Aaron Tveit | |
|---|---|
.png) Tveit in 2021 | |
| Born | Aaron Kyle Tveit (1983-10-21)October 21, 1983 (age 42) Middletown, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ithaca College (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor and singer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Moulin Rouge! The Musical |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Aaron Kyle Tveit (/təˈveɪt/;[1] born October 21, 1983) is an American actor and singer. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian in the stage adaptation ofMoulin Rouge! onBroadway, a performance for which he won theTony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and received aGrammy Award nomination. His other work on the Broadway stage includesthe title role inSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Freddie Trumper inChess,Fiyero Tigelaar inWicked, and originating the roles of Gabe Goodman inNext to Normal andFrank Abagnale Jr. inCatch Me If You Can. He also playedJohn Wilkes Booth in anOff West End production ofAssassins.
Tveit has also portrayed several musical theatre roles on screen, such asEnjolras in thefilm adaptation ofLes Misérables (2012), as well as Danny Zuko inFox'sGrease: Live (2016). Tveit is also known for his work in television, including the roles ofTripp van der Bilt onGossip Girl, Mike Warren onGraceland, Danny Bailey/Topher inSchmigadoon!, and Gareth Ritter onBrainDead.
Tveit was born inMiddletown, New York, to Posie and Stanley Tveit.[2][3] His brother, Jon, is five years younger[4] and aCatholic priest in theArchdiocese of New York.[5] His surname isNorwegian.[6]
Tveit graduated fromMiddletown High School in 2001,[7] where he was active both in chorus and sports, playing golf, soccer and basketball; he also starred in all four of his school's musical theater productions: Seymour inLittle Shop of Horrors in 9th grade, Joe Hardy inDamn Yankees in 10th grade, Tony inWest Side Story in 11th grade, and Huck inBig River in 12th grade.[8][9][10][11] As a child, he played the violin and French horn.[12] He turned down business school scholarships to major in vocal performance atIthaca College, a decision his parents supported, before switching to musical theater after his first year because he missed acting and theater.
Tveit began his professional career in 2003 when he joined the national tour ofRent as Steve and the understudy for Roger/Mark. He was in his second year of studying atIthaca College at the time; nine years later, in 2012, Tveit completed his college degree, when he was given college credit for his theatre roles.[13]
FollowingRent, he returned to school briefly but left to play Link Larkin in the first national tour ofHairspray. He made his Broadway debut in this role in 2006.[14] In the following two years, he performed in regional productions including as Matt inBarrington Stage Company'sCalvin Berger in July 2007 and asD'Artagnan in amusical adaptation ofThe Three Musketeers which played at theNorth Shore Music Theatre from August to September 2007, before returning to the Broadway production ofHairspray.[15][16] Other credits include an early workshop ofThe Black Suits.[17] Tveit made his film debut inGhost Town (2008), as a young anesthesiologist.[18]
In 2007, Tveit originated the role of Gabe in theOff-Broadway production of the musicalNext to Normal. The production ran from January 16 through March 16, 2008, at theSecond Stage Theater.[19] Tveit received a nomination for theLucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor for this role.[20] In the interim time before the out-of-town production ofNext to Normal, Tveit played Dean in the musical theatre adaptation of the filmSaved!, which ran for a limited engagement atPlaywrights Horizons in June 2008.[21] Also in June 2008, Tveit took over the role ofFiyero inWicked on Broadway.[22] He left the show in November to reprise his role in theArena Stage production[23] ofNext to Normal, for which he won the 2009Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Non-Resident Production.[24]
Tveit returned toWicked as Fiyero in January 2009. However, he left once again on March 8, 2009, after only a couple of months, to join the Broadway production ofNext to Normal, which began previews in March 2009 and officially opened on April 15.[25] His performance as Gabe earned him theClarence Derwent Award from theActors' Equity Association.[26] Tveit was included on AfterElton.com's 2009 list of the "37 Hottest Guys in Theater".[27]Tveit leftNext to Normal on June 6, 2009, to prepare forCatch Me If You Can, where he playedFrank Abagnale Jr. The musical was performed at the5th Avenue Theatre inSeattle from July 28 through August 16, 2009.[28] Tveit returned toNext to Normal from September 7 through January 3, 2010.[29][30] In August, he also starred in the Hollywood Bowl's production ofRent directed byNeil Patrick Harris, as Roger Davis.[31] He took part in theMCC Theater Miscast Gala in 2009 and 2010.[32][33]
