Justin Cooley (born June 23, 2003) is an American actor. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Seth in the off-Broadway and Broadway theatre productions of Kimberly Akimbo in 2022 and 2023.
Life and career Cooley was born to Paul and Julie. He grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and he attended Olathe East High School. He was named outstanding actor in a lead role for the Blue Star Awards, a regional theatre competition for high school students, and became a finalist for the Jimmy Awards. He enrolled at Texas Christian University, but received an offer to join the cast of Kimberly Akimbo and quickly deferred school for one semester to join the production off-Broadway as Seth. Cooley earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination for Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Awards nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and a Theatre World Award for his performance in the off-Broadway production.
Cooley made his Broadway debut when Kimberly Akimbo moved to the Booth Theatre. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance.
Cooley has been announced to portray Leaf Coneybear in New World Stages' production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which opened November 17th, 2025.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2026 Pizza Movie Byron Film debut
Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue Notes 2021Kimberly AkimboSeth Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway premiere 2022 Booth Theater Broadway2025The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeLeaf ConeybearNew World StagesOff-Broadway
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2022Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Kimberly AkimboLucille Lortel AwardsOutstanding Leading Performer in a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Actor in a MusicalTheatre World Award2023Tony AwardsBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical2026Drama League AwardsDistinguished PerformanceThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway MusicalDorian AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway Production
References