Okieriete_Onaodowan

Okieriete Onaodowan

Okieriete Onaodowan

Nigerian-American actor

Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan[1] (/ɒˌkɛdiˈɛteɪ oʊˈnaʊdəwɑːn/ o-KED-ee-ET-ay oh-NOW-də-wahn[2][3]) is an American actor and singer known for his work in musical theatre and television. On the stage, he's known for originating the dual roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton. In 2017, he starred in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway as Pierre Bezukhov. On television, he's known for the role of Dean Miller in the ABC drama and Grey's Anatomy spin-off series, Station 19. He also appeared in the main role of Ade in the Amazon Prime Video series, Jack Ryan.

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Early life

Onaodowan was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Nigerian parents.[4] He and his five sisters[5] were raised in West Orange, New Jersey,[6] He attended Gregory Elementary School and Roosevelt Middle School and West Orange High School, graduating in 2005.[5] Onaodowan briefly played football for his high school, but he stopped after an injury during practice. As a result of the injury, Onaodowan started to explore acting as an alternative extracurricular activity.[7] While attending high school, he began performing with the New Jersey Youth Theatre. After high school, Onaodowan auditioned for and was accepted to the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He attended for one year.[8]

Career

Onaodowan had roles in Rocky the Musical and Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway and was in the ensemble of the first national tour of American Idiot.[9] He had the leading role in Young Jean Lee's 2009 play, The Shipment,[10] and played the title role in J.C. Lee's Luce.[11][12]

By 2015, Onaodowan was an experienced stage actor.[13] He also had several screen credits, including Lou in the feature film Thanks for Sharing and roles in the TV series Gravity and Blue Bloods.[14] He originated the roles of James Madison and Hercules Mulligan in the musical Hamilton on Broadway.[15][16][17] He won a Grammy Award as part of the cast album of Hamilton.[18]

On July 11, 2017, he took on the role of Pierre in the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, replacing the outgoing Josh Groban.[19][20][21] He took his final bow in this musical on August 13, 2017.

In 2018, he began playing the role of firefighter Dean Miller in the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19. On November 11, 2021, he exited the series, and his character was killed off onscreen. Deadline reported that Onaodowan had asked to leave in order to pursue other opportunities.[22]

In 2023, he made his return to Broadway as Nills Krogstead in the revival of A Doll's House.[23] In February 2024, he played Buddy Bolden in the Encores! production of Jelly's Last Jam.[24]

Credits

Film

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Television

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Stage

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Awards, nominations and recognition

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Onaodowan was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list in 2016 for his acting in Hamilton.[27]

References

  1. [1]
    Sally, Henry (July 26, 2015). "HAMILTON Meets Disney Meets WICKED in New #Ham4Ham Lottery Performance, Featuring Okieriete Onaodowan". Broadway World. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  2. [2]
    "Meet The Cast of Ruined: Okieriete Onaodowan". La Jolla Playhouse. December 2, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  3. [3]
    "To Walk a Mile in My Shoes You Must First Take Off Your Own | Okieriete Onaodowan". TEDxPaloAlto. May 3, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  4. [4]
    Canty, Erin (February 25, 2016). "How a second-generation immigrant conquered Broadway as one of America's Founding Fathers". Upworthy.com. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  5. [5]
    Herzog, Laura (May 2, 2016). "Broadway baby: 'Hamilton' star returns to N.J. alma mater". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved June 13, 2016. Onaodowan grew up in West Orange with his parents and five sisters, and attended Gregory Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and West Orange High School, graduating in 2005, school officials said.
  6. [6]
    Kletnoy, Sergio (July 13, 2015). "Founding Father Alexander Hamilton's Life Is Now a Hip-Hop Musical". Cosmopolitan.com. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  7. [7]
    Kyman, Vicki (June 12, 2016). "The gentle giant of 'Hamilton': Meet N.J.'s Okieriete Onaodowan". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media.
  8. [8]
    "The gentle giant of 'Hamilton': Meet N.J.'s Okieriete Onaodowan". NJ.com. NJ.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. [9]
    "Okieriete Onaodowan". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  10. [10]
    Scheck, Frank (January 27, 2009). "Lods of Quality Material". New York Post. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  11. [11]
    Scheck, Frank (October 22, 2013). "'Luce' fizzles out despite performances". New York Post.
  12. [12]
    Isherwood, Charles (October 21, 2013). "Once Their Son, Now a Riddle J C Lee's 'Luce' at Claire Tow Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  13. [13]
    Hebert, James (December 3, 2015). "The breathtaking 'Hamilton,' and its bloodlines with 'Allegiance'". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  14. [14]
    "Meet the Cast of The Public Theater's HAMILTON". BroadwayWorld.com. January 31, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  15. [15]
    Kennedy, Mark (July 17, 2015). "3 presidents in 'Hamilton' put 'blood into the statues'". limaohio.com. Lima, Ohio: AIM Media Midwest Operating, LLC. AP. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  16. [16]
    Lee, Ashley (July 28, 2015). "'Hamilton': Lin-Manuel Miranda Repeatedly Rewards Lottery Hopefuls With Unique Pre-Shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  17. [17]
    "Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- HAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan". BroadwayWorld.com. October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  18. [18]
    "2016 Grammy Award Nominations". cbs.com. CBS News. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  19. [19]
    @GreatCometBway (February 15, 2017). "We're thrilled to announce one of the original stars of @HamiltonMusical joins @GreatCometBway as Pierre starting July 3! #WhatAboutPierre" (Tweet). Retrieved February 15, 2017 – via Twitter.
  20. [20]
    Paulson, Michael (February 15, 2017). "A 'Hamilton' Star Is to Replace Josh Groban in 'Great Comet'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  21. [21]
    Sblendorio, Marissa (June 30, 2017). "HAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan Will Make His GREAT COMET Debut on July 11". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  22. [22]
    Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2021). "'Station 19' Original Cast Member Exits As Firefighter Drama Reveals Who Dies In Latest 'Grey's' Crossover". Deadline. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  23. [23]
    Tony Nominated, Jessica Chastain-Led A Doll's House Revival Finishes Broadway Run June 10
  24. [24]
    Okieriete Onaodowan to Star in Jelly's Last Jam at New York City Center Encores!
  25. [25]
    Betsy Wolfe, Patti Murin & Okieriete Onaodowan Led Lab of Broadway-Bound Frozen
  26. [26]
    HAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan Takes Part in FROZEN Lab; Lopezes to Pen New Songs for Broadway
  27. [27]
    Viagas, Robert (January 5, 2016). "Hamilton Actors on Forbes' "30 Under 30" Power List". Playbill. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
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