Sutton Lenore Foster, an American actress, singer, and dancer, was born on March 18, 1975, in Statesboro, Georgia. She was raised in Troy, Michigan, and began her career in the entertainment industry at a young age.
Foster's early start in show business included being a contestant on the reality competition show Star Search at the age of 15, and auditioning for the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. She left Troy High School before graduating to join the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies, directed by Tommy Tune.
Foster then attended Carnegie Mellon University for one year, but left to pursue a full-time career in theater. In May 2012, she received an honorary doctorate from Ball State University, in recognition of her outstanding career in theater, television, and music, as well as her contributions to the educational experience and professional growth of Ball State students.
Foster has had a successful career on the Broadway stage, earning two Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, in 2002 for her role as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and in 2011 for her performance as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. Her other Broadway credits include Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical, and Violet.
In addition to her work on Broadway, Foster has also appeared on television, playing the lead role in the short-lived ABC Family comedy-drama Bunheads from 2012 to 2013. Since March 2015, she has starred in the TV Land comedy-drama Younger.
Foster is married to screenwriter Ted Griffin, whom she met in 2013. The couple adopted a baby girl, Emily Dale Griffin, born on March 5, 2017. Foster is also a self-proclaimed dog lover, and has had three dogs since her Broadway debut.
In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Foster is also a visual artist, creating artwork that she sells online and occasionally exhibits at art shows. She has collaborated with visual artist Julien Havard, who previously worked as her dresser for nine years, beginning with Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Foster's family includes her older brother, actor Hunter Foster, and her husband, Ted Griffin. She is also a friend of actor Christian Borle, whom she was married to from 2006 to 2013.
