Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Sutton Lenore Foster

Birth Date: March 18, 1975

Age: 49 years old

Birth Place: Statesboro, Georgia

One of the few real triple threats of her generation, Sutton Foster was admired by theatergoers and critics alike for her remarkable dancing, singing and acting skills. This long-legged Tony Award winning actress was best known for her stage work, having originated the roles in many Broadway shows, including the role of Millie Dillmount in the Broadway version of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." With an outsized talent, she fully embraced her ambitions, performing in national tours of shows, Off-Broadway productions, on television in Amy Sherman-Palladino's "Bunheads" (ABC 2012-13) and the quirky romantic comedy "Younger" (TV Land 2015-18/Paramount 2019- ) and in concert. Taking the reins of her own career path, she also taught dance, wrote and toured for her multiple solo albums and continued to be a inspiration to her peers of what a modern performer can be.

Born in Statesboro, Georgia on March 18, 1975, Foster moved around a lot as a child for her father's job as a salesman at General Motors. Foster has lived in Athens and Augusta, GA; Troy, MI; Germantown, TN; and New York City. She started dancing at age 4, and at 13, Foster's considerable talents snagged her the lead role in a local production of "Annie," sparking her life-long passion for performing. Right around that time, Foster's family made the move to Michigan, where her brother enrolled in the theater program at the University of Michigan and Sutton joined both the high school drama program and local community theater productions.

She also appeared on TV in "Star Search" at age 15, but didn't win, joining the ranks of Star Search's other famous losers: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Foster left high school for her role in "The Will Rogers Follies" during its first national tour, and was the youngest member of the cast at age 17. She continued touring throughout high school and only took time off for prom and graduation, eventually completing her degree via correspondence. After the tour ended, she took a stab at college, enrolling in Carnegie Mellon University, but the program didn't quite fit and she left after only one year to move back home and ponder on her next step.

After a few months, Foster went to visit her brother, Hunter Foster, in New York, where he was performing in "Grease" on Broadway with Rosie O'Donnell. Motivated by her brother's success, she appeared in "Grease," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Annie" and "Les Misérables" on Broadway.

Then in 2000, Foster landed her big break. She was part of the chorus for a production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the La Jolla Playhouse, and the actress playing Millie Dillmount fell sick a week before rehearsals. Foster was asked to step in for the actress temporarily but after the director and crew saw her in the role, they offered it to her full time. She was a hit, and the show went on to Broadway a year later. While on Broadway, the role earned Foster her first Tony Award for Best Actress, elevating her to the big leagues of the theater world.

After starring in the role of Millie, Foster moved on to launch the role of Jo March in "Little Women" on Broadway, earning her a second Tony Award nomination. Continuing her successful momentum, she starred in "The Drowsy Chaperone," earning another Tony Award nomination, and appeared in the extremely popular production of "Young Frankenstein." Around that time, Foster dated and then married fellow thespian and college alum Christian Borle, who went on to star in television Broadway drama, "Smash" (NBC, 2012-). The two married on Sept. 18, 2006, but then divorced in 2009.

In 2008, Foster originated the role of Princess Fiona in the lively Broadway adaptation, "Shrek the Musical," for which she earned her fourth Tony Award nomination. Foster eventually left the role in 2010, riding high. She released her first solo album, Wish, in 2009, featuring a collection of jazz, pop and Broadway tunes that showcased her talents beyond her characters' songs. In 2010, Foster toured the country to promote the album and began pursing her other life's ambition: teaching drama at the prestigious Tisch School of the Art at New York University. In the classroom, Foster shared her love of drama and the arts with equally ambitious students, sharing her guidance and shaping the next generation of performers at Interlochen Academy for the Arts, MI and co-directing students in Indiana's Ball State University's production of "The Drowsy Chaperone."

Foster soon returned to the stage for the revival of "Anything Goes," and won her second Tony Award for her performance -- and the opportunity of a lifetime. Television writer/producer Amy Sherman-Palladino happened to catch Foster's performance and knew she had found her leading lady for an upcoming dance pilot by intermission. A former dancer herself, Palladino was famous for her long-running series, "Gilmore Girls" (2000-07), and was in the process of creating another female-driven, smart series about the dance world titled "Bunheads."

