American Idol alumni in film, television and theater
This page lists only acting roles and other projects undertaken in film, television and theater in the post-Idol career of American Idol contestants. It does not include guest musical performances or interviews on TV shows, or any pre-Idol work. It is also not intended to be a comprehensive list of all acting roles, appearances, awards nominated or won by any particular alum. Where there are multiple entries, only the more significant may be listed. Please see the appropriate links and references for individual alum for such more complete lists.
Season 1
The first season of American Idol saw its first and only attempt at expanding the Idol franchise into the film industry. The winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini played the leads in the musical comedy, From Justin to Kelly, but the film failed both critically and at the box office. No further film venture had been attempted in following seasons.
Kelly Clarkson has gone on to be a coach on The Voice, voiced characters in three animated movies, and since 2019 has hosted The Kelly Clarkson Show. Justin Guarini has starred in several musical productions, including non-musical production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet as Paris in 2013. He was the host of Idol Tonight and Idol Wrap on TVGN. Tamyra Gray has starred in several musical products including Rent in 2008. Jim Verraros has starred in a number of gay-theme films, while semi-finalist Kristin Holt has forged a career as TV show host.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Kelly Clarkson (Winner) |
|
|
|
Justin Guarini (Runner-up) |
|
|
|
Nikki McKibbin (3rd place) |
|
|
|
Tamyra Gray (4th place) |
|
|
|
Christina Christian (6th place) |
|
|
|
Ryan Starr (7th place) |
|
|
|
Jim Verraros (9th place) |
|
Season 2
The winner of season 2, Ruben Studdard, teamed up with the fifth-place finisher Trenyce and the disqualified semi-finalist Frenchie Davis to star in the touring production of Ain't Misbehavin', the recording of which won a Grammy nomination. The runner-up Clay Aiken enjoyed two successful stints in Broadway in the musical Spamalot. Frenchie Davis also had some success in Broadway, as did Hollywood round auditioner Josh Strickland who starred as Tarzan in musical of the same name.
Kimberley Locke and Kimberly Caldwell have both pursued a career as TV hosts aside from their music.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Ruben Studdard (Winner) |
|
|
|
Clay Aiken (Runner-up) |
|
| |
Kimberley Locke (3rd place) |
|
||
Josh Gracin (4th place) |
|
||
Trenyce (5th place) |
|
| |
Carmen Rasmusen (6th place) |
|
|
|
Kimberly Caldwell (7th place) |
|
|
|
Rickey Smith (8th place) |
| ||
Corey Clark (9th, disqualified) |
|
||
Vanessa Olivarez (12th place) |
| ||
Frenchie Davis (Semi-finalist) |
|
|
|
Ashley Hartman (Semi-finalist) |
|
|
Season 3
Season 3 winner Fantasia enjoyed a critically and commercially successful stint in musical theater when she starred in The Color Purple. She also had her own TV show and is expanding into film. The runner-up Diana DeGarmo also found success in musical theater starring in Broadway musicals such as Hair and Hairspray.
Seventh-place finisher, Jennifer Hudson, became one of the most successful contests to have emerged from American Idol when she landed a part in the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, and subsequently won a number of major awards as supporting actress including an Oscar. She has since also starred in a number of major films, including Sex and the City and Sing. Eleventh-place finisher Matthew Rogers has a steady career as a TV show host. Alan Ritchson who was heavily featured in the audition and Hollywood rounds pursued a career as a TV and film actor, while auditioner William Hung briefly landed some acting roles due to his exposure on the show.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Fantasia (Winner) |
|
|
|
Diana DeGarmo (Runner-up) |
|
|
|
Jasmine Trias (3rd place) |
|
||
LaToya London (4th place) |
| ||
Jennifer Hudson (7th place) |
|
|
|
Jon Peter Lewis (8th place) |
|
||
Amy Adams (10th place) |
| ||
Matthew Rogers (11th place) |
|
||
Matthew Metzger (Semi-finalist) |
|
||
Katie Webber (Semi-finalist) |
|
| |
Alan Ritchson (Hollywood rounds) |
|
|
|
William Hung (Auditioner) |
|
|
Season 4
