Stark Sands (born 1978 or 1979) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Tunny in the original Broadway cast of American Idiot, and originating the role of Charlie Price in Kinky Boots on Broadway. He is a two-time Tony Award nominee. He is also known for the roles of Lance Sussman in Die, Mommie, Die! and Lt. Nathaniel Fick in Generation Kill. He starred as Dash Parker in FOX's series Minority Report.

Stark Sands
Sands in 2022
Born1978 or 1979 (age 45–46)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present
Spouse
Gemma Clarke
(m. 2011)
[1]
Children2

Early life and education

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Sands was born in Dallas, Texas. Stark is his mother's maiden name, and Bunker was his late father's middle name, as well as his maternal great-grandmother's maiden name.[2] He has a fraternal twin brother, Jacob, and an older sister.[3][4] Sands attended Highland Park High School,[5] and went on to gain his BFA in acting from the University of Southern California (class of 2001).[6]

Career

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In 2002, Sands played Toby, a recurring love interest to the angst-ridden teen, Claire Fisher (played by Lauren Ambrose), on the HBO television series Six Feet Under (2001–2005) and co-starred in Me and Daphne (2002), a short film directed by Rebecca Gayheart and produced by Brett Ratner. He has also co-starred in the independent film Pack of Dogs (2002), directed by Ian Kessner.[7]

Sands made his feature-film debut opposite Natasha Lyonne and Jason Priestley in Die, Mommie, Die! (2003), an adaptation of Charles Busch's play of the same name. He also appeared in the film Shall We Dance (2004), with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez.

In 2007, he received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in the Broadway revival of Journey's End.[8]

From May 2 to June 8, 2008, he performed the role of Alex in A Seagull in the Hamptons at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.[citation needed]

Sands also participated in the seven-episode HBO miniseries Generation Kill about the 2003 Iraq invasion, airing during the summer of 2008. In the miniseries he played Marine Lt. Nathaniel Fick. Sands previously played a U.S. Marine, Walter Gust, in Flags of Our Fathers.

Additional theater credits include the 2009 musical adaptation of Bonnie & Clyde at the La Jolla Playhouse, The Classic Stage Company's production of The Tempest which earned him the Actors' Equity Foundation's St. Clair Bayfield Award, which honors the best performance by an actor in a Shakespearean play in the New York metropolitan area. From June 25 to July 12, 2009, Sands appeared in the Shakespeare in the Park's production of Twelfth Night, featuring Anne Hathaway, Audra McDonald and Raul Esparza.

Sands played the role of Tunny in the Broadway production of American Idiot, again playing a member of the military.[9] He left the production on March 13, 2011; David Larsen took over the role.[10]

Sands was in the 2010 HBO pilot The Miraculous Year, which was not picked up by HBO.[11] He was part of the main cast of the CBS television series Rookies.[12] The show was picked up for mid-season, under the new name NYC 22, but was canceled after airing 13 episodes due to inadequate ratings.

Sands played the character of Troy Nelson in the film Inside Llewyn Davis (2013).[13]

Sands played one of the lead characters, Charlie Price, in the musical Kinky Boots which opened at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, for a four-week run in October 2012.[14] He reprised his role when the show premiered on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, 2013, with previews beginning on March 3, 2013. For his role as Charlie, Sands was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, but lost to his co-star Billy Porter. He played his final performance on January 26, 2014.[15]

In 2014, Sands was cast in the NBC pilot Salvation.[16] This was not picked up to series. Sands was cast in FOX's pilot, Minority Report, as Dash, a precog.[17] The series premiered on September 21, 2015.[18]

In 2016, Sands played the Templar in Classic Stage Company's production of Nathan the Wise off-Broadway.[19]

Sands and his original co-star Porter returned to the Broadway production of Kinky Boots for a limited 15 week run, starting on September 26, 2017.[20] He also appeared in Steven Spielberg's 2017 drama film The Post.[21]

In 2019, Sands was cast in the musical Swept Away as Big Brother.[22] The production was originally announced to premiere in June, 2020, however it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Swept Away premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California on January 9, 2022 and had its final show on March 13, 2022.[23] [24]

