Leslie Odom Jr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Odom in 2024 | |
| Born | Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. (1981-08-06)August 6, 1981 (age 44) Queens,New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | leslieodomjr |
Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. (/ˈoʊdəm/; born August 6, 1981)[1] is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut onBroadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal ofAaron Burr in the musicalHamilton, which earned him aTony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and aGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in thesame year.[2] His performance was captured in theDisney+live stage recording ofHamilton which earned him aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Limited Series or Movie nomination.
Odom is also known for his roles in the television seriesSmash (2012–2013) andPerson of Interest (2013–2014), as well as the filmsRed Tails (2012),Murder on the Orient Express (2017),Harriet (2019),The Many Saints of Newark (2021),Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), andThe Exorcist: Believer (2023).[3] For his portrayal of singerSam Cooke in the semi-historical dramaOne Night in Miami... (2020) he earned nominations for theAcademy Award,BAFTA Award,Screen Actors Guild Award, andGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for theAcademy Award andGolden Globe for Best Original Song for writing the film's song "Speak Now".[4]
Odom voiced the character of Owen Tillerman in theApple TV+ animated musical-comedy seriesCentral Park, for which he was nominated for anPrimetime Emmy Award in 2020. Odom has released five albums:Leslie Odom Jr. (2014),Simply Christmas (2016),Mr. (2019),The Christmas Album (2020), andWhen a Crooner Dies (2023). He released his autobiography,Failing Up, in 2018.[5] Odom returned to Broadway in 2023, playing the title role inPurlie Victorious for which he earned aTony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination.[6][7]
Odom was born inQueens, New York City.[8] His father, Leslie Lloyd Odom, worked in sales.[9] One of his maternal great-grandfathers was from South Africa, and a maternal great-great-grandfather was fromBridgetown, Barbados.[9] Odom's family moved to theEast Oak Lane section ofPhiladelphia, where he grew up. He attendedJulia R. Masterman School for middle school andPhiladelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts for high school.[10][11] Odom and his family attended Canaan Baptist Church in theGermantown section of Philadelphia, where he sang solos in the church choir.[10]
He earned a degree with honors atCarnegie Mellon University inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2003.
Odom attended theNew Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, where he studied theater and performed in musicals. He then went on to study musical theater in college. At the age of 17, he made hisBroadway debut as Paul in the 1998 musicalRent. In 2001, he appeared in the ensemble of the one-night Broadway concert version ofDreamgirls.[12] He has made guest appearances on several shows includingGilmore Girls,Grey's Anatomy,Supernatural, andThe Good Wife. Odom had a recurring role onCSI: Miami, appearing as Joseph Kayle in nine episodes between 2003 and 2006.[13] He followed with a recurring role onVanished, appearing in 10 episodes as Maliko Christo. From 2006 to 2007, he held a recurring role as Freddy onBig Day, appearing on nine episodes prior to its cancellation. He also had a supporting role in the television filmPoe in 2011.[14] In the musical television seriesSmash, Odom had a recurring role as Sam Strickland in 2012, and was promoted to a starring role for the show's final season in 2013.[15]
He spent much of his time doing theater in Los Angeles, including in 2010 withLeap of Faith,[16] which moved to Broadway in 2012, with him starring as Isaiah Sturdevant. When the show closed shortly afterward, he relocated to New York City where he appeared in short films, and had a supporting role as Walter Hall in the 2012 war filmRed Tails.[17] After starringOff-Broadway inVenice and inWitness Uganda (later retitledInvisible Thread) at A.R.T. and in workshops, Odom worked withLin-Manuel Miranda in theEncores! Off-Center production ofTick, Tick... Boom!, playing Michael. Odom also playedNat King Cole in the 2015 one-nightActors Fund of America benefit concert ofBombshell.[18] In late 2013, Odom was offered the leading role of Lucas Newsome onState of Affairs, which he accepted the role, but ended up backing out to take the part ofAaron Burr in the workshops of the musicalHamilton.[19] In 2013 and 2014, he had a recurring role onPerson of Interest as Peter Collier, appearing in eight episodes.[20] He also played Reverend Curtis Scott in seven episodes ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit between 2013 and 2015.[21]
