Ben Platt
A MUSICAL SENSATION
By Lee Parham
Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt is still young, but he’s already established himself as a superstar of the musical genre on both stage and screen.
Ben Platt was born in Los Angeles, California in 1993 to his mother Julie and father Marc Platt.
Marc is a renowned film producer, having helped create movies like Legally Blonde, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
At the young age of 9, Ben got his first role on stage playing the character of Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man alongside Kristen Chenowith at The Hollywood Bowl.
2006's Sound of Music at the Hollywood Bowl.
Over the course of the next few years, Platt starred in a number of different stage productions, including Mame, Caroline, Dead End, and The Sound of Music.
After he took a brief hiatus from acting to focus on his education, Platt returned to the stage in 2012 in The Power of Duff, The Black Suits, and The Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon
Platt’s production ensemble of The Book of Mormon received high praise as the troop transitioned to Broadway a few years later in 2014, marking Platt’s first stage role in the Big Apple.
Meanwhile, he made his first serious foray into film starring as Benji Applebaum in the hit a capella comedy Pitch Perfect. The film was a huge success and Platt reprised his role in the sequel.
In 2015 Platt was featured in another movie musical: Ricki and the Flash, which is the story of a woman who leaves her family to pursue her dreams of being a rockstar.
Dear Evan Hansen not only told a story that tried to bring awareness to major mental health issues, it also garnered Platt a win at the Tony awards, and the play itself also won.
However, Platt’s biggest career success in 2015 came in the form of Broadway sensation Dear Evan Hansen, where Platt played the titular character.
Platt is reprising his Evan Hansen role in the film adaptation of the same name. He’s joined by a plethora of acting talent, including Kaitlyn Dever, Amy Adams, and Julianne Moore.
Platt has lent his acting talents to a number of other films, including Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, The Female Brain, Run This Town, and Broken Diamonds.
Run This Town
He has made guest appearances in a number of TV shows, including Will & Grace and The Simpsons, along with a major part in Netflix’s political comedy-drama The Politician with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Will & Grace
Finally, Platt’s singing talents couldn’t be contained by just acting. The performer expanded his repertoire by releasing a couple of different albums: Sing to Me Instead in 2019, and Reverie in 2021.
Impressive talents on the stage, screen, and in the recording booth have propelled Ben Platt a long way in his career despite his young age.