Kevin Cahoon

Early life

Kevin Cahoon was born on July 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas. Cahoon began his performing career at the age of 5 as 'The World's Youngest Rodeo Clown', performing throughout the Texas and Oklahoma Rodeo Circuits, including many consecutive seasons at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Texas State High School Finals Rodeo, resulting in a Letter of Citation from then Texas Governor Bill Clements.

At 10, Cahoon began his acting career in Houston, performing at local theaters including Theatre Under the Stars, Stages, The Main Street Theatre, and The Houston Grand Opera. Notable productions included the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse musical Chaplin, Mame opposite Marilyn Maye, and the controversial production of Charles Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You at the then Tower Theatre.

Cahoon apprenticed with Theatre Under The Stars' Humphrey's School of Musical Theatre, appeared in numerous commercials, and performed at the opening ceremonies of Houston's Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.

He is featured in the book, "Theatre Under the Stars: Stars In Your Eyes"

At 13, Cahoon won the Teen Male Vocalist Grand Championship on television's 'Star Search', and went on to tour that summer in "The Stars of Star Search"

He majored in Acting at Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He then went on to receive a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts at Circle In The Square.

Theatre

After graduation Cahoon made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy. On Broadway he played Ed the Hyena in The Lion King directed by Julie Taymor, George in The Wedding Singer, The Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and was in the revival of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

He left his role in The Lion King to perform the eighth show of the week for John Cameron Mitchell in the title role of Hedwig in Hedwig and The Angry Inch at The Jane Street Theater Off-Broadway, eventually taking over the role and starring as 'Hedwig' in Boston, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, and an extended eight-month run at The Victoria Theatre in San Francisco. He was also featured in the documentary film Whether You Like It Or Not: The True Story of Hedwig.

Off-Broadway, Cahoon played Phil D'Armano in Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party at The Manhattan Theatre Club. He also starred opposite Matthew Broderick in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of The Foreigner for which he received a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor. Other off-Broadway credits include The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World at Playwright's Horizon and the revival of Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive at Second Stage.

For New York's City Center Encores! Series, he was seen as Woof in Hair and Peter in Babes in Arms and has performed regionally at The Berkshire Theatre Festival, NY Stage and Film, The Guthrie Theatre, and The Williamstown Theatre Festival. Other productions include the role of Hans Christian Andersen in the American premiere of Stephen Schwartz's My Fairytale for California's PCPA, "The Imaginary Invalid" at Bard Summerscape alongside Peter Dinklage, "Minsky's" at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre, and the all-male production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" directed by Jessica Stone.

Cahooon is featured in the Original Cast Recordings of: "The Lion King", "The Rocky Horror Show", "The Wild Party", "Babes In Arms", "The Wedding Singer", and "The Shaggs: Philosophy Of The World".

He also appeared on the 1998, 2000, and 2006 Tony Awards.

Television and film

On television Cahoon has portrayed Ross Rothman on Six Degrees (ABC) and Kermit Jones on The Royale (AMC). He has also guest starred on The Mentalist (CBS), CSI (CBS), Modern Family (ABC), Franklin and Bash (TNT), NCIS (CBS), Canterbury's Law (FOX), Hope and Faith (ABC), Ed (NBC), Law and Order (NBC) and Law and Order: Criminal Intent (NBC). On film he can be seen in Disney's Mars Needs Moms, Woody Allen's The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Paul Reiser's The Thing About My Folks, Adrienne Shelley's Sudden Manhattan, Michael Knowle's One Night, and W.E. directed by Madonna. He also was featured in the Woody Allen short, Sounds From A Town I Love, which was created for VH-1's "The Concert for NYC" after September 11, 2001.

Directing

As a director Cahoon has directed the productions of Seussical, Hairspray, Grease, and Annie for The Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. For his work at BAHBT, he received the Jete Society Honor in 2011. Cahoon directed the premiere production of Grifftopia starring and created by Griffin Newman and the debut productions of Tastiskank, created by Kate Reinders and Sarah Litzsinger, which went on to win the Aspen Comedy Festival, both for the Ars Nova Theatre in NYC.

Music

With his New York-based band Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy, Cahoon has played shows at New York venues including CBGB's, Don Hill's, Ars Nova, Joe's Pub, and Irving Plaza. He has shared the bill Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Justin Bond. He is also featured in the documentary film 'Squeezebox' about NYC's downtown music scene. Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy's debut album Doll received The Out Music Award for Outstanding Debut Recording, received a Citation of Merit from Billboard Magazine's World Songwriters Awards, received the Pabst Blue Ribbon Live & Local Award for New York City, and its title song is the lead track for the feature film Ready? OK!. Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy are presenters on Sirius Radio's OutQ, charting in the top 10, and on LOGO's NewNowNext.