Here's What The Original Cast Of Hamilton Is Doing Now
By now, we're sure you've watched "Hamilton" multiple times. Since its 2015 debut, it's been the hottest Broadway play on everyone's lips. For a time, it was only the privileged few with incredible luck, disposable income, and high profile connections that were able to have the honor to say they experienced "Hamilton".
Back in 2020, when everyone's world was turned on its axis with Lysol shortages and mandatory lockdowns, we saw a glimmer of hope when Disney+ blessed us with the ability to stream "Hamilton" from the comfort of our own homes. As reported by Next TV, "around 2.7 million households streamed the recorded version of Broadway hit "Hamilton" from when it debuted on Disney Plus July 3 through July 13."
If you just have chosen to ignore all things "Hamilton" and have no clue what it's about, the hit musical is the story of United States Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. However, the retelling makes many envious of all high school students from here on out as the tale is told as a hip-hop musical played by a cast of majority people of color including, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington.
When "Hamilton" originated on Broadway, most of the cast was unfamiliar to non-theater fans. But all of that changed for the multi-talented cast as the award-winning show's success. Let's check in on what the original main cast of "Hamilton" is currently up to.
Lin Manuel and Leslie are staying on everyone's radar
Due to his consistent presence in the headlines, we all are mostly pretty aware of what "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is up to. He's managed to keep himself very busy with projects focused on songwriting, acting, and production.
Disney has been keeping Miranda busy from penning music for "Moana" to playing a major character, Jack, in "Mary Poppins Returns." Not to mention, he is also co-producing and writing new songs for Disney's "The Little Mermaid" remake. You can also catch a movie version of "In the Heights," his first Broadway hit, in theaters and streaming on HBO Max as of writing.
As for Leslie Odom Jr., the star won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing the role of Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton's frenemy. Post-"Hamilton," Odom leaned into both acting and singing. He played abolitionist William Still in the 2019 film "Harriet" and starred as the legendary crooner Sam Cooke in the 2020 drama "One Night in Miami."
When Odem isn't using his talents to depict larger-than-life historical figures, he can be found expressing himself through song. Odom released a Christmas album in 2016 called "Simply Christmas" and a jazz album titled "Mr" in late 2019. Look out for him in the upcoming Tony Soprano prequel story, "The Many Saints of Newark," coming to theaters and HBOMax on October 1.
Renee and Phillipa are hitting the big screen
One could say that Renee Goldsberry's (pictured, right) acting resume was very satisfying even before playing Angelica Schuyler in "Hamilton." She appeared in many television shows including "Ally McBeal," "Evil," and "The Good Wife" and starred in Broadway productions of "The Lion King," "The Color Purple," and "Rent."
After winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Goldsberry didn't slow down. She played the title role in HBO's film "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and also starred in the film "Waves." Goldsberry is also set to play Amelia in the upcoming Disney+ Marvel Series "She-Hulk" per Deadline. But for now, you can watch her put her vocals and comedic timing to work in Peacock's "Girls5Eva."
After playing Alexander Hamilton's wife Eliza Schuyler, Phillipa Soo stayed on Broadway with a very successful outcome. She played the title role in "Amélie" during its 2017 Broadway run and appeared as Rebecca in "The Parisian Woman" from 2017 to 2018, per Broadway World. But that doesn't mean Soo doesn't have her sights set on the big screen. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Soo has "signed on to star in 'One True Loves,' an indie love story that will be directed by Andy Fickman."
Daveed and Christopher Are Hip Hop
Fans of the TV show "Black-ish," may have already been familiar with Daveed Diggs (pictured, left), who portrays Rainbow Johnson's flighty younger brother, Johan. After winning both Grammy and Tony Awards for his two "Hamilton" roles (Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson), Diggs really started making a name for himself.
Diggs co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in the 2018 critically-acclaimed Sundance film, "Blindspotting," which has since been turned into a series. Right now, Diggs stars in the post-apocalyptic drama series, "Snowpiercer," based on the Bong Joon-ho film. And if you have questions about his wicked rap flow displayed in the Broadway show, it wasn't a fluke. Diggs is also a member of an experimental hip-hop group called Clipping.
Christopher Jackson, on the other hand, was no stranger to Broadway when he took on the role of George Washington in "Hamilton." The actor had already played Simba in "The Lion King" and originated the role of Benny in "In the Heights," which is where he met Lin Manuel Miranda. Jackson currently stars as Chunk Palmer in the CBS drama "Bull" and has also acted in Ava DuVernay's acclaimed Netflix mini-series, "When They See Us" (via IMDb). In addition to his acting career, Jackson is a member of hip-hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme, recently featured in a Hulu documentary. The group, also featuring Miranda, is credited for helping kick off the creation of "Hamilton" (via YouTube).
Jonathan and Okieriete are TV stars
Jonathan Groff, who plays a hilarious version of King George III, is another one of the "Hamilton" actors that you probably recognized but weren't too sure from where. With major roles on "Glee" and the Netflix crime thriller "Mindhunter" under his belt, Groff also voiced the character Kristoff in both "Frozen" and "Frozen 2." Since "Hamilton," the Tony-nominated actor made his return to the theater starring as Seymour Krelborn in the hit Off-Broadway adaptation of "Little Shop of Horrors."
Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan (pictured), son of Nigerian immigrants, continues to have a glowing acting career. And after his time showing off his dope rap skills as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in "Hamilton," it's no surprise. In 2017, Onaodowan was chosen to replace lead actor Josh Groban as Pierre in "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812." Per The New York Times, "It reflects a bet by Broadway that 'Hamilton' alumni have ongoing, bankable box-office appeal." Currently, Onaodowan stars as Dean Miller in the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Station 19."
Anthony and Jasmine found love
Anthony Ramos is also an "In the Heights" alum; you can now see him as the lead in the film adaptation of course. Since his Broadway days, Ramos appeared in Spike Lee's Netflix adaptation of "She's Gotta Have It" and in the 2018 film, "A Star Is Born." During his "Hamilton" run, the actor also managed to find time to fall in love. He's engaged to fellow cast member Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Since playing the young Peggy Schuyler sister and Hamilton's shady mistress Maria Reynolds, Jones has been working overtime keeping herself in the spotlight. The actress had parts in 2019's "Marriage Story" and the romantic comedy "Dog Days." Additionally, Jones played a recurring role in the HBO series "Mrs. Fletcher." She also returned to the theater, playing Roxanne in an Off-Broadway production of "Cyrano."
Perfectly summarize by Elle, "In 2020, she won her first Emmy for playing the partner of a military veteran caught in a police standoff in the Quibi show #freerayshawn; she broke a record with her father, Ron Cephas Jones of 'This Is Us,' as they became the first father-daughter duo to win Emmys in the same year." In 2021, she can be found reprising her role of Ashley in the TV adaptation of the film "Blindspotting" alongside fellow "Hamilton" alum Daveed Diggs.