Biography
Versatile Broadway star Robin de Jesus earned multiple Tony nominations for his turns in major musicals as "In the Heights" and "La Cage aux Folles," as well as for dramatic work in the 2018 revival of "The Boys in the Band." Born August 21, 1984 in Norwalk, Connecticut, he made his Broadway debut as a replacement and understudy in two long-running hits - "Rent" and "Wicked" - before making an impression on independent film goers as a gay teenager at a summer theater camp in Todd Graff's critically acclaimed drama "Camp" (2003). He then returned to the New York stage, where he originated the role of Sonny, the outwardly light-hearted but secretly thoughtful cousin to Lin-Manuel Miranda's narrator Usnavi in the Off-Broadway run of "In the Heights" (2007). After sharing the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance, de Jesus followed the show to Broadway, where he earned a Tony nomination for his performance in 2009. The exposure also gave his screen career a boost, which included a guest turn on "How to Make It in America" (HBO, 2010-2011) and featured roles in several independent films. Broadway remained his best and most successful showcase, as evidenced by a second Tony nomination and Drama Desk nomination for his performance as the sassy "maid" Jacob in a 2010 revival of "La Cage aux Folles," starring Kelsey Grammer. From there, de Jesus divided his time between musicals - he returned to "Wicked" to play the lovelorn munchkin Boq, who became the Tin Woodsman, from 2014 to 2016, and starred in the title role in "Aladdin" in 2012 - and television, which included a four-year recurring run as Jose Silva, a particularly unsavory repeat offender, on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ). In 2018, de Jesus joined an all-star cast, which included Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells and Matt Bomer, in the 2018 revival of "The Boys in the Band." The production, directed by Joe Mantello, won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, while de Jesus earned his third Tony nomination as the brassy interior decorator, Emory. The following year, he and his fellow castmates were announced as the stars of a 2019 film version for Netflix by producer Ryan Murphy.
