Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and raised in Joliet, Illinois. He returned to the UK, after graduating from the United States International University of San Diego, to star in the musical productions of "Anything Goes", "Miss Saigon", "Matador", "Rope" and "Hair" at London's West End. Barrowman has homes in London and California.


Presented a children's TV show in the UK called "Live & Kicking" (1993). Played the Beast in the London Musical of the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991) at the Dominion Theatre in central London. Appeared as an extra in The Untouchables (1987) - the scene in the police academy where Sean Connery is recruiting Andy Garcia. Partner of British architect Scott Gill. Voted best guest actor by readers of Doctor Who Magazine for his five episodes in 2005 season. He was joined in a civil partnership (a commitment ceremony which accords gay couples many of the same rights as heterosexual couples in the UK) to his longtime love, architect Scott Gill, at a ceremony in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 27 December 2006. He drives a high-efficiency diesel Mercedes, which is run on Sun diesel. He's in the market for an electric car, as it is more environmentally efficient. He signed a four-record deal with Sony for doing a very eclectic mix of covers of songs he really likes and things fans have asked him to sing. He wants it to reflect himself, so it will have some musical theater numbers, some pop, and even some country. His first tour started in 2008. Played Mr. Bumble in Joliet West High School's 1983 production of Oliver! alongside Anthony Rapp (as Oliver) and Andy Dick (as Dr. Grimwig).