Okieriete Onaodowan

Okieriete "Oak" Onaodawan is an American actor and singer celebrated for his dynamic presence in both musical theatre and television. Born on 1987-03-03 in Newark, New Jersey, he grew up in West Orange alongside five sisters, navigating a childhood shaped by Nigerian heritage and a strong community focus. After a brief stint playing high‑school football that ended due to injury, he turned to acting, performing with the New Jersey Youth Theatre and discovering a passion that would define his career. He attended West Orange High School, graduating in 2005, and was accepted to the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he spent one year honing his craft before moving to New York City to pursue professional opportunities. 

Onaodawan’s early career featured roles in the Broadway productions Rocky the Musical and Cyrano de Bergerac, and he toured with the national cast of American Idiot. His breakthrough arrived in 2015 when he originated the dual roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in Hamilton, a performance that earned him a Grammy Award as part of the cast recording. He later took over the role of Pierre in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 in 2017, showcasing his versatility in a demanding vocal and dramatic part. Transitioning to television, Onaodawan became a familiar face as firefighter Dean Miller on ABC’s Station 19, a spin‑off of Grey’s Anatomy, before portraying Ade in Amazon’s Jack Ryan. In 2023 he returned to Broadway as Nills Krogstead in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of A Doll’s House, and in early 2024 he embodied Buddy Bolden in the Encores! production of Jelly’s Last Jam. Recognized by Forbes in its 2016 “30 Under 30” list for entertainment, he continues to expand his artistic impact across stage and screen.