Taking the leap from stage to studio lot finally introduced Foster to the rest of the world outside Broadway. Foster's turn as a Las Vegas showgirl-turned-small town dance teacher was a perfect fit, but the series received mixed reviews (due in part to a shocking turn the show takes in its first episode) and was not renewed following its first season.

After appearing in two small films, "Gravy" (2013) and "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn" (2014), Foster received her sixth Tony nomination for her starring role in the musical "Violet" in 2014. The following year, Foster returned to television as the star of the romantic comedy "Younger" (TV Land 2015-18/Paramount 2019- ), playing Liza Miller, a newly divorced woman in her early 40s who pretends to be 26 in order to land an entry-level position at a New York publishing house. The series was a critical and commercial success, which led to a curtailing of Foster's stage work, limiting her to short tours and New York engagements between seasons.

Credits

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

Anything Goes: The Musical

Actor
Reno Sweeney
Show
2021

Ridley Jones

Voice
Mama Jones
Show
2021

One Night Only: The Best of Broadway

Guest
Special
2020

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Music Performer
Show
2020

Solar OppositesStream

Guest Voice
Sister Sisto
Series
2020
98%

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

Into the DarkStream

Actor
Lauren
Series
2019
70%

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville

Music Performer
Show
2018

Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

Actor
Show
2018

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

A Merry Little Christmas

Music Performer
Show
2018

A Million Little ThingsStream

Guest Star
Chloe
Series
2018

Hollywood at Home

Guest
Show
2018

InstinctStream

Guest Star
Celia Baxter
Series
2018
54%

Treehouse

Actor
Lauren
Movie
2018

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

A Capitol Fourth

Music Performer
Show
2016

Match GameStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

All In With Cam Newton

Guest
Show
2016

Younger: Extras

Actor
Show
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

YoungerStream

Actor
Liza Miller
Series
2015
97%

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Guest
Talk
2015

Mad DogsStream

Guest Star
Gerda
Series
2015
67%

Gravy

Actor
Kerry
Movie
2015

The Meredith Vieira Show

Guest
Talk
2014

The 68th Annual Tony Awards

Music Performer
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Angriest Man in BrooklynStream

Actor
Adela
Movie
2014
9%

Shrek the Musical

Actor
Show
2013

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Tara Parker
Series
2012
95%

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

BunheadsStream

Actor
Michelle Simms
Series
2012
100%

Doc McStuffinsStream

Guest Star
Frida
Series
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

The 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

Music Performer
Show
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Witness
Series
2009
93%

Royal PainsStream

Guest Star
Julie Sharp
Series
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

What Would You Do?

Guest
Show
2008

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

Flight of the ConchordsStream

Guest Star
Coco
Series
2007
94%

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Rosemary
Series
1999
78%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The View

Music Performer
Talk
1997

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

Live From Lincoln Center

Music Performer
Show
1976

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Actor
Reno Sweeney
Franchise
1972

Great PerformancesStream

Host
Franchise
1972

Sesame StreetStream

Guest Star
Series
1969

Today

Guest
News
1952

Music & the Spoken Word

Music Performer
Series
1949

News aboutSutton Foster

Flight of the Conchords - Rhys Darby, Jemaine Clement, and Bret McKenzie

10 Stars Who Appeared on ‘Flight of the Conchords,’ Now 15 Years Old

Sutton Foster in the West End's filmed production of 'Anything Goes' at the Barbican Theatre
Review

Roush Review: Tap-Happy Sutton Foster in Slap-Happy ‘Anything Goes’

Hilary Duff and Sutton Foster as Kelsey and Liza in Younger - Season 7 - 'A Decent Proposal'

When Will the Final Season of ‘Younger’ Air on TV Land?

