Ben Platt (actor)

Ben Platt
Platt in 2017
Born Benjamin Schiff Platt
(1993-09-24) September 24, 1993
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 2002–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals, piano
Labels Atlantic

Benjamin Schiff Platt (born September 24, 1993)[1] is an American actor and singer known for his portrayal of the title character in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, a performance for which he has won numerous awards, including the 2017 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[2][3] Platt's credits include the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in The Book of Mormon and Benji Applebaum in the musical films Pitch Perfect (2012) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).

Early life and education

Platt was born in Los Angeles, the fourth of five children of Julie (née Beren) and Marc Platt. His father is a film, television and theater producer whose credits include the musical Wicked.[4] His family is Jewish.[5][6][7]

He attended the Adderley School for Performing Arts in Pacific Palisades, performing in productions like Bye Bye Birdie and Into the Woods. Platt attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, graduating in 2011. He attended Columbia University in New York, but dropped out after six weeks to fulfill his contract with The Book of Mormon. Subsequently, he attended the school and became a member of the campus a cappella musical group Nonsequitur.[4][8]

Career

Early stage work

At 9 years old, Platt played Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Kristin Chenoweth.[9] At 11, he appeared in a brief national tour of Caroline, or Change, by Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner. At 17, he played Jean Valjean in Kidz Theater’s production of Les Misérables. His other early roles include the role of Claude Bukowski in Columbia University's production of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.[10] He has also collaborated on a workshop of Alice by Heart, by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, a new take on Alice in Wonderland.

The Book of Mormon

In 2012, Platt was cast as Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Chicago production of The Book of Mormon. The show premiered at the Bank of America Theatre on December 19, 2012, after a week of previews.[11] The production was well received and closed on October 6, 2013.[12] Critics lauded Platt's performance, calling him a "true revelation in this brand new Chicago production...He really leans into this part, throwing himself out there with the abandonment of youth".[13]

Platt later reprised his role as Elder Cunningham on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre from January 7, 2014 to January 6, 2015.[14]

Pitch Perfect and film career

In 2012, Platt had a supporting role in the musical comedy Pitch Perfect, loosely based on the non-fiction book Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory. Platt played the magic-obsessed Benji Applebaum, alongside an ensemble cast including Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow. The film emerged as a major commercial success and received mostly positive reviews from critics. He was subsequently nominated at a Teen Choice Awards in the category Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer for his work.[15] In 2015, Platt reprised his role as Benji Applebaum in the sequel, Pitch Perfect 2. He has since made subsequent film appearances in Ricki and the Flash and Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

Dear Evan Hansen

Platt became attached to Pasek and Paul's then Untitled P&P Project in 2014, participating in early read-throughs and workshops.[16] By 2015, the musical, titled Dear Evan Hansen, had begun production in Washington, D.C. at the Arena Stage with Platt originating the titular role. The show premiered on July 9, 2015 and closed August 23, 2015.[17] The overwhelming positive reception toward the production and Platt's performance resulted in the show being transferred to Off-Broadway.[18]

In 2016, Platt, again, originated the role of Evan Hansen at Second Stage Theatre. Platt and the cast played a month of previews, beginning on March 26, 2016, before premiering on May 1, 2016. The limited engagement sold out its entire run with Platt playing his last performance on May 26, 2016.[19][20][21]

Ben Platt in 2017.

In December 2016, Platt originated the title role in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. Critics hailed his work, calling it "historic" and "one of the greatest leading male performances ever seen in a musical".[22][23][24] For his performance, Platt won numerous awards including the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Platt played his final performance on November 19, 2017.[25]

Recent and upcoming projects

On September 7, 2017, it was announced that Platt had signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. In a statement, Platt said: "It has been a longtime dream to create original music; I am so excited to be working on this debut album and even more excited for the day I can share it with the world."[26]

On January 28, 2018, Platt performed Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" live at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards accompanied by Justin Goldner and Adele Stein and arranged by Alex Lacamoire[27][28]

On March 19, 2018, Platt and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda released "Found/Tonight", a mashup of the Hamilton song "The Story of Tonight" and the Dear Evan Hansen song "You Will Be Found".[29] Platt donated a portion of the proceeds to support the March for Our Lives anti-gun violence initiative, and also performed on stage with Miranda at the rally in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2018.[30][31][32]

