Christian Jules LeBlanc (born August 25, 1958)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Michael Baldwin on The Young and the Restless. He has received nine Daytime Emmy Award nominations and three wins for his work on The Young and the Restless.
Christian LeBlanc | |
|---|---|
 Christian LeBlanc at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival | |
| Born | Christian Jules LeBlanc August 25, 1958 |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse |
Sid Montz (m. 1993) |
| Website | christianjulesleblanc |
Early life edit
LeBlanc was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His father is retired Major Andre Victor LeBlanc, a decorated veteran and winner of the Bronze Star. He is the second of eight children.[1] He was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a renovated plantation house on the banks of the Mississippi River.[2][3] While researching his family's genealogy, LeBlanc found that his grandmother was legally a slave and his mother was Creole.[4]
He began acting in high school, when a girl talked him into auditioning for a school production of West Side Story. He was cast as a Shark.[2] He then played a beggar in Fiddler on the Roof, where his classmate, future New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, also had a role.[5]
He graduated with honors from Tulane University, majoring in ancient history and pre-med.[1]
Career edit
While in college, LeBlanc was noticed by a photographer while swimming at a pool, which led to modeling and acting opportunities. He worked at a variety of jobs to support himself early in his career, including as a busboy at Helmsley Palace, where his boss was Leona Helmsley. He also had jobs as a teacher and a caterer.[2][3]
He was offered a role in a PBS series, Edit Point. He was then cast as Kirk McColl on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, playing the role from 1983 to 1985.[1] After leaving As the World Turns, he had a regular role on In the Heat of the Night. He guest-starred on E.A.R.T.H. Force, Cheers, Riptide, Hotel, and Gabriel's Fire.[3][6]
LeBlanc was cast on The Young and the Restless as Michael Baldwin in 1991 and played the role until 1993. After a short absence, he returned in 1997 and has been with the show ever since. He also played Michael in crossover episodes on As the World Turns in 2005.[1] He has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for the role nine times, and won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2005, 2007, and 2009.[7][8][9]
In 1993, he appeared in a Perry Mason TV Movie.[6] He was also cast in the Showtime late-night cable TV series Red Shoe Diaries, and reprised the role for a video movie.
LeBlanc starred on stage in Ladies in Retirement at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in 1995, co-starring with Julie Harris. The play was directed by Charles Nelson Reilly, who was also his acting coach.[4] His other theater credits include productions of No Orchids for Miss Blandish, The Catonsville Nine, and Appearances to the Contrary.[6]
In 2000, LeBlanc produced and acted in a short film, Puppy Love, co-starring with Grace Zabriskie. The film won Outstanding Short Film at the Los Angeles and New York International Short Film Festivals.[6]
LeBlanc appeared alongside his The Young and the Restless wife, Tracey E. Bregman, in the video for I Keep On Loving You by Reba McEntire in 2010.[10] From 2011 to 2014, he played Jake on the web series Venice: The Series.[11]
LeBlanc acted in and produced the 2013 film Grave Secrets, co-starring with Diane Ladd and Ashley Jones. A television episode version of the film aired as part of Nickleodeon's Deadtime Stories on Halloween. LeBlanc's role was edited out of the televison version.[12]
In 2022, he starred Off-Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Theatre at St. Clements, co-starring with Sonoya Mizuno and Matt de Rogatis.[4][13] In March 2024, LeBlanc and de Rogatis reprised their roles, bringing the production to the 2024 Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival.[14]
Personal life edit
LeBlanc is an award winning artist. His work has been displayed in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C.[6][5]
He is not related to actor Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribbiani on the sitcom Friends. [citation needed]
On June 20, 2021, he revealed on Maurice Benard's Youtube series State of Mind that he is gay and has been married to his husband since 1993.[15][16]
In October 2023, LeBlanc announced that he had been diagnosed with Multiple myeloma in June of that year and that the cancer was in remission. He had first noticed symptoms on the set of The Young and the Restless and took time off while receiving treatment.[17]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Disturbance at Dinner | Pat in the Box | |
| 2000 | Puppy Love | John Luster | Short film
Also producer |
| 2013 | Grave Secrets | Mr. Peterson | Also producer |
| 2020 | Across the Room | Waiter | Short film |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–1985 | As the World Turns | Kirk McColl | Contract role |
| 2005 | Michael Baldwin | Guest role | |
| 1986 | Riptide | Johnny Farnell | Episode: "The Wedding Bell Blues" |
| Hotel | Male Desk Clerk | Episode: "Opening Moves" | |
| 1987 | Cheers | Assistant #2 | Episode: "A Kiss is Still a Kiss" |
| 1988 | In the Heat of the Night | Patrolman Junior Abernathy | 8 episodes, credited as "Christian Le Blanc" |
