James Randall Snyder (born February 7, 1981) is an American actor and singer. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the USC School of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the SoCal VoCals, USC's premiere a cappella group.
Professional career Since 2002, Snyder has appeared on numerous television shows. His television credits include the television film Anna's Dream, and the TV series Married to the Kellys, Gilmore Girls, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Related, Without a Trace,Cold Case, Eli Stone, Drop Dead Diva, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Blue Bloods, and The Outrageously Fabulous Weekly Parody Talk Show. He can also be seen in the shorts The Baker's Dozen, A Cut Above, 5 or Die, Webloe Jobs, True Blood: The Parody Movie, Genre This, and, most recently, Adonis.
Snyder has had various movie roles and is best known for his role as Malcolm in She's the Man. His other roles include Dave in Pretty Persuasion, Jeremy in The Gingerbread Man, Seth in Shuttle, David in An American in China, and Ben Carter in Anderson's Cross. He finished filming the movie Meth Head, released in 2013.
On the stage, Snyder's credits include the Los Angeles and Vegas productions of Rock of Ages as Drew, Happy Days, The Fantasticks, Hamlet, Ray Bradbury's Let's All Kill Constance, Sneaux, Plop, and Oklahoma! He also played Luke Skywalker in The Star Wars Trilogy in Thirty Minutes.
Snyder originated the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker in Cry-Baby, which had its premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego on November 18, 2007. He then transferred with the cast and made his Broadway debut the following year. Cry-Baby began previews at the Marquis Theatre on March 15, 2008, opened on April 24, 2008, and closed on June 22, 2008.Hernandez, Ernio. "Cry-Baby, with James Snyder and Harriet Harris, to Play Broadway's Marquis" Playbill, January 13, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2016 In 2010, Snyder starred as Marius in the Encores! production of Fanny.Itzkoff, Dave. "Encores! Announces Casting For ‘Fanny’" The New York Times, January 12, 2010 In 2011, Snyder originated the role of Marco Venier in the premiere of Dangerous Beauty at the Pasadena Playhouse, which ran from February to March.Jones, Kenneth. "Musical Dangerous Beauty, With Jenny Powers, James Snyder, Michael Rupert, Premieres in CA" Playbill, February 1, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2016
Snyder has appeared in several benefit concerts, including "Broadway Rocks Anaheim" and "Rebuild Japan", and in various cabarets in the Los Angeles area, including Upright Cabaret's "I Want To Hold Your Hand: The Music of the Beatles","James Snyder, Tom Lowe Lead La Mirada's 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' 4/17". Retrieved December 2, 2016. and The Coterie's "Cousins: An Evening with Beck and May"Sierra, Gabrielle. "Todrick Hall, James Snyder Join Beck & May In Pre-Album Release". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016. and "Red Carpet Memories: A Celebration of Academy Award-Nominated Songs". From January 2012 to March 2012, Snyder starred as Christian in Show at Barre's "For The Record: Baz Luhrmann.""FOR THE RECORD: BAZ LUHRMANN Closes at Show At Barre". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
Snyder's voice can be heard on the studio recording of Bare: A Pop Opera, which was released on October 30, 2007. His first solo album, L.A. Curse, was released on March 20, 2008 on the Lionsgate Records label. He also released a single in 2018 called "Old River Road."
Snyder performed as Billy Bigelow in Carousel at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, which ran from July 13, 2012, to September 29, 2012." 'Carousel' Cast and Creative Team" goodspeed.org. Retrieved December 2, 2016
On August 7, 2013, it was announced that Snyder would join the cast of If/Then, a new musical opening on Broadway in Spring 2014, with a pre-Broadway run at the National Theater in Washington, D.C. from November 5 – December 8, 2013. Snyder played the role of Josh, an army doctor who meets and falls in love with Liz (Elizabeth) (played by Idina Menzel) on her first day back in Madison Square Park in New York City. The musical opened on March 30, 2014. He was next seen as Prince Henry in the world premiere of the musical Ever After, which is based on the 1998 film of the same name. In November 2016 he originated the role of "Nate" in Broadway's first a capella musical, In Transit at the Circle in the Square Theater."James Snyder Broadway" ibdb.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016
Beginning March 20, 2019, Snyder assumed the role of Harry Potter in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He was suspended from the play in November 2021, pending an investigation, after a complaint about his conduct was filed by Diane Davis, who portrayed Ginny Potter. In January 2022, the producers stated that Snyder’s engagement with the production had ended following the investigation.
