Daisy Eagan (born November 4, 1979) is an American actress, known for her roles on Broadway. In 1991, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. At 11 years old, she became the youngest female, and the second youngest Tony Award winner in history.
Early life Eagan was born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents on November 4, 1979. Her mother, Andrea Boroff Eagan, was a medical writer; she died of cancer when her daughter was 13 years old. Eagan's father, Richard Eagan, is a visual and performing artist. Daisy Eagan was inspired to become an actress at age 6 after seeing him perform.
Career Eagan made her Broadway debut as an alternate for Young Cosette and Young Eponine in the original Broadway production of Les Misérables. In 1991, Eagan was cast as Mary Lennox in the Broadway adaptation of The Secret Garden. At eleven years old, Eagan won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the role. At eleven years old, she is the youngest female to win a Tony to date (as of 2024), and is the second youngest person to win a Tony. (Frankie Michaels was one month past his 11th birthday when he won his Tony for Mame.)Corsello, Bill. "The Youngest Tony Award-Winners" , tonyawards.com, May 21, 2013.
In 1992, Eagan sang "Broadway Baby" in the concert Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall."Special Events, Concerts, and Benefit Performances" , sondheimguide.com. Accessed December 24, 2015.
In 1999, Eagan returned to Broadway as Rita and Young Julia Morkan in James Joyce's The Dead when it premiered at Playwrights Horizons. It transferred to Broadway the next year in 2000.
She appeared in the Blank Theatre Company's production of The Wild Party in 2005 in Los Angeles as the street waif,Brandes, Phillip. "Emotions turn explosive at sizzling Wild Party", Los Angeles Times, October 20, 2005. and is the recipient of the 2005 LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
She appeared in the Manhattan Concert Productions presentation of The Secret Garden at David Geffen Hall in February 2016 as the housemaid Martha. She reprised her role as Martha in 2016 at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.; this production then moved in 2017 to the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle."Daisy Eagan-Led The Secret Garden to Bloom at 5th Avenue Theatre After D.C. Run", Broadwayworld.com. Accessed June 5, 2024.
Her film work includes Losing Isaiah (1995), Ripe (1996)Holden Stephen. "Girls Becoming Women in a Man's World", The New York Times, May 2, 1997. and Tony n' Tina's Wedding (2004)."Tony n' Tina's Wedding Overview", The New York Times. Accessed December 24, 2015. She has appeared on television in episodes of Without a Trace (2007), The Unit (2006), Ghost Whisperer (2006), Numb3rs (2006), The Mentalist (2012), and Girls (2017).
In 2018, Eagan played Brigid Blake in the U.S. national tour of The Humans, appearing alongside Richard Thomas in Stephen Karam’s Tony Award–winning 2016 play.
Podcast Eagan writes and hosts the podcast Strange and Unexplained, as well as associated live shows.
Personal life Eagan attended Bard College at Simon's Rock and graduated from Antioch University in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and creative writing.Fox, Jena Tesse. "Still Daisy Eagan After All These Years", broadwayworld.com, March 27, 2011
In 2003, she married Patrick Comer, a financial consultant;"Weddings/Celebrations. Daisy Eagan, Patrick Comer" The New York Times, August 31, 2003. they divorced in 2006.
Eagan first came out to her parents when she was 12, thinking she was gay before she explored more of her sexuality. She currently identifies as "queer poly", and is in a relationship with Ryan Holsather, who is polyamorous and nonbinary.
Eagan identifies as non-binary and uses she/they pronouns.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.1987Les MisérablesYoung Cosette, Young EponineBroadway, Broadway Theatre1991The Secret GardenMary LennoxBroadway, St. James Theatre1999James Joyce's The DeadRita, Young Julia MorkanOff-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons2000Broadway, Belasco Theatre2001Be AggressiveHannahRegional, La Jolla Playhouse2005The Wild PartySallyRegional, Blank Theatre Company2011GhostlightMolly CookOff-Broadway, New York Musical Theatre Festival2013Love, Loss, and What I WorePerformerOff-Broadway, Westside Theatre2014Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster KeatonMae ScrivenRegional, Pasadena Playhouse2016WitSusie Monahan, R.N., B.S.N.Regional, North Carolina Theatre2017The Secret GardenMartha SowerbyRegional, 5th Avenue TheatreRegional, Shakespeare Theatre Company2018The HumansBrigid BlakeU.S. National Tour
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.1991Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a MusicalThe Secret GardenDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
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