Brian d'Arcy James
Birth Place: Saginaw, MI, USA
BIO
Brian d'Arcy James earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2002 for his performance as Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell of Success opposite John Lithgow. He also received an Obie Award for his acclaimed performance in The Good Thief.
His Broadway credits include Titanic, Carousel, Blood Brothers, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Apple Tree opposite Kristin Chenoweth. Off-Broadway, he appeared in The Wild Party alongside Julia Murney and Idina Menzel, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination, as well as productions of Floyd Collins and Pardon My English.
In 2004, James released the Christmas album From Christmas Eve to Christmas Morn and starred as Bob Wallace in White Christmas. He later played Dan Goodman in Next to Normal both Off-Broadway and on Broadway, and earned widespread acclaim starring as the title character in Shrek The Musical. For his performance, he won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
James later appeared in Time Stands Still, NBC’s Smash, and the Public Theater production of Giant, earning additional Drama Desk and Drama League nominations. In 2015, he originated the role of King George III in the Off-Broadway production of Hamilton before being succeeded by Jonathan Groff. That same year, he starred in Something Rotten!, receiving his third Tony nomination, and appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Spotlight.
His later screen work includes roles in 13 Reasons Why, First Man, and Hawkeye. In 2022, he starred as the Baker in the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, earning another Tony nomination. He then originated the role of Joe Clay in Days of Wine and Roses Off-Broadway and on Broadway, receiving both a Tony nomination and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical.
In 2025, James starred as Chris Christopherson in a revival of Anna Christie alongside Michelle Williams and Tom Sturridge at St. Ann's Warehouse.
Photos
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 1999 ] Brinkley
[ 2002 ] Lloyd
[ 2004 ] Andrew
[ 2008 ] Irish Eddie
[ 2011 ] Husband in Restaurant
[ 2012 ] Skippy
[ 2013 ] Christopher Flynn
[ 2013 ] Shrek
[ 2014 ] Mark
[ 2015 ] Jerry
[ 2015 ] Matt Carroll
[ 2017 ] Brad
[ 2017 ] Giroux
[ 2017 ] Logan
[ 2017 ] Robert Kunkel
[ 2017 ] Sheriff Jones
[ 2018 ] Joe Walker
[ 2018 ] Stone
[ 2018 ] Tom Sheffield
[ 2019 ] Jimmy Brennan
[ 2019 ] President of the United States
[ 2021 ] Officer Krupke
[ 2021 ] Richard Damrosch
[ 2024 ] Dennis
TV Shows
Andy Baker
Victor LeConte
Frank Houston
[ 2021-2024 ] Victor LeConte
[ 2021-2024 ] Victor LeConte
Awards and Nominations
winner
Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Brian d'Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Brian d'Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Brian D'Arcy James, Into The Woods
Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Brian d'Arcy James, Hamilton
Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Brian d'Arcy James, Giant
Brian d'Arcy James, Giant
winner
Brian d'Arcy James, Time Stands Still
Brian d'Arcy James, Port Authority
winner
Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek the Musical
Brian d'Arcy James, Port Authority
winner
Brian d'Arcy James, Sweet Smell of Success
Brian d'Arcy James, Sweet Smell of Success
Brian d'Arcy James, Sweet Smell of Success
winner
Brian d'Arcy JamesThe Good Thief
winner
Brian d'Arcy JamesThe Good Thief
Brian D'Arcy JamesThe Good Thief
Videos
VIDEO: Watch Ariana DeBose Perform 'America' in New WEST SIDE STORY Music Video
by Michael Major - 2022-03-02 11:29:56
VIDEO: Ariana DeBose Discusses WEST SIDE STORY Oscar Nomination on THE VIEW
by Michael Major - 2022-02-21 14:31:02
VIDEO: WEST SIDE STORY Cast Sings 'America' in Scoring Session Featurette
by Michael Major - 2022-02-01 11:25:30
VIDEO: Watch a Costume Featurette From WEST SIDE STORY Featuring Paul Tazewell
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-01-20 16:56:34
VIDEO: Brian d'Arcy James Talks WEST SIDE STORY and More on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Stephi Wild - 2021-12-29 08:02:45
VIDEO: Steven Spielberg & Janusz Kamiński Discuss WEST SIDE STORY Cinematography
by Michael Major - 2021-12-28 11:40:54
VIDEO: Watch Ariana DeBose Perform 'America' in New WEST SIDE STORY Clip
by Michael Major - 2021-12-10 10:19:46
VIDEO: Steven Spielberg Talks David Alvarez as Bernardo in WEST SIDE STORY
by Michael Major - 2021-12-09 15:11:34
VIDEO: Ariana DeBose Talks WEST SIDE STORY Audition on DREW BARRYMORE SHOW
by Michael Major - 2021-12-09 13:05:35
VIDEO: Spielberg Talks Rita Moreno in WEST SIDE STORY Featurette
by Michael Major - 2021-12-08 16:49:02
VIDEO: Watch the Stars of WEST SIDE STORY on the Red Carpet at the Los Angeles Premiere
by Michael Major - 2021-12-08 12:59:14
VIDEO: Spielberg Talks Ariana DeBose as Anita in New WEST SIDE STORY Featurette
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 17:02:20
VIDEO: WEST SIDE STORY Cast Talks Sondheim & More in Sirius XM Town Hall
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 12:44:01
VIDEO: Rachel Zegler & Drew Barrymore Talk Working With Steven Spielberg
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 11:38:14
VIDEO: Steven Spielberg Talks Rachel Zegler as Maria in New WEST SIDE STORY Featurette
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 09:15:10
VIDEO: Rachel Zegler Talks WEST SIDE STORY on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Michael Major - 2021-12-02 11:23:31
VIDEO: Rita Moreno Demonstrates WEST SIDE STORY Dance on TONIGHT SHOW
by Michael Major - 2021-12-01 09:20:31
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Brian d'Arcy James has appeared on Broadway in 19 shows.
Brian d'Arcy James has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into The Woods, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Something Rotten!, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (The Lortels) for Hamilton, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Something Rotten!, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Giant, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Giant, Best Featured Actor in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Time Stands Still, Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for Port Authority, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Shrek the Musical, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Port Authority, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success , Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success, Outstanding Solo Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for The Good Thief, Performance (Obie Awards) for The Good Thief and Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Good Thief.
Brian d'Arcy James has won several awards, including: Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Days of Wine and Roses; Best Featured Actor in a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for Time Stands Still; Outstanding Actor in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Shrek the Musical; Outstanding Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Sweet Smell of Success; Outstanding Solo Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for The Good Thief; and Performance at the Obie Awards for The Good Thief.
Videos