“Sam Harris is sheer magic! His enormous talent defies categorization. He can sing, he can dance, he can act the bejesus out of a piece, injecting so much passion into it that its substance literally leaps off the stage, directly into our hearts.” (Broadway World)
Sam is a multi-platinum recording artist with 9 studio albums, including Sam Harris, and Sam-I-Am. The records, Standard Time, and Different Stages (produced and conducted by the legendary Peter Matz), have been listed on numerous "Top 100 Records of All Time" lists. Other CDs include The Best of the Motown Sessions, Revival, On This Night, Always, Sam Harris Live! - The Best of Christmas, and Free, which included the song, "Change Is On The Way," written for and utilized by the Barack Obama Campaign. He also co-wrote the anthem, “My Reclamation,” which was penned in response to Proposition 8, demanding equal LGBTQ marriage rights, and the anti-bullying song, “Don’t Yuk My Yum.” He can also be heard on numerous concert, guest artist, and cast recordings.
Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.”
On Broadway, Sam received Tony, Outer Critic’s Circle and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman’s THE LIFE as well as a Drama League Award and Drama Desk nomination for his role in Tommy Tune’s GREASE. He also appeared on Broadway in Mel Brooks’, THE PRODUCERS. Additionally, Sam has starred in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, CABARET, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, HAIR, PIPPIN, THE JAZZ SINGER, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB and the smash hit, one-man shows HARD COPY, DIFFERENT HATS, and SAM.
“Sam Harris is the ultimate entertainer – that rare breed who comes along once in a generation and does it all better than anybody else.” - Cy Coleman
Sam’s chameleonic career took a new turn as the hilarious Perry Pearl on the CBS sitcom, THE CLASS, winning a People’s Choice Award, and prompting columnist, Liz Smith, to call him “the comedy breakout character of the television season.” He has guest-starred on numerous series, several films, and was given his own segment on television’s EXTRA called “Six Degrees of Sam.”
Behind the scenes, Sam co-wrote the sitcom, DOWN TO EARTH, which ran for 4 years, and the Los Angeles produced stage musical HURRY! HURRY! HOLLYWOOD! (both with Bruce H. Newberg.) He also co-produced the television special LOVE LETTER TO NEW YORK, supervised and directed segments of MICHAEL JACKSON’S 30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY at Madison Square Garden, wrote music for the award-winning film, LITTLE MAN, and co-wrote LIZA’S AT THE PALACE, which won the 2009 Tony Award. He also created and directed the concert event, NEW YORK’S FINEST – BROADWAY’S LEADING MEN, to critical acclaim, and is the co-producer of THE STAY PROUD PROJECT television series.
HAM: a musical memoir
Sam Harris was raised in the rural town of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He left home at 15-years-old to pursue his dreams of a career in show business. At 21, Sam splashed into the public eye on the premiere season of television’s STAR SEARCH, winning the hearts of 25 million viewers per week, becoming a household name, and launching a career that now runs the gamut from singer and songwriter to actor on Broadway, film and television, to writer, director, producer and author.
About Sam’s legendary performance of Over the Rainbow: “One of the greatest performances ever on television, EVER!” - Jimmy Fallon
Sam has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues from New York’s Carnegie Hall to London’s West End. He has performed with numerous symphonies including The Boston Pops and participated in Cyndi Lauper’s TRUE COLORS tour. Sam has appeared at The White House, on numerous television specials and live productions, and has been a guest artist on virtually every talk show from Leno to Fallon; his favorite in an historic time, when he performed a stirring “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW in the week following September 11th.
“Unbelievable! Sam could make Jesus walk through the door!” - Oprah Winfrey
His memoir, “HAM: SLICES OF A LIFE,” (Simon & Schuster) received raves across the board, and was developed into the one-man musical, “HAM: A MUSICAL MEMOIR,” which played to resounding success in New York and Los Angeles, and won three prestigious Ovation Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Musical Direction (for long-time colleague, Todd Schroeder.) HAM was then filmed for television, debuted in Laemmle Theatres, and is now in wide release on most streaming platforms.
"A stunning debut novel. A powerful, aching, deeply felt, finely tuned story which will move readers." - Publishers Weekly
“Exceptionally well-written and captivating! An unmissable experience! HAM? More like filet mignon!” - L.A. Times Critic’s choice
His newest book, “THE SUBSTANCE OF ALL THINGS,” has been praised by all prominent book review publications, and is in development as a feature film.
“Filled with theatricality, pizazz and charm . . .powerful . . .poignant . . . top notch . . . undeniable talent and charisma . . a master narrative of an artist in search of himself. The consummate musician, actor, and entertainer.”
-Curtain Up
Sam is married to businessman Danny Jacobsen, and they are the proud fathers of Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobsen.