James Monroe Iglehart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Monroe Iglehart
Iglehart holding his Tony Award to announce the 74th Tony Awards nominations in 2020
Born	(1974-09-04) September 4, 1974 (age 50) Hayward, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Cal State Hayward (BA)
Occupation	Actor and singer
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Aladdin, Chicago, Hamilton
Spouse(s)	Dawn Phelps ​ (m. 2002)​
Parent(s)	James Iglehart

James Monroe Iglehart (born September 4, 1974) is an American actor, singer and comic book writer. He is perhaps best known for his Tony Award-winning performance as the Genie in the original Broadway production of Aladdin. Iglehart assumed the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway cast of Hamilton in April 2017. He recreated the role of King Arthur in the 2023 Broadway revival of Spamalot and played Louis Armstrong in the Broadway company of A Wonderful World. He also played Billy Flynn in Chicago: The Musical. He can be heard as super producer Steve Jones in As The Curtain Rises, Broadway's first original podcast soap opera. More recently, Iglehart joined the cast of the animated webseries Helluva Boss, as both the Demon Lord of ... Asmodeus/Ozzie and hellhound bodyguard Vortex, and Hazbin Hotel, as Zestial, as well having written for Marvel Comics, primarily one-shots featuring Spider-Man.

Early life

Iglehart was born in Hayward, California on September 4, 1974.

Career

Iglehart attended Cal State Hayward, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. He started his career in California, performing in Bat Boy at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto and as Teen Angel in Grease at the American Musical Theatre in San Jose.

In 2005, he directed Bat Boy: The Musical at Ray of Light Theatre. He has played Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway as a replacement starting in April 2007. He originated the role of Bobby in Memphis on Broadway in October 2009.

Iglehart performed the role of the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, a performance for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role. When asked about the role, he said, "It's not as exhausting as you think. I'm kind of an energetic guy in general, so basically I'm kind of being me with the volume turned up." Iglehart departed the company of Aladdin in February 2017 to begin rehearsals in the role of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway company of Hamilton. He also performed in Freestyle Love Supreme on Broadway.

Iglehart guest starred in four episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Coriolanus Burt, the rival of male protagonist Titus Andromedon.

Iglehart voices Vortex and Asmodeus in Helluva Boss, Lance Strongbow in Tangled: The Series, Captain James Hook in Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir, Bronzino in Elena of Avalor, Oscar in Vampirina and Taurus Bulba in DuckTales.

In January 2022, Iglehart took over the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. In May 2023 he starred as King Arthur in Spamalot at the Kennedy Center. In November of that year the show transferred to Broadway where he reprised his role.

In October 2023, Iglehart assumed the lead role of A Wonderful World, a new musical based on the life of Louis Armstrong in its pre-Broadway New Orleans and Chicago engagements. In February 2024, it was announced the show will be transferring to Broadway with Iglehart in the lead role. He will also serve as a co-director of the production.

Personal life

He was raised in Hayward, California, with his brother. His mother is a former high school choir teacher. His father James Iglehart is a former minor league baseball player and actor. He met his wife Dawn in the Mt. Eden High School show choir and they married in 2002.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Stage credits

Awards and nominations