Constantine Maroulis

Born to Greek-American parents in Brooklyn in 1975, Constantine Maroulis grew up listening to all sorts of music in his suburban New Jersey home (his family had moved there when he was five), from Frank Sinatra to Guns N' Roses, inspired in part by older brother Athan's success in the entertainment world as a singer, publicist, and label owner. In 1999, Constantine enrolled in the Boston Conservatory of Music, receiving his degree in musical theater three years later. He soon found an apprenticeship at the Williamstown Theater Company, through which he gained the attention of the director for the international production of Rent, who later cast him in the part of Roger, during which time he was also singing lead for the band Pray for the Soul of Betty.

In 2005, Constantine was chosen as a contestant for the fourth season of the popular television show American Idol, where he wooed and wowed fans with his good looks, facial expressions, and rock-star attitude. Although he was eliminated early in the competition, he was soon after courted with modeling and acting proposals (none of which panned out), toured not only with the American Idol troupe that summer but also on his own in the Philippines, and he contributed his version of the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" to the tribute album Killer Queen. After more theater stints (The Wedding Singer, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris), as well as the recurring role of Constantine Parros on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, Maroulis released his debut album, Constantine, on his own Sixth Place Records (the spot he had on American Idol) in August of 2007. - Marisa Brown, All Movie Guide