Leslie Odom Jr. Bio

Leslie Odom Jr. (born August 6, 1981) is an American actor, singer and songwriter celebrated for his breakout Broadway performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, a role that earned him a Tony Award and a Grammy Award in the same year and propelled a prolific, multi-genre career. Trained at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a BFA, Odom began his professional work in 1998 and quickly diversified into stage, film, television and music. He has since starred in films such as Harriet (2019) and One Night in Miami (2020), voiced characters in animation like Central Park, and joined ensemble projects including Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). His discography spans jazz-influenced albums and holiday releases, and he continues to balance acting with music and writing.

Early Life and Background

Leslie Odom Jr. was born in Queens, New York City, and raised in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. He is the son of Leslie Lloyd Odom, who worked in sales. Odom attended Julia R. Masterman School for middle school and Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, and he sang solos in the church choir at Canaan Baptist Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Early exposure to theater and music shaped his artistic direction from a young age.

He trained at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earning a BFA. After completing his degree, Odom moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2003 to pursue professional opportunities in the entertainment industry. His formal training and early stage work laid the foundation for a versatile career that would soon expand across Broadway, television, and film.

Path to Acting

Odom made his Broadway debut in 1998 and gained early recognition through ensemble work in productions such as Rent and Dreamgirls. He appeared in workshops and Off-Broadway productions including Venice and Witness Uganda (later retitled Invisible Thread) at A.R.T., and worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda in the Encores! Off-Center production of Tick, Tick… Boom!.

His recurring television work included a role on CSI: Miami, appearing as Joseph Kayle in nine episodes between 2003 and 2006, followed by a recurring role on Vanished. He also had guest appearances on Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, and The Good Wife. In 2013 and 2014, he had a recurring role on Person of Interest as Peter Collier, appearing in eight episodes. These early roles helped establish his range before his Broadway breakthrough.

Leslie Odom Jr. Career

Early Career (1998-2013)

Odom’s first notable work was his Broadway debut in 1998, followed by ensemble performances in Rent and the one-night Broadway concert version of Dreamgirls. He secured a recurring role on CSI: Miami between 2003 and 2006 and appeared in a supporting role in the 2011 television film Poe. He also had a supporting role in the 2012 war film Red Tails. Odom held a recurring role on the musical television series Smash in 2012 and was promoted to a starring role for the show’s final season in 2013.

During this period, Odom also played Nat King Cole in the 2015 one-night Actors Fund of America benefit concert of Bombshell. His work across stage and screen during these years demonstrated his versatility as a performer and laid the groundwork for his later success in Hamilton.

Breakthrough (2015-2019)

Odom originated the role of Aaron Burr in the workshop production of Hamilton at the 52nd Street Project in 2014. He returned to the role in the Off-Broadway production at The Public Theater in 2015 and the Broadway production at the Richard Rodgers Theatre from 2015 to 2016. He acted alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Anthony Ramos, Ariana DeBose and Jonathan Groff. Ben Brantley of The New York Times labeled the play a Critic’s Pick, describing Odom as suavely brooding and citing his performance of The Room Where It Happens as a full-fledged showstopper. Marilyn Stasio of Variety wrote that he is an irresistibly charming villain, citing Odom as charismatic perfection. He was nominated for a 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

He also starred as abolitionist William Still in the historical drama film Harriet (2019), about abolitionist Harriet Tubman portrayed by Cynthia Erivo. The film received respectable reviews with critics praising Erivo’s lead performance. Odom was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the 51st NAACP Image Awards.

Notable Works and Milestones

In 2019, Odom starred Only, a post-apocalyptic romance alongside Freida Pinto. The film received negative reviews with critics citing its poor direction and writing while also praising the chemistry between the two leads. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: It’s not the fault of Odom and Pinto, who essentially carry the film with their intense performances.

Award Nominations

Odom has received nominations across major award bodies for his work in film and television. In 2021, he was nominated for the Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor for One Night in Miami. He was also nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song for writing the film’s song Speak Now. For his role as Owen Tillerman in the Apple TV+ animated series Central Park, he received a nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Awards Won

Odom won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for his performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. These dual wins in the same year marked a defining moment in his career and cemented his reputation as a leading performer on Broadway.

Upcoming Projects

In 2025, Odom is set to reprise the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of Hamilton from September 9, 2025 until November 26, 2025. He will also make his West End debut reprising the role in the London production of Hamilton from July 3, 2026 until September 5, 2026.

Leslie Odom Jr. Family

Leslie Odom Jr. has been married to actress Nicolette Kloe Robinson since December 1, 2012. The couple met in 2008 while Robinson was a student at UCLA and auditioned for Once on This Island in Los Angeles. They have a daughter, born in April 2017, and a son, born in March 2021.

Personal Life

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Odom released his autobiography, Failing Up, in 2018. The book, published by an imprint of Macmillan, outlines the setbacks and rejections that preceded his success and aims to inspire younger readers. He continues to balance his acting career with his work as a recording artist, releasing jazz and holiday albums including Leslie Odom Jr. (2014), Simply Christmas (2016), Mr. (2019), The Christmas Album (2020), and When a Crooner Dies (2023). In 2016, he was signed to a four-album deal with S-Curve Records, and he has since toured to promote his albums, performing concerts backed by a jazz quintet that includes a drummer, percussionist, bassist, guitarist, and pianist who also serves as his musical director.