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Blake Lee
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Blake Lee (born August 31, 1983) is an American actor, known for his roles on Mixology,[1] Parks and Recreation and the Freeform hit Cruel Summer. Blake and his husband Ben Lewis made history starring in The Christmas Setup, Lifetime's first Christmas movie centered around a gay love story.
Key Information
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Career
[edit]Lee began his professional acting career in 2009, when he made his television debut in the political satire mockumentary sitcom series Parks and Recreation, where he recurred as a guest star as Derek.[2] Lee was cast in the main role of Tom in the sitcom series Mixology.[3][4] Lee appeared in the 2015 biographical drama film I Am Michael portraying Benoit Denizet-Lewis, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2015.[5]
From 2017 to 2018, he was cast to play the main role in the crime drama series Wisdom of the Crowd opposite Jeremy Piven, Monica Potter, Richard T. Jones, Natalia Tena and Jake Matthews, in which he played the main role of Josh Novak.[6] He was cast as Barry in the comedy series Overthinking with Kat & June, which was premiered on December 19, 2018, on YouTube Premium. In 2019, he had a recurring role in the sitcom series Fam portraying Ben.[7]
In early 2020, Lee starred in the romantic comedy movie by Pat Mills titled The Christmas Setup with Ben Lewis, it is the first LGBTQ-themed Christmas film ever broadcast by Lifetime.[8][9][10]
In 2021, Lee appeared on the first season of the teen drama mystery thriller anthology series Cruel Summer, in which he played the main antagonist role of Martin Harris.[11][12]
Personal life
[edit]Lee is married to actor and writer Ben Lewis.[13] The couple met in the Grauman's Chinese Theatre bathroom at the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World premiere.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | I Am Michael | Benoit Denizet-Lewis |
| 2016 | The Wedding Party | Jim |
| 2021 | The Pig People | Peter |
| 2024 | Shell | Sebastian |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2011 | Parks and Recreation | Derek | 7 episodes |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Dean | Episode: "The Benefit of Keeping Your Ego in Check" |
| 2014 | Mixology | Tom | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2015 | Mix | Finn McDonnell | Television film |
| 2015 | The Astronaut Wives Club | Mystery Reporter | Episode: "Abort" |
| 2016 | Good Fortune | Metzger | Pilot |
| 2016 | Good Fortune | Metzger | Television film |
| 2016 | Angie Tribeca | Sebastian | Episode: "Contains Graphic Designer Violence" |
| 2017–2018 | Wisdom of the Crowd | Josh Novak | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2018 | Overthinking with Kat & June | Barry | Main role; 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Fam | Ben | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The Christmas Setup | Patrick Ryan | Television film |
| 2020 | Delilah | Gordon | Television film |
| 2021 | Cruel Summer | Martin Harris | Series Regular |
| 2023 | Gay Pride & Prejudice | Bennet | Lead role; Podcast series |
| TBA | Married with Friends | Arthur | Main role |
References
[edit]- ^ Nellie Andreeva (6 February 2013). "Trio Cast In ABC Comedy Pilot 'Mixology'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
- ^ "Parks and Recreation star Blake Lee breaks down "shock" Cruel Summer twist". Digital Spy. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Video 'Mixology' Sneak Peek with the Stars". ABC News. 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "'Mixology' review: Attractive sitcom knows the score". SFGATE. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "You Should Know: Blake Lee". Guest of a Guest. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Petski, Denise (2017-03-08). "Blake Lee Joins 'Wisdom Of The Crowd' CBS Drama Pilot; Lucas Hazlett In 'Real Life'". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Diaz, Johnny (2017-10-11). "Miami's Blake Lee in new CBS crime drama 'Wisdom of the Crowd'". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Jackson Weaver, "New slate of LGBTQ holiday movies sparks joy, criticism over portrayal of queer stories". CBC News, December 18, 2020.