| 1990 | E.A.R.T.H. Force | ||
| 1991 | Monsters | John O'Connell | Episode: "The Waiting Room" |
| Gabriel's Fire | Kyle Ray | Episode: "Truth and Consequences" | |
| Seeds of Tragedy | Driver | Television film | |
| 1993 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss | Sheriff | Television film |
| 1995 | Diagnosis: Murder | Coach Caldwell | Episode: "An Innocent Murder" |
| 1991–1993 | The Young and the Restless | Michael Baldwin | Contract role |
| 1997–present | |||
| 2009 | Guiding Light | Wedding guest | 2 episodes |
Web series edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2014 | Venice: The Series | Jake | 24 episodes |
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
1999
|
Soap Opera Digest Award | Favorite Return | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2000
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2003
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2004
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2005
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Won | |
2005
|
Soap Opera Digest Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2007
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Won | |
2008
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2009
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Won | |
2011
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2014
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2014
|
Indie Series Award | Best Guest Star – Comedy | Fumbling thru the Pieces | Nominated | |
2015
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated | |
2016
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "About the Actors of Y&R". Soap Central. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hallett, Lisa (May 26, 1992). "Kid Creole Grows Up". Soap Opera Digest. 17 (11): 66–71.
- ^ a b c "#TBT - Christian LeBlanc". Soap Opera Digest. June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lipton, Brian Scott (July 22, 2022). "Interview: Christian Jules LeBlanc of Young and the Restless on His Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Theater Mania. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ a b MacCash, Doug (March 5, 2010). "Soap star Christian LeBlanc's art on display Saturday". New Orleans Times Picayune. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "CBS Biography: Christian Jules LeBlanc". CBS. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Bauder, David (May 21, 2005). "Ellen DeGeneres wins big in Daytime Emmys". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Block Communications. Associated Press. p. 25. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ a b "The 2007 Daytime Emmy Award Winners". Los Angeles: PopSugar Entertainment. June 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ a b "Winners at 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards". Toronto Star. Toronto: Star Media Group. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Kerr, Luke (March 17, 2010). "Y&R's Tracey Bregman and Christian LeBlanc in Reba Music Video". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "VENICE: Jessica Leccia & Nadia Bjorlin plus Christian LeBlanc Video Interviews Now Avail!". Michael Fairman TV. April 8, 2012. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ "Y&R's Christian LeBlanc Adds Film & TV Producer To His Credits With GRAVE SECRETS and DEADTIME STORIES!". Michael Fairman TV. October 6, 2013. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Harms, Talaura (December 22, 2021). "Off-Broadway Revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Delays Until Summer 2022". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (March 6, 2024). "Ruth Stage's "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" Comes to the 2024 Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival". Broadway World. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Mason, Charlie (June 23, 2021). "Young & Restless' Christian Jules LeBlanc Unpacks the Baggage of Homophobia: 'I Still Live With the Legacy of That as a Gay Man'". Soaps.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Eades, Chris (June 24, 2021). "Christian LeBlanc Opens up About The Struggles of Living as a Gay Man". Soaps in Depth. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (October 25, 2023). "'Y&R' Star Christian LeBlanc Reveals Cancer Diagnosis & Remission, Promises Thanksgiving Return To Soap". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Daytime Emmy Nominees List 1". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Business Media. March 11, 1999. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Havens, Candace (May 12, 2000). "Lead actress Emmy race too close to call". The Union Democrat. Sonora: Western Communications. p. 55. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "Nominees for Daytime Emmys". USA Today. Tysons Corner, Virginia. Associated Press. March 12, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 4, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "The 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "The 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "The 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "5th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominees". indieseriesawards.com. 2014. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 31, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 24, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
External links edit
