Roger Rees
Birth Place: WALES
Roger Rees Awards Alumni Will Reunite for 2nd Annual Benefit Concert (Feb 23, 2026)
58 Participating Regional Awards Programs Set for 2026 Jimmy Awards (Feb 18, 2026)
DOUBLE DOUBLE and YES, PRIME MINISTER Join The Barn Theatre 2026 Season (Feb 10, 2026)
BIO
Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh actor and director, widely known for his stage work. He won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the lead in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He also received Obie Awards for his role in The End of the Day and as co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher. Rees was posthumously inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in November 2015.
He was widely known to American television audiences for playing the characters Robin Colcord in Cheers and Lord John Marbury in The West Wing. Americans also know him as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Conceiver
Movies
[ 1983 ] Aram Nichol
[ 1986 ] William Tyndale
[ 1990 ] Papworth
[ 1991 ] Augustus Steranko
[ 1992 ] Parnell
[ 1993 ] Sheriff of Rottingham
[ 1996 ] Max
[ 1996 ] Murphy
[ 1997 ] Mr. McMurtry
[ 1998 ] Ray Thornback
[ 1999 ] Dr. Croft
[ 1999 ] Peter Quince
[ 2000 ] Bill Fontaine
[ 2001 ] Priest
[ 2002 ] Edward
[ 2002 ] Guillermo Kahlo
[ 2002 ] King Pheron
[ 2002 ] Mr. Ctle
[ 2004 ] Nat Banks
[ 2004 ] Peter
[ 2004 ] Tulse Luper
[ 2004 ] Tulse Luper
[ 2005 ] Jack Hkins
[ 2005 ] Tulse Luper
[ 2006 ] Andrew Barrington Sr.
[ 2006 ] Leighton Proctor
[ 2006 ] Mr. Hobbs
[ 2006 ] Owens
[ 2006 ] Raymond Larocque
[ 2007 ] Yorish
[ 2008 ] Professor Reyerson
[ 2009 ] Antiques Dealer
[ 2011 ] Kai Lee
[ 2014 ] Mr. Carson
[ 2015 ] Emil Balan
TV Shows
Robin Colcord
Alistair Moore
Roger Goldstein
John Stonebrake
Bob's Dad
Malcolm
Rathburn, Lord Theodine
Lord John Marbury
James MacPherson
Awards and Nominations
Roger Rees, The Visit
winner
Roger Rees, Peter and the Starcatcher
Roger Rees, Peter and the Starcatcher
Roger Rees, A Man of No Importance
Roger Rees, Indiscretions
Roger Rees, Indiscretions
Roger Rees, Indiscretions
Roger Rees , Indiscretions
Roger ReesLove's Labours Lost
winner
Roger Rees, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
winner
Roger ReesNicholas Nickleby
Videos
Video: Meet the Jimmys-Bound Winners of the 2025 Roger Rees Awards
by Nicole Rosky - 2025-06-10 16:35:18
Video: Meet the Jimmys-Bound Winners of the 2024 Roger Rees Awards
by Nicole Rosky - 2024-06-05 16:10:33
Exclusive: What Are the Roger Rees Awards? Past Winners Reunite to Discuss the Program's Huge Impact
by Joey Mervis - 2024-04-11 13:41:42
Exclusive: How Rick Elice Found the Heart of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
by Robert Bannon - 2024-04-05 13:00:20
VIDEO: Andrew Barth Feldman & Seth Rudetsky Rehearse For Tonight's Streaming Concert
by Alan Henry - 2021-12-19 14:35:50
Broadway Rewind: THE VISIT Arrives on Broadway with Chita Rivera, Roger Rees & More!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-11-01 15:01:00
VIDEO: Watch Jimmy Awards Winner Ekele Ukegbu Perform from AIDA on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN
by Nicole Rosky - 2019-07-30 18:01:36
VIDEO: Alan Rickman & More Honored in the 2016 TONY AWARDS In Memoriam
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-06-12 23:17:00
AUDIO: John Kander Chats Broadway Career, HIDDEN TREASURES Album & More
by BWW News Desk - 2015-11-25 16:49:11
Photos and Footage: In Memoriam... Broadway Dims Its Marquees for Roger Rees
by BWW News Desk - 2015-07-15 20:54:06
STAGE TUBE: From CHEERS to THE VISIT, Celebrate the Life of Roger Rees in Videos!
by Sally Henry - 2015-07-11 10:37:07
TV Exclusive: It's a Happy Ending- Go Inside the Recording Studio with the Cast of THE VISIT!
by Nicole Rosky - 2015-07-07 10:00:50
AUDIO Exclusive: First Listen- Company of THE VISIT Sings 'Yellow Shoes' on Cast Album; Hits Shelves on 6/26!
by Nicole Rosky - 2015-06-01 16:00:44
TV: Jason Danieley Sings from THE VISIT at Stars in the Alley!
by Nicole Rosky - 2015-06-02 15:10:07
News
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 23, 2026
The Broadway Education Alliance just announced the 2nd Before Broadway & Beyond Benefit Concert, a special one-night-only concert featuring a 21-member ensemble of talented New Yorkers who are gathering to support the 16th season of The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 18, 2026
The Broadway League Foundation has revealed the 58 participating Regional Awards Programs for the 17th annual Jimmy Awards which will take place at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 10, 2026
The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has revealed two more additions to the 2026 Built by Barn season, starting with the Built By Barn Revival of Rick Elice and Roger Rees’ Double Double and Yes, Prime Minister.
