Steve Gunderson was born in San Diego, California, and later studied in London, England. He spent a significant amount of time living in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s before eventually dividing his time between San Diego and his home in Los Angeles.
Gunderson co-created and starred in the Off-Broadway production of Suds, which broke box office records at regional theaters such as the Old Globe Theatre and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He also co-created Off-Broadway's Back To Bacharach and David with Kathy Najimy, which was later revived in Los Angeles with the participation of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
In addition to his work as a creator and performer, Gunderson has also co-written and composed the score for The Artificial Woman, which earned him the 2016 Creative Catalyst Grant. He collaborated with Amy Gerstler, a National Book Award winner, on this project.
Gunderson has also worked on several other notable productions, including Everybody's Talkin: The Music of Harry Nilsson, which premiered at the San Diego Repertory Theatre and starred Tony Award winners Gregory Jbara and Alice Ripley. He arranged the score, contributed to the script, and musical directed the 2019 World Premiere of Brad Ross and Jonathan Rosenberg's 33 1/3 House of Dreams, which broke San Diego Rep's box office record.
As an actor, Gunderson has appeared in a wide range of productions, including Street Scene, Butley, Forever Plaid, and Suds Off Broadway. He has also worked at various regional theaters, including the La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre, and Pasadena Playhouse, among others. Some of his notable roles include His Girl Friday, Memphis, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and A Trip To Chinatown.
Gunderson has received several awards and nominations for his work, including Craig Noel Awards for his performance in Hairspray, Actor of the Year, and Musical Direction. He has also done voice-over work for various roles on King of the Hill and (The New) Beavis & Butthead.
Throughout his career, Gunderson has worked with a number of notable directors, including Jack O'Brien, Christopher Ashley, Moises Kaufman, James Vasquez, Stuart Ross, and Kathy Najimy.
