Editing Harry Connick Jr. (section)

== Career ==

=== ''When Harry Met Sally...'', success on charts and in movies ===
Connick's reputation was growing, and director [[Rob Reiner]] asked him to provide [[When Harry Met Sally... (soundtrack)|a soundtrack]] for his romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989), starring [[Meg Ryan]] and [[Billy Crystal]]. The soundtrack consisted of several [[Standard (music)|standards]], including "[[It Had to Be You (song)|It Had to Be You]]", "[[Let's Call the Whole Thing Off]]" and "[[Don't Get Around Much Anymore]]". The soundtrack earned [[Music recording sales certification|double-platinum]] status in the United States. Connick won his first [[Grammy Award]] for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance for his work on the soundtrack.

Connick made his screen debut in ''[[Memphis Belle (film)|Memphis Belle]]'' (1990), based on a true story about a [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] bomber crew in World War II. In that year, he began a two-year world tour. In addition, he released two albums in July 1990: the instrumental jazz trio album ''[[Lofty's Roach Souffle]]'' and a big-band album of mostly original songs titled ''[[We Are in Love]]'', which also went double platinum. ''We Are in Love'' earned him his second consecutive Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal.

"[[Promise Me You'll Remember (Love Theme from The Godfather Part III)|Promise Me You'll Remember]]", his contribution to the [[The Godfather Part III (soundtrack)|''Godfather III'' soundtrack]], was nominated for both an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and a [[Golden Globe Award]] in 1991. In a year of recognition, he was also nominated for an [[Emmy Award]] for Best Performance in a Variety Special for his [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] special ''[[Swingin' Out Live]]'', which was also released as a video. In October 1991, he released his third consecutive multi-platinum album, ''[[Blue Light, Red Light]]'', on which he wrote and arranged the songs. Also in October 1991, he starred in ''[[Little Man Tate]]'', directed by [[Jodie Foster]], playing the friend of a [[child prodigy]] who goes to college.

In November 1992, Connick released ''[[25 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|25]]'', a solo piano collection of standards that again went platinum. He also re-released the album ''[[11 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|Eleven]]''. Connick contributed "A Wink and a Smile" to the ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'' soundtrack, released in 1993. His multi-platinum album of holiday songs, ''[[When My Heart Finds Christmas]]'', was the best-selling Christmas album in 1993.

=== Mid-1990s: funk ===
In 1994, Connick decided to branch out. He released ''[[She (Harry Connick Jr. album)|She]]'', an album of New Orleans [[funk]] that also went platinum. In addition, he released a song called "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" for the soundtrack of ''[[The Mask (1994 film)|The Mask]]'', starring [[Jim Carrey]], which is his most successful single in the United States to date.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/harry-connick-jr/|title=Harry Connick, Jr. {{!}} The Official Masterworks Broadway Site|newspaper=The Official Masterworks Broadway Site|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-25}}</ref>

Connick took his funk music on a tour of the United Kingdom in 1994, an effort that did not please some of his fans, who were expecting a jazz crooner. Connick also went on a tour of the [[People's Republic of China]] in 1995, playing at the Shanghai Center Theatre. The performance was televised live in China for what became known as the Shanghai [[Gumbo]] special. In his third film ''[[Copycat (1995 film)|Copycat]]'' (1995), Connick played a serial killer who terrorizes a psychiatrist (played by [[Sigourney Weaver]]). The following year, he released his second funk album, ''[[Star Turtle]]'', which did not sell as well as previous albums, although it did reach No. 38 on the charts. However, he appeared in the most successful movie of 1996,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm |title=Independence Day (1996) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]'', with [[Will Smith]] and [[Jeff Goldblum]].

=== Late 1990s: Jazz and ''Hope Floats'' ===
For his 1997 release ''[[To See You]]'', Connick recorded original love songs, touring the United States and [[Europe]] with a full [[symphony]] orchestra backing him and his piano in each city. As part of his tour, he played at the [[Nobel Peace Prize Concert]] in [[Oslo]], Norway, with his final concert of that tour in [[Paris]] being recorded for a [[Valentine's Day]] special on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] in 1998. He also continued his film career, starring in ''[[Excess Baggage (1997 film)|Excess Baggage]]'' (1997) opposite [[Alicia Silverstone]] and [[Benicio del Toro]].

