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Ben Platt

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Ben Platt
Platt in June 2017
Born
Benjamin Schiff Platt

(1993-09-24) September 24, 1993 (age 30)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2002; 2012–present
AwardsTony Award for Best Actor in a Musical

Benjamin Schiff Platt[1] (born September 24, 1993) is an American actor.

Platt is perhaps best known for originating the role 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 also include the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in The Book of Mormon, as well as Benji Applebaum in the musical films Pitch Perfect (2012) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).

Early life and education

Platt was born in Los Angeles, California,[4] 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.[5] His family is Jewish.[6]

He attended the Adderley School for Performing Arts in Pacific Palisades, performing in productions including Bye Bye Birdie and Into the Woods. Platt attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, graduating in 2011. He was accepted to 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.[5][7]

Career

At 9 years old, Platt played Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Kristin Chenoweth.[8] 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 a youth theatre production of Les Misérables. Other roles include the role of Claude Bukowski in Columbia University's production of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.[9]

Platt played a supporting role in the film Pitch Perfect as magic-obsessed Benji Applebaum. He was subsequently nominated at a Teen Choice Awards in the category Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer for his work.[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.

In 2016, he originated the title role in Dear Evan Hansen. Critics hailed his work, calling it "historic" and "one of the greatest leading male performances ever seen in a musical."[11][12][13]

On August 15, 2017, it was announced that Platt's final performance would be on November 19, 2017.[14] On September 7, 2017, it was announced that Platt had signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.[15]

Theatre credits

Year Production Role Venue Notes
2002 The Music Man Winthrop Paroo Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles
2012–13 The Book of Mormon Elder Arnold Cunningham Bank of America Theatre Chicago / Regional
2014–15 Eugene O'Neill Theatre Broadway
2015 Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen Arena Stage Washington, D.C. / World Premiere
2016 The Secret Garden Dickon David Geffen Hall 25th Anniversary Concert
Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen Second Stage Theatre Off-Broadway
2016–17 Music Box Theatre Broadway

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Pitch Perfect Benji Applebaum
2015 Pitch Perfect 2
Ricki and the Flash Daniel
2016 Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Josh
2017 Drunk Parents Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Will & Grace 1 episode; upcoming season

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.[16] and also won an Obie Award in 2016.[17] He won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, both for the show's Off-Broadway run.[18]

On May 19, 2017, at the 83rd annual Drama League Awards, it was announced that Platt had won the organization's Distinguished Performance Award. The 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.[19] On June 11, at the 71st Tony Awards, Platt won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[20]

Year Award Category Work Result
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer Pitch Perfect Nominated
2016 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Dear Evan Hansen Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Best Leading Actor in a Musical Nominated[16]
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actor Won[17]
2017 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Won[20]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Won[19]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical Won[18]
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical Won
Favorite Onstage Pair Won

References

  1. ^ "Ben Platt biodata". Time.mk. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  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. ^ "Person Details for Benjamin Schiff Platt, "California Birth Index, 1905–1995"". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  5. ^ a b DePaulia Online: Digging into "The Book of Mormon": an interview with Ben Platt and Nic Rouleau Archived October 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Ben Platt Profile". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Columbia Nonsequitur Alumni Members". Columbia Nonsequitur. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Miller, Zoe (November 13, 2012). "Ben Platt joins The Book of Mormon on the road". Columbia Spectator Daily. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Teen Choice Awards (2013)". Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Broadway review: Dear Evan Hansen is lit by a dazzling star turn". TimeOut.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  14. ^ Ben Platt Sets Departure Date from Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen Olivia Clement. Playbill. August 15, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017
  15. ^ 'Dear Evan Hansen' Tony-Winner Ben Platt Signs With Atlantic Records: Exclusive Rebecca Milzoff. Billboard. September 7. 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017
  16. ^ a b "Cynthia Erivo, Steve Martin Win 2016 OCC Awards". Outer Critics. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Gordon, David (May 23, 2016). "Ben Platt, Lupita Nyong'o, Georgia Engel, and More Win 2016 Obie Awards". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  18. ^ a b Lefkowitz, Andy (May 5, 2017). "2017 Lucille Lortel Awards: The Band's Visit, Ben Platt & More Named Winners". Broadway.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  19. ^ a b Smart, Jack (May 19, 2017). "Ben Platt Becomes Youngest-Ever Winner of Drama League Award". Backstage. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Tony Awards 2017 updates: 'Dear Evan Hansen' and Bette Midler are among the night's big winners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
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