Tveit played Frank Abagnale Jr in theBroadway production ofCatch Me If You Can, opening on April 10, 2011, and closing on September 4, 2011.[34] For this role he was nominated for theOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical,[35] theDrama League Award for Distinguished Performance,[36] and the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer on Broadway.[37]
During the Broadway production ofNext to Normal, Tveit also had a recurring role in theCW seriesGossip Girl asTripp van der Bilt, the cousin ofNate Archibald.[38] During this period, Tveit appeared in an episode of the television seriesUgly Betty titled "All the World's a Stage" as Zachary Boule,Betty Suarez's boyfriend.[39] He appeared inRob Epstein'sHowl, a biopic about theAllen Ginsbergpoem and the controversy and trial that ensued after its publication. Tveit playedPeter Orlovsky, Ginsberg's longtime partner, oppositeJames Franco.[40] He was also a guest star onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit twice.[41]
In 2012, Tveit playedEnjolras, leader of the student revolutionary group in thefilm adaptation ofLes Misérables.[42] As the 'designated Broadway actor' in a celebrity ensemble cast, this was one of Tveit's most high-profile roles up to that point. On February 24, 2013, he performed with the cast ofLes Misérables at the85th Academy Awards ceremony.[43] In July 2012, Tveit took part in a private reading for a new musical based on the animated film,Anastasia. He read for the character Dimitri, a con man who brings Anastasia to a wealthy Empress searching for her missing granddaughter, in return for a reward.[44] The following year, he starred in theUSA Network seriesGraceland where he played undercoverFBI Special Agent Mike Warren. The show premiered on June 6, 2013, and ran for thirty-eight episodes before being canceled after the completion of its third season in October 2015.[45]
Between filming seasons ofGraceland, Tveit starred and made his London stage debut in theMenier Chocolate Factory's production ofStephen Sondheim'sAssassins asJohn Wilkes Booth.[46][47] The production ran from November 21, 2014, to March 7, 2015. However, he had to leave the production on February 8, due to his working schedule, he was replaced byMichael Xavier.[48] During this time he also began performing solo concerts and recorded his own albumThe Radio in My Head[49] as well as the concept album for a new Broadway showAn American Victory: A New Musical in January 2014 withAshley Brown,Hugh Panaro,Ruthie Henshall,Alexander Gemignani, and many other Broadway stars. The cast recording was released more than two years later in April 2016.[50] Additionally, he appeared in the filmBig Sky which was released on August 14, 2015[51] and performed at the firstElsie Fest in New York that September.[52]
Following the end ofGraceland, Tveit was cast in a variety of other television and film productions. In 2016, Tveit appeared as Danny Zuko in a live version ofGrease that aired onFox on January 31. He is featured on the soundtrack forGrease Live. He returned to theMCC Theater Miscast Gala in April 2016.[53] Tveit then starred in the baseball themed movieUndrafted which was released on July 15.[54] His next filmBetter Off Single was released in theaters and on demand on October 7.[55]
In October 2015, it was announced that Tveit would star in CBS's summer seriesBrainDead, which premiered on June 13, 2016.[56] Following the cancellation ofBrainDead after one season on October 17, 2016, Tveit had time to perform more concerts in 2017[57] and more screen roles including a reprisal of his role fromThe Good Wife on an episode ofThe Good Fight and a starring role in the independent filmCreated Equal which held screenings in early 2018.[58][59][60] Tveit returned toBarrington Stage Company for their production ofCompany in the role of Bobby, running from August 10 to September 10, 2017.[61][62] He next had a role in thePatricia Clarkson-starring crime thrillerOut of Blue, which premiered at the2018 Toronto International Film Festival.[63]
In November 2017, Tveit participated in a developmental lab for thestage adaptation of the 2001 movieMoulin Rouge!, cast in the role as Christian, the character originally created byEwan McGregor.[64] In April 2018, it was announced that Tveit would be reprising his role in the premiere engagement ofMoulin Rouge! at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre. The musical's premiere was scheduled for June 27;[65] however, delays pushed the start of performances to July 10, 2018.[66] Between the Boston and Broadway productions ofMoulin Rouge!, Tveit had a recurring role as the aspiring politician Matt Dobbins on the 2019 CBS showThe Code.