Younger, Paramount+, Sutton Foster, Laura, Benanti
Exclusive

‘Younger’: Liza & Quinn Have an Eye-Opening Chat About Charles (VIDEO)

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Spoiler Alert

‘Younger’ Final Season Premiere: Does Liza Say ‘Yes’ to Charles’ Proposal? (RECAP)

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‘Younger’ Cast Teases a New Season 7 Love Triangle — And Someone Gets Canceled! (VIDEO)

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‘Younger’ Final Season Trailer Adds a New Complication to Liza’s Love Life (VIDEO)

Peter Hermann as Charles and Sutton Foster as Liza in Younger - Season 6

‘Younger’ Sets Final Season Premiere on Paramount+ — Find Out How Episodes Will Be Released (VIDEO)

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Sutton Foster & Darren Starr Tout ‘Younger’ Ending With Season 7 — on Paramount+ (VIDEO)

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8 One-Season TV Shows That Didn’t Leave Us Hanging

A Million Little Things - Season 2 Episode 12 - Sutton Foster and Jason Ritter on a motorcycle
Spoiler Alert

‘A Million Little Things’: The Truth About Eric & Maggie’s Brother’s Heart (RECAP)

Jason Ritter and Sutton Foster in A Million Little Things taking a selfie
Exclusive

First Look at Sutton Foster on ‘A Million Little Things’ as Eric’s Fiancée Chloe (PHOTO)

Sutton Foster - Nordstrom NYC Flagship Opening Party

‘A Million Little Things’ Casts Sutton Foster — What’s Her Connection to Eric?

‘Younger’: What Will Liza Decide About Charles’ Question? (POLL)

younger clip cover
Exclusive

‘Younger’: Liza’s Confronted by Her Old Life While Out With Charles (VIDEO)

Younger
Premiere

‘Younger’ Season 6: Charles & Liza Go Public, Kelsey’s Career Struggles & More

Screen Shot 2019-05-20 at 3.32.56 PM
Preview

‘Younger’s Sutton Foster & Hilary Duff Tease ‘a Lot of Deception’ in Season 6 (VIDEO)

Younger Season 6

‘Younger’ Season 6 Trailer: Will Charles and Liza’s Relationship Affect Her Career? (VIDEO)

Younger
Preview

‘Younger’ Star Sutton Foster Previews Real-Life Ex Christian Borle’s Guest Spot

Younger - Peter Hermann as Charles and Sutton Foster as Liza
Q&A

‘Younger’ Star Sutton Foster on Season 5: Pantsuits, a Christmas Episode & Guest Stars — Oh My!

Younger - Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff
Preview

‘Younger’ Season 5 Tackles #MeToo & the Changing Liza-Charles-Josh Triangle

SUTTON FOSTER

Sutton Foster on How She Prepares for Stage Performances

Mercury 13

Sutton Foster Sings, ‘Mercury 13’ on Netflix, CBS Celebrates an ‘American Princess’

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9 Times Liza Miller’s Secret Almost Got Out on ‘Younger’

The cast of Younger - Peter Hermann, Miriam Shor, Hilary Duff, Molly Bernard, Debi Mazar, Sutton Foster, Nico Tortorella

‘Younger’ Flashback: Revisit the Cast’s Previous TV Gigs (PHOTOS)

Younger - Sutton Foster and Nico Tortorella

6 Storylines We’d Like to See Resolved on Season 4 of ‘Younger’

Younger

Everything You Need to Know About ‘Younger’ Before Season 4 Premieres

Younger - Sutton Foster, summer preview
Q&A

Team Charles or Team Josh? Sutton Foster Talks Season 4 of ‘Younger’

Younger - Hillary Duff

Are Kelsey and Josh Hooking Up in Season 4 of ‘Younger’? (VIDEO)

Younger - Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff

‘Younger’: Liza Learns About the ‘Bad Pancake’ (VIDEO)

Younger

‘Younger’’s Sutton Foster on Playing TV’s Most Adorable Con Artist

Cheers-Jeers

Cheers & Jeers: Cheers to ‘The Flash’; Jeers to ‘The Walking Dead’

Miriam Shor in Younger

Miriam Shor Is Stealing Scenes as ‘Younger’s Insecure Boss From Hell

Younger - Sutton Foster and Nico Tortorella

TV Land Renews ‘Younger’ for Season 3

Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster on Playing Younger’s 40-Year-Old 20-Something

Younger

What’s Worth Watching: Younger Reminds Us How Much We Missed you, Sutton Foster