Grant Gustin is a notable American actor and singer.
With a background in musical theater, he made his mark in the 2010 national tour of “West Side Story” and later graced Broadway in the original production of “Water for Elephants”, originating the lead role of Jacob Jankowski.
Early life and Education
Born on January 14, 1990, in Norfolk, Virginia, Thomas Grant Gustin is the son of Tina Haney, a pediatric nurse, and Thomas Gustin, a college professor. Throughout his high school years, he pursued his passion for musical theater at the Governor’s School for the Arts program in Norfolk and was involved with the Hurrah Players Incorporated, a local theater organization in Virginia. After graduating from Granby High School in 2008, he embarked on his academic journey, enrolling in the BFA Music Theater Program at Elon University in North Carolina for two years. Gustin has maintained a close friendship with actor Chris Wood since their college days.
Career
Gustin’s debut on screen occurred while he was still in high school in the film Rain (2004), a student production directed by Neil Grochmal during his time at Regent University. Playing the role of a young mute, Gustin portrayed a character who has visions aiding a man in solving the mystery of his wife’s murder. Grochmal recognized Gustin’s raw talent and predicted his future success in acting.
In 2010, Gustin put his studies on hold to take on the role of Baby John in the Broadway Revival Tour of West Side Story, performing with the tour from September 30, 2010, to September 23, 2011.
Glee:
On November 8, 2011, Gustin made his debut on the television series Glee as Sebastian Smythe, a member of the Dalton Academy Warblers. His portrayal of the promiscuous and scheming character earned him acclaim after an exhaustive casting process. Originally auditioning for a background role as a tap dancer, Gustin’s talent caught the attention of Ryan Murphy, leading to his casting as Smythe. His performance alongside Naya Rivera in the duet “Smooth Criminal” garnered significant success on the Billboard charts.
In 2012, Gustin embarked on filming A Mother’s Nightmare for the Lifetime network, alongside Annabeth Gish and Jessica Lowndes, followed by a major role in the independent film Affluenza.
The Flash:
In September 2013, Gustin was cast as Barry Allen in the second season of Arrow, with plans for a backdoor pilot episode for a potential Flash series. However, this plan evolved into a standalone pilot, titled The Flash, which premiered on October 7, 2014, garnering significant viewership. The Flash series concluded in May 2023 after nine seasons, with Gustin reprising his role across various shows within the Arrowverse.
Additional roles:
Gustin starred in William H. Macy’s film Krystal in 2016 and was cast in Operation Blue Eyes in March 2020.
Personal life
In January 2016, Gustin entered into a relationship with Andrea “LA” Thoma after their initial meeting at a dinner party. Their engagement was announced on April 29, 2017, followed by their marriage on December 15, 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2021.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 9 million dollars