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Alisan Porter

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Nationality
  
American

Role
  
Actress

Ethnicity
  
Jewish

Height
  
1.53 m


Children
  
Mason Blaise Autenrieth

Name
  
Alisan Porter

Albums
  
Who We Are, Alisan Porter


Born
  
June 20, 1981 (age 42) (
1981-06-20
)

Residence
  
Occupation
  
Singer, blogger and CEO of The Lil' Mamas (www.thelilmamas.com)

Spouse
  
Brian Autenrieth (m. 2012)

Movies and TV shows
  
Curly Sue, Parenthood, I Love You to Death, The Ten Commandments: The Musi, Perfect Strangers

Similar People
  
Brian Autenrieth, Kelly Lynch, Jim Belushi, Ivyann Schwan, John Hughes

Years active
  
1987–2008 (as actress)

Alisan porter talks about curly sue 2003


Alisan Leigh Porter (born June 20, 1981) is an American singer, actress and dancer. As a child, Porter made acting appearances in Parenthood, Stella and I Love You to Death. Her breakout role came in 1991, when she played the lead in the film Curly Sue opposite Jim Belushi.

Contents

Alisan Porter nALISANPORTERALCOHOLISMlarge570jpg

As an adult, Porter pursued roles in musical theatre, including a run in The Ten Commandments: The Musical. A solo album followed in 2009. In 2016, she auditioned for NBC's The Voice, earning a spot on Team Christina. In May of that same year, Porter was announced the winner of season 10.

Alisan Porter Real Jewish Weddings Agoura Hills CA The Wedding

The Voice 2016 Blind Audition Alisan Porter Blue Bayou


Life and career

Alisan Porter Curly Sue39 Star Alisan Porter Reveals Struggle With Alcoholism

Born to Jewish parents in Worcester, Massachusetts, Porter is the great-granddaughter of prominent Worcester rabbi Joseph Klein. Her grandmother ran the Charlotte Klein Dance Center. Porter's father, Ric Porter, was co-founder, lead singer, and songwriter of the Worcester-based band Zonkaraz. Her mother, Laura Klein, also taught dance, coaching Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski, who appeared on Star Search in 1987 in the junior dance category before they became known as the Coors Light Twins. While in Los Angeles for the twins' appearance on Star Search, the show's producer heard Porter singing in the hotel lobby and booked her to appear on the next episode. Porter has been singing and performing since age three; at age five, she became the youngest Star Search participant ever to win the competition.

Porter acted in several films as a child; she became known for playing the title role in the 1991 movie Curly Sue opposite Jim Belushi. On television, she played the youngest daughter of Lynn Redgrave on the short-lived ABC sitcom Chicken Soup in 1989. The following year, she was slated to be a new regular cast member on Perfect Strangers, but her character was dropped after only one episode.

Porter continued acting at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, where she joined a theater group and participated in various shows. While a freshman, Porter portrayed Anita in West Side Story, and as a senior played the lead in Cinderella. After Porter won The Voice in 2016, her former high school drama teacher said she was not surprised by the result. "She blew everybody away" with her performance in West Side Story, and "really seemed to get the best out of everybody else. Her energy rubbed off on everybody. She inspired others."

When she was 18 years old, Porter moved to New York to audition for Broadway shows. She was cast as Urleen in the show Footloose. Following her move to Los Angeles, Porter starred as Miriam in The Ten Commandments: The Musical at the Kodak Theater alongside Val Kilmer, Adam Lambert and Broadway star Lauren Kennedy. Variety called her performance of "Light of a New Day" "superb".

In 2003, the band The Raz was formed, with Porter as the vocalist and main songwriter. The Raz split up in 2004. In March 2005, she announced the birth of her new band, The Alisan Porter Project. During 2006, she performed in the revival of A Chorus Line as Bebe Bensonheimer at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City. On October 9, 2009, her independent debut album Alisan Porter was released.

Porter sang the National Anthem at the 2016 A Capitol Fourth special on July 3 at the U.S. Capitol West Lawn in Washington, D.C. The special was broadcast on PBS. She also sang the anthem prior to the nationally televised Sunday Night Football game in Oakland, CA on November 6, 2016.

The Voice (2016)

On February 29, 2016, she became a contestant on season 10 of The Voice and sang "Blue Bayou" for her blind audition performance. All four coaches – Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Pharrell Williams – turned their chairs for her and she chose Aguilera as her coach. In the battle rounds, Porter was up against Lacy Mandigo with the song "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas as a rock version. In the knockout rounds, Porter beat Daniel Passino. Porter went on to sing through the live shows, advancing via public vote every week up to the finals, where she performed her original song "Down That Road". On May 24, 2016, Porter was crowned the season 10 winner of The Voice. She also helped make The Voice US history as the first artist to win the show with a female coach, giving Aguilera her first win as a coach.

     – Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes

Personal life

On March 10, 2012, Porter married Brian Autenrieth, a fruit exporter and former child soap opera actor, in California. The couple has two children: son Mason (b. 2012) and daughter Aria (b. 2014).

Porter has openly discussed her battles with alcoholism and drug addiction. She says that she has been sober since October 28, 2007.

Since December 2008, Porter is a contributing columnist for movmnt magazine. Porter created a closed Facebook page for mothers called Lil' Mamas and then, in 2012, a related blog website of the same name that she runs with her business partner, Celia Behar.

