Casey Cott

Casey Cott
Photo of a bespectacled man with a microphone
Cott at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Casey Morton Cott

(1992-08-08) August 8, 1992 (age 32)
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, U.S.
EducationBoston University
Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2011–present
Spouse
Nichola Basara
​
​
(m. 2021)​
Children1
RelativesCorey Cott (brother)

Casey Morton Cott[1] (born August 8, 1992)[2][3] is an American actor, known for his role as Kevin Keller on The CW series Riverdale.

Early life and education

Cott was born in 1992, the middle of three children of Rick Cott, an investment manager and former fighter pilot in the Air Force, and Lori Cott (née Morton).[4] Cott grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with his younger sister and older brother, actor Corey Cott, and graduated from Chagrin Falls High School.[5][6] He attended Boston University for two years before deciding to study acting, transferring to the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, where he graduated in 2016.[7][5][8]

Career

Cott began his acting career performing in local Ohio theater, appearing in productions of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Romeo and Juliet, among others.[9][6] Upon moving to Pittsburgh for school, he got involved in the area's regional theater scene while performing in university theater productions concurrently.[5] He appeared in a 2014 production of the play Parade at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh, where he starred alongside several of his Carnegie Mellon classmates, as well as a production of Small Engine Repair at Barebone Productions.[10] In August 2016, he played Moses in the premiere concert reading of Stephen Schwartz's musical project, a stage production of The Prince of Egypt, at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York, opposite Shuler Hensley and John Cariani.[11]

On March 12, 2016, during his final year at CMU, Cott was cast as Kevin Keller on the CW drama series Riverdale, a TV adaptation of the Archie Comics universe. The character of Kevin is notable due to his status of being the first openly gay character in the history of Archie Comics.[12] Cott stated in a Facebook video released to fans in March 2017 that he originally auditioned for the roles of Archie Andrews and Jughead Jones, prior to landing the role of Kevin.[13] He was promoted to a series regular for the second season.[14]

On March 12, 2018, at the SXSW Festival, Cott announced his upcoming role in the film The Mascot, written and directed by Matthew Perkins. Cott will be playing the lead role of Nick Shepherd, an ex-quarterback turned mascot. However, as of early 2019, production has stalled on the project.[15] In the second half of 2018, Cott took part in the filming of the movie All the Little Things We Kill, in which he plays the supporting role of Trever Olsson.[16]

In March 2019, it was announced that Cott will star as the titular character in a Kennedy Center production of The Who's Tommy, starring opposite Mandy Gonzalez and Christian Borle.[17] It was announced on Monday 26 June 2023, Cott made his Broadway debut as Christian in Moulin Rouge! at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, on August 1.

Personal life

Cott resides in New York City.[7] On December 19, 2020, Cott announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Nichola Basara.[18] They were married on December 18, 2021.[19] Cott and his wife had their first child, Cashius, on September 18, 2023.[20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2019 All the Little Things We Kill Trevor Olsson
2021 Asking For It Mike

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lucas Hale Episode: "Conversion"
2017–2023 Riverdale Kevin Keller / Teen Tom Keller / Constable Keller / Kirk Keller / Deputy Keller / Agent Keller Recurring role (season 1) and main role (season 2–7); 127 episodes
2018 Instinct Dino Moretti Episode: "Pilot"
2020 Katy Keene Kevin Keller Episode: "Chapter Ten: Gloria"[21]

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Notes
2017 "Why" Sabrina Carpenter [22]
2019 "Shoes" Mina Tobias

References

  1. ^ Blank, Matthew (April 7, 2015). "CUE & A: Gigi Star Corey Cott on Pokémon, Borrowing Shoes for a Callback and The 'Dog Actor Renaissance'". Playbill. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Casey Cott [@CaseyCott] (August 8, 2017). "Thank you for the kind birthday wishes! I have never been tagged in so many photos with @ShawnMendes. Happy birthday to you as well man!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Collette, Matt (August 15, 2018). "Cover Exclusive: Casey Cott Is More Than Your Gay Best Friend". Out.
  4. ^ "This Family Is Taking Over Broadway, TV and Finance". Sene. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "'Newsies' star Corey Cott returns to Pittsburgh to cheer on brother". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Now Casting - Casey Cott Resume". www.nowcasting.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "The CW Press – Riverdale". www.cwtvpr.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Carnegie Mellon Drama Alumni Nominated for 2017 Tony Awards". Carnegie Mellon University. May 2, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Casey Cott Theatre Credits and Profile". www.abouttheartists.com.
  10. ^ "Casey Cott - Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama". Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Completed Prince of Egypt to Receive Starry Concert Reading". Playbill. July 22, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  12. ^ Slezak, Michael (March 12, 2016). "The CW's Riverdale Pilot Casts Newbie as Gay Student Kevin Keller". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  13. ^ "'Riverdale' Star Casey Cott Auditioned for Archie - 7 Takeaways From His Facebook Live". Toofab.
  14. ^ "Riverdale: Kevin Keller Actor Promoted to Series Regular". Screen Rant. May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  15. ^ The Mascot, retrieved March 7, 2019
  16. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (April 30, 2018). "Elizabeth Marvel To Star In 'All The Little Things We Kill'; Bryce Durfee Joins 'Foreign Exchange'". Deadline. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  17. ^ "Casey Cott, Mandy Gonzalez, Christian Borle & More to Star in Tommy at the Kennedy Center". Broadway.com. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  18. ^ Mizoguchi, Karen (December 19, 2020). "Riverdale Star Casey Cott Is Engaged! His Costars and Kelly Ripa Congratulate the Couple". People. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  19. ^ Willis, Jackie (December 20, 2021). "Casey Cott Marries Nichola Basara With His 'Riverdale' Co-Stars in Attendance". ET Online. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  20. ^ Cott, Casey (September 22, 2023). "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Listings - KATY KEENE on The CW | TheFutonCritic.com". The Futon Critic.
  22. ^ Wass, Mike (July 20, 2017). "Sabrina Carpenter "Why" Video Is Suitably Whimsical". Idolator. Retrieved July 21, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]