Josh Gad | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gad at the2014 Annie Awards | |
| Born | Joshua Ilan Gad (1981-02-23)February 23, 1981 (age 44) Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Joshua Ilan Gad[1] (born February 23, 1981)[2] is an American actor. He is known for voicingOlaf in theFrozen franchise and originating the role of Elder Cunningham in the Broadway musicalThe Book of Mormon.
For his role as Olaf, Gad won twoAnnie Awards, and for his work inThe Book of Mormon, he co-won aGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Gad was also nominated for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
Joshua Ilan Gad was born inHollywood, Florida, on February 23, 1981.[2] His mother, Susan,[3] is a real estate agent and his stepfather is an investment advisor. Gad has two older brothers, a stepbrother and a stepsister.[1] His father, Sam (Shmuel) Gad was born to aJewish family inAfghanistan and moved toIsrael as a teenager. Gad believes his father is a descendant of theTribe of Gad, one of theTen Lost Tribes of Israel, further stating that his paternal ancestors traveled through India before settling in Afghanistan.[4] His mother was born in Germany to anAshkenazi Jewish family of Holocaust survivors.[5][6][7][8] Gad was raised Jewish.[9][10]
Graduating in 1999, Gad attended theUniversity School of Nova Southeastern University. While there, he won theNational Forensics League National Tournament Championships for Original Oratory in 1998 and 1999. He also won the 1999 Humorous Interpretation at the National tournament in Phoenix.[11] He attended theCarnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts, where he graduated in 2003 with aBachelor of Fine Arts in drama. He attended college with fellow Broadway starsLeslie Odom Jr. andRory O'Malley, the latter of whom he based his portrayal of Olaf inFrozen on.[12] During this time, he undertook a semester-long exchange at theNational Institute of Dramatic Art.[13]
Gad made his film debut in the 2002 filmMary and Joe. In 2005, Gad made his television debut by guest-starring in an episode of theNBC medical drama seriesER. The same year, he replacedDan Fogler as William Barfée inThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway after Fogler left the show.[14] Gad went on to star in theFox sitcomBack to You as news director Ryan Church. The sitcom lasted one season from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, Gad had a supporting role in the drama film21, and a leading role in the comedy filmThe Rocker.
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AfterBack to You, Gad appeared as a correspondent onThe Daily Show on May 5, 2009, and became a regular correspondent on June 2, 2009.[15] His signature segments include "The War on Christmas", in which he played an oversexedBenjamin Franklin, and "Chubby Chasers", in which he reported onMichelle Obama's efforts to curb childhood obesity.[16] Gad made his final appearance as a correspondent on June 27, 2011.[17] Also in 2009, Gad starred in the short-formCrackle horror comedy seriesWoke Up Dead.
In 2010, he had a supporting role in the romantic comedy-drama filmLove & Other Drugs. That same year, Gad had a voice role in the family comedy filmMarmaduke. In 2011, Gad voiced Mondo in theMTV adult animated sitcomGood Vibes. That same year, Gad portrayed Elder Cunningham in theBroadway musicalThe Book of Mormon. The show opened at theEugene O'Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011.[18] His last performance was June 6, 2012. Gad was nominated for the 2011Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and won forGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, along with his co-starAndrew Rannells.[19]
In 2012, Gad had a leading role in the independent filmShe Wants Me. Also in 2012, Gad co-created, produced and starred in theNBC sitcom1600 Penn. BothGood Vibes and1600 Penn were canceled after one season. That same year, Gad voiced the molehog Louis inIce Age: Continental Drift.
In 2013, he played Andrew in the filmThe Internship and starred asSteve Wozniak in the filmJobs. The same year, he voicedOlaf in the Disney filmFrozen, re-collaborating with co-songwriterRobert Lopez fromThe Book of Mormon. In 2014, Gad co-starred inZach Braff's filmWish I Was Here, playing the main character's brother.[20]
In 2015, Gad starred inThe Wedding Ringer and starred inPixels, a film about video game players who are recruited by the military to fight 1980s-era video game characters who have attack the Earth.[21] That same year, Gad co-starred withBilly Crystal on theFX comedy seriesThe Comedians, which premiered on April 9, 2015.[22] The series was canceled after one season. In 2016, Gad voiced Chuck inThe Angry Birds Movie, based on thegame franchise of the same name.
In 2017, Gad voiced the dog Bailey inA Dog's Purpose.[23][24] Also that year, he playedLeFou in thelive-action adaptation of Disney'sBeauty and the Beast, directed byBill Condon and co-starring withEmma Watson.[25] Gad also starred inReginald Hudlin's biographical dramaMarshall, andBeauty and the Beast co-starDan Stevens, and Gad played Hector MacQueen in afilm adaptation ofAgatha Christie's detective novelMurder on the Orient Express, directed by and starringKenneth Branagh.
