Christian Borle stars in NBC's new musical drama "Smash" as composer Tom Levitt, who fights to help his old friend Ivy (Megan Hilty) achieve stardom at long last - and tries to maintain his cool when necessity pairs him with his archrival, the brilliant but arrogant director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport).

Borle is best known for originating the role of Emmett Forrest in "Legally Blonde: The Musical" and received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations for his performance. After making his Broadway debut in "Footloose," Borle achieved blink-and-you'll-miss-him status in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Amour" before being given slightly more responsibility in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Mary Poppins." In Monty Python's "Spamalot," he originated a number of roles including Prince Herbert and Not Dead Fred, which earned him a Clarence Derwent Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Borle has starred in a variety of off-Broadway productions, including the Signature Theatre Company's first New York revival of "Angels in America" and "Elegies: A Song Cycle" by William Finn at Lincoln Center. His work in "Peter and the Starcatcher" at the New York Theater Workshop garnered him a Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations.

In addition, Borle has starred in the national tour of "West Side Story" and the Offenbach, Germany production of "The Who's Tommy." He has also appeared in regional theater productions of "Peter and the Starcatcher" at the La Jolla Playhouse, "Just So" at the North Shore Theatre and "The Three Musketeers" at AMT of San Jose.

On the big screen, he appeared in "The Bounty Hunter," which starred Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler.

Borle was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Carnegie Mellon University before moving to New York to make a living as an actor.