Christopher Colfer, born May 27, 1990, is an American actor, singer, and author who achieved international fame for his role as Kurt Hummel on the television series Glee. His performance garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards, including a Golden Globe. Colfer's early life was marked by personal challenges, including a significant surgery and his sister's severe epilepsy, which he has cited as influences on his interest in creating fictional worlds and writing from a young age. He was also subjected to severe bullying in school, leading to homeschooling for a period.

Beyond his acting career, Colfer has established himself as a prolific author. He wrote, starred in, and produced the film Struck by Lightning. His most significant literary success is The New York Times bestselling series The Land of Stories, a collection of children's fantasy novels inspired in part by his grandmother's encouragement and early fairytale writing attempts. As of late 2025, he has published twenty-one books, demonstrating a substantial output in both television and literature. His work on Glee also involved personal experiences, with some of his high school challenges being incorporated into his character's storyline.

Chris Colfer's early life was shaped by significant personal experiences that fostered his creative inclinations. A childhood surgery that left him hospitalized for three months sparked an early interest in escapism through fictional realms. The severe epilepsy diagnosed in his younger sister, which demanded considerable parental attention, also led Colfer to retreat into his imagination as a coping mechanism. During this time, he began crafting fairy tales, a practice he saw as both a way to entertain and a means of processing reality. His grandmother played a crucial role, acting as his first editor and encouraging his early writing efforts, particularly a fairytale-inspired novel that would eventually evolve into his successful 'The Land of Stories' series. This early foundation in storytelling, coupled with significant challenges, laid the groundwork for his later literary career.

Chris Colfer has achieved considerable success as an author, most notably with his children's fantasy series, 'The Land of Stories.' This popular series, which began with 'The Wishing Spell,' follows the adventures of twins who enter a magical world through a treasured storybook. The books have consistently appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with the series reaching the number one spot. Colfer's grandmother's early encouragement was instrumental in his development as a writer, and he has dedicated his first published novel to her. Beyond the main series, his literary output includes other works such as the film 'Struck by Lightning,' which he also wrote and starred in, and a picture book titled 'The Curvy Tree.' His prolific writing career, with over twenty published books, highlights a significant dedication to storytelling beyond his acting endeavors.

“I'm very Irish, my family is all Irish and Saint Patrick's Day in my house is crazy.”

“She'd have these horrid, horrid epileptic fits in the middle of the night.”

“craved attention”

“born wanting to be a storyteller”

“Christopher, I think you should wait until you're done with elementary school before worrying about being failed writer.”