Rory James O'Malley (born December 23, 1980) is an American actor, best known for his performance as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 65th Tony Awards in 2011. He is a co-founder of the gay rights activist group Broadway Impact.
Early life Rory O'Malley was born in Cleveland, Ohio; he grew up with his single mother, who is of Irish ancestry. They are Catholic. He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. O'Malley is a 1997 YoungArts alumnus. In 2003, he received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in acting from Carnegie Mellon University. O'Malley became good friends with actors Josh Gad and Leslie Odom Jr. at Carnegie Mellon University.
Career Film and television O'Malley had a small cameo appearance in On the Run in 2004. His best-known screen appearance was in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls.Gottfried, Marvin (2007). "Introduction". Dreamgirls: The Movie Musical. New York: Newmarket Press. p.15 He also performed the song "Cadillac Car" on the soundtrack, Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture.Katie Hasty, "'Dreamgirls' Remains No. 1 As Sales Keep Sliding", Billboard, January 17, 2006
In 2018, he became a series regular on Lifetime's American Princess.
Theatre O'Malley starred as Charlie Brown in the 2004 Falcon Theatre production of Snoopy! The Musical, which ran from June 24 to July 18, 2004, in Los Angeles."'Peanuts' zestily seasoned in 'Snoopy, the Musical'", Los Angeles Times, June 24, 2004. He starred as Richie Cunningham in the 2006 Los Angeles premiere of Happy Days, as well as the 2007 Goodspeed Opera House production."'Happy Days' Listing, 2008" goodspeed.org. Retrieved January 24, 2011Gans, Andrew. Casting Complete for Paper Mill's 'Happy Days'" . Playbill.com, September 21, 2007Finkle, David. "Review-'Happy Days – The Musical' at PaperMill". Theatermania.com, October 2, 2007 In October 2008, he appeared alongside Colin Donnell and Laura Osnes in the then Broadway-bound musical Pride and Prejudice as Charles Bingley, at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York.
O'Malley's first appearance on Broadway was in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, replacing actors in the roles of Leaf Coneybear, William Barfee, and Douglas Panch."'Bee' Spells Farewell January 20, 2008" Broadwayworld.com Regionally, he has appeared in Kiss of the Spider Woman as Valentín Arregui, a Marxist revolutionary; in Charley's Aunt as Charley Wykeham, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Motown as Kris Kringle. His first appearance Off-Broadway was the 2009 revival of Newsical, directed by Mark Waldrop.
He originated the role of Elder McKinley in the musical The Book of Mormon, which opened on Broadway on March 24, 2011.Gardener, Elysa. "'South Park' duo goes Broadway: 'Mormon' is a 'pro-faith musical'". USA Today, February 21, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011."'The Book Of Mormon' to Open at Eugene O'Neill 3/24; Previews 2/24", broadwayworld.com, September 13, 2010 The New York Times reviewer wrote, "But allow me to single out my personal favorites. 'Turn It Off' is a hilarious chorus-line piece about repression, performed by the (all-male Mormon) missionaries and destined to make a star of its lead singer and dancer, Rory O'Malley (whose character is repressed in his own special way)." For this role, O'Malley was nominated for the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical,Andrew, Gans. "56th Annual Drama Desk Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Scores 12 Nominations" , playbill.com, April 29, 2011 and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 65th Tony Awards."2011 Tony Nominations Announced! 'The Book Of Mormon' Leads With 14!", broadwayworld.com, May 5, 2011 On July 18, 2011, O'Malley participated in a reading of George Bernard Shaw's play, Fanny's First Play, a satire of theater critics, at the Players Club in Manhattan, New York City.Gans, Andrew. "Mara Davi, Rory O'Malley, Susan Blackwell, Christine Pedi Set for Reading of 'Fanny's First Play' " Playbill, June 30, 2011 He appeared as Frank Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine at the Off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre from October 2013 to December 2013.Isherwood, Charles. "Theater Reviews. Fractious Family Indulging the Dream of a Child" The New York Times, November 15, 2013 O'Malley also participated in the Dustin Lance Black play 8, a chronicle reenactment of the federal case that overturned California's Proposition 8. He replaced Jonathan Groff in the role of King George III in the original Broadway production of Hamilton from April 11, 2016, through January 16, 2017, performing the role on the national tour following his nine-month stint on Broadway.
Podcasts O'Malley is the creator and host of the podcast Living the Dream with Rory O'Malley, where he talks to fellow industry people about the reality of being an actor. He created it after joining the Hamilton cast; he realized that young fans of the show were seeing an unrealistic and cultivated depiction of the life of a Broadway actor. The podcast is currently on an indefinite hold, but O'Malley has expressed plans to resume making it.
O'Malley is the host of the Geffen Playhouse's Unscripted.
