Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical

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Laurence Olivier Award
for Best Actor in a Musical
Awarded forBest Actor in a Musical
LocationFlag of England.svg  England
Presented by Society of London Theatre
First award 1979
Currently held by John Dagleish for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2025)
Website officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/ OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in professional London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

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This award was introduced in 1979, along with the award for Best Actress in a Musical. In 1977 and 1978, there had been a commingled actor/actress award for Best Performance in a Musical, won both times by an actress.

Winners and nominees

1970s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1979 Anton Rodgers Songbook Various Characters
Tony Britton My Fair Lady Henry Higgins
Michael Crawford Charlie and Algernon Charlie
Ben Cross Chicago Billy Flynn

1980s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1980 Denis Quilley Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd
Tom Conti They're Playing Our Song Vernon
John Diedrich Oklahoma! Curly McLain
Denis Lawson Pal Joey Joey
1981 Michael Crawford Barnum P.T. Barnum
Brian Blessed Cats Old Deuteronomy
Henderson Forsythe The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd
Wayne Sleep Cats Mister Mistoffolees
1982 Roy Hudd Underneath the Arches Bud Flanagan
Tim Curry The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King
Bob Hoskins Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Stephen Moore Poppy Jack Idle
1983 Denis Lawson Mr. Cinders Jim Lancaster
George Costigan Blood Brothers Mickey
Teddy Kempner Snoopy Snoopy
Peter Woodward Bashville Cashel Byron
1984 Paul Clarkson The Hired Man John Tallentire
Tim Flavin On Your Toes Junior
David Kernan The Ratepayers' Iolanthe The Lord Chancellor
Lon Satton Starlight Express Poppa
1985 Robert Lindsay Me and My Girl Bill Snibson
Alun Armstrong Les Misérables M. Thénardier
Mark McGann Lennon John Lennon
Colm Wilkinson Les Misérables Jean Valjean
1986 Michael Crawford The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera
Paul Bentley H.M.S. Pinafore Captain Corcoran
George Hearn La Cage aux Folles Albin
Tommy Körberg Chess The Russian
1987 John Bardon Kiss Me, Kate Gangster 1
Emil Wolk Gangster 2
Bernard Alane Bless the Bride Pierre Fontaine
Mark McGann Up on the Roof Scott
Gary Olsen Keith
1988 Con O'Neill Blood Brothers Mickey
Bille Brown The Wizard of Oz Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West
Nickolas Grace Candide Voltaire / Dr. Pangloss
Mickey Rooney Sugar Babies Mickey
1989/90 Jonathan Pryce Miss Saigon The Engineer
Alun Armstrong The Baker's Wife Aimable
Matthew Devitt Return to the Forbidden Planet Cookie
Paul Hipp Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Buddy Holly

1990s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1991 Philip Quast Sunday in the Park with George George
Ian Bartholomew Into the Woods The Baker
Bruce Hubbard Show Boat Joe
Paul J. Medford Five Guys Named Moe Little Moe
1992 Alan Bennett Talking Heads Graham Whittaker
Philip Bird Good Rockin' Tonite Unknown
Jason Donovan Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Joseph
Damon Evans Carmen Jones Joe
1993 Henry Goodman Assassins Charles Guiteau
Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman Molina
Michael Hayden Carousel Billy Bigelow
Kirby Ward Crazy for You Bobby Child
1994 Alun Armstrong Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd
Roger Allam City of Angels Stone
David Burt The Beggar's Opera Captain Macheath
Alan Cumming Cabaret Emcee
1995 John Gordon Sinclair She Loves Me Georg
Peter Duncan The Card Denry Machin
Tim Flavin Crazy for You Bobby Child
Jonathan Pryce Oliver! Fagin
1996 Adrian Lester Company Robert
Brian Conley Jolson Al Jolson
Ross Lehman Hot Mikado Koko
Clarke Peters Unforgettable Nat King Cole
1997 Robert Lindsay Oliver! Fagin
Iain Glen Martin Guerre Martin Guerre
Paul Keating Tommy Tommy
Steven Pacey By Jeeves Bertie Wooster
1998 Philip Quast The Fix Grahame Chandler
John Barrowman The Fix Cal Chandler
Henry Goodman Chicago Billy Flynn
Andrew C Wadsworth Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham
1999 Entire Cast Kat and the Kings Entire Cast
Adam Garcia Saturday Night Fever Tony Manero
Hugh Jackman Oklahoma! Curly McLain
Clarke Peters Chicago Billy Flynn

2000s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
2000 Simon Russell Beale Candide Voltaire / Dr. Pangloss
Rob Edwards The Lion King Scar
Daniel Evans Candide Candide
Ben Keaton Animal Crackers Spaulding
Gus MacGregor Buddy Buddy Holly
2001 Daniel Evans Merrily We Roll Along Charley
Jimmy Johnston The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King
Paul Robinson Singin' in the Rain Don Lockwood
David Shannon The Beautiful Game John
2002 Philip Quast South Pacific Emile de Becque
Brent Barrett Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham
Paul Keating Closer to Heaven Straight Dave
Jonathan Pryce My Fair Lady Henry Higgins
2003 Alex Jennings My Fair Lady Henry Higgins
Tim Flavin My One and Only Captain Billy Buck Chandler
Michael Jibson Our House Joe Casey
Euan Morton Taboo George
2004 David Bedella Jerry Springer Warm Up Man / Satan
Graham Bickley Ragtime Tateh
Michael Brandon Jerry Springer Jerry Springer
Kevyn Morrow Ragtime Coalhouse
2005 Nathan Lane The Producers Max Bialystock
Lee Evans The Producers Leo Bloom
Paul Hegarty Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd
Gavin Lee Mary Poppins Bert
2006 James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower Billy Elliot Billy Elliot
Douglas Hodge Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Ewan McGregor Sky Masterson
2007 Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George George
Tim Curry Spamalot King Arthur
Clarke Peters Porgy and Bess Porgy
Philip Quast Evita Juan Perón
2008 Michael Ball Hairspray Edna Turnblad
Bertie Carvel Parade Leo
Henry Goodman Fiddler on the Roof Tevye
Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair
2009 Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles Albin
Denis Lawson La Cage aux Folles Georges
Ryan Molloy Jersey Boys Frankie Valli
Matt Rawle Zorro Zorro