Odom reunited withLin-Manuel Miranda portrayingAaron Burr in the workshop production ofHamilton at the52nd Street Project in 2014. Odom returned to the role in the off-Broadway production atThe Public Theater in 2015 and theBroadway production at theRichard Rodgers Theatre from 2015 to 2016.[22][23] Odom Jr. acted alongside Miranda,Phillipa Soo,Renée Elise Goldsberry,Daveed Diggs,Christopher Jackson,Jasmine Cephas Jones,Anthony Ramos,Ariana DeBose andJonathan Groff.[24]Ben Brantley ofThe New York Times labeled the play a "Critic's Pick", describing Odom Jr. as "suavely brooding" citing his performance of "The Room Where It Happens" as being a "full-fledged showstopper".[25] Marilyn Stasio ofVariety wrote that he is an "irresistibly charming villain" citing Odom as being "charismatic perfection".[26] For his performance he was nominated for a 2015Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical[16] and won the 2016Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and theGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.[27][28] Odom's final appearance in the role of Aaron Burr inHamilton occurred on July 9, 2016, being replaced byBrandon Victor Dixon.[29]
Beginning on May 19, 2016, Odom hosted theBroadway.com web seriesAaron Burr, Sir: Backstage at Hamilton with Leslie Odom Jr., with a new episode being uploaded every Thursday for eight weeks. He played Dr. Arbuthnot inKenneth Branagh's 2017 adaptation ofMurder on the Orient Express (2017).[30] He also starred as abolitionistWilliam Still in the historical drama filmHarriet (2019), about abolitionistHarriet Tubman portrayed byCynthia Erivo.[31] The film received respectable reviews with critics praising Erivo's lead performance.[32][33] Odom Jr. was nominated for theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the51st NAACP Image Awards.[34] In 2019, Odom starredOnly, apost-apocalyptic romance alongsideFreida Pinto.[35] The film received negative reviews with critics citing its poor direction and writing while also praising the chemistry between the two leads.[36] Frank Scheck ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It’s not the fault of Odom and Pinto, who essentially carry the film with their intense performances".[37]
In 2020, Odom starred and executive produced the four-part, television miniseriesLove in the Time of Corona opposite his wifeNicolette Robinson.[38]Love in the Time of Corona follows four interwoven stories about the hopeful search for love and connection during the quarantine as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic. Production began virtually on June 29, 2020, in Los Angeles using remote technologies.[39] The limited series premiered onFreeform on August 22, 2020.[40] Odom voiced the character of Owen Tillerman in theApple TV+ animated musical-comedy seriesCentral Park, for which he was nominated forOutstanding Character Voice-Over Performance at the 2020Primetime Emmy Awards.[41] He also guest starred on the Disney+The Proud Family continuationThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouder in its second season as Kwame.[42]
In 2020, Odom was cast assoul singerSam Cooke in theRegina King–directedfilm adaptation ofOne Night in Miami, which was released in theaters andAmazon Prime on January 15, 2021. Odom received rave reviews from critics for his portrayal of Cooke and has since earnedAcademy Award,Golden Globe, andSAG Award nominations including for theBest Supporting Actor and an additional nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.[43] WithSam Ashworth as co-writer, Odom co-wrote and performed "Speak Now", which also received a nominations theAcademy Award andGolden Globe Award for Best Song.[44][45] "Speak Now" is played during the end credits ofOne Night in Miami.[46] In May 2021, Odom was cast in theGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the sequel toRian Johnson'sKnives Out starringDaniel Craig as Benoit Blanc.[47] In July 2021, Odom was cast in the supernatural horror filmThe Exorcist: Believer, a sequel toWilliam Friedkin'sThe Exorcist, withEllen Burstyn reprising her role as Chris MacNeil.[48] In 2021, Odom starred as Ebo in the musical filmMusic, which was co-written and directed by Australian singer-songwriterSia.[49][50] It was released in February 2021.[51] That same year he acted in the crime dramaThe Many Saints of Newark (2021), a prequel to theHBO drama seriesThe Sopranos created byDavid Chase.[52] He also reunited with his former co-starsCynthia Erivo andFreida Pinto in the sci-fi romanceNeedle in a Timestack (2021).[53]
From 2022 to 2023, he took a recurring guest spot as Draemond Winding, a chief executive of aCharter School in theABCsitcomAbbott Elementary.[54] In September 2023, Odom returned to Broadway starring in a revival of theOssie Davis satirical farcePurlie Victorious oppositeKara Young andJay O. Sanders.[55] Jesse Green ofThe New York Times praised the production and Odom Jr.'s lead performance writing, "It’s Odom who carries the play’s weight as it shifts from genre to genre and reveals further layers of character...Odom, with the angry intensity of his Burr from “Hamilton,” does not shy from Purlie’s scoundrelly side, his willingness to lie, even to loved ones, as a means of putting down a marker on eventual truth. And yet when it comes time to preach, watch out. The way he winds speeches into sermons and sermons nearly into songs makes it seem natural."[56] It closed in February 2024 with Odom earningTony Award nominations for his performance forBest Actor in a Play and as a producer forBest Revival of a Play.[57] In May 2024, a recording of the show was broadcast onPBS.[58]