- ^ "Real-life married gay couple cast in 1st Lifetime LGBTQ holiday movie". ABC News. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Canadian Ben Lewis stars in Lifetime's first LGBTQ holiday film, 'Christmas Setup'". ABC News. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Blake Lee on the Villainous Martin Harris in Freeform's Cruel Summer [Exclusive Interview]". LRM Online. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Ted Bundy Inspired 'Cruel Summer' Character Played by Blake Lee". Men's Health. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "For Blake Lee & Ben Lewis, A Chance Encounter in the Men's Room Became an Eight-Year Love Affair". Out. January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
External links
[edit]Blake Lee
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Blake Lee (born August 31, 1983) is an American actor.[1]
Born in Miami, Florida, Lee relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting, facing early challenges in securing roles before achieving breakthroughs in television.[2][1]
He first garnered attention with a recurring role as Alex on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation from 2013 to 2015.[3]
Lee starred as the teacher Martin Harris in the Freeform mystery thriller series Cruel Summer in 2021.[3]
In 2020, he co-led The Christmas Setup, a Lifetime holiday film notable for featuring an openly gay couple as protagonists.[3]
His film credits include the role of Sebastian in Shell (2024), directed by Max Minghella, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4][3]
Lee has been married to Canadian actor Ben Lewis since January 17, 2017.[5]
Early life
Upbringing and family background
Blake Lee was born on August 31, 1983, in Miami, Florida, where he spent his early years.[3] He attended and graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School, located in the Miami area.[6] In 2005, following his high school education, Lee relocated to Los Angeles to begin pursuing acting professionally, marking the transition from his Miami roots to a career in entertainment.[7] His ethnic background includes Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry on his mother's side, with his father having English, Irish, and distant Welsh and Dutch heritage.[8] Limited public details exist regarding his immediate family structure or parental influences during childhood, as Lee has primarily discussed his professional journey in available interviews rather than personal formative experiences.Initial pursuit of acting
Lee developed an early interest in acting influenced by television sitcoms such as The Wonder Years, Roseanne, Friends, and Saturday Night Live during his upbringing in South Miami, Florida.[6] While attending Miami Palmetto Senior High School, he participated in the theater program, where he discovered his passion for performing. Lee has stated that "there was something about performing that I loved," leading him to recognize acting as his calling.[6][6] Following his graduation from Palmetto Senior High School, Lee relocated to New York City to pursue acting professionally before moving to Los Angeles approximately two years later to continue his efforts.[6]Career
Early career struggles
Lee relocated from Miami to New York City after high school to pursue acting, before moving to Los Angeles in 2005.[6][7] Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he encountered significant challenges in securing professional roles, a common hurdle for aspiring actors in a competitive market.[9] Lee's earliest screen credit was an uncredited appearance in the 2007 comedy film Everybody Wants to Be Italian.[10] He made his professional television debut in 2009, portraying Derek, the boyfriend of April Ludgate, in seven episodes of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.[9] That same year, he debuted in film with a role in the independent horror movie The Pig People.[11] These initial opportunities followed approximately four years of persistent but largely unrewarded efforts, during which he auditioned frequently without consistent breakthroughs.[12] Even after these early credits, Lee experienced prolonged periods of unemployment and financial hardship. In the year preceding his casting in the 2014 ABC series Mixology, he described himself as jobless, broke, and under considerable stress despite ongoing auditions and close calls on other projects.[12] Such instability underscored the precarious nature of entry-level acting, where near-misses often prolonged the path to steady work.[12]Television breakthrough
Blake Lee's entry into prominent television work came through a recurring role as Derek, the casual boyfriend of the sarcastic April Ludgate (played by Aubrey Plaza), on the NBC mockumentary sitcom Parks and Recreation. Debuting in the second-season episode "Rock Show," which aired on October 1, 2009, Lee's portrayal depicted Derek as an easygoing, somewhat detached figure whose interactions with April highlighted her understated humor and the show's ensemble dynamics in the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee. He reprised the role in six additional episodes across seasons two and three, including "Pawnee Zoo" (November 19, 2009), "Greg Pikitis" (October 28, 2010), and "April and Andy's Fancy Party" (May 20, 2010), accumulating seven appearances that marked his initial sustained visibility on network television.[2][3] This opportunity represented a pivotal shift after Lee's relocation to Los Angeles in 2005 and subsequent years of persistent auditions amid limited credits, positioning Parks and Recreation as the series that provided his first notable recurring part on a program that evolved from modest ratings to critical acclaim and syndication success.[7] The role's comedic framing of Derek's low-key presence contrasted with April's intensity, allowing Lee to showcase timing suited to the show's improvisational style under creator Greg Daniels, and it facilitated subsequent guest spots and pilots by establishing industry familiarity.[13] While not a lead, the exposure on a platform averaging 5-7 million viewers per episode in its early seasons underscored the breakthrough's foundational role in building his resume.[14]Film and producing work
