Frankie Grande

Frank James Michael Grande Marchione (born January 24, 1983) is an American dancer, actor, singer, producer, television host and YouTuber.

He graduated from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania in 2005, having triple-majored in biology, theatre and dance.

He considered medical school but decided to take a year off to pursue theatre.

He began his professional performing career by 2007, when he appeared as Boots the Monkey in a national tour of Dora the Explorer Live! (Dora's Pirate Adventure) and in regional theatre productions, including the title role in George M!, Mike Costa in A Chorus Line and Lewis in Pippin, among others.

Later in 2007, he joined the Broadway cast of the musical Mamma Mia!, in the ensemble and as understudy for Eddie, in which he performed for three years.

Grande was named "Mr. Broadway" in the "Mr. Broadway 2007" charity benefit.

Grande produced shows on and off Broadway, including Broadway productions of Hamlet (2009) starring Jude Law and revivals of La Bête (2010–2011) starring David Hyde Pierce and Born Yesterday (2011) starring Jim Belushi.

He also produced Brooke Shields' one-woman cabaret show in 2011.

Grande has performed in cabaret acts in New York City, including at Birdland Jazz Club and 54 Below.

In 2012, he established a YouTube channel and has also been building a following on Twitter and Instagram.

In 2013, he starred as Bobby in a summer theatre production of the musical Crazy for You.

He also presented his own show in New York, Livin' la Vida Grande, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

He performed on Broadway as Franz in the musical Rock of Ages (2014–2015) and in Mamma Mia! (2007–2010) and has played roles Off-Broadway, in regional theatre productions and on tour.

Grande has produced Broadway shows and both produced and appeared in cabaret acts, including his own one-man show.

In 2014, he was a contestant on the U.S. reality television series Big Brother 16, and in 2023, he was a contestant on Big Brother Reindeer Games.

In February 2014, Grande played Consuela Off-Broadway in a revival of the musical Pageant.

In June of that year, he performed at DigiFest NYC.

In mid-2014, Grande appeared on the US reality television series Big Brother 16.

MTV called his 12 weeks on the show "controversial ... peppered with some powerful, outrageous, and downright impressive moments".

Grande returned to Broadway in November 2014 as Franz in the musical Rock of Ages for a two-month engagement.

He appeared on Good Day New York and performed "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".

The same month, he co-hosted the red carpet pre-show of the American Music Awards.

In 2014, TV Guide called Grande one of "Our Favorite YouTube Stars".

He was featured in a 2014 ABC Nightline segment about entertainers who use social media to boost their success.

Writing in The New York Times in 2014, Michael Musto termed Grande "friskily ambitious".

Another reporter called him "unabashedly enthusiastic about life."

Grande was a judge on the 2015 season of America's Best Dance Crew.

In 2015, Billboard included Grande in its list of "32 of the top social media stars on the Internet today."

In January 2015, Grande again performed his one-man cabaret show at 54 Below.

In February, he appeared in a music video for Lance Bass and modeled for Malan Breton at New York Fashion Week.

In March, Grande was an Entertainment Tonight interviewer at the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards.

He also appeared in the documentary short film, "Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan", which won the 2015 New York City International Film Festival award for "Best Short Documentary".

From 2016 to 2017, he co-hosted Style Code Live, a live Amazon fashion and shopping show that streamed on weeknights, from which he took off time to compete on the UK reality show Celebrity Big Brother 18 in mid-2016.

His philanthropic work includes co-founding the non-profit arts organization "Broadway in South Africa" and work for buildOn.

Frankie Grande was born in New York City, the son of Victor Marchione, a physician, and Joan Grande, chief executive officer of telephone and alarm system company Hose-McCann Communications.

He grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and moved with his mother to Boca Raton, Florida, at age 10, where he later attended Pine Crest School.

He began performing in musicals in the fifth grade.

His half-sister is singer and actress Ariana Grande, and he has a half-brother, James Marchione.

Grande is openly gay.

Grande placed 5th out of 16 contestants.