James Monroe Iglehart (born September 4, 1974)[1][3] 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 casts of animated webseries Helluva Boss (as both the Demon Lord of Lust Asmodeus/Ozzie and hellhound bodyguard Vortex) and Hazbin Hotel (as Zestial), as well having written for Marvel Comics, primarily one-shots featuring Spider-Man.[4]
James Monroe Iglehart | |
|---|---|
 Iglehart holding his Tony Award to announce the 74th Tony Awards nominations in 2020 | |
| Born | September 4, 1974 Hayward, California, U.S.[1] |
| Alma mater | Cal State Hayward (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor and singer |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | Aladdin, Chicago, Hamilton |
| Spouse |
Dawn Phelps (m. 2002) |
| Parent | James Iglehart |
Early life
editIglehart was born in Hayward, California on September 4, 1974.[1]
Career
editIglehart 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.[5]
In 2005, he directed Bat Boy: The Musical at Ray of Light Theatre.[6] He has played Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway as a replacement starting in April 2007.[7][8] 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[9] 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."[10] 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.[11]
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.[12][13][14]
In January 2022, Iglehart took over the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago.[15] 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.[16]
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.[17][18]
Personal life
editHe 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.[19][20][21] He met his wife Dawn in the Mt. Eden High School show choir and they married in 2002.[3][5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Memphis the Musical | Bobby | |
| We Are the Hartmans | Eustace | ||
| 2015 | Broadway Draft 2015 | Anchor | Short film |
| 2016 | Landed | TSA Agent | |
| Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz | Calvin Carney, Jitterbug | Voice, direct-to-video | |
| 2017 | Three Christs | Benny | |
| 2022 | Disenchanted | Weary Businessman | Cameo |
| 2023 | Wish | John the bear | Voice, uncredited |
Television
edit| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Geo | Episode: "Doubt" |
| 2012 | Great Performances | Bobby | Episode: "Memphis" |
| Submissions Only | Wilson Jones | Episode: "Woof!" | |
| Smash | Assistant | Episode: "Hell on Earth" | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Ringmaster | Episode: "The Blind Fortune Teller" |
| 2015–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Coriolanus Burt | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Nature Cat | Michael Bluejay | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Shawn Tompkins | Episode: "Intent" |
| 2017–2020 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Lance Strongbow | Voice, 38 episodes |
| 2018 | Cady Did | Orrin Hackett | |
| Elementary | Detective Mason | Episode: "Pushing Buttons" | |
| Maniac | Carl | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |
| 2018–2019 | Our Cartoon President | End credits vocals, End credits vocalist, Gospel Singers | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2019 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Darius Von Hassock | Episode: "Makeover" |
| Anthem: Homunculus | Ronnie Castro | Episode: "The End of Love" | |
| Hazbin Hotel | Bar Patron | Voice, episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2020 | Perfect Harmony | Keith | Episode: "Regionals" |
| Elena of Avalor | Bronzino | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| The Disney Family Singalong | Himself | Television special | |
| Vampirina | Oscar | Voice, episode: "Bust Friends" | |
| DuckTales | Taurus Bulba | Voice, episode: "Let's Get Dangerous!" | |
| Biggest Little Christmas Showdown | Himself | Host | |
| 2021–present | Helluva Boss | Vortex, Asmodeus | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2022 | The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo: Game Edition | Himself | Episode: "Isaiah Russell-Bailey & James Monroe Iglehart" |
| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Charlie | 3 episodes | |
| Girls5eva | Nathan Reasel | Episode: "Album Mode" | |
| Santiago of the Seas | Martín | Voice, episode: "Fincernera" | |
| Alice's Wonderland Bakery | Oliver the Onion | Voice, episode: "A Special Blend" | |
| Bubble Guppies | Cyclops | Voice, episode: "Bubble Medics to the Rescue!" | |
| Blue's Clues & You! | Jack O' Lantern | Voice, episode: "The Legend of the Jack O' Lantern" | |
| 2023 | Alma's Way | James King | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2023–present | SuperKitties | Mr. Puppypaws | Voice, recurring role |
| Kiff | Martin Chatterley | Voice, recurring role | |
| 2024 | Hazbin Hotel | Zestial[22] | Voice, episode: "Scrambled Eggs" |
Video games
edit| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Virtua Cop 3 | Chief Inspector | [23] |
| Silent Line: Armored Core | Additional voices | [24] |
Stage credits
editAwards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Aladdin | Won |
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Award | Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Diva Performance | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Funny Performance | Nominated | |||
| 2015 | Grammy Awards[25] | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Voice Performance in a Preschool Animated Program | SuperKitties | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b c "James Monroe Iglehart: Performer". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ "10 Things You May Not Know: James Monroe Iglehart of 'Aladdin'". New York Shows. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "Igleharts Wish Granted" nypost.com, March 9, 2014
- ^ "As the Curtain Rises – Broadway's First Digital Soap Opera | Broadway Podcast Network". October 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Blank, Matthew. "The Genie of Broadways Aladdin James Monroe Iglehart" playbill.com, March 18, 2014
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart Nominated for a Tony" Archived June 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine rayoflighttheatre.com
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart" broadwayworld.com
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart" Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Staff. Just the Winners, Please: Who Won the 68th Annual Tony Awards" playbill.com, June 8, 2014
- ^ Ng, David (May 21, 2014). "James Monroe Iglehart releases the genie inside". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ^ "Freestyle Love Supreme". broadway.com. 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ DJangi, Taraneh (July 12, 2019). "Meet the Cast: Cheshire Crossing". Penguin Random House Audio.
- ^ "Listen to the Audiobook for Andy Weir's Cheshire Crossing, About the Continued Adventures of Alice, Dorothy, and Wendy". The Mary Sue. August 15, 2019.
- ^ "Stephanie Beatriz and James Monroe Iglehart Drop by 'DuckTales' Darkwing Episode: First Look (Exclusive)". ETonline. October 6, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "James Monroe Iglehart Will Join the Cast of CHICAGO on Broadway". Broadway World. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Spamalot Will Not Succeed on Broadway, Again
- ^ "A Wonderful World".
- ^ Gans, Andrew (July 12, 2023). "Cast Complete for A Wonderful World Musical Starring James Monroe Iglehart; Vanessa Williams Joins Producing Team". Playbill.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ^ Geek.com, November 6, 2019 - MOVIES, 11 Forgotten Blaxploitation Classics That Deserve Your Time,← Savage! By K. Thor Jensen Archived September 1, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2014 - Entertainment & Arts, James Monroe Iglehart releases the genie inside By David Ng
- ^ Showtickets.com, June 2, 2016 - 10 Things You May Not Know: James Monroe Iglehart of ‘Aladdin’ Category Broadway |by Karu Daniels Archived December 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mullinax, Hope (December 28, 2023). "Broadway Superstars Check Into 'Hazbin Hotel' to Complete the Ensemble Cast [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- ^ FromSoftware. Silent Line: Armored Core. Agetec. Scene: Ending credits, 2:46:43 in, Voice Talent.
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
External links
editMedia related to James Monroe Iglehart at Wikimedia Commons
