Alex Ko
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Alexander Ko is an American
actor, dancer and singer. He won the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical
on Broadway
in 2009.
. Ko's father, Cheukman Sam Ko, was a Chinese American
born in Hong Kong, who died of liver cancer
when Alex was 11 years old. He was a professional gaffer in the film industry in Hong Kong
who later became an Entrepreneur after relocating to the United States
in 1992. His mother, Tammie Cumming, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and raised in Deland, Florida
. At the age of 13, Ko and his family relocated to New York City
to perform the title role of Billy in "Billy Elliot the Musical" on Broadway
. Ko said that his household is influenced heavily by the Chinese culture.
Ko won National and Regional Dance and Gymnastics Championship titles since the age of 5-years old. He was the youngest student admitted to The University of Iowa Department of Dance, where he has earned college credit and has a 4.0 GPA. He was also awarded full scholarships to Steps on Broadway and the Joffrey Ballet
School.
hit Billy Elliot the Musical
as the first replacement Billy for the original Tony-Award winning cast member, Kiril Kulish
, he relocated to New York City
from Iowa with his family. Alex made his Broadway debut on October 6, 2009 and made his final performance as Billy on 15 May 2011.
Alex made his national television debut on November 7, 2010, when he appeared as a guest artist on NBC's television special "Shall We Dance On Ice?" with a solo performance, as well as a duet with Broadway star, Cody Green.
Alex's last performance as Billy was on May 15, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, dancer and singer. He won the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 2009.
Early life
Ko is the middle child of three children. He was born and raised in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
. Ko's father, Cheukman Sam Ko, was a Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
born in Hong Kong, who died of liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
when Alex was 11 years old. He was a professional gaffer in the film industry in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
who later became an Entrepreneur after relocating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1992. His mother, Tammie Cumming, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and raised in Deland, Florida
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...
. At the age of 13, Ko and his family relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to perform the title role of Billy in "Billy Elliot the Musical" on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. Ko said that his household is influenced heavily by the Chinese culture.
Ko won National and Regional Dance and Gymnastics Championship titles since the age of 5-years old. He was the youngest student admitted to The University of Iowa Department of Dance, where he has earned college credit and has a 4.0 GPA. He was also awarded full scholarships to Steps on Broadway and the Joffrey Ballet
Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is a dance company in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1956. From 1995 to 2004, the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. The company regularly performs classical ballets including Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, while balancing those classics with pioneering modern...
School.
Career
After attending Ernest Horn Elementary School, Ko was accepted to The University of Iowa in Iowa City under Iowa's Talented and Gifted law and dual-enrolled in the Iowa City Home School Assistance Program. When Ko landed the title role in the BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
hit Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
as the first replacement Billy for the original Tony-Award winning cast member, Kiril Kulish
Kiril Kulish
Kiril Kulish is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Beginning his ballet training at the age of five, Kulish became a Tony Award winner at the age of fifteen as Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as one of the original Billys in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical.-...
, he relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from Iowa with his family. Alex made his Broadway debut on October 6, 2009 and made his final performance as Billy on 15 May 2011.
Alex made his national television debut on November 7, 2010, when he appeared as a guest artist on NBC's television special "Shall We Dance On Ice?" with a solo performance, as well as a duet with Broadway star, Cody Green.
Alex's last performance as Billy was on May 15, 2011.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Carols for a Cure | — |
| 2010 | Carols for a Cure | — |
External links
- Alex Ko official site