James Monroe Iglehart
| Name | James Monroe Iglehart |
| Image |  |
| Caption | Iglehart in 2025 |
| Birth Date | 1974-9-4 |
| Birth Place | Hayward, California, U.S. |
| Alma Mater | Cal State Hayward (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor ⋅ singer ⋅ comic book writer |
| Years Active | 1978–present |
| Known For | Aladdin, Hamilton |
| Spouse | Dawn Phelps (2002 – now) |
| Parents | James Iglehart |
James Monroe Iglehart (born September 4, 1974) is an American actor, singer and comic book writer. He is perhaps best known for his Tony Award-winning performance as the Genie in the original Broadway production of Aladdin. Iglehart assumed the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway cast of Hamilton in April 2017. His additional Broadway credits include recreating the role of King Arthur in the 2023 revival of Spamalot, creating the role of Louis Armstrong in the original company of A Wonderful World, and playing Billy Flynn in Chicago and Lance in & Juliet. He can be heard as super producer Steve Jones in As The Curtain Rises, Broadway's first original podcast soap opera. More recently, Iglehart joined the casts of animated musical web series Helluva Boss (as Asmodeus and Vortex) and Hazbin Hotel (as Zestial), as well as having written professionally for Marvel Comics, primarily one-shots featuring Spider-Man.
Early life
James Monroe Iglehart was born in Hayward, California on September 4, 1974.
Career
Iglehart attended Cal State Hayward, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. He started his career in California, performing in Bat Boy at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto and as Teen Angel in Grease at the American Musical Theatre in San Jose.
In 2005, he directed Bat Boy: The Musical at Ray of Light Theatre. He has played Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway as a replacement starting in April 2007. He originated the role of Bobby in Memphis on Broadway in October 2009.
Iglehart performed the role of the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, a performance for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role. When asked about the role, he said, "It's not as exhausting as you think. I'm kind of an energetic guy in general, so basically I'm kind of being me with the volume turned up." Iglehart departed the company of Aladdin in February 2017 to begin rehearsals in the role of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway company of Hamilton. He also performed in Freestyle Love Supreme on Broadway.
Iglehart guest starred in four episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Coriolanus Burt, the rival of male protagonist Titus Andromedon.
Iglehart voices Mr Puppypaws in SuperKitties, Vortex and Asmodeus in Helluva Boss, Zestial Morde in Hazbin Hotel, Lance Strongbow in Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, Captain James Hook in Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir, Bronzino in Elena of Avalor, Oscar in Vampirina and Taurus Bulba in DuckTales.
In January 2022, Iglehart took over the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. In May 2023 he starred as King Arthur in Spamalot at the Kennedy Center. In November of that year the show transferred to Broadway where he reprised his role.
In October 2023, Iglehart assumed the lead role of A Wonderful World, a new musical based on the life of Louis Armstrong, in its pre-Broadway New Orleans and Chicago engagements. In February 2024, it was announced the show would be transferring to Broadway with Iglehart in the lead role. He also served as a co-director of the production. Igleheart received a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Armstrong.
Personal life
He was raised in Hayward, California, with his brother. His mother is a former high school choir teacher. His father James Iglehart is a former minor league baseball player and actor. He met his wife Dawn Phelps in the Mt. Eden High School show choir and they married in 2002.