In April 2025, it was announced that Odom would be reprising the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway production ofHamilton from September 9, 2025 until November 26, 2025.[59] He reunited with theoriginal Broadway cast ofHamilton at the78th Tony Awards where they performed for their 10 year anniversary.[60]
In 2014, Odom self-released his debut album as a jazz singer,Leslie Odom Jr. on CD and SoundCloud, and promoted the album with several concerts atThe Public Theater. In February 2016, he released a version ofSelena Gomez's "Good For You" featuring hisHamilton castmateDaveed Diggs.[61] Odom was signed to a four-album deal withS-Curve Records in 2016.[62] He and producerSteve Greenberg narrowed down 200 potential tunes to ten tracks, and Odom recorded an updated and improved version ofLeslie Odom Jr. during days off and afternoons before Broadway performances, in order to release the album before Odom leftHamilton.[63] Released in June 2016, the album charted at No. 1 onBillboard Jazz and No. 147 onBillboard 200.[citation needed]
On November 11, 2016, Odom released his second album,Simply Christmas, which featured jazz interpretations of Christmas standards. A deluxe edition of the album was released in October 2017, with four additional songs.[64]Simply Christmas hit #1 on iTunes and the Billboard Jazz charts, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Holiday chart and No. 31 on theBillboard Top 200 chart.[citation needed] Odom released his third album and first of original material,Mr, in November 2019, and in October 2020, he debuted a new version of the album's standout song "Cold", featuringSia.[65][66] His critically acclaimed second holiday album,The Christmas Album, was released in November 2020.The Christmas Album is Odom's fourth studio album.[67] Odom tours to promote his albums, performing concerts backed by a jazz quintet that includes a drummer, percussionist, bassist, guitarist and a pianist who is also Odom's musical director.[68]
In December 2017, Odom returned to the New York City stage in a solo concert atJazz at Lincoln Center. The cabaret-style performance was crafted around signature songs and music that shaped this artist's journey, all performed with a world-class band in front of a live audience. The show was filmed for broadcast as an hour-longPBS special as part of the 17-time Emmy Award-winning series,Live from Lincoln Center, and premiered in April 2018.[citation needed] In November 2023, Odom released his fifth studio album,When a Crooner Dies, featuring original music, published underBMG Rights Management.[citation needed]
In June 2017, it was announced that Odom had a book deal forFailing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning, which he was writing with the intention to inspire younger readers.[69] The book, which was published by an imprint ofMacmillan in March 2018, "outlines the setbacks and rejections that preceded his success."[5] Odom modeled his writing on the style of a commencement speech, exploring what he had learned throughout his life and the importance of pursuing passions.[69]
Odom has been married to actressNicolette Kloe Robinson since December 1, 2012.[70] They have a daughter, born in April 2017,[71] and a son, born in March 2021. The couple met in 2008 while Robinson was a student atUCLA and auditioned forOnce on This Island in Los Angeles.[70] When she replaced a cast member who left unexpectedly, assistant director Odom became responsible for quickly bringing her up to speed, and a romantic relationship ensued.[70]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Scarecrow Joe | Joe | Short |
| 2012 | Red Tails | Declan 'Winky' Hall | |
| 2015 | Luna Goes Cruising | Oscar | Short |
| 2017 | Murder on the Orient Express | Dr. John Arbuthnot | |
| 2019 | Only | Will | |
| Harriet | William Still | ||
| 2020 | Hamilton | Aaron Burr | |
| One Night in Miami... | Sam Cooke | ||
| 2021 | Music | Ebo Odom | |
| The Many Saints of Newark | Harold McBrayer | ||
| Needle in a Timestack | Nick Mikkelsen | ||
| 2022 | Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | Lionel Toussaint | |
| 2023 | The Exorcist: Believer | Victor Fielding |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2006 | CSI: Miami | Joseph Kayle | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
| 2004 | The Big House | Lamont | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Threshold | Sergeant Adams | Episode: "The Crossing" |
| Gilmore Girls | Quentin Walsh | Episode: "Bridesmaids Revisited" | |
| Vanished | Agent Malik Christo | Recurring role; 10 episodes | |
| Close to Home | Jordan Carter | Episode: "Prodigal Son" | |
| 2006–2007 | Big Day | Freddy | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
| 2007 | The Bill Engvall Show | Mr. Pratt | 2 episodes |
| Supreme Courtships | Marcus | Television film | |
