Antwayn Hopper

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Antwayn Hopper is a stage and film actor best known for originating the role of Thought #6 in A Strange Loop and for his role in the television series Will Trent.

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Early life

Hopper's family moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1991 when his father was stationed at Fort Riley. He attended Bishop Elementary School. Starting in middle school and throughout high school, he became active in performing arts, including getting involved with the Helen Hocker Theater at the Topeka Civic Theatre and extracurricular theater groups. [1] He trained at the Accent Academy of Performing Arts. [2]

Hopper graduated high school in 2003 and studied at the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University. [3] Upon graduating in 2007 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. [1]

Career

Hopper made his Broadway debut as a swing in the 2009 revival of Hair. In 2012, he appeared as Kilroy in Camino Real at the Goodman Theatre. [4] He was in the 2022 Original Broadway Cast of A Strange Loop's, playing Thought #6. He had been involved in the show's development for six years before the show's Broadway run. [5] In 2024 he was cast as Macavity in the off-Broadway run of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. [6] [7]

Hopper made an appearance in the film A Thousand and One. [8] In 2025, he played Wexord in the ABC show Will Trent. [9] [10] On November 12, Hopper was in the ensemble of the industry reading of David James Parr's SLAP&TICKLE. [11]

Personal life

Hopper is gay. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 Childers, Brianna. "Topekan reflects on growing up in city, winning Pulitzer Prize with 'A Strange Loop' cast". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  2. Blankenship, Bill. "Actor Antwayn Hopper proud his roots are in Topeka". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  3. "Antwayn Hopper". 54 Below. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  4. "Antwayn Hopper". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  5. Kleinmann, James (2022-09-20). "Exclusive Interview: A Strange Loop star Antwayn Hopper "I'm drawn to raw emotion, real-life storytelling"". The Queer Review. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  6. Black, Broadway (2024-03-28). "André De Shields, "Tempress" Chasity Moore, Antwayn Hopper + More To Star in Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"". Broadway Black. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  7. "Antwayn Hopper, Junior LaBeija, André De Shields, More Will Star in Drag Ball Cats". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  8. Lately, Keishera. "'Believe in yourself' — Topeka native and Broadway star Antwayn Hopper to record album". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  9. Lately, Keishera. "'Man enough to wear a moo-moo and a bonnet': Topeka native creates buzz on 'Will Trent'". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  10. Bell, Amanda (2025-02-18). "'Will Trent': Antwayn Hopper Teases Rafael Wexford's Future on the Show". TV Insider. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  11. Masserson, Meg (11 November 2025). "Antwayn Hopper, Dan Amboyer, Wesley Taylor, More to Lead Industry Reading of David James Parr's Slap&Tickle". Playbill.
  12. Gans, Andrew (June 1, 2022). "How do you 'Say Gay' Every Day?". PLAYBILL.