24 Stars Who Got Their Start on Broadway
Many famous stars start acting at a young age and spend years on their careers before reaching celebrity status. You may not know that several of your favorite actors have gotten their start on the stage before they made it to the big screen.
Countless celebrities found their big breaks thanks to their roles in Broadway productions. You may be surprised to see which stars got their start on the Broadway stage.
Nick Jonas
Before catapulting into fame as one of the Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas started his career on the stage. As a young boy, Nick starred in Broadway classics, including A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, and Annie Get Your Gun.
Years later, he joined a band with his two older brothers, Kevin and Joe Jonas. The Jonas Brothers released their first single in 2005 when Nick was just 12 years old at the time.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is most known for her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw in the famed show Sex in the City, but she didn’t start on the big screen. Parker made her Broadway debut in the play The Innocents in October 1976 and went on to star in the lead role of the Broadway musical Annie in 1979.
She made her television debut in 1980 in 3-2-1 Contact, an educational program. Sex in the City didn’t premiere until 1998 when Parker was 33 years old.
Idina Menzel
While she’s most known for her roles in Wicked, Cinderella, and Enchanted, to name a few, Idina got her start as a Broadway actress. She debuted in theatre and played the role of Maureen in the Broadway classic Rent.
Since then, she’s had a wildly successful career. Idina became one of the most popular Broadway performers for her role as Elphaba in Wicked and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is one of the world’s most famous singers, revered for her chart-topping hits. The pop star started her career at 15, appearing in the Broadway musical 13 in 2008.
After her stint on the stage, Grande landed the role of Cat Valentine in the 2010 Nickelodeon hit series Victorious, which launched her into stardom.
Meryl Streep
She’s one of Hollywood’s most revered and respected actresses, praised for her roles in blockbuster hits like Mama Mia, The Devil Wears Prada, It’s Complicated, and many more.
After graduating from Yale Drama School, Streep took to the stage in New York in the mid-1970s. She debuted in Trelawny of the Wells at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in 1975. Two years later, she made her first film debut in Julia alongside Jane Fonda.
Kristen Bell
In 2001, Kristen Bell debuted on Broadway in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. She left the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied musical theater, to appear in the production.
She also starred in the Broadway revival of The Crucible with notable actors Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. After appearing on Broadway, she moved to Los Angeles to start her career on the big screen, where she found massive success.
Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick is a versatile actress known for her acting skills and voice. She starred in Pitch Perfect, so it’s not surprising that she got her start on Broadway.
At 13 years old, Kendrick began acting early and debuted in the production High Society in 1997. She received a Tony Award nomination for her role. After that, Kendrick starred in Camp and rose to fame for her role in the Twilight Saga.
Christian Slater
Christian Slater has been acting since he was a young boy. Slater made his Broadway debut when he was just 11 years old. He played Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man alongside Dick Van Dyke.
He’s most known for appearing in notable films, including Tucker, He Was a Quiet Man, The Wife, and We Can Be Heroes.
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton is another highly respected actress in Hollywood with a prominent acting career. She started her career on Broadway in 1968 when she appeared in the musical Hair. Keaton also appeared in Woody Allen’s play Play It Again.
Her stellar performance earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Viola Davis
You may know Viola Davis from her role in the hit TV series How to Get Away With Murder, but she started acting years before landing her big break in the film industry.
She made her Broadway debut in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars in 1996 and earned a Tony Award nomination. Likewise, she made her film debut in the same year and has been acting ever since. Davis has starred in memorable films such as The Help, Law Abiding Citizen, and Fences.
Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff is an actor and singer best known for his roles on popular television shows like Glee, The Good Wife, Looking, and Boss. He also starred as Holden Ford in the crime series Mindhunter.
He has had a thriving career on Broadway, appearing in Spring Awakening and Hamilton. For his portrayal of Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening, Groff was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Gaten Matarazzo
While you may know Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin on Stranger Things, he has been acting on Broadway for years. Gaten debuted as Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, in 2012 and moved on to play Gavroche in Les Miserables in 2014.
