Benjamin Tyler Cook (born December 11, 1997)Benjamin Cook. Performer , Playbill, 2016; retrieved July 31, 2019.Benjamin Cook Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld.com, 2016; retrieved February 12, 2015. is an American actor, singer and dancer, known for his work across stage and screen.
Cook has appeared on the Broadway stage in Ragtime, Billy Elliot the Musical (for which he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award), Tuck Everlasting, Mean Girls, West Side Story, and Illinoise. He has also performed in two Broadway national tours, Billy Elliot the Musical and Newsies the Musical, and appeared on television in episodes of 30 Rock, House of Cards, Veep, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and in the HBO film Paterno. He most recently appeared as a Jet in the 2021 film version of West Side Story and as Henry in the HBO Max horror series Pretty Little Liars (20222024), a reboot of the original 2010s series.
Early life Cook was born in Eden, North Carolina, and grew up in New York City and Lorton, Virginia.Growing Up "Normal" , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved October 18, 2015. He is the youngest child of Jill and Glenn Cook. His mother is the executive director of the American School Counsellor Association.About ASCA. Contact Us , schoolcounselor.org; retrieved May 23, 2015. His father is a photographer, blogger, and publishing consultant.About Me. A Biography in 178 Words , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
In his youth, Cook was friends with YouTuber and current film director Christopher Cox (formerly known as CACox97 on YouTube), and appeared in numerous Nerf videos, such as Nerf War, Nerf War 2 and Nerf Raider War. He attended the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City for middle school and during high school.Russo, Gianluca. BWW Interview: Benjamin Cook of Tuck Everlasting Talks Dance and Broadway, Broadway World, March 11, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
Career Musical theatre Cook performed in several productions as a child in Washington, D.C., including at Ford's Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He made his Broadway debut at the age of eleven in Ragtime at the Neil Simon Theatre, understudying and performing the role of Edgar (The Little Boy).Benjamin Cook, Internet Broadway Database; retrieved April 15, 2015. His next Broadway role was Tall Boy in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Imperial Theatre, and played the roles of Michael, then Billy in the North American National Tour of the production. His final tour performance as "Billy" was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 19, 2013."Meet Billy Elliot: Ben Cook", TheSkyKid.com; retrieved January 30, 2016.
From the age of 16, he toured for a year and a half in the role of Race and occasionally performed the role of Crutchie as the understudy in the first national tour of Newsies the Musical.Disney NEWSIES official website ; retrieved April 15, 2015. In January 2016, after over 500 performances, Cook left that tour and joined the original Broadway cast of Tuck Everlasting. Previews began in March 2016,Tuck Everlasting Begins Broadway Previews Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016 and the show closed the same May.Viagas, Robert. Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today, Playbill, May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016
Cook joined the ensemble of the musical adaptation of the film Mean Girls. Its pre-Broadway tryout began in October 2017 at the National Theatre, in Washington D.C.Mean Girls musical officially finds its cast, Marc Snetiker. Entertainment Weekly. July 27, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced, Ryan McPhee. Playbill. July 27, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017 The show premiered on Broadway in April 2018. He was set to appear in the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story as Riff, the leader of the Jets, but he left the production after being injured in a preview performance.Meyer, Dan. "Dharon E. Jones Set to Take Over as Riff in West Side Story on Broadway", Playbill, January 9, 2010
Film and television On television, Cook appeared as young Jack on 30 Rock, in the episode "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish" (2010);"Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish", imdb.com; retrieved April 15, 2015. and as Walt in the episode of the HBO series Veep titled "The Choice" (2014).Ben on HBO's "Veep" , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved April 30, 2015. He played Heather Dunbar's son in the episode "Chapter 27" of the Netflix series House of Cards (2013)."Ben Cook on 'House of Cards'”, kids-on-tour.net Kids on Tour; retrieved April 30, 2015. On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, he played Adam Turner in the episode "Great Expectations" (2017).THE KING AND I Press Coverage, Ben Cook on Law and Order: SVU, and more! Emily Lang. Kids On Tour. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
Cook reprised his role of Race in Newsies in the film adaptation of the musical, which received a limited release in February 2017Disney Theatrical Productions Presents Disney's Newsies The Broadway Musical, Fathom Events. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016"Newsies" Movie Shooting Soon Glenn Cook: Words, Photos. August 10, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016 and later on Netflix before moving to Disney+. In 2018, he appeared in the HBO film Paterno.Toby, Mekeisha Madden. "TV Review: Paterno With Al Pacino on HBO", Variety, April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019
He also appeared in the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story as Mouthpiece, a member of the Jets. He appeared as Beckett in the 2023 movie Happiness for Beginners, a film adaptation of the 2015 book of the same name.