In 2019, Gad starred in theHulu horror-comedyLittle Monsters.[26] He also starred inA Dog's Journey, the sequel toA Dog's Purpose, reprising his role as Bailey. Also in 2019, Gad reprised his role of Olaf in the sequelFrozen 2 as well as the video gameKingdom Hearts III.
In 2020, Gad returned to television by starring in two different television series. First, Gad starred in theHBO science fiction comedy seriesAvenue 5. The series premiered on January 19 and was renewed for a second season a month later.[27] Second, Gad created, produced and starred in theApple TV+ animated musical comedy seriesCentral Park. The series received a two-season order from Apple with each season set to consist of thirteen episodes each. The series premiered on May 29.
He starred in the science fantasy adventureArtemis Fowl (2020),based on the book of the same name byEoin Colfer. The film was initially set for a theatrical release but was changed to a streaming release onDisney+ due to the coronavirus pandemic. In September 2020 Gad joinedPrincess Bride Reunion, a virtual live scriptread-through ofthe 1987 film, in the role of Fezzik, originally played byAndré the Giant.The A.V. Club's review singled out his performance as "Josh Gad’s surprisingly moving Andre the Giant tribute... It was an impression in the gentlest, sweetest sense of the word, something remarked on repeatedly by the rest of the cast and host/moderator Patton Oswalt. 10s across the board."[28]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, where people were encouraged to practicesocial distancing, Gad launched theYouTube seriesReunited Apart, which reunites the cast, viavideo conferencing, of several popular film and film series includingBack to the Future andThe Lord of the Rings. The series encourages its viewers to support non-profit charities such as Dig Deep, Project Hope and No Kid Hungry.[29] In June, Gad announced that the episode onFerris Bueller's Day Off would be the last,[30] though the series later returned for a second season, which premiered in December 2020 with the cast ofWayne's World.[31]
In the runup to the 2020 election, Gad joined other Broadway celebrities with the voter education nonprofitVoteRiders for a virtual party to raise awareness around the complexities of voter ID laws targeting at-risk voters.[32][33]
In the TV seriesWolf Like Me (2022-2023), Gad plays Gary, a widowed father, raising his troubled 11-year-old daughter and the healing journey that ensues when a mysterious woman struggling with lycanthropy enters their lives. He was set to serve as co-creator, co-writer, and executive producer for aBeauty and the Beast prequel limited series for Disney+, in which he would reprise his role as LeFou as a series regular.[34] However, the series was postponed indefinitely in February 2022 due to creative and scheduling issues.[35][36] Gad was announced to star as Nick Szalinski in the upcoming filmShrunk, a legacy-sequel toHoney, I Shrunk the Kids.[37]
From September 2023 to January 2024, he starred inGutenberg! The Musical! withAndrew Rannells. The cast recording with the two released on May 3, 2024 digitally and physically on May 17, 2024. Gad will make his debut as director with abiopic aboutChris Farley withPaul Walter Hauser playing the lead role.[38] Published byDark Horse Comics in June 2024, Gad co-wrote alongside Ben and Max Berkowitz (Berkowitz Bros.) a four-issue comic book mini series, calledThe Writer, with interior art byAriel Olivetti.[39] The comic book series is inspired byJewish folklore.[40] Gad announced that he will be debuting his picture book calledPictureFace Lizzy in fall of 2024.[41] Gad'sFrozen co-star,Kristen Bell, has been announced to be narratingPictureFace Lizzy.[42] Gad announced he will be publishing a memoir in 2025 calledIn Gad We Trust.[43] He is set to star inSpaceballs 2, which is being produced by himself andMel Brooks.[44]
In early July 2025, was announced that Gad had joined the regional production ofJesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl as King Herod.[45] However he had announced his withdrawal from the production later that month due to a COVID-19 infection,[46] only to return for the final showing.[47] He had a voice cameo as a mole named Paul Moldebrandt inZootopia 2, released in 2025.[48] In January 2026, Gad appeared as "a spoofed hyper-famous version of himself" in theMarvel Cinematic Universe TV seriesWonder Man.[49]
In 2004, Gad met actress Ida Darvish after the two were cast to play a married couple in theDavid Ives playAll in the Timing. They married in 2008.[50] They have two daughters.[51][52] He is godfather toBryce Dallas Howard andSeth Gabel's two children.[53]
