Chris Colfer was heavily involved in extra-curricular activies during his stint at Clovis High School: he participated in the school's speech and debate club, edited their literary magazine, and even penned a gender-reversed spoof of Sweeney Todd. His first on-screen role was in the 2008 short Russel Fish: The Sausage and Eggs Incident.
Colfer's biggest breakthrough came when he joined the cast of the TV series Glee, in 2009. Originally auditioning as wheelchair-bound Artie (a role which eventually went to Kevin McHale), the producers were so impressed with him that they wrote a character especially for him: the flamboyant and openly gay Kurt Hummel. Critics praised his performance of the show, with Rolling Stone calling him the "heart and soul" of the series; it also earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy.
Colfer is openly gay and has participated in several campaigns against bullying, drawing from his experience in school, where he was frequently picked on.
- Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, 2010 (for Glee)
- Teen Choice Award, Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer, 2010