Kevin Patrick Covais (/kɵˈveɪz/; born May 30, 1989) is a fifth-season American Idol finalist from Levittown, New York. He was the second finalist eliminated from the competition on March 22, 2006, making him the eleventh-place finalist. Covais is also an actor, having appeared in the films College and Transformers: Age of Extinction, and starred in the recurring role of Victor on the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie.
Early life
Covais was born and raised in Levittown, New York, on Long Island. He is the son of John Covais, a retired sheriff, and Patty Covais. He is the youngest of three. 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.
Covais started singing at the age of 10 and has taken voice lessons for four years. Covais has stated that Brian McKnight and American Idol Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson are favorite singers of his. In the future, he plans to pursue a career in singing, acting, or journalism.
Covais was a junior at Island Trees High School during his Idol run; 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; he is also a member of the Metropolitan Youth Chorale and the National Honor Society. In the 2005-06 school year, he won the lead in the school's musical, Anything Goes but had to leave for American Idol. He also won some competitions outside of school, such as Eisenhower Park's Reach for the Stars in 2003. He is also a fan of the New York Yankees, the New York Knicks, the New York Jets, and has followed many other teams.
American Idol
Covais auditioned in Boston, Massachusetts. On March 9, 2006, he made it into the top 12 of American Idol, which is the finalist round. 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.
Following one performance, Abdul remarked that she wanted to pinch Covais' cheeks; Seacrest sent him over to where the female contestants were sitting so they could do so.
Covais made it to the top 12. The week after, Covais outlasted Melissa McGhee to make it to the top 11.
Covais was eliminated on March 22, 2006. He was in the bottom three with Bucky Covington and Lisa Tucker.
American Idol performances
- Semifinals
- February 22, 2006 â€" "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight
- March 1, 2006 â€" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye (Bottom 3)
- March 8, 2006 â€" "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 â€" "Part Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder
- Jackson and Abdul liked that Covais had fun. Cowell thought it was "appalling."
- March 21, 2006 â€" "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 â€" "What's New Pussycat?" by Tom Jones
- This was performed during the Burt Bacharach medley performed by the top 12 finalists at the finale.
After Idol
Covais continued to pursue his singing career after his stint on Idol. He made a number of media appearances soon after he left the show, 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...." In December 2006, he performed at a Disney World holiday concert.
In the meantime, Covais raps on one track of good friend and fellow Idol finalist Paris Bennett's debut CD, Princess P. 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.
Covais had a co-starring roleâ€"alongside Drake Bellâ€"in the 2008 comedy film College as a character named Morris. Covais also landed a role in the romantic comedy Labor Pains starring Lindsay Lohan, Chris Parnell, Bonnie Somerville and Cheryl Hines.
After the Idol season, Covais made rounds on the talk-show circuit, appearing on Today, Ellen, and several other programs. He returned to New York on March 30. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi presented him with a key to the city, and declared that day "Kevin Covais Day".
He has not been signed to a recording contract as of 2006.
Covais is a Youth Ambassador for the American Diabetes Association educating young people about diabetes.
A cartoon version of Covais has appeared in the manga webcomic Sorethumbs, due to his striking resemblance to one of the main characters (Fairbanks).
Covais made a guest appearance at Nassau County's Italian American Night at the Lakeside Theatre on June 26, 2006, in Eisenhower Park.
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.
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, a genius friend of main character Teddy Duncan (played by Bridgit Mendler)
Filmography
References
External links
- Official website
- MySpace page
- Kevin Covais at American Idol
- Kevin Covais at the Internet Movie Database