In 2022, Sands was cast in the North American tryout of & Juliet as William Shakespeare,[25] transferring from the West End. The production opened in Toronto, Canada in the Princess of Wales Theatre on June 22, 2022, and ended on August 14, 2022. & Juliet moved to Broadway in the 2022-23 season into the Stephen Sondheim Theatre with Sands reprising his role. Previews began on October 28, 2022, and opening night was on November 17, 2022.[26] He played his final performance on August 6, 2023.[27]

Sands reprised his role in Swept Away when it had a run at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. Previews began on November 25, 2023. Opening night was on December 6, 2023, and it played through January 14, 2024.[28] On May 17, 2024 it was announced that Swept Away would move to Broadway in the fall of 2024, and that the main four cast members, including Sands, would reprise their roles.[29]

Personal life

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On July 9, 2011, Sands married British journalist Gemma Clarke at Bovey Castle, England.[30] They met while Sands was vacationing in London.[31] They have a son born in 2015.[32]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Me and Daphne Brother Short film
Pack of Dogs David
2003 Die, Mommie, Die! Lance Sussman
11:14 Tim
2004 Chasing Liberty Grant Hillman
Catch That Kid Chad
Shall We Dance? Evan Clark
2005 Pretty Persuasion Troy
2006 Jack Rabbit David Short film
Flags of our Fathers Walter Gust
2008 Day of the Dead Bud Crain
My Sassy Girl Soldier
2013 Broadway Idiot Himself Documentary about the making of American Idiot
Inside Llewyn Davis Troy Nelson Soundtrack: "The Last Thing on My Mind", "Five Hundred Miles"
2017 The Post Don Graham
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Six Feet Under Toby Recurring; 2 episodes
2003 Lost at Home Will Davis Main
2004–05 Hope & Faith Henry Recurring; 3 episodes
2006 Family Guy Justin Hackeysack Voice; episode: "You May Now Kiss the... Uh... Guy Who Receives"
Nip/Tuck Conor McNamara – 2026 Episode: "Conor McNamara, 2026"
2006–07 American Dad! Tino / Williams / Conservative #1 Voice; 2 episodes
2008 Generation Kill Nathaniel Fick Miniseries
2010 The Miraculous Year Duke Ellis Unsold pilot
2012 NYC 22 Kenny McLaren Main
2014 Salvation Paul Unsold pilot
2015 Minority Report Dash Parker Main
2020 Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Bobby Frost Episode: "Swimming with the Sharks"

Theatre

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Year Title Genre Role Theatre Location Notes
2007 Journey's End Drama 2nd Lt. Raleigh Belasco Theatre New York City, New York Revival
2008 A Seagull in the Hamptons Alex McCarter Theatre Princeton, New Jersey
2009 Bonnie & Clyde Musical Clyde Barrow La Jolla Playhouse San Diego, California Originated role
The Tempest Comedy Ferdinand CSC Theatre New York City, New York
Twelfth Night Sebastian Delacorte Theatre
2010–11 American Idiot Musical Tunny St. James Theatre
2012–14 Kinky Boots Charlie Price Bank of America Theatre Chicago, Illinois Originated role
Al Hirschfeld Theatre New York City, New York
2016 Nathan the Wise Drama Templar CSC Theatre New York City, New York
2017–18 Kinky Boots Musical Charlie Price Al Hirschfeld Theatre
2018 To Kill a Mockingbird Drama Horace Gilmer Shubert Theatre Originated role
2022 Swept Away Musical Big Brother Berkeley Repertory Theatre Berkeley, California
2022-23 & Juliet William Shakespeare[33] Princess of Wales Theatre Toronto, Canada North American premiere
Stephen Sondheim Theatre New York City, New York
2023 Swept Away Big Brother Arena Stage Washington, D.C.
2024 Longacre Theatre New York City, New York

