Jim Stanek was born August 15, 1971 in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. According to an interview with theatre personality Seth Rudetsky, Jim first began considering pursuing a career in theatre when he was 17. During his senior year of high school, Jim auditioned for and joined the Pittsburg Civic Light Opera's Academy, where he took his first acting, vocal and dance lessons. During that time, one of the teacher's at the CLO Academy encouraged him to attend Carnegie Mellon. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon in 1994, Jim moved to New York City to pursue a career in theatre. One of the first roles he landed was understudying Jude Law in the role of Michael in the Broadway play Indiscretions. While with that production, he appeared alongside tv and film stars Kathleen Turner, Roger Rees, Cynthia Nixon and Eileen Atkins. From there, Jim landed the role of Hero in the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, co-staring with Nathan Lane. The role garnered Jim good reviews and gained him much notice. Further roles included appearances in Captain Courageous: The Musical at the Manhattan Theatre Club and several appearances on television, Law & Order and The Adversaries. In 1999 he understudied the several roles in a new Stephen Sondheim musical Saturday Night. In 2000 he debuted the role of Jimmy Smith in the new musical Thoroughly Modern Millie during it's West Coast try out at the La Jolla Playhouse. In 2001 he starred as D'artagnan in the American Premier of The 3hree Musketeers at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Later he played Joe Hardy in the San Jose Center's production of Damn Yankees. During this same time, Jim filmed the movie Borough of Kings (also known as Brooklyn Sonnet). The movie, released by Lions Gate films also starred Philip Bosco, Kerry Butler and Joseph Lyle Taylor. Jim continued working, appearing in such shows as My Fair Lady at the McCarter Center, the Williamstown Theatre Production of The Three Penny Opera, several productions with the York Theatre Company, including Cyrano de Bergerac. He later appeared in the Off-Broadway hit I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. In 2005 he performed the role of Dr. Dan Berg in the musical Slut, co-starring with Andy Karl and Jenn Collela. In late 2005 he debuted one of his most notable roles, as Louis de Pointe Du Lac in Elton John's musical Lestat. The musical, which premiered at the Curran Theatre in San Fransisco made it's Broadway debut in March of 2006. Jim gained great noteriety due to his appearances on the video blogs documenting the show's journey to Broadway. Later that fall, Jim joined the ensemble cast of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, taking over for former Lestat co-star Drew Sarich. He stayed with the Brel cast until January of 2007. After leaving Brel Jim took part in the Kennedy Center's revival of the show Carnival. Appearing as Paul, a puppeteer, Jim played a role made famous by the late Jerry Orbach. He received strong reviews for his role in the show's limited run. Most recently, Jim has taken on a role in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, now in it's 10th year at the Westside Theatre. He continues to live in New York with his wife Beth and their three sons.