James Monroe Iglehart
Iglehart in 2025
Born	(1974-09-04)September 4, 1974 (age 51) Hayward, California, U.S.[1]
Alma mater	Cal State Hayward (BA)
Occupations	Actor singer comic book writer
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Aladdin,Hamilton
Spouse	Dawn Phelps ​ (m. 2002)​ [2]
Parent	James Iglehart

James Monroe Iglehart (born September 4, 1974)^[1][3] is an American actor, singer andcomic book writer. He is perhaps best known for hisTony Award-winning performance as theGenie in the originalBroadway production ofAladdin. Iglehart assumed the roles of theMarquis de Lafayette andThomas Jefferson in the Broadway cast ofHamilton in April 2017. His additional Broadway credits include recreating the role ofKing Arthur in the 2023 revival ofSpamalot, creating the role ofLouis Armstrong in the original company ofA Wonderful World, and playingBilly Flynn inChicago and Lance in& Juliet. He can be heard as super producer Steve Jones inAs The Curtain Rises, Broadway's first original podcast soap opera. More recently, Iglehart joined the casts ofanimated musical web seriesHelluva Boss (asAsmodeus and Vortex) andHazbin Hotel (as Zestial), as well as having written professionally forMarvel Comics, primarily one-shots featuringSpider-Man.^[4]

James Monroe Iglehart was born in Hayward, California on September 4, 1974.^[1]

Iglehart attendedCal State Hayward, graduating with aBachelor of Arts degree in theatre. He started his career inCalifornia, performing inBat Boy atTheatreWorks inPalo Alto and as Teen Angel inGrease at theAmerican Musical Theatre inSan Jose.^[5]

In 2005, he directedBat Boy: The Musical atRay of Light Theatre.^[6] He has played Mitch Mahoney inThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway as a replacement starting in April 2007.^[7][8] He originated the role of Bobby inMemphis on Broadway in October 2009.

Iglehart performed the role of the Genie inAladdin onBroadway, a performance for which he won the 2014Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical^[9] and theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role. When asked about the role, he said, "It's not as exhausting as you think. I'm kind of an energetic guy in general, so basically I'm kind of being me with the volume turned up."^[10] Iglehart departed the company ofAladdin in February 2017 to begin rehearsals in the role ofMarquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway company ofHamilton. He also performed inFreestyle Love Supreme on Broadway.^[11]

Iglehart guest starred in four episodes ofUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Coriolanus Burt, the rival of male protagonistTitus Andromedon.

Iglehart voices Mr Puppypaws inSuperKitties, Vortex and Asmodeus inHelluva Boss, Zestial Morde inHazbin Hotel, Lance Strongbow inRapunzel's Tangled Adventure,Captain James Hook inCheshire Crossing byAndy Weir, Bronzino inElena of Avalor, Oscar inVampirina and Taurus Bulba inDuckTales.^[12][13][14]

In January 2022, Iglehart took over the role of Billy Flynn inChicago.^[15] In May 2023 he starred asKing Arthur inSpamalot at theKennedy Center. In November of that year the show transferred to Broadway where he reprised his role.^[16]

In October 2023, Iglehart assumed the lead role ofA Wonderful World, a new musical based on the life ofLouis Armstrong, in its pre-Broadway New Orleans and Chicago engagements. In February 2024, it was announced the show would be transferring to Broadway with Iglehart in the lead role. He also served as a co-director of the production.^[17][18] Igleheart received a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Armstrong.^[19]

He was raised inHayward, California, with his brother. His mother is a former high school choir teacher. His fatherJames Iglehart is a former minor league baseball player and actor.^[20][21][22] He met his wife Dawn Phelps in theMt. Eden High School show choir and they married in 2002.^[3][5]

Media related toJames Monroe Iglehart at Wikimedia Commons

• James Monroe Iglehart atIMDb
• James Monroe Iglehart at theInternet Broadway Database
• James Monroe Iglehart atPlaybill Vault (archive)

• 1974 births
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• Actors from Hayward, California
• American male musical theatre actors
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• Audiobook narrators
• California State University, East Bay alumni
• Drama Desk Award winners
• Living people
• Male actors from Alameda County, California
• Tony Award winners

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