Awards

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List of awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result Title
2007 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Nominated Journey's End
Theatre World Award Outstanding New York City Stage Debut Performance Won
2009 Bayfield Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Shakespearean Play in the New York Metropolitan Area Won The Tempest
2010 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical Nominated American Idiot
2013 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Nominated Kinky Boots
Grammy Award Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stark Sands and Gemma Clarke Wedding". So 80s.co.uk. July 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  2. ^ "14 Reasons Why Minority Report Star Stark Sands Is Cooler Than Your Boyfriend". TV Guide. June 2, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  3. ^ "Stark Sands". Broadway.com. February 22, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "Interview with Stark Sands of American Idiot". talkingbroadway.com. April 28, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. ^ "Actor Stark Sands, who grew up in a wealthy Dallas family, portrays Clyde Barrow onstage". dallasnews.com. January 11, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "From College Classmates to Tony Nominations, Broadway Buddies Stark Sands and Charl Brown Enjoy the Journey". Playbill.com. June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "Stark Sands - Credits". IMDb. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Simpson, Robert (June 9, 2007). "Stark Sands Comes to Journey's End's End with No Regrets". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  9. ^ Jones, Kenneth (January 28, 2010). "Broadway's American Idiot Cast Announced; Troupe Will Appear on Grammys Jan. 31". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  10. ^ "Joshua Henry Returns to American Idiot; David Larsen and P.J. Griffith Also Join Cast". Broadway.com. March 15, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  11. ^ Eng, Joyce (July 9, 2010). "Pushing Daisies and Law & Order Alums Join The Miraculous Year". TV Guide. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 18, 2011). "Five Broadcast Pilots Add to Casts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  13. ^ "Stark Sands Joins Coen Bros' Inside Llewyn Davis". Cinemablend.com. February 10, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  14. ^ "Broadway World Stark Sands Billy Porter to Lead Broadway-Bound KINKY-BOOTS". BroadwayWorld.com. June 30, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  15. ^ "Tony Award Nominee Stark Sands Exits Broadway's Kinky Boots Jan. 26". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  16. ^ "Ashley Judd and Stark Sands Among Quintet Cast in NBC Drama Pilot Salvation". Deadline Hollywood. February 25, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  17. ^ "Stark Sands to Topline in Fox's Minority Report". The Hollywood Reporter. February 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  18. ^ "Fox Fall Premiere Dates: Gotham, Minority Report, and more". IGN. June 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  19. ^ "Tickets Now Available to See F. Murray Abraham & Stark Sands in Nathan the Wise Off-Broadway". Broadway.com. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "Everybody Say Yeah! Original Kinky Boots Stars Billy Porter & Stark Sands Will Return to Hit Musical". Broadway.com. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  21. ^ "Everybody Say Yeah! Original KINKY BOOTS Stars Billy Porter and Stark Sands Will Return this Fall". Broadwayworld.com. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  22. ^ Evans, Greg (August 8, 2019). "John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands Cast In Avett Brothers Musical, Reuniting With 'American Idiot' Director". Deadline. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Meyer, Dan (January 9, 2022). "Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away Begins January 9 at Berkeley Rep".
  24. ^ Putnam, Leah (February 17, 2022). "Swept Away Extended at Berkeley Rep a 3rd Time".
  25. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Paulo Szot, Betsy Wolfe, Stark Sands, Lorna Courtney and More Join & JULIET Pre-Broadway Tryout at Princess of Wales Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  26. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (July 7, 2022). "'& Juliet' to open on Broadway this fall". Broadway News. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  27. ^ Putnam, Leah (July 18, 2023). "Austin Scott to Star As & Juliet's Shakespeare; Stark Sands Sets Final Performance".
  28. ^ "Photos: Get a 1st Look at Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away, Opening December 6 at Arena Stage". December 6, 2023.
  29. ^ "Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away Will Sweep Broadway Audiences Away in Fall 2024". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  30. ^ "Wedding Channel". Wedding Channel. Retrieved December 4, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ "Green Day's Soldier Stark Sands". The New York Observer. March 31, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  32. ^ "O&M Co Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  33. ^ "Mirvish.com: Announcing the Cast of the North American Premiere Production of &Juliet". www.mirvish.com.
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