Platt is set to star opposite Damian Lewis, Nina Dobrev, and Mena Massoud in the Rob Ford historical fiction thriller Run This Town.[33][34] The casting of Platt caused minor controversy, over allegations that the filmmakers were appropriating the story of female reporter Robyn Doolittle.[35]

Theatre credits

Year Production Role Venue Notes
2002 The Music Man Winthrop Paroo Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles
2004 Caroline, or Change Noah Gellman Ahmanson Theatre National tour
2005 Dead End Philip Griswald Ahmanson Theatre Regional
2012 The Power of Duff Ricky Duff Powerhouse Theatre Regional
The Black Suits Kevin Sprague Center Theatre Group Regional
2012–2013 The Book of Mormon Elder Arnold Cunningham PrivateBank Theatre Chicago
2014–2015 Eugene O'Neill Theatre Broadway
2015 Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen Arena Stage Washington, D.C.
2016 The Secret Garden Dickon David Geffen Hall 25th anniversary concert
Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen Second Stage Theatre Off-Broadway
2016–2017 Music Box Theatre Broadway

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Red Riding Hood Boy Scout #1
2012 Pitch Perfect Benji Applebaum
2015 Pitch Perfect 2
Ricki and the Flash Daniel
2016 Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Josh
2017 The Female Brain Joel
TBA Drunk Parents Post-production[36]
TBA Run This Town Post-production[37]
TBA Love & Oatmeal Scott Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Will & Grace Blake Episode: "Who's Your Daddy"[38]
TBA The Politician Payton Upcoming Netflix series; also executive producer[39]

Awards and nominations

Platt and Dear Evan Hansen cast member Rachel Bay Jones with their Tony Awards.

Platt was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award.[40] and also won an Obie Award in 2016.[41] He won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, both for the show's Off-Broadway run.[42]

On May 19, 2017, at the 83rd annual Drama League Awards, it was announced that Platt had won the organization's Distinguished Performance Award. This award, which recognizes a performance on the New York stage in the past year, can only be won once in a performer's career. In winning, at the age of 23, for his work in Dear Evan Hansen, Platt became the youngest winner in the award's history.[43] On June 11, at the 71st Tony Awards, Platt won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[44]

Year Awards Category Work Result
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer Pitch Perfect Nominated
2016 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Dear Evan Hansen Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Leading Actor in a Musical Nominated[40]
Obie Awards Distinguished Performance by an Actor Won[41]
2017 Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical Won[44]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Won[43]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical Won[42]
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical Won
Favorite Onstage Pair Won
2018 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album[lower-alpha 1] Won[45]
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program
(with the cast of Dear Evan Hansen)		 "You Will Be Found" (performed on The Today Show)[46][47] Won

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2018 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album was awarded to the group consisting of: Laura Dreyfuss, Mike Faist, Rachel Bay Jones, Kristolyn Lloyd, Michael Park, Ben Platt, Will Roland & Jennifer Laura Thompson (principal soloists); Pete Ganbarg, Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (producers); Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (composers/lyricists)