Gad has publicly talked about his struggle withgeneralized anxiety disorder, as part of his effort to combat mental health stigma and shame.[citation needed] As an effort towards quashing the mental health stigma, Gad joined other celebrities in 2018 in an ongoing project through the Child Mind Institute, titled #MyYoungerSelf. This campaign focuses on normalizing mental health, especially in kids. The website features Gad and other celebrities talking about their own personal struggles with mental health and how they've found the help they need, while they also encourage viewers to find what can specifically help them.[54] Gad's YouTube seriesReunited Apart helped him get through the pandemic and sheltering at home. While he was out of work for the duration of the pandemic, he was able to focus on the series and not let his mental health decline.[55]
Gad has stated that while he loves the traditional aspects ofJudaism and celebrates some traditions of his wife'sCatholicism, he considers himselfspiritual but not religious.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mary and Joe | Angel | |
| 2006 | Razortooth | Jay Wells | |
| 2007 | Watching the Detectives | Mark | |
| 2008 | 21 | Miles | |
| The Rocker | Matt | ||
| 2009 | Crossing Over | Howie | |
| No Heroics | Horseforce | Television film | |
| Waiting to Die | Simon | ||
| The Lost Nomads: Get Lost 22 | Gigi / Miss Piggy / Jose Sanchez / The Clown / Spatula Lover | ||
| Big Guy | Rodney | Short film | |
| 2010 | Marmaduke | Bandana Dog | Voice |
| Love & Other Drugs | Josh Randall | ||
| 2011 | Mardi Gras: Spring Break | Bump (Bartholomew T. Brown) | |
| 2012 | She Wants Me | Sam Baum | |
| Ice Age: Continental Drift | Louis | Voice | |
| Thanks for Sharing | Neil | ||
| 2013 | Jobs | Steve Wozniak | |
| The Internship | Headphones | ||
| Frozen | Olaf | Voice | |
| 2014 | Wish I Was Here | Noah Bloom | |
| 2015 | The Wedding Ringer | Doug Harris | |
| Frozen Fever | Olaf | Voice; short film | |
| Pixels | Ludlow Lamonsoff | ||
| 2016 | The Angry Birds Movie | Chuck | Voice[56] |
| 2017 | A Dog's Purpose | Bailey / Ellie / Tino / Buddy | |
| Beauty and the Beast | LeFou | ||
| Marshall | Sam Friedman | ||
| Murder on the Orient Express | Hector MacQueen | ||
| Olaf's Frozen Adventure | Olaf | Voice; short film | |
| 2018 | Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. | Himself | Documentary |
| 2019 | Little Monsters[57] | Teddy McGiggle | |
| A Dog's Journey | Bailey[58] | Voice | |
| The Angry Birds Movie 2 | Chuck | ||
| Frozen 2 | Olaf | ||
| 2020 | Artemis Fowl | Mulch Diggums | |
| Once Upon a Snowman | Olaf | Voice; short film | |
| 2021 | Ghostbusters: Afterlife | Muncher | Voice |
| 2023 | Strays | Gus | |
| Once Upon a Studio | Olaf | Voice; short film | |
| 2025 | A Tree Fell in the Woods | Mitch | |
| Adulthood | Noah | ||
| Zootopia 2 | Paul | Voice | |
| 2026 | The Angry Birds Movie 3† | Chuck | Voice; in production[59] |
| 2027 | Spaceballs 2† | TBA | Post-production; also writer and producer |
| 2028 | Oh, the Places You'll Go!† | TBA | Voice; pre-production[60] |
| TBA | Shrunk† | Nick Szalinski | In production[61] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | ER | Sgt. Bruce Larabee | Episode: "Here and There" |
| 2007–2008 | Back to You | Ryan Church | Main role |
| 2008 | American Dad! | Art | Voice; episode: "Pulling Double Booty" |
| 2008, 2009 | Numbers | Roy McGill | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Party Down | Jeffrey Ells | Episode: "California College Conservative Union Caucus" |
| 2009–2011 | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Himself (correspondent) | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Bored to Death | Warren | Episode: "Make It Quick, Fitzgerald!" |
| 2011 | The Cleveland Show | Droopy / Pimp | Voice; episode: "Our Gang" |
| Californication | Doctor | 2 episodes | |
| Gigi: Almost American | Gigi | 10 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2011, 2020 | Modern Family | Kenneth Ploufe | 2 episodes: "Punkin Chunkin" and "Dead on a Rival" |
| 2011 | Good Vibes | Mondo | Voice; main role |
| 2012–2013 | 1600 Penn | Skip Gilchrist | Main role; also co-creator and executive producer |
| 2012–2015 | New Girl | Bearclaw | 3 episodes: "Katie", "Birthday", "Walk of Shame" |
| 2013 | Hollywood Game Night | Himself | Episode: "America's Got Game Night" |
| 2014 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Internet | Voice; episode: "Bride of the Internet" |
| 2015 | The Comedians | Josh | Main role |