He received stellar reviews for his role in Les Miserables, which many believe is what kickstarted his acting career.
John Travolta
John Travolta’s casting as Danny Zuko in Grease was no accident. Travolta has been singing since the start of his career. He made his Broadway debut in the musical Over Here!, where he sang and danced on the stage.
Since his days on the stage, Travolta has had a prominent career, appearing in iconic movies like Hairspray, Mob Land, The General’s Daughter, and many more.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is most famous for his roles in iconic films such as The Shawshank Redemption, Seven, High Crimes, and Million Dollar Baby, to name a few. He first debuted on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! in 1968.
He then started acting on the big screen and took a role in Street Smart in 1978, which earned him his first Oscar nomination. He finally took home an Oscar after his noteworthy performance in Million Dollar Baby.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays Mitchell Prichett on the hilarious comedy series Modern Family. He’s also a famous name in the theater world, debuting on Broadway in the 1998 production of On the Town.
Ferguson then played the role of Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.
Lea Michele
While most viewers know her as Rachel Berry in Glee, Lea Michele has been acting in productions from a very young age. She started acting on Broadway when she was eight and debuted in Les Miserables in 1995, where she played Cosette.
She’s also had roles in Fiddler on the Roof, Spring Awakening, and Ragtime. Her role in Glee has earned her several nominations and took her career to the next level.
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth has been acting on Broadway for years and has a prominent career in the theater scene. She made her first Broadway debut in Steel Pier in 1997.
Then, she played Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which won her a Tony Award. Her most raved-about performance is for her role as Glinda in Wicked.
Julie Andrews
Most people recognize Julie Andrews from her roles in The Princess Diaries and as the voice of the Queen in Shrek.
She first appeared on Broadway in the 1954 musical The Boy Friend. She then acted in My Fair Lady before appearing on the big screen in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Throughout her career, Andrews has won three Grammy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and several more awards.
Victor Garber
Victor Garber has had a notable career on the big screen, starring in legendary films such as Titanic, Legally Blonde, Sicario, and Argo.
Garber also has quite a reputation in the theater scene, where he’s appeared in productions such as Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd, and Noises Off. Garber started his theatrical performances in smaller troupes throughout the ’70s before joining the big stage in 1977, where he was a standby for Mark in The Shadow Box.
James Earl Jones’
James Earl Jones has had a notable cinematic acting career, but many people don’t know that he comes from humble beginnings. Before ever acting on the big screen, James Earl Jones worked as a janitor to support himself while he pursued his dream of becoming an actor.
Eventually, he made his Broadway debut in the play Sunrise at Campobello in 1958. Six years later, he then debuted in Dr. Strangelove and went on to act in several blockbusters and voice many notable characters afterward.
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane’s long, successful career on Broadway undoubtedly prepared him for his roles in iconic films like The Lion King, Stuart Little, Toy Story, and Austin Powers.
He landed his first Broadway role in the 1982 revival of Present Laughter and acted in shows such as The Frogs, Guys and Dolls, and Laughter on the 23rd Floor.
Christine Baranski
Christine Baranski has had roles in notable films and productions, such as Mama Mia!, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Cruel Intentions, and The Good Fight.
She’s another famed actress who got her start on Broadway and has had a long-standing career in theatre. Baranski debuted in the Broadway production of Hide and Seek in 1980 and has had several roles on stage since.
Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs is an American actor who has starred in several prominent productions, including Chicago, Rent, and Equilibrium.
However, he got his start on the stage. He played Benny in the first production of Rent and, shortly after, landed a role on the soap opera Guiding Light. He made his film debut in How Stella Got Her Groove Back in 1988.
Anika Noni Rose
Anika Noni Rose is one of those success stories that most actors dream of being. After finishing college, she moved to New York City with no job lined up and landed a Broadway role after three months.
Her first role was Rusty in Footloose, and she also appeared in Caroline, or Change in 2004, for which she received a Tony Award. Anika got her big break in the film Dreamgirls alongside Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson and has been acting on the big screen ever since.
