Leslie Odom Jr
Leslie Odom Jr. (born August 6, 1981) is an American actor and singer best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical Hamilton, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. While born in New York, Odom was raised in Philadelphia and considers the city his hometown.
Early Life in Philadelphia
[edit | edit source]Odom moved to Philadelphia at age two and grew up in East Oak Lane, a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), where he honed his talents alongside many other future entertainment industry professionals.[1]
Odom made his Broadway debut at age 17 in Rent, while still a student at CAPA. He later attended Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama.
Career
[edit | edit source]Hamilton
[edit | edit source]In 2015, Odom originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton. His portrayal of the complex historical figure who eventually killed Hamilton in a duel earned him widespread acclaim.
For his performance, Odom won:
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (2016)
- Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album (2016)
His rendition of "Wait for It" became one of the show's signature songs.
Film Career
[edit | edit source]Odom has built a successful film career, including:
- Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- Harriet (2019) - as William Still, the Philadelphia abolitionist
- One Night in Miami (2020) - Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
- The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Music
[edit | edit source]Beyond acting, Odom has released several jazz-influenced albums:
- Leslie Odom Jr. (2014)
- Simply Christmas (2016)
- Mr (2019)
- The Christmas Album (2020)
His song "Speak Now" from One Night in Miami earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Philadelphia Connection
[edit | edit source]Odom frequently credits his Philadelphia upbringing and education at CAPA for shaping his career. He has returned to the city for various events and has spoken about the importance of arts education in public schools.
His role as William Still in Harriet connected him to Philadelphia history, as Still was a prominent abolitionist based in the city who helped hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom.
Personal Life
[edit | edit source]Odom is married to actress Nicolette Robinson. They have two children and reside in Los Angeles.
See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Leslie Odom Jr. on Philadelphia and Hamilton". Philadelphia Magazine. June 11, 2016