A number of season 4 Idol alumni such as Anthony Fedorov have been involved in musical theater, but the most successful is the sixth-place finisher Constantine Maroulis. Maroulis has been active on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Rock of Ages. The winner Carrie Underwood made her acting debut in a film by starring in Soul Surfer.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carrie Underwood (Winner) |
|
| ||
Bo Bice (Runner-up) |
|
|||
Vonzell Solomon (3rd place) |
|
| ||
Anthony Fedorov (4th place) |
|
| ||
Scott Savol (5th place) |
| |||
Constantine Maroulis (6th place) |
|
|
| |
Anwar Robinson (7th place) |
|
|
| |
Nadia Turner (8th place) |
|
|||
Nikko Smith (9th place) |
|
|||
Jessica Sierra (10th place) |
|
|
||
Mikalah Gordon (11th place) |
|
| ||
Melissa Lawson (Hollywood rounds) |
|
Season 5
The season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee has established a career as a film and TV actress, and starred in the TV series Smash and Scorpion. Eleventh-placed finisher Kevin Covais also has a steady career as an actor with many acting roles in film and TV. Other Season 5 contestants who also pursued an acting career include Lisa Tucker. The winner Taylor Hicks had enjoyed a stint in theater, while seventh-place finisher Ace Young also had had a couple of major acting roles in Broadway.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Taylor Hicks (Winner) |
|
| |
Katharine McPhee (Runner-up) |
|
| |
Elliott Yamin (3rd place) |
|
||
Chris Daughtry (4th place) |
|
|
|
Paris Bennett (5th place) |
|
||
Kellie Pickler (6th place) |
|
||
Ace Young (7th place) |
|
|
|
Lisa Tucker (10th place) |
|
|
|
Kevin Covais (11th place) |
|
|
|
Ayla Brown (Semi-finalist) |
|
| |
Kinnik Sky (Semi-finalist) |
|
||
Becky O'Donohue (Semi-finalist) |
|
|
|
Brianna Taylor (Hollywood rounds) |
|
||
Jes Hudak (Hollywood rounds) |
|
Season 6
The winner Jordin Sparks has taken roles both in theater and film. She appeared opposite Whitney Houston in the film Sparkle. Semifinalist Jared Cotter has worked as a host for a number of TV shows.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Jordin Sparks (Winner) |
|
|
|
Blake Lewis (Runner-up) |
|
||
LaKisha Jones (4th place) |
|
| |
Sanjaya Malakar (7th place) |
|
| |
Gina Glocksen (9th place) |
|
| |
Chris Sligh (10th place) |
|
||
Brandon Rogers (12th place) |
|
|
|
Sabrina Sloan (Semi-finalist) |
|
| |
Jared Cotter (Semi-finalist) |
|
Season 7
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
David Cook (Winner) |
|
| |
David Archuleta (Runner-up) |
|
||
Syesha Mercado (3rd place) |
|
| |
Jason Castro (4th place) |
|
||
Brooke White (5th place) |
|
|
|
Carly Smithson (6th place) |
|
| |
Kristy Lee Cook (7th place) |
|
||
Chikezie (10th place) |
|
| |
David Hernandez (12th place) |
| ||
Adore Delano (appeared as Danny Noirega) |
|
||
Colton Swon (Hollywood) |
|
Season 8
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Kris Allen (Winner) |
|
||
Adam Lambert (Runner-up) |
|
||
Danny Gokey (3rd place) |
|
||
Alexis Grace (11th place) |
| ||
Jackie Tohn (Semi-finalist) |
|
|
|
Arianna Afsar (Semi-Finals) |
|
| |
Jamar Rogers (Hollywood rounds) |
|
||
John Twiford (Hollywood rounds) |
|
Season 9
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Lee DeWyze (Winner) |
|
||
Crystal Bowersox (Runner-up) |
|
| |
Siobhan Magnus (6th place) |
| ||
Katie Stevens (8th place) |
|
||
Paige Miles (11th place) |
| ||
Alex Lambert (semi-finalist) |
|
||
Todrick Hall (Semi-finalist) |
|
| |
Jermaine Sellers (Semi-finalist) |
|
|
|
John Park (Semi-finalist) |
|
||
Chris Golightly (Semi-finalist) |
|
||
Luke Edgemon (Hollywood rounds) |
|
||
Samuel Larsen (Hollywood rounds) |
|
||
Tori Kelly (Hollywood rounds) |
|
|
Season 10
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Scotty McCreery (1st place) |
|
|
|
Lauren Alaina (2nd place) |
|
|
|
Haley Reinhart (3rd place) |
|
||
James Durbin (4th place) |
|
||
Stefano Langone (7th place) |
|
||
Paul McDonald (8th Place) |
|
||
Pia Toscano (9th Place) |
|
Season 11
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Phillip Phillips (Winner) |
|
||
Jessica Sanchez (Runner-up) |
|
||
Heejun Han (9th place) |
|
Season 12
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Alex Kinsey (Hollywood) |
|
Season 15
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Nick Fradiani (Winner) |
|
Season 16
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
---|---|---|---|
Gabby Barrett (3rd place) |
|