Colin Donnell

Here is a detailed, SEO-optimized article about Colin Donnell — his background, career, highlights, and quotes.

Colin Donnell – Life, Career & Notable Quotes

Discover the journey of actor and singer Colin Donnell: from St. Louis beginnings and Broadway stages to TV hits like Arrow and Chicago Med. Includes his life story, career milestones, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Colin Donnell (born October 9, 1982) is an American actor and singer known for his diverse career across stage and screen.

He gained wide recognition for roles such as Tommy Merlyn on Arrow, Dr. Connor Rhodes on Chicago Med, and Scotty Lockhart on The Affair. He has also starred in Broadway musicals like Anything Goes, Violet, and Johnny Baseball.

In the following sections, we trace his early life and influences, his progression in theatre and television, his public persona, and some of his more reflective quotes.

Early Life & Education

• Birth & Family:
  Colin Donnell was born in St. Louis, Missouri, as the youngest of three brothers. He has Irish and French ancestry.

• Musical & Stage Roots:
  In high school, he participated in the choir, and early on dabbled in juggling and circus tricks backstage — which illustrated his early comfort with performance. Around age 17, he learned guitar and took singing lessons, deepening his musical foundation.

• College & Graduation:
  He attended Indiana University Bloomington, graduating in 2005.

These formative experiences gave Donnell both musical and performance grounding before he launched fully into acting and singing.

Career & Achievements

Theatre & Broadway

Donnell’s early career leans heavily on musical theatre:

• He participated in national touring productions such as Mamma Mia! and Wicked.

• His Broadway credits include Jersey Boys (as Hank Mejewski), Anything Goes (as Billy Crocker), Violet, Johnny Baseball, and more.

• For Anything Goes, he earned nominations such as Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and Outer Critics Circle nods.

Stage work provided him not only visibility but a robust set of skills in singing, dancing, and live performance that would support his later transitions.

Television & Screen

Donnell made his TV debut in Pan Am on ABC, playing a reporter character.

His breakout television roles include:

• Tommy Merlyn / Dark Archer / Prometheus on Arrow — he became a recurring figure even after his main arc ended.

• Scotty Lockhart on The Affair — recurring across seasons.

• Dr. Connor Rhodes on Chicago Med — a major, regular role from 2015 to 2019.

After leaving Chicago Med in 2019, Donnell appeared in guest roles and made a notable return to television via FBI: International in 2024 (as a guest cast in final episodes) as part of a shifting cast.

He also appears in theatrical productions and continues to maintain ties to stage work, e.g. his involvement in The Shark Is Broken on Broadway.

Other Projects & Collaborations

• In 2022, he and his wife, actress Patti Murin, released a joint music album titled “Something Stupid”.

• He continues to move between stage and screen — balancing musicals, series, and guest roles.

Personality & Public Persona

Colin Donnell’s public image is one of versatility, grounded ambition, and musical sensitivity.

• He often describes enjoying the “constant change” in television — playing a character evolving over years is a source of creative stimulation.

• He acknowledges that early in his career, sports had been a central focus, but as theatre opportunities emerged, his priorities shifted.

• He is also someone who appreciates the everyday, saying things like “You can’t beat New York for food.” — a nod to enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

• He speaks candidly about paths that diverge from what family or friends might expect:

  “We all have friends and family who see one path for us, and we go a different path, and it’s not necessarily what they would have wanted.”

In interviews, he comes across as down-to-earth, self-aware, and someone who values both the artistic and human sides of performance.

Notable Quotes

Here are some quotes attributed to Colin Donnell:

“We all have friends and family who see one path for us, and we go a different path, and it’s not necessarily what they would have wanted.” “For a while, I was all sports all the time. Then, as I started to get into theater, they dropped away, but I hung on tight with a highly competitive Ultimate Frisbee team.” “You can’t beat New York for food.” “My SAG card, the first TV job that I ever had was ‘Pan Am’ as a reporter. But that may not be entirely true. I did some motion capture work, doing reshoots on a video game.” “I really enjoy the constant change in TV. It’s fun to play a character that is, hopefully, growing and developing over a long period of time.”

These lines reflect his perspective on evolving professionally, the trade-offs in life, and embracing change.

Lessons & Takeaways

From Colin Donnell’s career and public voice, we can draw several insights:

1. Versatility and flexibility pay off
   Donnell moves fluidly between Broadway musicals and television — diversifying his skills helps sustain a long-term career.

2. Embrace change and growth
   His quote about “constant change in TV” shows he doesn’t fear evolution but sees it as beneficial.

3. Follow your own path
   Despite expectations from others, he acknowledges that life often leads us where we’re meant to go, not necessarily where others anticipate.

4. Balance ambition and humility
   He celebrates what he’s achieved, but keeps grounded in enjoying simple pleasures (like good food or creative process).

5. Musical grounding strengthens acting
   His early musical, singing, and theatre training appears to give him a strong foundation, enabling him to cross genres.

Conclusion

Colin Donnell is a compelling example of an actor who bridges musical theatre and mainstream television with authenticity and craft. From his roots in St. Louis and musical theater to his prominent TV roles in Arrow and Chicago Med, he demonstrates that a performer can evolve across mediums while staying true to creative impulses.

His reflections — on change, expectations, and artistic growth — serve not just as a window into his mindset, but as meaningful guideposts for anyone pursuing a creative life. Let me know if you'd like a condensed "Top Quotes & Life Lessons" version for sharing, or a version focused particularly on his stage work.