Charity work O'Malley is an active supporter of gay rights, establishing the activism group Broadway Impact in 2009 with Gavin Creel and Jenny Kanelos. O'Malley said in late 2010: "Since its first year, Broadway Impact has held massive rallies for equality in New York City, made thousands of calls through phone banks and even organized 25 buses to Washington, D.C. so that 1,400 people could attend the National Equality March for free. This year we were honored to receive the 2010 Human Rights Campaign Community Award and even participated in the ING New York City Marathon as a charity team. Our team of 12 runners, including myself, raised $38,440 for Broadway Impact!"
On August 15, 2010, O'Malley performed in the benefit concert Sing for the Cure, at Don't Tell Mama in New York City. He was also featured in a Broadway Impact fundraiser on November 2, 2010, hosted by Gavin Creel. Another concert, also benefiting Broadway Impact was held on July 25, 2010. O'Malley participated in the Broadway Sings for Pride concert in June 2011. On July 9, 2011, he joined Mary Tyler Moore, Bernadette Peters and others in the 2011 Broadway Barks adopt-a-thon. In the same year, he was named a Givenik Ambassador. In 2012, he and his spouse Gerold Schroeder were featured in a GAP ad, cheek to cheek, with the caption "BE ONE."
In October 2020, O'Malley joined many other Broadway stars in a virtual voter education and letter-writing party sponsored by VoteRiders to raise awareness about voter ID requirements.
Personal life A gay man, O'Malley came out at the age of 19. On July 21, 2013, O'Malley announced his engagement to boyfriend Gerold Schroeder via Facebook, and they married on September 28, 2014.Gioia, Michael. "Rory O'Malley and Gerold Schroeder Tie the Knot" Playbill, September 30, 2014 Gerold Schroeder is one of three sons of Peter Schroeder, a partner in the law firm Norris Choplin Schroeder in Indianapolis, Indiana. O'Malley announced on November 22, 2018, "after more than two years of paperwork, home studies, joy, heartache, and grace" he and Schroeder had adopted a newborn baby boy. Their son Jimmy O'Malley's adoption was finalized on September 7, 2019.
Filmography Theatre credits Year Title Role Theatre Notes2006–07The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeSwing Circle in the Square Theatre2007Happy DaysRichie CunninghamPaper Mill Playhouse2009–10NewsicalPerformer 47th Street Theatre2011She Loves MeArpad LaszloStephen Sondheim Theatre2011–13The Book of MormonElder McKinley / Moroni Eugene O'Neill Theatre20118Ryan KendallEugene O'Neill Theatre2013Nobody Loves YouChazz / Dominic / EvanSecond Stage Theatre2013Little Miss SunshineFrank GinsbergSecond Stage Theatre2016–17 Hamilton King George IIIRichard Rodgers Theatre 2017–18 Angelica Company National Tour 2021–22 Pantages Theatre 2022–23 Philip Company North American Tour2023Gutenberg! The Musical!ProducerJames Earl Jones TheatreOne night cameo2024Reefer MadnessJack Stone/Jesus Christ25th Anniversary Los Angeles Revival2026–27The Book of MormonElder McKinley / MoroniEugene O'Neill Theatre
Film Year Title Role Notes2006DreamgirlsDave2007Live!Red Sox Hat Student2016Mother's DayCustomer at Book Signing2023Jess Plus NonePeter2024Lost & Found in ClevelandHugh Robinson
Television Year Title RoleNotes1996Mad TVTommyEpisode #1.192012Nurse JackieDave TylerEpisode: "Day of the Iguana"2012Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCraigEpisode: "Twenty-Five Acts"20131600 PennTour GuideEpisode: "Skip the Tour"2014PartnersMichael10 episodes2014The Good WifeRen CalderEpisode: "Old Spice"2015South ParkSteven Seagal's singing voice, Brian Boyant (voice)2 episodes2017Crazy Ex-GirlfriendJarlEpisode: "Josh's Ex-Girlfriend Is Crazy."2018–2021Bob's BurgersVarious voices3 episodes2019American PrincessBrian DooleyMain cast, 10 episodes2019–2020Modern FamilyPtolemy2 episodes2019–2023American Dad!The Riddle Lord (voice)5 episodes2020Grace and FrankieJordyEpisode: "The Short Rib"2020–2022Central ParkElwood / Dog Seeker 2 (voice)21 episodes2021–2022Chicago Party AuntDaniel Whiddington (voice)16 episodes2022Family GuyPolice Detective No. 2 (voice)Episode: "Lawyer Guy"2023Not Dead YetBenEpisode: "Not Scattered Yet"2025High PotentialBrett LewisEpisode: “Chutes and Murders”
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult 2011 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical The Book of Mormon Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical 2016 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Replacement (Male) Hamilton
See also LGBT culture in New York City List of LGBT people from New York City NYC Pride March
References
External links Official website