| Sesame Street | Vincent Van Stop | Episode: "Bert's Sign Painting Challenge[62] | |
| Phineas and Ferb | Wendell | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| TripTank | Louis | Voice; 1 episode | |
| Jeopardy! | Himself | Celebrity contestant[63] | |
| 2016 | Lip Sync Battle | Himself /Donald Trump | Episode: "Josh Gad vs.Kaley Cuoco" |
| Sofia the First | Olaf | Voice; episode: "The Secret Library: Olaf and the Tale of Miss Nettle" | |
| LEGO Frozen Northern Lights | Voice; special | ||
| Talking Dead | Himself | Guest | |
| 2017 | Star Wars Rebels | LT-319 | Voice; episode: "Double Agent Droid" |
| South Park | Marcus Preston / Ms. McGullicutty | Voice; episode: "Hummels & Heroin"; Also producer | |
| 2018 | Bob's Burgers | Damon | Voice; episode: "Just One of the Boyz 4 Now for Now" |
| 2019 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Himself | Guest host |
| 2020–2022 | Avenue 5 | Herman Judd | Main cast |
| 2020 | At Home with Olaf | Olaf | Voice; main role |
| 2020–2022 | Central Park | Birdie / Ernst Von Gunten | Voice; main cast; also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| 2020 | Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Grandson[64] | Episode: "Chapter One: As You Wish"[65] |
| 2021 | Olaf Presents | Olaf | Voice; main role |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Chiropractor | Episode: "Man Fights Tiny Woman" | |
| 2022–2023 | Wolf Like Me | Gary | Main cast |
| 2022 | The Boys | Himself | Episode: "Herogasm"; cameo |
| The Tiny Chef Show | 2 episodes | ||
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | William Shakespeare | Episode: "I" |
| Storybots: Answer Time | The Great Bubblini | Episode: "Bubbles" | |
| Solar Opposites | Pinecone / Rotten Peach / Jesse Guard #2 | Voice; episode: "The Earth Rake (beta)" | |
| 2024 | Dinner Time Live with David Chang | Himself | Episode: "Holiday Noodle Cook-Off" |
| 2026 | Wonder Man | Himself | Episode: "Doorman" |
| Year | Title | Voice roles |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | MIB: Alien Crisis | Emilio Chauncey, Handsome Guest, Khnemu |
| 2013 | Frozen: Olaf's Quest | Olaf |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0[66] | |
| 2017 | South Park Phone Destroyer | Marcus Preston |
| 2019 | Kingdom Hearts III | Olaf |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Woke Up Dead | Matt | 21 episodes |
| 2013 | Kevin Pollak's Chat Show | Himself / Guest | Episode: "163" |
| 2019–present | Blood Ties | Michael Richland | Radio drama/podcast |
| 2020 | Reunited Apart | Host | Web series |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | William Barfée | Circle in the Square Theatre | Broadway Replacement |
| 2011–12 | The Book of Mormon | Elder Arnold Cunningham | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Original Broadway Cast |
| 2023–24 | Gutenberg! The Musical! | Bud Davenport | James Earl Jones Theatre | Original Broadway Cast |
| 2025 | Jesus Christ Superstar | King Herod | Hollywood Bowl | Regional production[47] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | The Book of Mormon | Nominated |
| 2012 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Won | |
| 2014 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Voice Acting in a Feature Production | Frozen | Won |
| 2016 | Golden Raspberry Award | Worst Supporting Actor | Pixels The Wedding Ringer | Nominated |
| 2020 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Voice Acting in a Feature Production | Frozen 2 | Won |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Male Voice from an Animated Movie | The Angry Birds Movie 2 Frozen 2 | Won | |
| 2022 | Disney Legends Award | Honoree | ||
| 2024 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Gutenberg! The Musical! | Nominated |
Gad believes his father is likely a direct descendant of the original Tribe of Gad, one of the 12 Tribes of Israel. "He came from a very religious family that was on a nomadic journey searching for a home," he said. "They went through India before finally settling in Afghanistan."
My dad was born in Afghanistan—he's a Jew who was born in Afghanistan.
The table-reading and reunion, which served as a fundraiser in support of Wisconsin Democrats, was a messy, technically clumsy, non-stop source of delight...You could be forgiven for, upon learning that Gad was going to be stepping into Andre the Giant's shoes for the evening, expecting a Fezzik with a lot less chill and a great deal more in the way of wacky hijinks. You would have been wrong, and likely delighted to be so.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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