Filmography
Film
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | We Are the Hartmans | Eustace | |
| 2015 | Broadway Draft 2015 | Anchor | Short film |
| 2016 | Landed | TSA Agent | |
| Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz | Calvin Carney, Jitterbug | Voice | |
| 2017 | Three Christs | Benny | |
| 2022 | Disenchanted | Weary Businessman | Cameo |
| 2023 | Wish | John | Voice, uncredited |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | Submissions Only | Wilson Jones | Episode: "Woof | " | DuckTales | Taurus Bulba | Voice, episode: "Let's Get Dangerous | " | Bubble Guppies | Cy the Cyclops | Voice, episode: "Bubble Medics to the Rescue | " |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Geo | Episode: "Doubt" |
| 2012 | Great Performances | Bobby | Episode: "Memphis" |
| Smash | Assistant | Episode: "Hell on Earth" | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Ringmaster | Episode: "The Blind Fortune Teller" |
| 2015–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Coriolanus Burt | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Nature Cat | Michael Bluejáy | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Shawn Tompkins | Episode: "Intent" |
| 2017–2020 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Lance Strongbow | Voice, 38 episodes |
| 2018 | Cady Did | Orrin Hackett | |
| Elementary | Detective Mason | Episode: "Pushing Buttons" | |
| Maniac | Carl | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |
| 2018–2019 | Our Cartoon President | Vocalist | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2019 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Darius Von Hassock | Episode: "Makeover" |
| Anthem: Homunculus | Ronnie Castro | Episode: "The End of Love" | |
| 2019–present | Hazbin Hotel | Bar Patron, Zestial | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Perfect Harmony | Keith | Episode: "Regionals" |
| Elena of Avalor | Bronzino | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| The Disney Family Singalong | Himself | Television special | |
| Vampirina | Oscar | Voice, episode: "Bust Friends" | |
| Biggest Little Christmas Showdown | Himself | Host | |
| 2021 | Solos | Technician | Episode: "Jenny" |
| 2021–present | Helluva Boss | Vortex/Asmodeus | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 2022 | The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo: Game Edition | Himself | Episode: "Isaiah Russell-Bailey & James Monroe Iglehart" |
| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Charlie | 3 episodes | |
| Girls5eva | Nathan Reasel | Episode: "Album Mode" | |
| Santiago of the Seas | Martín/Chief/Engineer | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| Alice's Wonderland Bakery | Oliver | Voice, episode: "A Special Blend" | |
| Blue's Clues & You! | Jack O' Lantern | Voice, episode: "The Legend of the Jack O' Lantern" | |
| 2022, 2024 | Firebuds | Captain Kapow | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Alma's Way | James King | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2023–2024 | Not Quite Narwhal | Chief Jinglehooves | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2023–present | SuperKitties | Mr. Puppypaws | Voice, 29 episodes |
| Kiff | Martin Chatterley | Voice, 18 episodes | |
| 2025 | Krapopolis | Hector | Voice, episode: "One Eye One Heart She's Stupe" |
Video games
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Virtua Cop 3 | Chief Inspector | |
| Silent Line: Armored Core | Additional voices |
Stage credits
Awards and nominations
References
- James Monroe Iglehart: Performer, Playbill, September 1, 2020
- 10 Things You May Not Know: James Monroe Iglehart of 'Aladdin', New York Shows, 2016-12-03
- As the Curtain Rises – Broadway's First Digital Soap Opera | Broadway Podcast Network, October 17, 2020
- Ng, David, James Monroe Iglehart releases the genie inside, December 3, 2016, Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2014
- Freestyle Love Supreme, broadway.com, 2020, July 18, 2020
- Penguin, , Random House Audio, Meet the Cast: , Cheshire Crossing, DJangi, Taraneh, July 12, 2019
- The Mary Sue, Listen to the Audiobook for Andy Weir's , Cheshire Crossing, , About the Continued Adventures of Alice, Dorothy, and Wendy, August 15, 2019
- live, October 9, 2020, ETonline, Stephanie Beatriz and James Monroe Iglehart Drop by 'DuckTales' Darkwing Episode: First Look (Exclusive), October 6, 2020
- Wild, Stephi, James Monroe Iglehart Will Join the Cast of CHICAGO on Broadway, Broadway World, February 14, 2022, en
- A Wonderful World
- Gans, Andrew, July 12, 2023, Cast Complete for A Wonderful World Musical Starring James Monroe Iglehart; Vanessa Williams Joins Producing Team, October 6, 2023, Playbill.com
- George Clooney and Nicole Scherzinger's Broadway Debuts Earn Them 2025 Tony Awards Nominations — See the Full List, 2025-05-16, People.com, en
- Broadway Superstars Check Into 'Hazbin Hotel' to Complete the Ensemble Cast , Exclusive, December 28, 2023, December 28, 2023, Hope, Mullinax, Collider
- James Monroe Iglehart (visual voices guide), Behind The Voice Actors, 2 May 2022
- FromSoftware, Silent Line: Armored Core, Agetec, Ending credits, 2:46:43 in, Voice Talent, 2003
- James Monroe Iglehart, The Recording Academy, November 29, 2023
- 2025 Tony Award Nominations: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending Lead the Pack, Logan, Culwell-Block, May 1, 2025, Playbill, May 2, 2025
External links
- (archive)
Category:1974 births
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Actors from Hayward, California
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Audiobook narrators
Category:California State University, East Bay alumni
Category:Drama Desk Award winners
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Alameda County, California
Category:Tony Award winners