In May 1998, he had his first leading role in director [[Forest Whitaker]]'s ''[[Hope Floats]]'', with [[Sandra Bullock]] being the female lead. In 1999 he released ''[[Come By Me]]'', his first album of [[big band]] music in eight years, and embarked on a world tour, visiting the United States, Europe, [[Japan]], and [[Australia]]. In addition, he provided the voice of Dean McCoppin in the animated film ''[[The Iron Giant]]''.

=== 2000–2002: Broadway debut, musicals, ''Will & Grace'' ===
Connick wrote the score for [[Susan Stroman]]'s [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[Musical theater|musical]] ''[[Thou Shalt Not (musical)|Thou Shalt Not]]'', based on [[Émile Zola]]'s novel ''[[Thérèse Raquin]]'' which was written in 2000. The play premiered in 2001. His music and lyrics earned him a [[Tony Award]] nomination. He was also the narrator of the film ''[[My Dog Skip (film)|My Dog Skip]]'', released in that year.

In March 2001, Connick starred in a television production of ''[[South Pacific (2001 film)|South Pacific]]'' with [[Glenn Close]]; it was televised on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network. He also starred in ''[[Mickey (2004 film)|Mickey]]'', a movie; [[John Grisham]] wrote the screenplay. In October 2001, he released two albums: ''[[Songs I Heard]]'', featuring big band re-workings of children's show themes, and ''[[30 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|30]]'', featuring Connick on piano with guest appearances by several musical artists. ''Songs I Heard'' won Connick a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album; he toured performing songs from the album, holding matinees. At the performances each parent in attendance had to be accompanied by a child.

In 2002, he received a {{US patent|6348648}} for a "system and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra."<ref name="Connick">{{cite web |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6348648 |title=System and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra |access-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref> Connick appeared as Grace Adler's boyfriend and later husband, Leo Markus on the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Will & Grace]]'' from 2002 to 2006.

=== 2003–2005: ''Connick on Piano'' and ''Only You'' ===
In July 2003, Connick released his first instrumental album in fifteen years, ''[[Other Hours Connick on Piano Volume 1]]''. It was released on [[Branford Marsalis]]' new label [[Marsalis Music]] leading to a short tour of nightclubs and small theaters. Connick appeared in the film ''[[Basic (film)|Basic]]''. In October 2003, he released his second Christmas album, ''[[Harry for the Holidays]]; it'' went gold and reached No. 12 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart. He also had a television special on [[NBC]] featuring [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Nathan Lane]], [[Marc Anthony]], and [[Kim Burrell]]. ''[[Only You (Harry Connick Jr. album)|Only You]]'', his seventeenth album for Columbia Records, was released in February 2004. A collection of 1950s and 1960s ballads, ''Only You'', was in the top ten on both sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and was certified gold in the United States in March 2004. The ''Only You'' big band toured the U.S., Australia, with a few stops in Asia. ''Harry for the Holidays'' was certified platinum in November 2004.

A music DVD ''Harry Connick Jr.{{nsmdns}}"Only You" in Concert'' was released in March 2004, after it had first aired as a ''Great Performances'' special on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]. The special won him an [[Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Music Direction. The DVD received a Gold & Platinum Music Video{{nsmdns}}Long Form awards from the RIAA in November 2005.

An animated holiday special, ''[[The Happy Elf]]'' aired on NBC in December 2005; Connick was the composer, the narrator, and one of the executive producers. The show was released on DVD soon afterwards. The holiday special was based on his original song ''The Happy Elf'', from his 2003 album ''Harry for the Holidays''. Another album from Marsalis Music was recorded in 2005, ''[[Occasion : Connick on Piano, Volume 2]]'', a duo album with Harry Connick Jr. on piano and [[Branford Marsalis]] on saxophone. A music DVD, ''[[A Duo Occasion]]'' was filmed at the [[Ottawa International Jazz Festival]] 2005 in [[Canada]]; it was released in November 2005.

