Miguel Cervantes (actor)

Last updated
Miguel Cervantes
Born (1976-01-09) January 9, 1976 (age 47) [1]
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)actor, singer
Notable work Hamilton

Miguel Cervantes is an American actor, singer and activist. He played the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago production of Hamilton from September 2016 until the production closed in January 2020. He played the role in the Broadway production from March 3, 2020 to January 7, 2024. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

A Dallas native, Cervantes graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 1995 before attending Emerson College. [4]

Prior to Hamilton, Cervantes had performed in the Broadway casts of American Idiot (musical) and If/Then. [5] He was called to audition for Hamilton while the show transitioned from The Public Theater to Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre and then called back to perform a second time in front of a group that included producers and Hamilton writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda. He subsequently booked the role in the Chicago production. [4]

Critic Maureen Ryan praised Cervantes' "coiled intensity" in the role. [6] The Chicago Tribune subsequently named Cervantes Chicagoan of the Year in theater. [7]

After the Chicago production closed in 2020, [8] Cervantes took over the lead role in the Broadway production. He announced in October 2023 that he would leave the role on January 7, 2024. [9] Miranda appeared during Cervantes' final curtain call. [10]

Cervantes has also performed in the digital musical A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical. [11]

Cervantes' screen career includes appearances on Madam Secretary, Person of Interest, and The Blacklist.

Personal life

Cervantes and his family relocated to Chicago in the years following his casting in Hamilton. They have one son, Jackson, and a daughter adopted in 2023. [12] [13] An older daughter, Adelaide, suffered from infantile spasms, a severe form of epilepsy associated with developmental delays, and died in October 2019 at the age of 3. [14] Adelaide's diagnosis happened around the time Cervantes was cast in Hamilton. [15]

Cervantes' wife, Kelly Cervantes, is chair of the Chicago nonprofit CURE Epilepsy, an organization with which Miguel Cervantes is also active. [16]

Cervantes took up golf while in the Chicago production of Hamilton and, with co-star Andrew Call, conceived the Shu Caddy, a combination tee holder, divot tool and ball marker that can clip onto a golfer's shoe or belt. [17]

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References

  1. ↑ Cervantes, Miguel [@MiggstaC09] (January 10, 2020). "I am as fulfilled as I have ever been. An amazing, beautiful wife,a rock star son, supportive friends & a city that has held up me& my wife up through the worst. My 43rd year will have been one that will be unforgettable. Thank You. 🥂 to another one in the books. ❤ https://t.co/CX6mC4M504" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021– via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "Miguel Cervantes Is No Stranger to Twists of Fate". New Jersey Monthly. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  3. ↑ Ingenthron, Blair. "Miguel Cervantes to play final Hamilton performance" . Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 Franklin, Janice L. (7 October 2016). "TheaterJones | Q&A: Miguel Cervantes | Broadway in Chicago". TheaterJones.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Miguel Cervantes Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (20 October 2016). "Review: Broadway Smash 'Hamilton' Opens in Chicago". Variety. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Jones, Chris. "Chicagoan of the Year in theater: For Miguel Cervantes, the lead of 'Hamilton,' this was never just a role". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  8. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (5 January 2020). "Hamilton Closes in Chicago January 5". Playbill. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Ingenthron, Blair (1 October 2023). "Miguel Cervantes to Play Final HAMILTON Performance in January". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Wild, Stephi. "Video: Lin-Manuel Miranda Makes Surprise Appearance During HAMILTON Curtain Call". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Gans, Andrew (August 12, 2020). "Checking In With… Hamilton Star Miguel Cervantes". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  12. ↑ "Introducing Strawbaby". Kelly Cervantes. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Miguel Cervantes reveals the 'addition' to his Hamilton track". Broadway News. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "About me". Kelly Cervantes. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  15. ↑ Puja Bhattacharjee. "Epilepsy is personal for 'Hamilton' star". CNN. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kelly Cervantes". CURE Epilepsy. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. ↑ Schulte, Sarah. "2 Chicago 'Hamilton' stars turn off-stage passion for golf into new business idea". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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