References

  1. ↑ "Celeb birthdays for the week of Sept. 24-30". Associated Press. September 19, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017 – via National Post.
  2. ↑ "Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List". Variety. June 11, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  3. ↑ Chow, Andrew R. (June 11, 2017). "2017 Tony Awards Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Digging into "The Book of Mormon": an interview with Ben Platt and Nic Rouleau". Depaulia Online. Archived October 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Ben Platt Profile". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Tony Award-winner Ben Platt's journey from Camp Ramah to Broadway". The Times of Israel. June 14, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Three Camp Ramah Alums Now Have Leading Roles on Broadway. What's in the Bug Juice". Tablet Magazine. July 31, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Columbia Nonsequitur Alumni Members". Columbia Nonsequitur. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Show People with Paul Wontorek Interview: Ben Platt of "The Book of Mormon" and "Pitch Perfect"". Broadway.com. September 9, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2017 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Miller, Zoe (November 13, 2012). "Ben Platt joins The Book of Mormon on the road". Columbia Spectator Daily. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (December 19, 2012). "Review: The Book of Mormon, With Nic Rouleau, Ben Platt and Syesha Mercado, Opens in Chicago Dec. 19". Playbill.
  12. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (October 6, 2013). "Review: Chicago Engagement of The Book of Mormon Ends Oct. 6". Playbill. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  13. ↑ Reid, Kelly (December 2, 2012). "Review: Ben Platt steals the show as Elder Cunningham in 'Book of Mormon'". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  14. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (January 7, 2014). "Review: Ben Platt, Nic Rouleau and Syesha Mercado Are New Stars of The Book of Mormon on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards (2013)". Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  16. ↑ Marks, Peter (June 7, 2017). "How 'Dear Evan Hansen' became one of the most remarkable shows in musical-theater history". The Washington Post.
  17. ↑ Gioia, Michael (July 30, 2015). "Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen, About the High School Struggle to Fit In, Premieres in D.C." Playbill.
  18. ↑ Cox, Gordon (August 13, 2015). "Buzzy Musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' Sets New York Run". Variety.
  19. ↑ Clement, Olivia (February 2, 2016). "Ben Platt to Star in NY Premiere of New Musical 'Dear Evan Hansen'". Playbill.
  20. ↑ Gioia, Michael (August 13, 2015). "Following Its D.C. Run, Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen Will Transfer to New York". Playbill.
  21. ↑ Clement, Olivia (March 26, 2016). "Pasek and Paul's 'Dear Evan Hansen' Bows in New York". Playbill.
  22. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (December 4, 2016). "Review: In 'Dear Evan Hansen,' a Lonely Teenager, a Viral Lie and a Breakout Star". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  23. ↑ Marks, Peter (June 7, 2017). "How 'Dear Evan Hansen' became one of the most remarkable shows in musical-theater history". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Broadway review: Dear Evan Hansen is lit by a dazzling star turn". TimeOut.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  25. ↑ Clement, Olivia (August 15, 2017). "Ben Platt Sets Departure Date from Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen". Playbill. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  26. ↑ Milzoff, Rebecca (September 7, 2017). "Dear Evan Hansen Tony-Winner Ben Platt Signs With Atlantic Records: Exclusive". Billboard. United States. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Ben Platt "Somewhere": GRAMMY Performance". GRAMMY.com. January 29, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Alex Lacamoire on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt release 'Hamilton'/'Dear Evan Hansen' mash-up 'Found/Tonight'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  30. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (March 24, 2018). "See Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt Perform at March for Our Lives Rally". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt Perform At March For Our Lives". CBS Miami. March 24, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Lin-Manuel Miranda & Ben Platt - "Found/Tonight" March For Our Lives Performance". Atlantic Records. March 26, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Damian Lewis to Play Controversial Ex-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Damian Lewis to play crack-smoking former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford". The Daily Mail. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Rob Ford Movie Decides It Doesn't Need Kickass Female Reporter Role". HuffPost. April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  36. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 15, 2016). "Joe Manganiello Joins Alec Baldwin, Salma Hayek's Comedy 'Drunk Parents'". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Damian Lewis to Play Controversial Ex-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Will & Grace & A Millennial: Watch Ben Platt Do Some Cross-Generational Flirting in New Episode". Playbill. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  39. ↑ Staff, Variety (February 5, 2018). "Ben Platt to Star in Netflix Series 'The Politician' From Ryan Murphy". variety.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  40. 1 2 "Cynthia Erivo, Steve Martin Win 2016 OCC Awards". Outer Critics. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  41. 1 2 Gordon, David (May 23, 2016). "Ben Platt, Lupita Nyong'o, Georgia Engel, and More Win 2016 Obie Awards". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  42. 1 2 Lefkowitz, Andy (May 5, 2017). "2017 Lucille Lortel Awards: The Band's Visit, Ben Platt & More Named Winners". Broadway.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  43. 1 2 Smart, Jack (May 19, 2017). "Ben Platt Becomes Youngest-Ever Winner of Drama League Award". Backstage. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  44. 1 2 "Tony Awards 2017 updates: 'Dear Evan Hansen' and Bette Midler are among the night's big winners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Grammy Nominations 2018: Complete List". Variety. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  46. ↑ "Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Cast Receive Daytime Emmy Nomination". Theatremania.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  47. ↑ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR THE 45th ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS". EmmyOnline.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
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