2010s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
2010 [1] Aneurin Barnard Spring Awakening Melchior Gabor
Rowan Atkinson Oliver! Fagin
Bob Golding Morecambe Eric Morecambe
Alexander Hanson A Little Night Music Frederik
Tony Sheldon Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Bernadette
2011 David Thaxton Passion Giorgio
Alex Gaumond Legally Blonde Emmett Forrest
Ramin Karimloo Love Never Dies The Phantom
Sahr Ngaujah Fela! Fela Kuti
Michael Xavier Love Story Oliver Barratt IV
2012 Bertie Carvel Matilda Miss Trunchbull
Nigel Lindsay Shrek Shrek
Reece Shearsmith Betty Blue Eyes Gilbert Chilvers
Paulo Szot South Pacific Emile de Becque
2013 Michael Ball Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd
Alex Bourne Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham
Tom Chambers Top Hat Jerry
Will Young Cabaret The Master of Ceremonies
2014 Gavin Creel The Book of Mormon Elder Price
Jared Gertner The Book of Mormon Elder Cunningham
Douglas Hodge Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Willy Wonka
Kyle Scatliffe The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson
2015 John Dagleish Sunny Afternoon Ray Davies
Jon Jon Briones Miss Saigon The Engineer
Brandon Victor Dixon The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson
Killian Donnelly Memphis Huey Calhoun
2016 Matt Henry Kinky Boots Lola / Simon
Ian Bartholomew Mrs Henderson Presents Vivian Van Damm
Killian Donnelly Kinky Boots Charlie Price
David Haig Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Jamie Parker Sky Masterson
2017 Andy Karl Groundhog Day Phil Connors
David Fynn School of Rock Dewey Finn
Tyrone Huntley Jesus Christ Superstar Judas Iscariot
Charlie Stemp Half a Sixpence Arthur Kipps
2018 Giles Terera Hamilton Aaron Burr
Ciarán Hinds Girl from the North Country Nick Lane
John McCrea Everybody's Talking About Jamie Jamie New
Jamael Westman Hamilton Alexander Hamilton
2019 Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Tina Ike Turner
Marc Antolin Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn
Zubin Varla Fun Home Bruce Bechdel
Ken Watanabe The King and I The King of Siam

2020s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
2020 Sam Tutty Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen
Andy Nyman Fiddler on the Roof Tevye
Charlie Stemp Mary Poppins Bert
Jac Yarrow Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Joseph
2021Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic [A]
2022 [A] Eddie Redmayne Cabaret Emcee
Olly Dobson Back to the Future: The Musical Marty McFly
Arinzé Kene Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical Bob Marley
Robert Lindsay Anything Goes Moonface Martin
2023 Arthur Darvill Oklahoma! Curly McLain
Alon Abutbul The Band's Visit Tewfiq
Julian Ovenden South Pacific Emile de Becque
Andrew Rannells Tammy Faye Jim Bakker
2024
Tom Francis Sunset Boulevard Joe Gillis
David Cumming Operation Mincemeat Charles Cholmondeley, Doctor Pobil & Others
Daniel Mays Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Charlie Stemp Crazy for You Bobby Child
2025
John Dagleish The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Benjamin Button
Adam Dannheisser Fiddler on the Roof Tevye
Myles Frost MJ the Musical Michael Jackson
Simon Lipkin Oliver! Fagin
Jamie Muscato Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Anatole Kuragin
  1. 1 2 Due to late March 2020 [2] to late July 2021 [3] closing of London theatre productions during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the 2022 awards recognise productions that launched anytime from February 2020 to February 2022 [4]

Multiple awards and nominations for Best Actor

Awards

Three awards

Two awards

Nominations

Four nominations

Three nominations

Two nominations

Multiple awards and nominations for a character

Awards

3 awards

2 awards

Nominations

4 nominations

  • Fagin from Oliver!
  • Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls
  • Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

3 nominations

2 nominations

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards 2010 Winners Announced". londontheatre.co.uk. June 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ Johnson, The Rt Hon Boris, MP (2020-03-23). Prime Minister's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 23 March 2020 [transcript] (Speech). Prime Minister's Televised Speech to the United Kingdom. www.gov.uk. London, UK. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2022-04-25. From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction — you must stay at home.{{cite speech}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (2021-06-14). "U.K. Postpones Reopening Roadmap; West End Theatres Will No Longer Reopen in Full in June". Playbill . Archived from the original on 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2022-04-25. Step 4 of the roadmap will allow productions to play without capacity restrictions. June 21 was the goal; now, the government is eyeing July 19.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Sophie (2022-03-08). "Everything you need to know about the Olivier Awards". londontheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-04-25. Any new production that opened between 19 Feb. 2020 to 22 Feb. 2022 are eligible for categories in the 2022 Olivier Awards. With two years worth of shows set for honours in one year's ceremony, the 2022 Olivier Awards will prove tougher competition than before.
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