Harry Connick Jr: American singer's age, wife, family and career revealed

9 March 2022, 16:32

Harry Connick Jr is one of the greatest all-round entertainers of his generation.

He is one of the best-selling male artists in US history, has had a highly successful acting career and continues to sell-out arenas around the world.

Here are all the important facts about the talented singer every fan should know:

1. How old is Harry Connick Jr and who were his parents?

   Harry Connick Jr was born on September 11, 1967. He celebrated his 54th birthday in 2021.

   He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, Anita Frances Livingston (née Levy, 1926–1981) was a lawyer and judge in New Orleans and was later a Louisiana Supreme Court justice.

   His father, Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Sr., was the district attorney of Orleans Parish from 1973 to 2003. His parents also owned a record store.

   His father is a Catholic of Irish, English, and German ancestry, while his mother, who died from ovarian cancer, was Jewish. He also has a sister named Suzanna.

2. How did he get his big break?

   

   Harry Connick Jr. singing "I'll Dream of You Again" on Cheers

   His musical talents were clear to see when he started learning keyboards at age three, and played publicly at age five. He started recording with a local jazz band at ten.

   When he was nine, he performed the 'Piano Concerto No 3 Opus 37 of Beethoven' with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, and a duet with Eubie Blake on the song 'I'm Just Wild About Harry'. This performance was recorded for a Japanese documentary called Jazz Around the World

   The clip was later shown in a Bravo TV special, called Worlds of Harry Connick, Junior. in

   He studied at Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music, and met Columbia Records executive Dr George Butler, who persuaded him to sign with Columbia. His first record Harry Connick Jr. was a mainly instrumental album of standard songs. His next album 20 featured his vocals.

   In 1989, director Rob Reiner asked him to provide a soundtrack for his romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.

3. What are Harry Connick Jr's biggest songs?

   

   Harry Connick Jr. - It Had to Be You

   Harry Connick Jr has released 26 studio albums as of 2018.

   Some of his most famous recordings include versions of 'Just the Way You Are', 'It Had to Be You', 'Recipe for Love' and 'Your Song'.

4. Harry Connick Jr wife and daughters: How big is his family?

   

   In 1994, Connick married former Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre.

   Jill is the daughter of sculptor Glenna Goodacre, and the song 'Jill', on the album Blue Light, Red Light is about her.

   They have three daughters: Georgia Tatum (born 1996), Sarah Kate (born 1997), and Charlotte (born 2002).

5. What films and TV shows has Harry Connick Jr starred in?

   

   As The Good Reverend Would Say (Independence Day ID4)

   Acting wise, Harry Connick Jr is best known for playing Grace Adler’s husband, Leo Markus, on the sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006.

   He began his acting career as a tail gunner in the World War II film Memphis Belle in 1990.

   He also played a serial killer in Copycat, and played Will Smith's best friend Jimmy in Independence Day. His first role as a leading man was in Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock.