Leslie Odom, Jr.

Date of Birth: August 6, 1981

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Biography

Leslie Odom, Jr. is an acclaimed American actor, singer, and songwriter, widely recognized for his versatile talents in both stage and screen performances. Born on August 6, 1981, in Queens, New York, Odom grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he studied drama. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in entertainment. Odom’s breakthrough came with his role as Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary musical “Hamilton,” which premiered off-Broadway in early 2015 before moving to Broadway later that year. His performance earned him widespread acclaim, culminating in a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2016 and a Grammy Award as part of the cast recording. Beyond “Hamilton,” Odom has built a diverse career with notable roles in television series such as “Smash” and “Person of Interest,” as well as in films like “Murder on the Orient Express” (2017) and “One Night in Miami” (2020), where he portrayed singer Sam Cooke, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Odom is also a successful recording artist, having released several solo jazz albums, including “Leslie Odom Jr.” (2014) and “Mr.” (2019). Odom continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, celebrated for his dynamic range and compelling performances.

5 Interesting Facts about Leslie Odom, Jr.

1. Leslie Odom, Jr. won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton.”

2. He has released multiple solo albums, showcasing his talents as a singer and songwriter.

3. Odom portrayed iconic singer Sam Cooke in the film “One Night in Miami,” earning an Academy Award nomination.

4. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama.

5. Leslie Odom, Jr. is a published author, with his book “Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning” released in 2018.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Leslie Odom, Jr.

1. “The path to moments of greatness in your life will be paved, in part, with your spectacular failures.”

2. “I think that being a parent is a gift and a privilege, and when you’re lucky enough to have a child, you want to make the world the best place it can be for them.”

3. “The way that we can change the world is by working on ourselves, by becoming the best version of ourselves.”

4. “The power of storytelling is exactly what would help us to build a more empathetic, more compassionate society.”

5. “Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Leslie Odom, Jr. has achieved a net worth of approximately $10 million at the peak of his career.

Children

Leslie Odom, Jr. and his wife, actress Nicolette Robinson, have two children. Their first child, a daughter named Lucille Ruby, was born in April 2017. Their second child, a son named Able Phineas, was born in March 2021.