James Monroe Iglehart

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James Monroe Iglehart
Iglehart holding his Tony Award to announce the 74th Tony Awards nominations in 2020
Born (1974-09-04) September 4, 1974 (age 49)
OccupationActor
Years active2003–present
Spouse
Dawn Phelps
(m. 2002)
[2]

James Monroe Iglehart (born September 4, 1974)[1][3] is an American actor 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 role of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway company of Hamilton in April 2017. He originated the role of King Arthur in the 2023 Broadway revival of Spamalot. 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 cast of the animated webseries Helluva Boss, as both the Demon Lord of Lust Asmodeus/Ozzy and hellhound bodyguard Vortex, and Hazbin Hotel, as Zestial, as well having written for Marvel Comics, primarily one-shots featuring Spider-Man.[4]

Early life[edit]

Iglehart was born in Hayward, California on September 4, 1974.[1]

Career[edit]

Iglehart attended Cal State Hayward and 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 title 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.[17][18]

Personal life[edit]

He 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[3][5] and they married in 2002.

Filmography[edit]

Film[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 Host
2021–present Helluva Boss Vortex, Asmodeus Voice, 5 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 SuperKitties Mr. Puppypaws Voice, Recurring role
Kiff Martin Chatterley Voice, 4 episodes
2024 Hazbin Hotel Zestial[22] Voice, Recurring role
Songs: "Respectless" and "Whatever It Takes"

Video games[edit]

Year(s) Title Role Notes
2003 Virtua Cop 3 Chief Inspector [23]
Silent Line: Armored Core Additional voices [24]

Stage credits[edit]

Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2006 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Mitch Mahoney Wilbur Theatre Regional
2007–2008 Circle in the Square Theatre Broadway
2009 The Wiz The Lion New York City Center Encores! Off-Broadway
2009–2011 Memphis Bobby Shubert Theatre Broadway
2011 Aladdin The Genie 5th Avenue Theatre Regional
2013–2014 Ed Mirvish Theatre
2014–2017 New Amsterdam Theatre Broadway
2017–2019 Hamilton Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson Richard Rodgers Theatre
2019 Hercules Phil Delacorte Theater Central Park
2019-2020 Hamilton Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson Richard Rodgers Theatre Broadway
2020 The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert Oogie Boogie - Virtual concert
2021 Hamilton Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson Richard Rodgers Theatre Broadway
2022 Chicago Billy Flynn Ambassador Theatre
Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Kennedy Center Regional
2023 Hercules Phil Paper Mill Playhouse
Spamalot King Arthur Kennedy Center
A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong Saenger Theatre
Cadillac Palace Theatre
Gutenberg! The Musical! The Producer
(One night only)
James Earl Jones Theatre Broadway
2023-2024 Spamalot King Arthur St. James Theatre
2024 A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong Studio 54

Awards 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]

  1. ^ a b c "James Monroe Iglehart: Performer". Playbill. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "10 Things You May Not Know: James Monroe Iglehart of 'Aladdin'". New York Shows. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Igleharts Wish Granted" nypost.com, March 9, 2014
  4. ^ "As the Curtain Rises – Broadway's First Digital Soap Opera | Broadway Podcast Network". October 17, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Blank, Matthew. "The Genie of Broadways Aladdin James Monroe Iglehart" playbill.com, March 18, 2014
  6. ^ "James Monroe Iglehart Nominated for a Tony" rayoflighttheatre.com
  7. ^ "James Monroe Iglehart" broadwayworld.com
  8. ^ "James Monroe Iglehart" Internet Broadway Database
  9. ^ Staff. Just the Winners, Please: Who Won the 68th Annual Tony Awards" playbill.com, June 8, 2014
  10. ^ Ng, David (May 21, 2014). "James Monroe Iglehart releases the genie inside". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  11. ^ "Freestyle Love Supreme". broadway.com. 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  12. ^ DJangi, Taraneh (July 12, 2019). "Meet the Cast: Cheshire Crossing". Penguin Random House Audio.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Stephanie Beatriz and James Monroe Iglehart Drop by 'DuckTales' Darkwing Episode: First Look (Exclusive)". ETonline. October 6, 2020.
  15. ^ Wild, Stephi. "James Monroe Iglehart Will Join the Cast of CHICAGO on Broadway". Broadway World. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Spamalot Will Not Succeed on Broadway, Again
  17. ^ "A Wonderful World".
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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
  20. ^ The Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2014 - Entertainment & Arts, James Monroe Iglehart releases the genie inside By David Ng
  21. ^ Showtickets.com, June 2, 2016 - 10 Things You May Not Know: James Monroe Iglehart of ‘Aladdin’ Category Broadway |by Karu Daniels
  22. ^ Mullinax, Hope (December 28, 2023). "Broadway Superstars Check Into 'Hazbin Hotel' to Complete the Ensemble Cast [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "James Monroe Iglehart (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  24. ^ FromSoftware. Silent Line: Armored Core. Agetec. Scene: Ending credits, 2:46:43 in, Voice Talent.
  25. ^ "James Monroe Iglehart". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

External links[edit]

Media related to James Monroe Iglehart at Wikimedia Commons