Leslie Odom Jr.
Birthdate: Aug 6, 1981
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Leslie Odom Jr. (birthname: Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr.) is a brilliant, multi-talented performing artist whose film acting career is just one slice of a large platter, including such standout turns as Aaron Burr in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, recording jazz albums, earning twin Oscar nominations for both acting and songwriting, and starring in or featuring in recurring roles in several TV series, including Central Park (2020-present), Smash (2012-2013), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2013-2015), Person of Interest (2013), Big Day (2006-2007), and Vanished (2006).
Odom Jr.’s big-screen debut was in 20th Century Fox’s WW2 drama about the Tuskegee Airmen, Red Tails (2012), co-written by John Ridley and directed by Anthony Hemingway, and co-starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker, and David Oyelowo. Odom Jr.’s second feature was under co-star Kenneth Branagh’s direction, the hit Agatha Christie adaptation, Murder on the Orient Express (2017), with Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley, and grossing a strong $353 million on a $55 million budget.
Odom Jr.’s first starring movie role was opposite Frieda Pinto in the Takashi Doscher-directed post-apocalyptic drama, Only (2019), premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. Leslie Odom Jr. displayed his versatility further in a co-starring role opposite Oscar-nominated lead Cynthia Erivo in writer-director Kasi Lemmons’ biopic, Harriet (2019), with Janelle Monáe, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival. Odom Jr. re-created his role as Aaron Burr in the Thomas Kail-directed film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit musical, Hamilton (2020), with Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Anthony Ramos, Okieriete Onaodowan, and Jonathan Groff.
Leslie Odom Jr. enjoyed his feature film breakthrough portraying singer Sam Cooke in the Regina King-directed version of Kemp Powers’ play, One Night in Miami… (2020), co-starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, and Aldis Hodge, and earning Odom two Oscar nominations for best supporting actor and best song—a rare combo. Odom Jr. co-starred with Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler in the poorly-received musical drama, Music (2021), by director/songwriter/writer/producer Sia, and premiered in IMAX.
Odom Jr. co-starred in producer-writer David Chase’s long-awaited but disappointing Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark (2021), with Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Michael Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Vera Farmiga, and John Magaro, and which premiered simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, where it was a streaming success.
Leslie Odom Jr. had his second feature starring role in the sci-fi romance by writer-director John Ridley, Needle in a Timestack (2021), co-starring Frieda Pinto, Cynthia Erivo, and Orlando Bloom, and released by Lionsgate. Odom Jr. was part of the ensemble of his second big-screen whodunit, director/writer/producer Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), starring Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Hudson, and Dave Bautista, and getting the widest theatrical release ever for a Netflix-produced movie, with a $15 million theatrical gross.
Odom Jr. co-starred in another franchise entry, Blumhouse and Morgan Creek’s reboot of The Exorcist titled The Exorcist: Believer (2023), care of director/co-writer David Gordon Green (with co-writers Peter Sattler, Scott Teems, and Danny McBride), with Olivia O’Neill, Lidya Jewett, Ellen Burstyn, and Ann Dowd, and released by Universal Pictures.
Personal Details
Leslie Odom Jr. was born in the Queens borough of New York City and was raised in Philadelphia by his parents. Odom Jr. has one younger sister. Odom Jr. sang in the choir of his church, Canaan Baptist Church. Odom Jr. schooled at Julia R. Masterman School and Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Before his higher education, Odom Jr. had already debuted on Broadway, in the production of Rent. Odom Jr. graduated in 2003 with honors with a major from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. Odom Jr. then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional performing career. Odom Jr. married actor Nicolette Kloe Robinson in 2012; the couple has two children, Lucille and Able. Odom Jr.’s height is 5’ 9”.
Filmography
actor
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- 2023 | The Exorcist (50th Anniversary)asVictor Fielding
The Exorcist (50th Anniversary)
When two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who's been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.
- 2021 | The Many Saints of NewarkasHarold McBrayer
The Many Saints of Newark
Witness the making of Tony Soprano. The story that reveals the humanity behind Tony's struggles and the influence his family - especially his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti - had over him becoming the most iconic mob boss of all time.
- 2019 |
- 2017 | Murder on the Orient ExpressasDr. Arbuthnot
Murder on the Orient Express
When a murder occurs on the train on which he's travelling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.
Some Facts About Leslie Odom Jr.
Key Inspiration: Leslie Odom Jr. considers playwright/actor Anna Devere Smith to be a major inspiration for his career.
Awards Diversity: Odom Jr. is the rare performer who has won and been nominated for major awards in acting, songwriting, producing, jazz singing, and dancing.
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