Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan[1] (born 1987/1988) is a Nigerian American actor, known for originating the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the 2015 musical Hamilton.
Background
Onaodowan grew up in West Orange, New Jersey[2] and graduated from West Orange High School in 2005.[3] Onaodowan played football in college but stopped due to being injured, and his father suggested that he take up acting as that was something he enjoyed in high school.[4]
Career
Onaodowan previously had a small roles in Rocky the Musical and Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway and was in the ensemble of the first national tour of American Idiot.[5] His screen credits include Lou in Thanks for Sharing, and roles in Gravity and Blue Bloods.[6]
An experienced stage actor,[7] Onaodowan had the leading role in Young Jean Lee's 2009 play, The Shipment,[8] and played the title role in J.C. Lee's, Luce.[9][10]
In 2015 Onaodowan originated the roles of James Madison and Hercules Mulligan in the musical Hamilton on Broadway.[11][12][13] He won a Grammy Award as part of the cast album of Hamilton.[14]
Credits
Theatre
- Langston in Harlem, off-Broadway
- Neighbors, off-Broadway
- The Shipment, off-off-Broadway
- Ruined
- Ragtime, Coalhouse, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, off-off-Broadway, 2004
- American Idiot, Rock & Roll Boyfriend/Favorite Son (u/s), US Tour, 2011
- Cyrano de Bergerac, Cadet/Pastry Cook/Sentry/Carbon de Castel-Jaloux (u/s)/Cuigy (u/s)/Musketeer (u/s), Broadway, 2012
- Luce, Luce off-Broadway, 2013
- The Shipment, off-Broadway, 2013
- The Brother's Size, Old Globe Theatre, 2013
- The Royale, Old Globe Theatre, 2014
- Rocky, Dipper Riley/Apollo's Cornerman/Apollo Creed (u/s), Broadway, 2014
- Hamilton, Hercules Mulligan/James Madison
- off-Broadway, 2015
- Broadway, 2015-present
Film
- Ribbons, Student, 2010 (short film)
- The One You Marry, Scott, 2011 (short film)
- Thanks for Sharing, Lou, 2012
Television
- Gravity, Sam, 1 episode, 2010
- NYC 22, Anton Barke, 1 episode, 2012
- Blue Bloods, Damon Williams, 1 episode, 2014
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Hamilton | Won |
Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards | Favorite Breakthrough Performance | Nominated |
References
- ^ Sally, Henry (26 July 2015). "HAMILTON Meets Disney Meets WICKED in New #Ham4Ham Lottery Performance, Featuring Okieriete Onaodowan". Broadway World. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Kletnoy, Sergio (13 July 2015). "Founding Father Alexander Hamilton's Life Is Now a Hip-Hop Musical". Cosmopolitan (magazine). Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ Herzog, Laura. "Broadway baby: 'Hamilton' star returns to N.J. alma mater", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2, 2016. Accessed June 13, 2016. "Onaodowan grew up in West Orange with his parents and five sisters, and attended Gregory Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and West Orange High School, graduating in 2005, school officials said."
- ^ Broadway.com #LiveatFive with HAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan. 11 January 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Okieriete Onaodowan". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "Meet the Cast of The Public Theater's HAMILTON". Broadway World. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ Hebert, James (3 December 2015). "The breathtaking 'Hamilton,' and its bloodlines with 'Allegiance'". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (27 January 2009). "Lods of Quality Material". New York Post. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (22 October 2013). "'Luce' fizzles out despite performances". New York Post.
- ^ Charles Isherwood (21 October 2013). "Once Their Son, Now a Riddle J C Lee's 'Luce' at Claire Tow Theater". New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ Kennedy, Mark (17 July 2015). "3 presidents in 'Hamilton' put 'blood into the statues'". Lima, Ohio. AP. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Lee, Ashley (28 July 2015). "'Hamilton': Lin-Manuel Miranda Repeatedly Rewards Lottery Hopefuls With Unique Pre-Shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ "Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- HAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan". Broadway World. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "2016 GRAMMY Award Nominations". CBS News. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.