Other works

Porter co-wrote the following songs:

  • Adam LambertFor Your Entertainment (2009)
  • Aftermath (Adam Lambert, Alisan Porter, Ferras, Ely Rise)
  • Scarlett Cherry – Labor of Love (2011)
  • Angel (Alisan Porter, Ely Rise, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry, Guy Baruch)
  • Sleep Until You Dream (Alisan Porter, IIsey Juber, Jordan Lawhead, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry)
  • Never Knew Love (Alisan Porter, Ely Rise, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry)
  • Filmography

    Actress
    2010
    Adam Lambert: If I Had You (Music Video) as
    Alisan Porter
    2008
    Meet Dave as
    A Chorus Line Dancer
    2006
    The Ten Commandments: The Musical as
    Miriam
    2003
    Shrink Rap as
    Brandi
    1999
    Undressed (TV Series) as
    Belinda (2001: Season 4)
    1991
    Curly Sue as
    Curly Sue
    1991
    The Golden Girls (TV Series) as
    Melissa
    - Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Melissa
    1990
    When You Remember Me (TV Movie) as
    Kelly
    1990
    Perfect Strangers (TV Series) as
    Tess Holland
    - New Kid on the Block (1990) - Tess Holland
    1990
    I Love You to Death as
    Carla
    1990
    Stella as
    Jenny (age 8)
    1989
    Chicken Soup (TV Series) as
    Molly Peerce
    - The Ralph Hearns Story (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Operation Jackie (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Community Service (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Bea's Night Out (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Almost Father Jackie (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Bea Moves Out (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Take My Kids, Please (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Double Date (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - The Reservation (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - The Bartender (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - The Dinner (1989) - Molly Peerce
    - Pilot (1989) - Molly Peerce
    1989
    Parenthood as
    Taylor Buckman
    1988
    Homesick (Short) as
    Maggie
    1987
    Family Ties (TV Series) as
    Child
    - Miracle in Columbus (1987) - Child
    1987
    Pee-wee's Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Li'l Punkin
    - School (1987) - Li'l Punkin
    - Tons of Fun (1987) - Li'l Punkin
    1987
    I'll Take Manhattan (TV Mini Series) as
    Young Maxi
    - Episode #1.2 (1987) - Young Maxi
    - Episode #1.1 (1987) - Young Maxi
    Producer
    2008
    Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (TV Series) (associate producer - 13 episodes)
    Miscellaneous
    2008
    Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (TV Series) (choreographer - 13 episodes)
    Soundtrack
    2010
    The Jensen Project (TV Movie) (performer: "Be The One") / (writer: "Be The One")
    2010
    Secrets of the Mountain (TV Movie) (performer: "Tomorrows a Better Day", "This Time") / (writer: "Tomorrows a Better Day", "This Time")
    2009
    Van Wilder: Freshman Year (Video) (performer: "Light Up The Sky") / (writer: "Light Up The Sky")
    2006
    The Ten Commandments: The Musical (performer: "Guilty", "The Horns Of Jericho", "The Plagues", "We Are Free")
    1991
    Curly Sue (performer: "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", "The Star-Spangled Banner" (uncredited))
    1990
    Perfect Strangers (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
    - New Kid on the Block (1990) - (performer: "Express Yourself", "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" - uncredited)
    1987
    In Performance at the White House: A Tribute to American Music - Jerome Kern (TV Special) (performer: "I Won't Dance", "I'm Old Fashioned")
    1987
    Pee-wee's Playhouse (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
    - School (1987) - (performer: "Broadway Baby" - uncredited)
    Composer
    2009
    The Zodiac Show: Metamorphosis (Documentary)
    Self
    2016
    Access Hollywood (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #27.182 (2023) - Self
    - Episode dated 25 May 2016 (2016) - Self
    2021
    Celebration: Broadway Jewish Composers (Video) as
    Self - singer
    2016
    The Voice (TV Series) as
    Self - Performer / Self - Contestant
    - Live Top 8 Eliminations (2017) - Self - Performer
    - The Blind Auditions Premiere (2016) - Self - Contestant
    2017
    Today (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 25 July 2017 (2017) - Self
    2016
    Hollywood Today Live (TV Series) as
    Self - Musical Guest / Self
    - Episode dated 4 July 2016 (2016) - Self - Musical Guest
    - Episode dated 10 March 2016 (2016) - Self
    2016
    Home & Family (TV Series) as
    Self - Musical Guest
    - Marilu Henner/Amy Aquino/Alisan Porter/Nicki Whelan & Kerry Rhodes (2016) - Self - Musical Guest
    2016
    Billboard Charts Center (TV Series) as
    Self - Musical Guest
    - Episode #1.2 (2016) - Self - Musical Guest
    2016
    Extra (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #22.189 (2016) - Self
    - Episode #22.131 (2016) - Self
    2016
    Live with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) as
    Self - Musical Guest
    - Guest Co-Host Andy Cohen/Susan Lucci/Alisan Porter/Rebecca Katz (2016) - Self - Musical Guest
    2016
    Access Daily (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 25 May 2016 (2016) - Self
    2016
    Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #35.183 (2016) - Self
    2014
    Inside Edition (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Houston's Hottest Bachelors (2014) - Self
    2009
    The Zodiac Show: Metamorphosis (Documentary) as
    Self
    2008
    Every Little Step (Documentary) as
    Self - Bebe Auditionee
    2006
    Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (TV Special documentary) as
    Self
    2006
    Child Star Confidential (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Mini Moguls (2006) - Self
    1987
    A Beverly Hills Christmas (TV Special) as
    Self
    1987
    In Performance at the White House: A Tribute to American Music - Jerome Kern (TV Special) as
    Self
    1987
    Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) as
    Self
    - The 1987 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1987) - Self
    Archive Footage
    2016
    Extra (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 28 May 2016 (2016) - Self
    2016
    Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) as
    Self / Self - Contestant
    - Episode dated 5 March 2016 (2016) - Self
    - Episode #35.125 (2016) - Self - Contestant

    References

    Alisan Porter Wikipedia