Corey Michael Cott (born March 30, 1990) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for playing Jack Kelly in the Broadway musical Newsies, replacing Jeremy Jordan, and for originating the role of Donny Novitski in the Broadway musical Bandstand. Since October 2025, Cott appears on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Jake Griffin.
Early life and education Cott was born in Columbus, Mississippi, the oldest of three children of Rick, an investment manager and former Air Force fighter pilot, and Lori Cott. The older brother of actor Casey Cott, he grew up in Spring Arbor, Michigan, and Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he attended Chagrin Falls High School. After high school, he graduated from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Career Cott began his professional acting career while attending Carnegie Mellon, booking shows with Pittsburgh's professional theater company Pittsburgh CLO. He had roles in their productions of Miss Saigon, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Soon after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Cott moved to New York City. Shortly thereafter, he booked the role of the Jack Kelly alternate in the Broadway musical Newsies. He took over that role permanently on September 5, 2012.
Cott appeared in the musical Bandstand, which opened on Broadway on April 26, 2017, as WWII veteran Donny Novitski. He had also starred in the musical's premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse in October 2015.
On February 25, 2019, Cott was announced as part of the cast of the Fox drama Filthy Rich, playing Eric Monreaux. Filthy Rich premiered on September 21, 2020. Following appearances on television, he returned to theater in 2024, starring in the original Broadway production The Heart of Rock and Roll, a jukebox musical comedy based on the music of Huey Lewis and the News.
In October 2025, Cott joined the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the role of Detective Jake Griffin. He previously guest starred as an unrelated character on a 2016 episode of the show.White, Jessica (October 2, 2025). "Benson’s Squad Just Got a Shake-Up With Detective Jake Griffin on Law & Order: SVU. NBC. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
Personal life Cott married Meghan Woollard in January 2013. They met while singing in church in Pittsburgh. Their first child, a son, Elliott Michael, was born on May 1, 2017. In August 2019, they welcomed their second son, Nolan. On October 31, 2021, the couple welcomed their third son, Asher.
Cott grew up with Ben Fankhauser, a fellow Newsies co-star. They performed together in several local youth theatre productions.
Stage credits Adapted from About the Artists. Year Title Role Venue Notes 2012 Newsies Jack Kelly (alternate) Nederlander TheatreBroadway2012–14Jack Kelly 2015 Gigi Gaston Lachaille Kennedy Center Regional 2015 Neil Simon Theatre Broadway revival 2015 Bandstand Donny Novitski Paper Mill Playhouse Regional premiere 2017 Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway 2018 West Side Story Tony Kennedy Center2018WSS Concert staging2019 Last Days of Summer Charlie Banks Kansas City Repertory Theatre Regional premiere The Scarlet Pimpernel Armand St. Just Lincoln Center Concert West Side Story Tony Lyric Opera of Chicago Regional 2024 The Heart of Rock and Roll Bobby James Earl Jones Theatre Broadway
Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 What You Get Benjamin Armand Short film 2015 The Intern Customer Service Representative #2 Uncredited 2016 Mutt Michael Short film 2024 Fortune Rodney Tucker Short film +TelevisionYearTitleRoleNotes2014Madam SecretaryScott WellandEpisode: "Passage"2015Public MoralsRyan2 episodes2016The InterestingsJonah DeyTelevision film2016Z: The Beginning of EverythingTownsend Martin5 episodes2016Law & Order: Special Victims UnitEllis GriffinEpisode: "Rape Interrupted"2016My Mother and Other StrangersLieutenant BarnhillEpisode: "Golden Gloves"2017–2018The Good FightTom C. Duncan4 episodes2020Filthy RichEric MonreauxMain role2021EvilOfficer Jim TurleyEpisode: "C Is for Cop"2022Butlers in LoveHenry WalkerHallmark Channel television film2022Law & OrderNiles HarperEpisode: "Benefit of the Doubt"2023The EqualizerRoy Hughes/Eric DaviesEpisode: "Lost and Found"2023Chicago MedOmar ThomasEpisode: "It Is What It Is, Until It Isn't"2023Making WavesWillHallmark Channel television film2024Season's Greetings from Cherry LaneDr. Charlie FranklinHallmark Channel television film2025–presentLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitDetective Jake GriffinSeason 27 (recurring until the Episode: "Purity" )2025The Snow Must Go OnIsaiah HeywardHallmark Channel television film
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