Criss thrilled U-M alumni when he gave a “Go Blue” shoutout during his acceptance speech at the 2018 Emmy Awards. The recognition, for his leading role in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” was just one highlight of a career that began when he shot to fame on the television series “Glee.” In 2025, Criss won his first two Tony Awards: Best Musical for “Maybe Happy Ending,” for which he served as a co-producer, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, also for “Maybe Happy Ending.” In winning the latter award, Criss, who is Filipino American, became the first known Asian American actor to win in the category.