Tveit starred as Christian in the Broadway production ofMoulin Rouge! at theAl Hirschfeld Theatre; previews began on June 28, 2019, and the production had its opening night on July 25.[67] Tveit has been universally praised for his portrayal;New York Times theater criticBen Brantley said that Christian was "a role [Tveit] was born to play" during the Boston run of the show and later said that his 'passionate and uncompromising' performance was his "best Broadway work to date".[68][69][70] The production was put on hold, beginning on March 12, 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and on March 23, Tveit became the first Broadway star to announce a positiveCOVID-19 test result.[71][72] He was one of at least four cast members who contracted the virus.[73] He was nominated for theTony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, one of the musical's fourteen nominations at the74th Tony Awards. Although not the only eligible actor in the category, he made history as the sole nominee for his category.[74] He won the award, having received an affirmative vote by 60% or more of Tony voters.[75][76] Tveit resumed his role as Christian whenMoulin Rouge! reopened on September 24, 2021.[77] With other original cast members, he departed the production on May 8, 2022.[78]
During Broadway's closure in 2020, Tveit filmed the movieOne Royal Holiday, part ofHallmark Channel'sCountdown to Christmas movie slate. Tveit starred opposite theater actressesLaura Osnes andKrystal Joy Brown.[79] Released in April 2021, Tveit was a cast member ofHit Job, a scripted comedy podcast produced byLorne Michaels'Broadway Video forAudible.[80] That year he also appeared in two episodes of the horror anthology seriesAmerican Horror Stories.[81] In 2021, he played Danny Bailey in theApple TV+ musical comedy parody seriesSchmigadoon!;[82] in the show's second season he plays Topher, a young hippie seeking his purpose in life.[83][84] Tveit returned toMoulin Rouge! as Christian for 12 weeks beginning on January 17, 2023.[85]
On February 9, 2024, Tveit replacedNicholas Christopher in the Broadway revival ofSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street inthe title role. His run ended on May 5, following a 12-week limited engagement.[86] From June 11–29, Tveit performed in a concert residency at theCafé Carlyle, his debut at that venue.[87] That same month, it was announced that he had been cast in theMGM+ seriesEarth Abides, which premiered in December.[88] He then returned toMoulin Rouge! as Christian in a 12-week engagement starting on July 23, 2024.[89]
In March 2025, Tveit performed "Weak" withJoJo during a New York City concert.[90] Tveit co-starred in the Broadway revival ofChess as Freddie Trumper; previews began October 15, 2025 and opening night scheduled for November 16.[91][92]
Tveit moved toManhattan in 2006 where he first lived in theHell's Kitchen neighborhood.[93][94] From 2007 to 2020, he lived inAstoria, Queens.[73][95][96] He is married to Canadian actress and dancerEricka Hunter Yang, with whom he has one daughter.[97]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ghost Town | Anesthesiologist | |
| 2010 | Howl | Peter Orlovsky | |
| 2011 | Girl Walks into a Bar | Henry | |
| 2012 | Premium Rush | Kyle | |
| Les Misérables | Enjolras | ||
| 2013 | A Dream of Flying | The Young Man | Short film |
| 2015 | Big Sky | Pru | |
| 2016 | Undrafted | John "Maz" Mazzello | |
| Better Off Single | Charlie | ||
| 2017 | Created Equal | Tommy Reilly | |
| 2018 | Out of Blue | Tony Silvero |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2012 | Gossip Girl | William "Tripp" van der Bilt III | 10 episodes |
| 2010 | Ugly Betty | Zachary Boule | Episode: "All the World's a Stage" |
| 2010–2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jan Eyck/Steve Harris | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Skip | Episode: "Point of Origin" |
| The Good Wife | Spencer Zschau | Episode: "Executive Order 13224" | |
| 2013–2015 | Graceland | Mike Warren | Main cast (38 episodes) |
| 2016 | Grease Live! | Danny Zuko | Television movie[98] |
| BrainDead | Gareth Ritter | Main cast (13 episodes) | |
| 2017–2021 | The Good Fight | Spencer Zschau | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | The Code | Matt Dobbins | 5 episodes |
| 2020 | One Royal Holiday | Prince James Gallant | Television movie |
| 2021 | American Horror Stories | Adam/Jay Gantz | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Schmigadoon! | Danny Bailey/Topher | Main cast (12 episodes) |
| 2024 | Earth Abides | Charlie | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Footloose | Garvin | Merry-Go-Round Playhouse: 2003 | Regional production |
| 2004 | Rent | Steve u/s Roger Davis u/s Mark Cohen | US national tour: January – December 2004 | National tour replacement |
| 2005–2006 | Hairspray | Link Larkin | US national tour: August 2005 – July 2006 | First national tour replacement |