He appeared in another episode of the ''Will & Grace'' sitcom in November 2005, he was in three more episodes in 2006.

=== 2006–2008: ''The Pajama Game'', ''Bug,'' and ''P.S. I Love You'' ===
[[File:Harry Connick 2007 Savannah concert (picture 2).jpg|thumb|Harry Connick Junior in concert in [[Savannah, Georgia]] on February 27, 2007]]
''[[Bug (2006 film)|Bug]]'', a film directed by [[William Friedkin]], is a psychological thriller filmed in 2005 starring Connick, [[Ashley Judd]], and Michael Shannon. The film was released in 2007. He starred in the Broadway revival of ''[[The Pajama Game]]'', produced by the [[Roundabout Theater Company]], along with [[Michael McKean]] and [[Kelli O'Hara]], at the ''[[American Airlines Theatre]]'' in 2006. It ran from February 23 to June 17, 2006; five [[benefit concert|benefit]] performances ran rom June 13 to 17. Connick's performance was highly acclaimed; David Rooney wrote in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "With his handsome wholesomeness and those mellifluous Sinatra-esque pipes, it's hard to imagine a leading man more tailor-made for this 1954 show."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/legit/reviews/the-pajama-game-5-1200518102/|website=Variety|first=David|last=Rooney|date=February 23, 2006|title=The Pajama Game|accessdate=February 9, 2022}}</ref> The ''Pajama Game'' cast recording was nominated for a Grammy, after being released as part of Connick's double disc album [[Harry on Broadway, Act I]].

He hosted [[The Weather Channel]]'s miniseries ''[[100 Biggest Weather Moments]]'' which aired in 2007. He was part of the documentary [[Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037]], released in November 2007. He sat in playing piano on [[Bob French (jazz musician)|Bob French's]] 2007 album ''Marsalis Music Honors Series: Bob French''. He appeared in the film ''[[P.S. I Love You (film)|P.S. I Love You]]'', released in December 2007.

The third album in the ''Connick on Piano'' series, ''[[Chanson du Vieux Carré]]'' was released in 2007, and Connick received two Grammy nominations for the track "Ash Wednesday" for the Grammy awards in 2008. ''Chanson du Vieux Carré'' was released simultaneously with the album ''[[Oh, My NOLA]]''. He toured North America and Europe in 2007, and toured Asia and Australia in 2008 as part of his [[My New Orleans Tour]]. Connick wrote two songs and did the arrangements for [[Kelli O'Hara]]'s album which was released in May 2008; he also sang a duet on the recording.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Brian |url=http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/12186 |title=Kelli O'Hara gets ready to ring in the holidays and prepares for a busy new year; Neal Huff engages in some Trumpery; and Jenn Gambatese enlivens Is He Dead?Feature on |publisher=Theatermania.com |date=November 30, 2007 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref> He was the featured singer at the Concert of Hope immediately preceding [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s mass at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in April 2008. He had the starring role of [[Dr. Dennis Slamon]] in the Lifetime television film ''[[Living Proof (2008 film)|Living Proof]]'' (2008). His third Christmas album, ''[[What a Night! A Christmas Album|What a Night!]]'', was released in November 2008.

Connick has a vast knowledge of musical genres and vocalists, even gospel music. One of his favorite gospel artists is [[Stellar Awards|Stellar Award]] winner and Grammy nominated artist [[Kim Burrell]] of [[Houston]]. Chris Gray of the Houston Press said, "... when Harry Connick Jr. assembled a symphony orchestra for [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s appearance at Yankee Stadium in 2008, he wanted Burrell on vocals"<ref>{{cite web|title=Kim Burrell, Houston's Pastor and Gospel Singer to the Stars|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/kim-burrell-houstons-pastor-and-gospel-singer-to-the-stars-7802796|website=Houston Press|access-date=January 25, 2016|first=Chris|last=Gray|date=September 29, 2015}}</ref>