Credits Theatre Theatre Date Title Role Theatre NoteNovember 16-December 30, 2007A Christmas CarolTiny TimFord's TheatreWashington D.C.February 28- April 13, 2008MacbethYoung MacduffFolger Shakespeare LibraryDecember 2- December 28, 2008A Christmas CarolUrchin, Ignorance, Turkey BoyFord's TheatreFebruary 3- March 8, 2009The Heavens Are Hung in BlackTad LincolnFORD’S THEATRE REOPENS WITH A WORLD PREMIERE OF THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK Fords Theatre Heavens Release, January 30, 2009; retrieved February 9, 2016.Lansburgh TheatreApril 18- May 17, 2009RagtimeUnderstudy: Edgar (The little boy)John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsNovember 15, 2009-January 10, 2010Understudy: Edgar (The little boy) Neil Simon TheatreBroadwayMarch 12– April 4, 2010The Golden AgeThe PageJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsWashington D.C.July 7, 2010-October 14, 2011Billy Elliot the MusicalTall/Posh Boy,Understudy: MichaelImperial TheatreBroadwayNovember 3, 2011-January 22, 2012MichaelNational TourNational TourJune 30, 2012-May 19, 2013BillyOctober 11, 2014-January 31, 2016Newsies the MusicalRace, Understudy: CrutchieApril 26"Broadway Premiere of 'Tuck Everlasting' Sets Complete Cast", Broadway.com, January 15, 2016; retrieved February 9, 2016.Tuck Everlasting Opens on Broadway Tonight Robert Viagas. Playbill. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016- May 29, 2016"Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Posts Closing Notice" Robert Viagas. Playbill, May 24, 2016Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016 Tuck EverlastingEnsemble, Understudy: Jesse Tuck, HugoBroadhurst TheatreBroadwayOctober 31–December 3, 2017Mean GirlsEnsembleNational Theatre (Washington, D.C.)Pre-Broadway Out of Town RunApril 8, 2018-April 8, 2019August Wilson TheatreBroadwayPreviews began: December 10, 2019 Left production on: January 5, 2020West Side StoryRiffBroadway TheatreJune 23–July 2, 2023IllinoiseWill/PlayerBard SummerScapeRegionalJanuary 28–February 18, 2024Carl/PlayerChicago Shakespeare TheaterMarch 2–March 26, 2024Park Avenue ArmoryOff-BroadwayApril 24–August 10, 2024St. James TheatreBroadway
Film Year Title Role Notes 2021 West Side Story "Mouthpiece" 2023 Happiness for Beginners Beckett
Television Year Title Role Notes201030 RockYoung Jack DonaghyChain Reaction of Mental Anguish 30 Rock. Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016Episode: "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish"2013House of CardsHeather Dunbar's sonChapter 27 House of Cards. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016Episode: "Chapter 27"2014VeepWaltThe Choice Veep. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016Episode: "The Choice"2017Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAdam TurnerGreat Expectations Law & Order SVU. Great Expectations. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016Episode: "Great Expectations"2018PaternoAaron FisherTelevision film2022The First LadySteven FordRecurring; 5 episodes2022–2024Pretty Little LiarsHenry NelsonRecurring; 16 episodes2023FBI: Most WantedLuke SpottiswoodEpisode: "Black Mirror"2024The PenguinCalvinRecurring; 2 episodes
Awards Year Award Category Role Result Ref.Helen Hayes AwardsOutstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident ProductionBilly Elliot the MusicalCritics' Choice AwardsBest Acting EnsembleWest Side StoryOuter Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway MusicalIllinoise
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