Ben Platt

Benjamin Schiff Platt, born on September 24, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, began his acting journey as a child in musical theater. The son of film and theater producer Marc Platt, he performed in early productions such as “The Sound of Music” (2006) and a national tour of “Caroline, or Change” (2004). At 17, he played Jean Valjean in a Kidz Theater production of “Les Misérables.” His professional career gained significant traction when he was cast as Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Chicago production of “The Book of Mormon” in 2012. He continued with this role on Broadway from 2014 to 2015, establishing himself as a notable talent at a young age.

Platt rose to widespread prominence for originating the title role in the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” The show premiered in Washington, D.C. in 2015, moving Off-Broadway in 2016 before its Broadway debut in December 2016. His performance earned critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2017, making him the youngest solo recipient of the award at the time. He also received a Daytime Emmy and a Grammy Award for his work on “Dear Evan Hansen.” Beyond theater, Platt ventured into film with supporting roles in the “Pitch Perfect” film series (2012, 2015) and later appeared in “Ricki and the Flash” (2015) and “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” (2016).

In 2017, Platt signed with Atlantic Records, releasing his debut solo album, “Sing to Me Instead,” in 2019, followed by a North American tour. The concert from his Radio City Music Hall performance was released as a Netflix special in 2020. He also starred as Payton Hobart in the Netflix comedy-drama series “The Politician” (2019–2020), which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. His film career continued with “Run This Town” (2019), “Broken Diamonds” (2021), and “The People We Hate at the Wedding” (2022). In 2021, he reprised his role as Evan Hansen in the film adaptation of “Dear Evan Hansen.” More recently, Platt returned to the stage in the 2023 Broadway revival of “Parade,” receiving a second Tony nomination. He also co-wrote, produced, and starred in the film “Theater Camp” (2023), further diversifying his creative endeavors. His third studio album, “Honeymind,” was released in 2024, supported by a residency at the Palace Theatre and a North American tour.