=== 2009–2011: ''New in Town and'' ''Your Songs'' ===
[[File:Flyscooters Rachel Ray Zellweger & Connick Jr. 1-30-09.jpg|thumb|upright|Harry Connick Junior and [[Renée Zellweger]] at the [[Rachael Ray]] show, January 30, 2009]]
The film ''[[New in Town]]'' starring Connick and [[Renée Zellweger]] began filming in January 2008; it was released in January 2009. Connick's album ''[[Your Songs]]'' was released on CD, September 22, 2009. In contrast to Connick's previous albums, this album is a collaboration with a [[record producer|record company producer]], the multiple [[Grammy Award]] winning [[music executive]] [[Clive Davis]].<ref name=vintage>[http://www.vintageguitar.com/newswire/detail.asp?newsID=2005 Harry Connick Jr. Announces New Album Produced by Clive Davis]  {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20090815163259/http://www.vintageguitar.com/newswire/detail.asp?newsID=2005 |date=August 15, 2009 }}, vintageguitar.com, July 30, 2009</ref>

Connick starred in the Broadway revival of ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'', which opened at the [[St. James Theatre]] in November 2011 in previews.<ref>Jones, Kenneth.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152282-On-a-Clear-Day-Will-Rise-at-Broadways-St-James-Theatre-Nov-12-Harry-Connick-Jr-Stars "On a Clear Day Will Rise at Broadway's St. James Theatre Nov. 12; Harry Connick Jr. Stars"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701100518/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152282-On-a-Clear-Day-Will-Rise-at-Broadways-St-James-Theatre-Nov-12-Harry-Connick-Jr-Stars |date=July 1, 2011 }} ''Playbill'', June 29, 2011</ref> It closed in January 2012, after 29 previews and 57 performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/on-a-clear-day-you-can-see-forever-490538|website=IBDB|title=On a Clear Day You Can See Forever|accessdate=February 9, 2022}}</ref>

Connick appeared on the May 4, 2010, episode of ''[[American Idol]]'' [[American Idol (season 9)|season 9]], where he acted as a mentor for the top 5 finalists. He appeared again the next night on May 5 to perform "And I Love Her". In 2011, he appeared in the family film ''[[Dolphin Tale]]'' as Dr. Clay Haskett and in its [[Dolphin Tale 2|2014 sequel]].

=== 2012–2019: ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', ''Harry'', and ''Every Man Should Know'' ===
On January 6, 2012, [[NBC]] president Robert Greenblatt announced at the [[Television Critics Association]] winter press tour that Connick had been cast in a four-episode arc of NBC's long-running legal drama ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' as new Executive ADA, [[David Haden]], a prosecutor who is assigned a case with [[Olivia Benson|Detective Olivia Benson]] ([[Mariska Hargitay]]).

On June 11, 2013, Connick released a new album of all original music titled ''Every Man Should Know''. Connick debuted the title track live on the May 2, 2013, episode of ''[[American Idol]]'' and appeared on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' the following week to discuss his new project. A 2013 US summer tour was announced in support of the album.

Connick returned to ''American Idol'' to mentor the top four of [[American Idol (season 12)|season 12]]. He performed "Every Man Should Know" on the results show the following night.<ref>[http://tvline.com/2013/05/02/american-idol-top-4-results-recap-amber-kree-david-cook/ American Idol Top 4 Results Recap (Redux): Don't Know Why...There's No Sun Up in the Sky] TV Line, Retrieved August 31, 2013</ref> Connick was on the judging panel for seasons [[American Idol (season 13)|13]],<ref>[http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/09/03/american-idol-jennifer-lopez-harry-connick-jr/ Official: J. Lo and Harry Connick Jr. join 'American Idol'] Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved September 3, 2013</ref> [[American Idol (season 14)|14]] and [[American Idol (season 15)|15]] of ''American Idol'', airing in 2014 to 2016.