Blake Lee's film work spans supporting roles in independent dramas, comedies, horror, and recent genre entries. His early screen appearance came in the 2007 comedy Everybody Wants to Be Italian, though details of his role remain minor.[15] In 2015, he portrayed journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis in I Am Michael, a biographical drama directed by Justin Kelly starring James Franco as gay rights activist Michael Glatze who undergoes a religious conversion.[16] The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015.[17] In 2016, Lee played Jim in The Wedding Party, a romantic comedy exploring relationships amid a wedding.[18] He took a lead role as Patrick Ryan in the 2020 Lifetime television film The Christmas Setup, a holiday romantic comedy where his character navigates family dynamics and romance during Christmas; the film aired on December 12, 2020, and co-starred Ben Lewis, Marc Blucas, and Fran Drescher.[19] Lee appeared as Peter in the 2021 horror film The Pig People, depicting college students investigating mythical creatures in a haunted forest.[20] His most recent role is Sebastian in the 2024 body horror black comedy Shell, directed by Max Minghella, featuring Elisabeth Moss as a fading actress using a mysterious substance for rejuvenation; the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024. While credited as a producer in professional profiles, Lee's documented producing contributions are primarily associated with television projects rather than feature films, with no specific feature-length producing roles verified in major film databases as of 2025.[3]Recent projects and developments
In 2024, Lee appeared in the short comedy film Loser Baby, directed by Dakota Johnson and written by Talia Bernstein, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.[21] The 23-minute project features Lee alongside Johnson, Bernstein, and other cast members in a narrative involving interpersonal dynamics described by collaborators as stemming from an improvised group text exchange.[22] Lee guest-starred as Finn, a photographer and romantic interest for the character Gabriela, in the March 7, 2025, episode "Death Trap" of CBS's Fire Country season 3.[23] This appearance marked his involvement in the procedural drama series, which aired amid its third season from October 2024 to April 2025.[24] Lee portrayed Sebastian in the black comedy body horror film Shell, directed by Max Minghella and starring Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson, which received a theatrical release on October 3, 2025. The project follows a down-on-her-luck actress entering the world of a wellness mogul, earning mixed critical reception with a 55-62% approval rating on aggregator sites shortly after debut.[25]Personal life
Marriage to Ben Lewis
Blake Lee met actor and writer Ben Lewis in 2010 at the premiere of the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, specifically in the bathroom of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.[26] The two initiated a long-distance relationship, with Lee based in Los Angeles and Lewis in Toronto. By December 2020, they had been together for 10 years.[27] Lee and Lewis married on January 17, 2016.[28] The couple has one son.[29] Their marriage has intersected with their careers, notably when they co-starred as a romantic pair in Lifetime's 2020 holiday film The Christmas Setup, the network's first production centered on a same-sex relationship.[27] In 2022, CBS announced development of a multi-camera sitcom, Married With Friends, inspired by and starring the couple, drawing from elements of their real-life partnership.[30]Family and personal interests
Lee and his husband, Ben Lewis, have no children.[1][27] Lee has expressed enjoyment of outdoor activities as a personal interest.[31]Reception
Critical responses to roles
Lee's portrayal of Martin Harris, the seemingly benevolent teacher revealed as a predator in Cruel Summer (2021), contributed to the series' acclaim for its layered thriller elements and narrative misdirection. Variety commended the "agile cast" for delivering "unexpected response" that sustained the show's grabby premise across timelines, with Lee's character central to the haunting abduction plot driving viewer engagement.[32] In supporting roles, such as Paul Milan in How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2015), Lee's performance aligned with the procedural's ensemble demands but drew scant individual critical notice amid focus on lead dynamics. Similarly, his comedic turn as Derek, April Ludgate's boyfriend in Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), fit the sitcom's heteronormative ensemble without standout commentary, as noted in broader analyses of the series' character boundaries.[33] Film appearances, including Lou in the 2022 Swimming with Sharks reboot, occurred in projects met with indifference; Punch Drunk Critics deemed the series "short, unexciting, and easily forgettable," though without isolating Lee's input. Overall, Lee's roles in mid-tier television and independent films have elicited limited dedicated critique, reflecting his position as a reliable supporting player rather than a focal lead, with audience reception often warmer than aggregated critic scores for associated works.[34]Public image and cultural impact
Blake Lee's public image centers on his identity as an openly gay actor portraying relatable LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream television, earning him a niche following among audiences appreciative of authentic queer representation. His marriage to fellow actor Ben Lewis since January 17, 2017, and their family life, including the birth of their son via surrogacy on October 22, 2021, have been highlighted in media profiles as exemplifying stable same-sex partnerships.[5] Lee maintains a low-key online presence via Instagram, sharing personal milestones and professional updates without engaging in controversies, which contributes to perceptions of him as approachable and family-oriented.[35] In terms of cultural impact, Lee's most notable contribution stems from starring alongside Lewis in The Christmas Setup (2020), Lifetime's first holiday film centered on an LGBTQ+ romance, which garnered attention for normalizing gay love stories in traditionally heteronormative genre programming.[36] The movie's release aligned with broader industry shifts toward inclusive holiday content, with Lee and Lewis noting in interviews its potential resonance within the queer community despite the network's historically conservative output.[37] Critics and outlets like GLAAD praised the film's queer-led production team and its lighthearted depiction of family acceptance, positioning it as a milestone in cable television's evolving portrayal of same-sex relationships.[38] However, Lee's overall influence remains confined to supporting roles, limiting broader societal ripple effects beyond incremental visibility in episodic and holiday fare.Filmography
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2011 | Parks and Recreation | Derek | Recurring role (3 episodes)[3] |
| 2013–2014 | Mixology | Tom | Recurring role (5 episodes)[3] |
| 2017 | Wisdom of the Crowd | Jeff | Main cast[15] |
| 2021 | Cruel Summer (season 1) | Martin Harris | Recurring role[3] [39] |
| 2020 | The Christmas Setup | Patrick Ryan | Lead role (TV movie)[3] [39] |
| 2022 | Fire Country | Finn | Guest role[39] [40] |