12]
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.[13] 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.[14] 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.
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2008- 3 October 2009 | 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 | |