''[[Angels Sing]]'', a family Christmas movie released in November 2013 by [[Lionsgate]], afforded Connick an onscreen collaboration with fellow musician [[Willie Nelson]]. The two wrote a special song exclusively for the movie. Shot in [[Austin, Texas]], ''Angels Sing'' features actor/musicians [[Connie Britton]], [[Lyle Lovett]], and [[Kris Kristofferson]] and is directed by [[Tim McCanlies]], who previously worked with Connick in ''The Iron Giant''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-when-angels-sing-1200007499/ |title=SXSW Review 'When Angels Sing' |date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>

A one-hour weekday daytime talk show starring Connick called ''[[Harry (talk show)|Harry]]'' debuted on September 12, 2016. The series ran until May 23, 2018. Connick was nominated for a [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy]] as Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host for both years of the show.<ref>{{cite web| website=IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6002946/reference/| title=Harry|accessdate=July 4, 2024}}</ref>

In January 2019, it was announced that Connick was hired by piano instruction software company Playground Sessions as a video instructor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/01/21/harry-connick-jr-playground-sessions-app/2586733002/ |title=Harry Connick Jr. has a new gig: piano teacher on Playground Sessions app|website=Usatoday.com |date=2019-01-21 |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref>

On October 25, 2019, he released a new album of [[Cole Porter]] compositions rearranged by Connick himself, including “[[Anything Goes (Cole Porter song)|Anything Goes]]” and “[[You Do Something to Me (Cole Porter song)|You Do Something To Me]].” After selecting the songs, and writing and orchestrating the arrangements, he assembled and conducted the orchestra which features his longtime touring band with additional horns and a full string section. Along with his album, Connick announced his return to Broadway on September 16, 2019, with ''Harry Connick Jr. — A Celebration of Cole Porter'', a multimedia celebration of the Cole Porter songbook. The production was conceived and directed by Connick himself with the addition of theatrical and film elements accompanied by a company of dancers and an onstage orchestra.

=== 2020–present: ''Alone With My Faith and'' ''Annie'' ===
Harry released his new album ''Alone With My Faith'' on March 19, 2021. With the [[Coronavirus]] pandemic casting a long shadow in 2020, Connick retreated to his home studio during the lockdown and emerged with an album of new music. He arranged all of the songs, played every instrument, and sang every part. In addition to the familiar, traditional songs, Connick wrote and recorded new tracks that tell the story of his experience coping during lockdown and feeling the full spectrum of emotions that came with it. Both the album cover and the music videos for “Amazing Grace” and “Alone With My Faith” were conceived and directed by Harry's daughter Georgia Connick.  ''Alone With My Faith'' earned Connick his 16th career GRAMMY nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album|Best Roots Gospel Album]] as part of the 64th annual GRAMMY awards.

Harry joined the cast of [[Annie Live!]] as [[Daddy Warbucks|Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks]] - opposite [[Taraji P. Henson]]'s devious Miss Hannigan. The live production aired December 2, 2021, on NBC and also coincided with the release of the ''Annie Live! Cast Album'' – the original soundtrack of the NBC television event.

Connick Jr. was a judge in the 2023 revival of ''[[Australian Idol]]'' and the Australian version of ''[[The Piano (TV series)|The Piano]]'', released in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pip|last=Christmass|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/australian-idol/superstar-judges-for-australian-idol-2023-unveiled-c-8373019.amp|title=Superstar judges for Australian Idol 2023 unveiled|date=28 September 2022|website=7news|access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/09/kyle-harry-meghan-amy-to-judge-australian-idol.html|title=Kyle, Harry, Meghan & Amy to judge Australian Idol.|date=28 September 2022|website=TV Tonight|access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/publicity-media-room/the-piano/105115338|title=Celebrate the power of The Piano this May on the ABC|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=April 1, 2025|access-date=May 6, 2025}}</ref> He starred as the main character John Allman in the 2024 Netflix film ''[[Find Me Falling]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title=Harry Connick Jr., Mira Sorvino & Newcomer Ali Fumiko Whitney Board Rom-Com 'The Islander'|date=April 28, 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/harry-connick-jr-mira-sorvino-to-star-in-rom-com-the-islander-1235012161/|accessdate=May 6, 2025}}</ref>