In 2023, he appeared as Dr. Miles Bauer in NCIS and played Harold Hill in the Broadway At Music Circus production of The Music Man in Sacramento.
Credits Theatre YearShowRoleNotes2002Patrick Gorman's Star Wars in 30 MinutesLuke Skywalker2003Sneaux!Ensemble/French Poodle2005Rock of AgesDrewLos Angeles2006Las Vegas2007Cry-BabyWade "Cry-Baby" WalkerLa Jolla Playhouse2008Broadway2009Heathers: The MusicalJason DeanCoast Theatre Workshop2010FannyMariusEncores!Heathers: The MusicalKurt KellyJoe's Pub Concert2011Dangerous BeautyMarco VenierPasadena Playhouse2012CarouselBilly BigelowGoodspeed Opera House2013Johnny BaseballJohnnyWilliamstown Theatre FestivalIf/ThenJoshNational Theatre2014-2015Broadway2015Ever AfterPrince HenryPaper Mill Playhouse2015-2016If/ThenJoshNational Tour2016Casa ValentinaJonathonPasadena PlayhouseSouth PacificLt. CableBenedum Center2016-2017In TransitNateBroadway2017Beauty and the BeastThe BeastWells Fargo Pavilion2018Grand HotelBaron von GaigernEncores!Beauty and the BeastThe BeastBenedum Center2019-2021Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildHarry PotterBroadway2022CarouselBilly BigelowBroadway Sacramento2023The Music ManProfessor Harold Hill
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2005Pretty PersuasionDavidThe Baker's DozenJeremy LeighShortThe Gingerdead ManJeremy Leigh2006She's the ManMalcolm FestesA Cut AboveTrent DesmondShort2008ShuttleSethAn American in ChinaDavid Braddock2010Anderson's CrossBen CarterShortWebloe JobsDick WebloeShort2011True Blood: The Parody MovieJason StackhouseShort2012Genre ThisJustin AmaraShort2013AdonisKipShortMeth HeadPete
TV Anna's Dream, Kyle (TV movie), 2002 Married to the Kellys, Zac (1 episode), 2004 Gilmore Girls, Yale Guy No. 1 (1 episode), 2004 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Jason Harrington (1 episode), 2005 Related, Collin, (1 episode), 2005 Without a Trace, Breck Mulligan (1 episode), 2006 Cold Case, Bingo Zohar '53 (1 episode), 2007 Eli Stone, Carter Jameson (1 episode), 2008 5 or Die, Freddy (short), 2008 Drop Dead Diva, David (1 episode), 2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Hunter Ahearn (1 episode), 2011 Blue Bloods, Billy Coffin (1 episode), 2011 The Outrageously Fabulous Weekly Parody Show, Ensemble (1 episode), 2012 Internet Icon, Actor (1 episode), 2013 Rizzoli and Isles, Brad Adams (1 episode), 2013 Hey Kid: Backstage at If/Then with James Snyder, Self (24 episodes), 2014–15 The Good Wife, Gil Berridge (1 episode), 2015 Your Friends & Neighbors, Toby (3 episodes), 2025
Discography Bare: A Pop Opera (studio cast recording), 2007 L.A. Curse, 2008, debut solo album If/Then (original Broadway cast recording), 2014, No. 19 on the Billboard 200 Cry-Baby (studio cast recording), 2015 HouseBroken, Bernstein / Handsome Lab / Jimmy Chonga (voice, 4 episodes), 2021–2022 NCIS, Dr. Miles Bauer (1 episode), 2023 FBI: International, Steve Hale (1 episode), 2025 Your Friends & Neighbors, Toby (3 episodes), 2025
Concerts February 28, 2011 – Show at Barre in Los Angeles (w/ Bryce Ryness) May 3, 2015 – Birdland (w/ Prince Charming) September 17, 2015 – Cry-Baby Reunion at 54 Below
Awards and nominations 2014 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Onstage Pair (w/ Idina Menzel) for If/Then (won) 2014 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Supporting Actor in a Musical for If/Then (nominated)
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