Robin de Jesús is an American film and theater actor of Puerto Rican descent. He has received Tony Award nominations for his roles in In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, and The Boys in the Band. He is also known for portraying Michael in tick, tick... BOOM!.
Life and career Robin de Jesús was born in Norwalk, Connecticut.
His first major role was as Michael in the independent film Camp (2003), where he plays a gay teen who gets beat up for wearing drag to his prom. While the film (which also starred Anna Kendrick) went relatively unnoticed in the mainstream, it gained a cult following among musical theater fans and teens who connected to the outcast theme.
He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Sonny in the 2008 Broadway musical In the Heights,Isherwood, Charles. "From the Corner Bodega, the Music of Everyday Life", The New York Times, February 9, 2007. for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2010, he joined the revival cast of La Cage aux Folles as Jacob, the sassy housekeeper, which earned him his second Tony Award nomination in the Featured Actor category.Propst, Andy. "PS Classics to Release New Broadway Cast Recording of La Cage Aux Folles" theatremania.com, July 27, 2010. The production opened at the Longacre Theatre on April 18, 2010. De Jesús left the production on February 13, 2011, replaced by Wilson Jermaine Heredia."Tony Winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia Set for La Cage aux Folles". Broadway.com, January 4, 2011. De Jesús played the role of Boq in the Broadway production of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre. In 2019, he received a third Tony Award nomination, for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for his role of Emory in The Boys in the Band. He recreated the role for the 2020 film adaptation produced for Netflix.
In 2021, de Jesús played Michael in the musical drama tick, tick... BOOM!, the directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, for which he received critical acclaim and a nomination for the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
Personal life De Jesús is gay.
Credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2003 Camp Michael Flores 2006 Fat Girls Rudy 2011 Gun Hill Road Robin 2012 Elliot Loves Hector2013 Hair Brained Romeo Torres Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship Student 2016 11:55 Rubio2020 Milkwater George The Boys in the Band Emory 2021 tick, tick... BOOM! Michael
Television Year Title Role Notes 2010 How to Make It in America Street teenager Episode: "Crisp" 2012–2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jose Silva 5 episodes2022 Santiago of the Seas Pepito Episode: "A Tale of Two-mas" Would I Lie to You? Himself Episode: "Boy in a Barrel" 2022–2023 Welcome to Chippendales Ray Colon 6 episodes 2023 Big Mouth "Esperando Pelitos" performer (voice) Episode: "The International Show" 2025 Black Rabbit Tony Miniseries
Theater Year Title Role Details Notes2005 Rent Steve/WaiterAngel (u/s) BroadwayIn the HeightsSonny Eugene O'Neill Theater Center 2007 Off-Broadway 2008–2010 Broadway; February 14, 2008 – February 14, 2010 2010–2011 La Cage aux Folles Jacob Broadway revival; April 6, 2010 – February 14, 2011 2012 Aladdin Aladdin The Muny2013 Domesticated Bar Patron Lincoln Center Theater In the Heights Sonny United Palace of Cultural Arts2014 Grease Doody Paper Mill Playhouse Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade Jack Dorsey New York Musical Theatre Festival 2014–2016 Wicked Boq Broadway; December 16, 2014 – January 31, 2016 2016 Cabaret The Emcee Wells Fargo Pavilion 2017 In the Heights Usnavi Olney Theatre Center 2017–2018 Wicked Boq "Munchkinland" national tour; May 2, 2017 – March 12, 2018 2018 The Boys in the Band Emory Broadway revival 2023 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn The Muny 2026 Night Side Songs Ensemble Claire Tow Theater
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble PerformanceIn the Heights 2008 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical 2010 Best Featured Actor in a MusicalLa Cage aux Folles Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical 2019 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a PlayThe Boys in the Band 2021 Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picturetick, tick... BOOM! Hollywood Critics Association Film Award Best Supporting Actor 2026 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding EnsembleNight Side Songs
See also LGBT culture in New York City List of LGBT people from New York City NYC Pride March
References
External links
Robin de Jesús at the BroadwayWorld International Database Robin de Jesús on Myspace