Kevin Patrick Covais (/koʊˈveɪɪs/;[1] born May 30, 1989) is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He was a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Covais appeared in the films College and Transformers: Age of Extinction, and television shows Good Luck Charlie and State of Georgia.
Kevin Covais | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kevin Patrick Covais May 30, 1989 Levittown, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul |
| Instruments | |
Early life
editCovais was born and raised in Levittown, New York, on Long Island. He is the son of John Covais, a retired Sheriff's Correction Officer, and Patty Covais. He is the youngest of three.[2] He has two siblings, a sister (Kathleen) and a brother (John). Covais was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age eleven and receives insulin injections, like his fellow contestant, Elliott Yamin.[2][3][4]
Covais started singing at the age of ten and has taken voice lessons for four years. Covais has stated that Brian McKnight and American Idol first season winner Kelly Clarkson are favorite singers of his. In the future, he plans to pursue a career in singing, acting or journalism.[5]
Covais was a junior at Island Trees High School during his Idol run;[6] he graduated at the end of the 2006–07 school year. He is a former student of Island Trees Middle School. He is a member of the Drama Club and has played the lead in several school plays including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Godspell and Guys and Dolls;[2] he is also a member of the Metropolitan Youth Chorale and the National Honor Society.[6] In the 2005–06 school year, he won the lead in the school's musical, Anything Goes but had to leave for American Idol.[2] He also won some competitions outside of school, such as Eisenhower Park's Reach for the Stars in 2003.[2] He is also a fan of the New York Yankees, the New York Knicks and the New York Jets.
Career
edit2006–07: American Idol
editCovais auditioned in Boston, Massachusetts. On March 9, 2006, he made it into the top 12 of American Idol. Covais has sarcastically dubbed himself the show's "sex symbol," while fellow finalist Paris Bennett called him "Chicken Little" for his supposed resemblance to the character in the Disney movie. Covais was eliminated on March 22, 2006. He was in the bottom three with Bucky Covington and Lisa Tucker.
Covais continued to pursue his singing career after his stint on Idol. He made a number of media appearances including Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 24, 2006, Live with Regis and Kelly on March 29 and July 4, The Today Show on March 30 and The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 4. Covais also intends to return to television, telling TV Guide's Shawna Malcolm, "You'll see me on TV again. If Disney comes calling...."[7] In December 2006, he performed at a Disney World holiday concert. Covais rapped on one track of good friend and fellow Idol finalist Paris Bennett's debut CD, Princess P.[8] He also recorded "When I Fall in Love" for the compilation CD American Idol Season 5: Encores, which features a song from each of the 12 finalists.
American Idol performances
edit- Semifinals
- February 22, 2006 – "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight
- March 1, 2006 – "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye (Bottom 3)
- March 8, 2006 – "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" by Don McLean
- Jackson and Abdul were complimentary. Cowell was not, saying only 90-year-olds would enjoy it.
- Finals
- March 14, 2006 – "Part Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder
- Jackson and Abdul liked that Covais had fun. Cowell thought it was "appalling."
- March 21, 2006 – "When I Fall in Love" by Doris Day (Eliminated)
- The judges were complimentary. Cowell said Covais's fanbase would eat it up.
- Season finale
- May 24, 2006 – "What's New Pussycat?" by Tom Jones
- This was performed during the Burt Bacharach medley performed by the top 12 finalists at the finale.
2008–present: Acting
editCovais had a co-starring role in the 2008 comedy film College as Morris. Covais landed a role in Labor Pains. He returned to New York on March 30. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi presented him with a key to the city, and declared that day "Kevin Covais Day".[9] He has not been signed to a recording contract as of 2006.[9] Covais is a youth ambassador for the American Diabetes Association educating young people about diabetes.[4] A cartoon version of Covais has appeared in the manga webcomic Sorethumbs, due to his striking resemblance to one of the main characters (Fairbanks).[10] Covais made a guest appearance at Nassau County's Italian American Night at the Lakeside Theatre on June 26, 2006, in Eisenhower Park.[11] Also, he returned to Island Trees High School on April 3, 2009, to sing at the annual Island Trees Music Department Concert to raise money for the music department.[citation needed]
Covais appeared on an episode of The Real World aftershow along with Ace Young and Lisa Tucker on February 18, 2010. From 2012 until the show's series finale in 2014, Covais held a recurring role on Good Luck Charlie as Victor DeLeseur.[12]
Covais starred as an ice cream employee in the second-season episode "The Wedding" of This is Us in 2018.[13]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | College | Morris Hooper |
| 2009 | Labor Pains | Greg |
| 2011 | Division III: Football's Finest | Allen Schwartz |
| 2012 | Touchback | Todd White |
| Men in Black 3 | MIB Agent #5 | |
| 2013 | Identity Thief | Kevin |
| 2014 | Transformers: Age of Extinction | Dorky Driver |
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | American Idol | Contestant | Season 5 |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | PA | Episode: "Stage Fright" |
| 2011 | State of Georgia | Lewis | Main role |
| 2012–14 | Good Luck Charlie | Victor DeLeseur | Recurring role (Season 3–4) |
| 2013 | Raising Hope | Simon | Episode: "Burt Mitzvah: The Musical" |
| 2014 | Mom and Dad Undergrads | Will (Rock Man) | Television film |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Ice cream employee | Episode: "The Wedding" |
| 2019 | The Rookie | Stanley (Flare gun threat) | Episode: "Redwood" |
References
edit- ^ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures.
- ^ a b c d e Tania Padgett. "Local fans are singing Kevin's praises". newsday.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-03-22.
- ^ Cindy Kimura. "Two American Idol contestants are Diabetic". BellaOnline.com.
- ^ a b Jaime L. Tomeo. "Levittown's American Idol Receives Warm Welcome Home". Levittown Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-04-07.
- ^ "Kevin Covais' American Idol Profile". AmericanIdol.com.
- ^ a b Jaime L. Tomeo. "Levittown Teen Appears on American Idol". Levittown Tribune. Archived from the original on 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2006-02-24.
- ^ Shawna Malcolm. "Idol Chat." TV Guide. April 3–9, 2006, p. 10.
- ^ Christopher Rocchio. Kevin Covais to turn rapper on Paris Bennett's debut album. Reality TV World. January 19, 2007.
- ^ a b "'Idol' contestant happy to be back home". USA Today. March 30, 2006. Retrieved 2006-03-30.
- ^ Owen Gieni and Chris Crosby. SoreThumbs. 2006-03-03.
- ^ "Michael Amante Performs During Italian American Night at the Harry Chapin Memorial Lakeside Theatre on June 26". NassauCountyNY.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21.
- ^ "Victor (Character) - Good Luck Charlie". Internet Movie Database(IMDb).
- ^ The Wedding, retrieved 2018-10-10. Internet Movie Database