Evan Ragland Farmer, Jr.(born July 28, 1972) is an American business owner, television host, radio host, actor, musician, designer/customizer, and author. He is best known for his lead role as Jerry O'Keefe in theMTVFilm and follow-up television series2gether,and as host and carpenter within thehome-makeovertelevision genre including Emmy-nominatedWhile You Were Out(TLC),Freestyle(HGTV), andDoor Knockers(DIY).[1]
Evan Farmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Evan Ragland Farmer, Jr. July 28, 1972 |
| Occupation(s) | Business owner, television host, radio host, actor, musician, designer/customizer, author |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse |
Andrea Smith (m.2005) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Early life
editFarmer was born inEthiopia[2]to American parents, and grew up inTowson, Maryland,and attended college atTulane University,where he studied architecture.[3]
He married Andrea Smith, a Merrel Footwear executive in 2005.[4]
Career
editMusic
editIn 1997, Farmer was courted to join Russia's highest selling band in history:Na Na(also written Ha Ha).[5]As part of the courtship, Farmer joined them on a stretch of their 1997 World Tour:Prykindawhich included stadium performances throughout the former Soviet Union. Farmer ultimately declined to join the band amid concerns of being out of the country for extended stretches during a time when his mother was battling cancer.
It was a year later, that Farmer found himself again on stage playing stadiums and arenas, this time with the spoofBoy band2gether,which included opening forBritney Spearson her 2000Oops!... I Did It Again Tour.
Farmer co-wrote"You're My Baby Girl"for 2gether's first album2ge+her,and was an un-credited co-writer on several of the songs for the follow-up album2Ge+her Again.
Acting
editIn New York City, Farmer found representation fromAbrams Artists Agencyand began booking jobs as a print model and actor in national commercials and on soaps including a recurring stint on theGuiding Light.
- The Fantasticks
In 1998, Farmer joined the cast of the originalOff-Broadwayproduction ofThe Fantasticks,as Matt (The Boy) in its 38th year, joining a celebrated legacy in the world'slongest-running musicaland the longest-running uninterrupted show of any kind in the United States.
- Shaft
While performing 8 shows a week inThe Fantasticks,Farmer spent the early part of the day auditioning for film and television work and began gaining the attention from casting directors who began flying him out to LA for screen tests. By 1998 he landed his first film role alongsideChristian BaleinShaft.
- 2Gether
It was while filmingShaftthat he won the lead role as Jerry O'Keefe in MTV's first made-for-TV movie,2gether,a film that copied themockumentaryformat ofThis is Spinal Tap,but this time as a parody of the successful boy bands of the time period. The high ratings of the film spurred a TV series of the same name, as well as two back to back gold albums2ge+herand2Ge+her Again.The TV series was cancelled at the end of season 2, shortly after the death of cast memberMichael Cuccione.
- Austin Powers
In 2000, Farmer auditioned for the role of the Young Dr. Evil in the third of theAustin PowersFranchise,Austin Powers in Goldmember,but when the casting directors saw him walk in the room, they immediately handed him the audition materials for Young Number Two, the part originated byRobert Wagnerand also portrayed byRob Lowe.Farmer became the third actor to step into the role.
Farmer has also made guest star appearances inJAG,Working Class,DAG,and voiced several characters on MTV's cartoons;DariaandCelebrity Death Match.
Television hosting
editIt was while Farmer was in New York City promoting the TV Series 2gether, that he discovered hosting as a potential new career path when the producers ofTotal Request Live(TRL)called him in frantic need of a replacement host forCarson Daly,who was unable to get to the set for the live broadcast. With minutes to air-time, Farmer ran from his hotel room and hosted the live show, his first time in that role. With several follow-up substitutions for Daly over the next year, Farmer began focusing more effort away from acting and towards Host, a career he found far more fulfilling and interesting.
- While You Were Out
By 2003, Farmer was in the perfect position to leverage his construction, and architecture background to the burgeoning home make over genre, and became the host of TLC'sWhile You Were Out,a show where an individual sets up a friend or family member with a surprise room redecoration with the help of a crew of designers and carpenters in only 2 days.[6]
- Top 20 Countdown
In 2010, Farmer took over as host of CMT's weekly show,Top 20 Countdownfor which he was also a producer, replacing Lance Smith, who held the job for eight years. The show ended in 2013 amid reorganization at parent companyViacom.
During that period, Farmer filmed two television pilots as Host; the first forA&EtitledDance Marathonand the second forCMTtitledCMT's Dance Revolution,neither of which caught traction.
- In Residence
In 2015 Farmer filmed the pilot episode as Host of a new series forUnited AirlinesandAFAR Magazine,titledIn Residence: London,which seeks to provide viewers with a local's "insider perspective" of travel destinations serviced by the airlines.
- Other shows
Farmer hosted the short-lived reality game show,Bride vs. Bride,which aired onWe TVin 2006. He also hostedOver the Top HolidayandFreeStyle.
Radio hosting
editFrom 2010 to 2013, Farmer joined as co-host of a weekly syndicated radio show called CMT Radio Insider along with award-winning Lisa Dent, of the Lisa Dent and Ramblin' Ray Show (WUSN).
References
edit- ^Morgan, Chris (3 October 2019)."The 25 greatest home improvement hosts".Yardbarker.Retrieved20 August2020.
- ^McNamara, Lynna (December 9, 2000)."Timely tirade launched a career".Vancouver Sun.p. 96.RetrievedApril 14,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Knight, Molly (September 7, 2003)."Heartthrob's at home around power tools".The Baltimore Sun.Archived fromthe originalon July 12, 2021.RetrievedApril 9,2022.
- ^"You know their house will be just beautiful".The Tennessean.May 20, 2005. p. 2.RetrievedApril 14,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Graham, Jefferson (April 23, 2000)."After lip sync gig, Evan Farmer has his act 2gether".Montgomery Advertiser.p. 59.RetrievedApril 14,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Hare, Kate (September 28, 2003)."While We Are Out, Evan Farmer Has a Blast".The Tampa Tribune.p. 240.RetrievedApril 14,2022– viaNewspapers.com.