| 2008 | Grey's Anatomy | P.J. Walling | Episode: "There's No "I" in Team" |
| 2011 | NCIS: Los Angeles | FBI Agent Duane Lausten | Episode: "Archangel" |
| Zeke and Luther | Mr. Arliss Bunnyson | Episode: "Zeke, Luther, and Kojo Strike Gold" | |
| Bandwagon | Urban Glee performer | Episode: "You Can Do Anything" | |
| Supernatural | Guy | Episode: "Season Seven, Time for a Wedding" | |
| Poe | Julian 'Jupiter' Noble | Television film | |
| 2012 | House of Lies | James | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Smash | Sam Strickland | Lead role; 23 episodes |
| 2013 | Person of Interest | Peter Collier | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2013–2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Reverend Curtis Scott | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 2014 | Gotham | Ian Hargrove | Episode: "Harvey Dent" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Barry Pert | Episode: "Unmanned" |
| Aaron Burr, Sir: Backstage atHamilton with Leslie Odom Jr. | Host | Web series; 8 episodes | |
| 2018 | We Bare Bears | Dr. Leslie | Voice, episode: "More Everyone's Tube"[72][73] |
| One Dollar | Randall Abatsy | 4 episodes | |
| 2020–2022 | Central Park | Owen Tillerman | Voice, main role |
| 2020 | Love in the Time of Corona | James | Main role[74] |
| Martha Knows Best | Himself | Episode: "Winter Is Coming"[75] | |
| 2021 | The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back! | Himself (host) | TV special |
| Blue's Clues & You! | Mo Snow | Voice, episode: "Blue's Snowy Day Surprise" | |
| 2022–2023 | Abbott Elementary | Draemond Winding | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Kwame | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Great Performances | Purlie Victorious Judson | Episode: "Purlie Victorious" |
| Year | Title | Role | Dates | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Rent | Paul / Cop / others | 1998 | Nederlander Theatre | Broadway |
| 2001 | Dreamgirls | Performer | September 24, 2001 | Ford Center for the Performing Arts | Benefit Concert[a] |
| 2004 | Jersey Boys | Ensemble | October 5, 2004 – January 16, 2005 | La Jolla Playhouse | Tryout |
| 2007 | Being Alive | Performer | August 25 – September 9, 2007 | Westport Country Playhouse | Regional |
| October 25 – December 2, 2007 | Philadelphia Theatre Company | ||||
| 2008 | Once on This Island | Agwe, God of Water | September 12–14, 2008 | Freud Playhouse | Regional[b] |
| 2009 | Soul of Rodgers | Performer | October 2–3, 2009 | Reprise Theatre Company | Revue |
| 2010 | Leap of Faith | Isaiah Sturdevant | October 3–24, 2010 | Ahmanson Theatre | Tryout |
| 2012 | April 26 – May 13, 2012 | St. James Theatre | Broadway | ||
| 2013 | Venice | Markos Monroe | May 28 – June 30, 2013 | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2014 | Hamilton | Aaron Burr | May 2014 | The 52nd Street Project | Workshop |
| Tick, Tick... Boom! | Michael | June 24–28, 2014 | New York City Center | Encores! | |
| 2015–2016 | Hamilton | Aaron Burr | January 20 – May 3, 2015 | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| August 6, 2015 – July 9, 2016 | Richard Rodgers Theatre | Broadway | |||
| 2023–2024 | Purlie Victorious | Purlie Victorious Judson | September 7, 2023 – February 4, 2024 | Music Box Theatre | Broadway |
| 2023 | Gutenberg! The Musical! | Guest Producer (one night cameo) | October 10, 2023 | James Earl Jones Theatre | |
| 2025 | Hamilton | Aaron Burr | September 9 - November 26, 2025 | Richard Rodgers Theatre[76] |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [77] | US Sales [78] | US Jazz [79] | US Holiday [78] | ||
| Leslie Odom Jr. |
| 147 | 59 | 1 | — |
| Simply Christmas |
| 31 | 12 | 1 | 4 |
| Mr |
| — | 54 | — | — |
| The Christmas Album |
| — | — | — | — |
| When a Crooner Dies |
| — | — | — | — |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Good For You" | 2016 | non-album single |
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Simply Christmas | |
| "America the Beautiful" | 2018 | non-album singles |
| "Without You" | ||
| "What Are We Waiting For" (featuringNicolette Robinson) | ||
| "Bear Facts" (with the cast ofWe Bare Bears) | ||
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (withIngrid Michaelson) | Ingrid Michaelson's Songs for the Season | |
| "Under Pressure" | 2019 | Mr |
| "Go Crazy"[80] | 2020 | |
| "Cold" (featuringSia)[81] | non-album single |
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Hallelujah, I Believe" | 2015 | Jim Brickman | Comfort & Joy: The Sweet Sounds of Christmas andA Joyful Christmas |
| "Joy to the World" | The Broadway Cast ofHamilton | Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Vol. 17, 2015 | |
| "Autumn Leaves" | 2016 | N/A | Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 |
| "Seriously" | Song written bySara Bareilles | This American Life Ep.599 | |
| "My Romance" | 2017 | Billy Porter | Billy Porter Presents: The Soul ofRichard Rodgers |
| "Sondheim: Medley: Children will Listen /You've Got to Be Carefully Taught (From "Into the Woods" & "South Pacific")" | 2018 | Renée Fleming,BBC Concert Orchestra, &Rob Fisher | Broadway |
