{{short description|American stage and television actor (born 1968)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Stephen Wallem | image = Stephen Wallem 2011.jpg | caption = Wallem in 2011 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|06|14}} | birth_place = Rockford, Illinois, U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = | spouse = | children = | relatives = Linda Wallem (older sister) | parents = }}
'''Stephen Wallem''' (born June 14, 1968) is an American stage and television actor. He is best known for his one-man musical revue, "Off the Wallem", as well as numerous theater productions.<ref name="ivoryton" /> Wallem is also a playwright, composer, and director.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stephenwallem.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708162729/http://www.stephenwallem.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 8, 2007|title=澳客十大专家杀号定胆|澳洲幸运10官方网站|澳洲幸运10开奖官网|website=stephenwallem.com}}</ref> From 2009 to 2015, he portrayed Thor Lundgren in the Showtime series ''Nurse Jackie''. He is the younger brother of Linda Wallem, who is an actress, a writer, and a producer.<ref name=Advocate>{{Cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/03/23/nurse-jackies-hammer-thor|title=Nurse Jackie's Hammer of Thor|date=March 23, 2010|website=www.advocate.com}}</ref><ref name="rockford">{{cite web |url=https://www.rrstar.com/story/entertainment/2015/07/11/actor-stephen-wallem-inspired-by/33880766007/ |title=Actor Stephen Wallem inspired by Rockford's theater scene |last=Westphal |first=Melissa |date=July 13, 2025 |website=Rockford Register Star |access-date=January 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name="boyfriend" />
==Life and career== Wallem was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois,<ref name="rockford" /> and worked as a stage actor and After Dark Award-winning cabaret singer in Chicago<ref name="rockford" /> before moving to New York to make his television debut on ''Nurse Jackie''.<ref name="newport" /> Wallem was influenced by his uncle James Robert Smith to start acting.<ref name="meadow">{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/just-for-a-meadow-lark-nurse-jackie-star-stephen-wallem-will-expose-schwartz-and-all-at-birdland-com-201600 |title=Just for a (meadow) lark, "Nurse Jackie" star Stephen Wallem will expose Schwartz and All at Birdland |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |date=January 17, 2013 |website=Playbill |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415153514/https://playbill.com/article/just-for-a-meadow-lark-nurse-jackie-star-stephen-wallem-will-expose-schwartz-and-all-at-birdland-com-201600 |archive-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> National tours include ''Forever Plaid'', ''Into the Woods'' and ''Scrooge'' with Richard Chamberlain.<ref name="rockford" /> He accrued nearly 2,500 performances as both 'Jinx' and 'Sparky' in various companies of ''Forever Plaid'', including Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver and the first national tour. Wallem portrayed 'Judas'/'Padre' in the Court Theatre's acclaimed production of ''Man of La Mancha'' (After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Performance', Joseph Jefferson Award for 'Best Ensemble') and reprised his performance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. For the Ravinia Festival, he appeared with Tony-winners Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris and George Hearn in ''A Little Night Music'', ''Passion'', ''Sunday in the Park with George'' and Doll with David Hyde Pierce (all directed by Lonny Price). Wallem also originated the role of 'Arvid' in the Broadway workshop of ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3434452/bio|title=Stephen Wallem|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref name="rockford" />
After wrapping up season 3 of ''Nurse Jackie'', Wallem teamed up with costar Edie Falco for a cabaret show entitled ''The Other Steve and Edie''.<ref name="newport">{{cite web |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/2017/07/11/a-high-voice-trapped-in/12778852007/ |title=A high voice trapped in a very large body |last=Gillis |first=James J |date=July 11, 2017 |website=The Newport Daily News |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114162434/https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/2017/07/11/a-high-voice-trapped-in/12778852007/ |archive-date=January 14, 2025}}</ref> The production, conceived by Wallem and Falco with musical direction by three-time After Dark Award winner Beckie Menzie and direction by Tony Humrichouser, ran for a 3-night limited engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.<ref name="meadow" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/emmy-winner-edie-falco-makes-cabaret-debut-in-the-other-steve-and-edie-feb-4-com-175804 |title=Emmy Winnter Edi Falco Makes Cabaret debut in ''The Other Steve and Edie'' Feb. 4 |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=February 4, 2011 |website=Playbill |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920024118/https://playbill.com/article/emmy-winner-edie-falco-makes-cabaret-debut-in-the-other-steve-and-edie-feb-4-com-175804 |archive-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref> The show received numerous critical accolades, with one reviewer stating ''There was a well thought out balance between serious ballads and more humorous pieces, the obvious forte of Wallem, who delighted the crowd with two parodies, one a spoof of "wordy lyrics," another a takeoff on Wicked's "Defying Gravity," changed to "Defying Parody"''.<ref>http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/this-soprano-can-sing {{Dead link|date=February 2022|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
In 2013, Wallem had a show called ''Schwartz and All'' at the Birdland, singing songs by Stephen Schwartz, again with Beckie Menzie.<ref name="meadow" />
In 2017, Wallem was cast in "I Hate Musicals: The Musical" which played at the Ivoryton Playhouse.<ref name="ivoryton">{{cite web |url=https://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Nurse-Jackie-s-Stephen-Wallem-leads-cast-12221738.php |title='Nurse Jackie's' Stephen Wallem leads cast of 'I Hate Musicals' at Ivoryton |last=Boros |first=Phyllis |date=September 26, 2017 |website=Connecticut Post |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926094455/https://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Nurse-Jackie-s-Stephen-Wallem-leads-cast-12221738.php |archive-date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>
Wallem had a supporting role as Mr. Pitts in the 2022 Jennifer Lopez romcom ''Marry Me'', and a supporting role in seasons 5 and 6 of ''The Resident'' as Winston, an amazing and blind yet very resourceful social worker.
==Personal life== Wallem is openly gay.<ref name=Advocate /> In 2019, he got engaged to Tony Humrichouser.<ref name="boyfriend">{{cite web |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/03/07/nurse-jackie-star-stephen-wallem-engaged-boyfriend/ |title=Nurse Jackie star Stephen Wallem gets engaged to his boyfriend |last=Jackman |first=Josh |date=March 7, 2019 |website=Pink News |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409023134/https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/03/07/nurse-jackie-star-stephen-wallem-engaged-boyfriend/ |archive-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref> He also has Type 1 diabetes, which was incorporated into his role in Nurse Jackie.<ref name="rockford" /><ref name="newport" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|3434452}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallem, Stephen}} Category:1968 births Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Rockford, Illinois Category:Male actors from Chicago Category:American gay actors Category:People with type 1 diabetes