• Faith: Christian - Catholic
• Career: Musician
• Birthday:  September 11, 1967

Harry Connick Jr. is a pianist, singer, actor, composer, and former TV host. As of 2019, he’s sold over 30 million records worldwide. Connick Jr. is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 16 million in certified sales. He’s had seven top 20 U.S. albums and 10 number-one U.S. jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in U.S. jazz chart history as of 2009.

Connick Jr.’s best-selling album in the U.S. is his Christmas album “When My Heart Finds Christmas.” His highest-charting album is “Only You,” which reached No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 6 in Britain. He’s won three Grammys and two Emmys. Connick Jr. played Leo Markus, the husband of Grace Adler, played by Debra Messing, on the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace” from 2002 to 2006. Connick Jr. started his acting career playing a tail gunner in the World War II movie “Memphis Belle.” He played a serial killer in “Copycat” before being cast as a fighter pilot in the hit movie “Independence Day.”

His first role as a leading man was in “Hope Giant” with Sandra Bullock. He also lent his voice to the animated cult classic “The Iron Giant.” His first thriller movie since “Copycat” was “Basic” with John Travolta. Additionally, Connick Jr. played a violent ex-husband in “Bug” and was in two romantic comedies: “P.S. I Love You” and “New in Town” with Renee Zellweger, where he was the leading man. In 2011, Connick Jr. appeared in “Dolphin Tale” as Dr. Clay Haskett and in its 2014 sequel. He was born and raised in New Orleans with his older sister, Suzanna. His father, Harry Connick Sr., was the district attorney of Orleans Parish from 1973 to 2003. His parents also owned a record store.

In addition to his career as a prosecutor, Connick Sr. also had a career performing weekly gigs at French Quarter clubs. Connick Jr. started learning to play keyboards at three years old, playing publicly when he was five years old and recording with a local jazz band when he was 10. At nine years old, Connick Jr. performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 Opus 37 with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, now the Louisiana Philharmonic.

What religion is Harry Connick Jr.?

Connick Jr.’s father was a Roman Catholic of Northern Irish descent, while his mother was Jewish and from New York. His part-Jewish heritage would later inspire him to play Jewish doctor Leo on “Will & Grace.” He identifies as a practicing Roman Catholic, although he also identifies with his maternal Jewish heritage. In a pre-mass concert for Pope Benedict, Connick Jr. said, "This is a great honor and thrill for me. I have never before met or performed for the Pope. As a praticing Catholic, this is as good as it gets."