Justin Cooley

Last updated
Justin Cooley
Born (2003-06-23) June 23, 2003 (age 22) [1]
OccupationActor

Justin Cooley (born June 23, 2003) is an American actor. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Seth in the off-Broadway and Broadway theatre productions of Kimberly Akimbo in 2022 and 2023. [2] [3]

Contents

Life and career

Cooley was born to Paul and Julie. [1] He grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, [4] where he attended Olathe East High School. [3] He was named outstanding actor in a lead role for the Blue Star Awards, a regional theatre competition for high school students, and became a finalist for the Jimmy Awards. [4] He enrolled at Texas Christian University, but received an offer to join the cast of Kimberly Akimbo and quickly deferred school for one semester to join the production off-Broadway as Seth. [4] Cooley earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination for Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Awards nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and a Theatre World Award for his performance in the off-Broadway production. [2] [5]

Cooley made his Broadway debut when Kimberly Akimbo moved to the Booth Theatre. [4] He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance. [3]

Cooley has been announced to portray Leaf Coneybear in New World Stages' production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee , set to open September 17th. [6]

Theatre credits

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
2021 Kimberly Akimbo Seth Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway premiere
2022–24 Booth Theater Broadway

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2022 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Kimberly Akimbo Nominated [2]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Leading Performer in a MusicalNominated [2]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a MusicalNominated [5]
Theatre World Award Honoree [2]
2023 Tony Awards Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Adler, Eric (June 9, 2023). "'Trial by fire': How this 19-year-old went from Olathe East to Broadway to Tony Awards". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved June 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tauer, Kristen (December 5, 2022). "Justin Cooley Makes His Broadway Debut in 'Kimberly Akimbo'". Yahoo.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gutierrez, Lisa (May 3, 2023). "Johnson County 19-year-old is up for a Tony Award for debut role in Broadway musical". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Paulson, Michael (April 26, 2023). "Meet the 19-Year-Old 'Kimberly Akimbo' Actor Who's Charming Broadway". The New York Times . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2022). "Nominees for 71st Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced". Playbill.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Kevin McHale to Lead the Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Playbill.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
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