Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan ( ) is an American actor and singer known for his work in musical theatre and television. On stage, he is known for originating the dual roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton. He starred in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 as Pierre Bezukhov on Broadway in 2017. On television, he is known for the role of Dean Miller in the ABC drama and Grey's Anatomy spin-off series, Station 19. He also appeared in main roles on the series Jack Ryan and Demascus. He returned to Broadway in 2023 as Nills Krogstead in A Doll's House.
Early life and education Onaodowan was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Nigerian parents. He and his five sisters were raised in West Orange, New Jersey, He attended Gregory Elementary School and Roosevelt Middle School and West Orange High School, graduating in 2005. Onaodowan briefly played football for his high school, but he stopped after an injury during practice. As a result of the injury, Onaodowan started to explore acting as an alternative extracurricular activity. While attending high school, he began performing with the New Jersey Youth Theatre. After high school, Onaodowan auditioned for and was accepted to the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He attended for one year.
Career Onaodowan had roles in Rocky the Musical and Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway and was in the ensemble of the first national tour of American Idiot. He had the leading role in Young Jean Lee's 2009 play, The Shipment, and played the title role in J.C. Lee's Luce.
By 2015, Onaodowan was an experienced stage actor. He also had several screen credits, including Lou in the feature film Thanks for Sharing and roles in the TV series Gravity and Blue Bloods. He originated the roles of James Madison and Hercules Mulligan in the musical Hamilton both Off Broadway at the Public Theater and subsequently on Broadway. He won a Grammy Award as part of the cast album of Hamilton. Onaodowan was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list in 2016 for his acting in Hamilton.
On July 11, 2017, he took on the role of Pierre in the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, replacing the outgoing Josh Groban and Dave Malloy. He took his final bow in this musical on August 13, 2017.
In 2018, he began playing the role of firefighter Dean Miller in the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19. On November 11, 2021, he exited the series, and his character was killed off onscreen. Deadline reported that Onaodowan had asked to leave in order to pursue other opportunities.
In 2023, he made his return to Broadway as Nills Krogstead in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of A Doll's House.Tony Nominated, Jessica Chastain-Led A Doll's House Revival Finishes Broadway Run June 10 In February 2024, he played Buddy Bolden in the Encores! production of Jelly's Last Jam.Okieriete Onaodowan to Star in Jelly's Last Jam at New York City Center Encores!
Acting credits
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes2012Thanks for SharingLou2017Person to PersonLesterThe SuperCal2020HamiltonHercules Mulligan / James MadisonLive stage recording A Quiet Place Part IIRonnie2021Generation WreckBrandon2023 Molli and Max in the Future Moebias American Fiction Van Go Jenkins 2026 One Night Only Tejan
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2010GravitySamEpisode: "Old People Creep Me Out"2012NYC 22Anton BarkeEpisode: "Turf War"2014; 2024Blue BloodsDamon Williams / Christopher KossulaEpisodes: "Forgive and Forget" and "The Gray Areas" 2016BallersAnthony2 episodesLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitCash LewisEpisode: "Broken Rhymes" 2017GirlsRaneedEpisode: "Painful Evacuation"The Get DownAfrika Bambaataa3 episodesShe's Gotta Have ItSlick WillieEpisode: "#DaJumpoff (DOCTRINE)"2018–2021Grey's AnatomyDean Miller5 episodes2018–2021, 2024Station 19Main role (seasons 1–5), guest role (season 7); 64 episodes2019BoJack HorsemanMike (voice)Episode: "The Kidney Stays in the Picture"2020–2021Robot ChickenAbraham Lincoln / Night King / Grim Reaper / various (voice)2 episodes2020Social DistanceReggieEpisode: "Delete All Future Events"2021Tuca & BertieTimbourine Toucan (voice)2 episodes 2022BillionsLeon SheraldEpisode: "Hostis Humani Generis"Jurassic World Camp CretaceousMr. Gold (voice)2 episodes 2023Jack RyanAdebayo 'Ade' Osoji6 episodes, Season 4Scavengers ReignStation Chief (voice)Episode; "The Signal"2024Law & OrderMike KeyzEpisode: "Report Card"2025DemascusDemascusMain role; 6 episodes
Stage YearShowRoleNotes 2009 The Shipment Omar / MichaelThe Kitchen2010 The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Pontius Pilate Richmond Shepard Theatre Neighbors Sambo CrowOff-Broadway Langston in Harlem Cuban Balladeer2010–2011RuinedSimon Huntington Theatre Company La Jolla Playhouse Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2011 American Idiot Rock & Roll Boyfriend / Ensembleu/s Favorite Son US National Tour 2012 Cyrano de Bergerac Pastry Cook / Cadet / Sentryu/s Cuigyu/s Musketeeru/s Carbon de Castel-Jaloux Original Broadway revival cast2013 The Brothers SizeOshoosi Size Old Globe Theatre Luce Luce Off-Broadway2014 Rocky the Musical Dipper Riley / Apollo's Cornermanu/s Apollo Creed Original Broadway cast Hamilton Hercules Mulligan / James Madison The 52nd Street Project, Workshop The RoyaleFish Old Globe Theatre 2015HamiltonHercules Mulligan / James Madison Off-Broadway 2015–2016 Original Broadway cast 2016 Frozen Kristoff Pre-Broadway WorkshopBetsy Wolfe, Patti Murin & Okieriete Onaodowan Led Lab of Broadway-Bound FrozenHAMILTON's Okieriete Onaodowan Takes Part in FROZEN Lab; Lopezes to Pen New Songs for Broadway 2017 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Pierre Bezukhov Broadway replacement 2023 A Doll's House Nills Krogstead Original Broadway revival cast 2024 Jelly's Last Jam Buddy Bolden Off-BroadwayEncores! 2025The MonstersBigTwo River Theater2026 Off-BroadwayRomeo & Juliet BenvolioShakespeare in the Park
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2016Grammy AwardBest Musical Theater Album HamiltonBroadway.com Audience Choice AwardsFavorite Breakthrough Performance
References
External links