Gossip Girl Report

A Gossip Girl Primer: Penn Badgley

by Kelly on August 21st, 2007

Penn Badgley was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 1, 1986, but split his childhood years between the east coast and the west coast. After doing a few voice-overs, Badgley got his big break in a guest role on NBC’s hit show, Will & Grace. In Seattle he was involved in the Seattle Children’s Theater and did voice-overs for a children’s radio station. It was through these experiences that Badgley discovered his love of acting. This passion brought him one summer to Hollywood, where he landed an agent and his first big break guest-starring on “Will & Grace” (1998). He loved the work, and soon thereafter his family relocated to Los Angeles so that he could pursue acting full time.

After the move to LA, Badgley was cast in several projects, including the CW’s What I Like About You and CBS’ The Young and the Restless.  Badgley was recognized for his work as Philip Chancellor IV on Y&R with a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a Daytime TV Series - Young Actor (he lost to actor/singer Jesse McCartney).

A self-proclaimed musician, Badgley enjoys singing, writing, and playing the guitar. I wonder if we’ll get to hear any of his music on Gossip Girl?  That would make sense in his role as Dan Humphrey; Dan is a soulful writer and musician who has spent years pining after Serena.

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POSTED IN: Gossip Girl Cast, Penn Badgley