Harry Shum
Who was Harry Shum?
American actor and dancer (born 1982)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Harry Shum (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Harry Shum Jr. was born on April 28, 1982, in Limón Province, Costa Rica, and later moved to the United States. There, he built a career in dance, television, and film. He went to Arroyo Grande High School in California and then attended San Francisco State University. His early dance training set the stage for a versatile entertainment career, eventually earning him widespread recognition across different platforms and genres.
Before Fame
Shum grew up in Costa Rica and later moved to California, where he discovered his love for dance at a young age. His formal training and work in the San Francisco Bay Area dance scene gave him valuable experience and connections in the entertainment industry. After attending San Francisco State University, he worked as a background dancer and choreographer. He appeared in music videos for major artists like Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, which helped him build the career that eventually led to his Hollywood breakthrough.
Key Achievements
- Won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
- Won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Glee
- Earned the Male TV Star of 2018 at the E! People's Choice Awards for his role in Shadowhunters
- Appeared in the critically acclaimed A24 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which became a cultural and awards phenomenon
- Starred as series regular Mike Chang across six seasons of the Fox musical drama Glee (2009–2015)
Did You Know?
- 01.Shum performed as a background dancer in music videos for Mariah Carey and Beyoncé before landing major acting roles.
- 02.He married actress and dancer Shelby Rabara in 2015; the couple has a daughter together.
- 03.His role as Magnus Bane in Shadowhunters required him to portray a centuries-old warlock, a character noted for elaborate costume and makeup transformations.
- 04.He was part of the ensemble cast of Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars.
- 05.Shum is set to star in a Crazy Rich Asians spinoff film centered around his character and Gemma Chan's character from the original 2018 film.