| 2006–2007 | Neil Simon Theatre: July 18, 2006 – January 18, 2007 | Broadway replacement | ||
| 2007 | Calvin Berger | Matt | Barrington Stage Company: July 3–14, 2007 | Original regional production |
| The Three Musketeers | Charles d'Artagnan | North Shore Music Theatre: August 21 – September 9, 2007 | Regional production | |
| 2008 | Next to Normal | Gabe Goodman | Second Stage Theatre: January 16 – March 16, 2008 | OriginalOff-Broadway production |
| Hairspray | Link Larkin | Neil Simon Theatre: April 1 – May 4, 2008 | Limited Broadway engagement | |
| Saved! | Dean Withers | Playwrights Horizons: May 10 – June 22, 2008 | Original Off-Broadway production | |
| Wicked | Fiyero Tigelaar | Gershwin Theatre: June 24 – November 9, 2008 | Broadway replacement | |
| 2008–2009 | Next to Normal | Gabe Goodman | Arena Stage: November 21, 2008 – January 18, 2009 | Original Washington, D.C. production |
| 2009 | Wicked | Fiyero Tigelaar | Gershwin Theatre: January 20 – March 9, 2009 | Broadway replacement |
| Next to Normal | Gabe Goodman | Booth Theatre: March 27 – June 8, 2009 | Original Broadway production | |
| Catch Me If You Can | Frank Abagnale, Jr. | 5th Avenue Theatre: July 28 – August 16, 2009 | World premiere production | |
| 2009–2010 | Next to Normal | Gabe Goodman | Booth Theatre: September 7, 2009 – January 4, 2010 | Original Broadway production |
| 2010 | Rent | Roger Davis | Hollywood Bowl: August 6–8, 2010 | Limited engagement |
| 2011 | Catch Me If You Can | Frank Abagnale, Jr. | Neil Simon Theatre: March 11 – September 4, 2011 | Original Broadway production |
| 2012 | Anastasia | Dmitry Sudayev | Unknown | Reading |
| 2014–2015 | Assassins | John Wilkes Booth | Menier Chocolate Factory: November 21, 2014 – February 8, 2015 | Off-West End, London |
| 2017 | Company | Robert | Barrington Stage Company: August 10 – September 10, 2017 | Regional |
| Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Christian | Unknown | Workshop | |
| 2018 | Emerson Colonial Theatre: July 10 – August 19, 2018 | World premiere production | ||
| 2019–2020 | Al Hirschfeld Theatre: June 28, 2019 – March 11, 2020 | Original Broadway production; paused due toCOVID-19 | ||
| 2021–2022 | Al Hirschfeld Theatre: September 24, 2021 – May 8, 2022 | |||
| 2023 | Al Hirschfeld Theatre: January 17 – April 9, 2023 July 1, 2023[99] | Limited Broadway engagement | ||
| 2024 | Gutenberg! The Musical! | The Producer | James Earl Jones Theatre January 2, 2024 | Broadway cameo |
| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Sweeney Todd | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre: February 9 – May 5, 2024 | Broadway replacement | |
| Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Christian | Al Hirschfeld Theatre: July 23 – October 13, 2024 | Limited Broadway engagement | |
| 2025-2026 | Chess | Freddie Trumper | Imperial Theatre: October 15, 2025 - March 15, 2026[92] | Broadway revival |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Perfect by Ellen Hopkins | Co-narrator | Audio book | |
| 2011 | The Angel Esmerelda: Nine Stories by Don DeLillo | Co-narrator | Audio book | |
| 2012 | Dead To You by Lisa McMann | Narrator | Audio book | |
| 2017 | Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta | Co-narrator | Audio book | |
| 2021 | Hit Job | Hot Kyle | Audible original podcast |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award | Best Ensemble | Les Misérables | Won | |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Award | Best Performance by an Ensemble | Nominated | |||
| 17th Satellite Award | Best Cast – Motion Picture | Won | |||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Award | Best Cast | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review Award | Best Cast | Won | |||
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Award | Best Acting Ensemble | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Musical Moment | Grease Live! "You're The One That I Want" | Won | |
| 2017 | Sunscreen Film Festival Award | Best Actor | Created Equal | Won |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor | Next to Normal | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Helen Hayes Award | Outstanding Supporting Performance, Non-Resident Production | Won | ||
| Clarence Derwent Award | Most Promising Male Performer | Won | |||
| 2011 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Catch Me If You Can | Nominated | |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography | Best Male Dancer | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Berkshire Theatre Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical | Company | Nominated | |
| 2019 | IRNE Awards | Best Actor in a Musical | Moulin Rouge! | Nominated | |
| Broadway.com's Star of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2020 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Honoree | |||
2001 Middletown High School graduate
My first day I was ever on a movie set was [Ghost Town]!
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