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 20, 2026
The Broadway Education Alliance (BEA) has just announced that the16th Annual Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 20, 2026
The Broadway Education Alliance has announced that the 16th Annual Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Symphony Space.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 3, 2025
New York City Center has launched a search for teen musicians to form the inaugural City Center Youth Orchestra. The 18-member teen orchestra will accompany the opening and closing numbers at The Roger Rees Awards.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Oct 28, 2025
As the fight for women to have equal rights and opportunities has evolved, so has the presence of plays telling these stories. When I wrote my book, Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History Books Left Out, the first-ever book about female musical theatre writers, I researched many musicals that are in this genre as well.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 23, 2025
Drew & Dane Productions will be leading the development of Mr. Holland's Opus, a musical adaptation of the 1995 Oscar-nominated film, with book and lyrics by BD Wong and music by Wayne Barker.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 10, 2025
Jack Ceglie and Gloria Manning were named the winners of Outstanding Performance in a Musical at the Roger Rees Awards, both moving forward to represent the Greater New York region at the 15th Annual Jimmy Awards. Watch in this video as we meet the winners!
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 6, 2025
It's been a busy week on (and off) Broadway! It's Tony Awards weekend! Catch up on all the latest from the week ending June 6, 2025 with videos from Heathers, Hadestown, and more!
by Joey Mervis - Jun 5, 2025
Talented students from across New York City gathered at Symphony Space for the Roger Rees Awards, hosted by Kevin Del Aguila. Watch highlights from inside the big night in this video!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 28, 2025
BroadwayWorld is saddened to learn of the passing of Matthew Silver. Learn more about Matthew Silver, Production Stage Manager and Atlantic Theater Company Ensemble Member.
by Nicole Rosky - May 21, 2025
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, talented students from across New York City gathered at Symphony Space for the Roger Rees Awards, hosted by Kevin Del Aguila. Check out photos from inside the big day below!
by Nicole Rosky - May 20, 2025
Check out a list of this year's winners and watch the pre-show guest arrivals featuring BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge and Student Reporter winner Chloe Pussey here.
by Nicole Rosky - May 20, 2025
Talented students from across New York City gathered at Symphony Space for the Roger Rees Awards, hosted by Kevin Del Aguila. The winners of Outstanding Performance in a Musical were Jack Ceglie and Gloria Manning.
by Nicole Rosky - May 19, 2025
Tune in today, May 19, at 5:30pm ET to watch the live pre-show featuring BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge and Student Reporter winner Chloe Pussey!
by A.A. Cristi - May 13, 2025
The Broadway Education Alliance has announced the 50 Roger Rees Awards nominees for Outstanding Performer in a qualifying role in an officially licensed high school production presented during the 2024-2025 academic year.
by Nicole Rosky - May 12, 2025
The Broadway Education Alliance has just announced the 50 nominees for Outstanding Performer in a qualifying role in an officially licensed high school production presented during the 2024-2025 academic year. We have the full list of nominees here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 8, 2025
NEW YORK CITY CENTER will present the return of Your Community Day, a free annual event for all ages, as part of the 2024 – 2025 Season. Learn how to attend!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 30, 2025
The Broadway Education Alliance has just announced that multi-award-winning Broadway performer Kevin Del Aguila will host the 2024-25 Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance. We have all of the details on the big event here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Roger Rees has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.
Roger Rees has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Roger Rees's first West End show was What You Will which opened in 2012
Roger Rees has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. These include the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for his role in "The Visit." He was also nominated for Best Direction of a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards and the Tony Awards for his work on "Peter and the Starcatcher." Rees received an Outstanding Actor in a Musical nomination at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "A Man of No Importance." Additionally, he was nominated for Outstanding Actor - Play at the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in "Indiscretions" and received a Comedy Performance of the Year nomination at the Olivier Awards for "Love's Labours Lost." Rees was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for both "Indiscretions" and "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby." Finally, he received the Actor of the Year in a New Play award at the Olivier Awards for "Nicholas Nickleby."
Roger Rees has won several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable wins include the Best Direction of a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "Peter and the Starcatcher," the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," and the Actor of the Year in a New Play at the Olivier Awards for "Nicholas Nickleby." These accolades highlight his talent and contributions to the theater industry.
Roger Rees has written 3 shows including Here Lies Jenny (Conceiver), Here Lies Jenny (Bookwriter), What You Will (Creator).
Videos