Aaron John Walpole (born March 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor and singer, who placed third on the third season of Canadian Idol. He is best known for playing the role of Lonnie in the 2010 Toronto run of Rock of Ages and Annas in the 2012 Broadway run of Jesus Christ Superstar. He appeared in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, as a part of the ensemble.
Early life Walpole was born in London, Ontario, and has two siblings. When he was 10 years old, he saw a production of Jesus Christ Superstar with his family, which inspired him to pursue musical theatre.
Walpole attended Parkside Collegiate Institute, where he played football and acted. He appeared in a high school production of West Side Story as Tony. In 2001, Walpole graduated from the musical theatre program at Sheridan College.
Career
Canadian Idol
In 2005, Walpole auditioned for the third season of Canadian Idol. He went to the auditions to support a friend, but was forced to register to audition so he could stay in line with her. Walpole advanced through the audition stages, but was eliminated in the top 32 round. However, he was chosen to compete in the wildcard round where he received enough votes to advance. Walpole finished in third place, behind runner-up Rex Goudie and winner Melissa O'Neil.
Following the show, Walpole released a self-titled album in 2006.
Performances and results WeekThemeSongArtistStatus Top 32Free Choice" Try"Blue RodeoEliminatedWildcardFree Choice"Drift Away"Dobie GrayAdvancedTop 10Canadian Hits " You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"Bachman–Turner OverdriveSafeTop 9Stevie Wonder"You Haven't Done Nothin'"Stevie WonderSafeTop 8The 80s "Working for the Weekend"LoverboySafeTop 7Standards "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me"Dean MartinBottom 2Top 6Classic Rock "Hot Blooded" ForeignerSafeTop 5Burton Cummings & The Guess Who "These Eyes"The Guess WhoSafeTop 4Elvis Presley"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"" Love Me Tender"Elvis PresleySafeTop 3The Barenaked Ladies"Break Your Heart"" Enid"The Barenaked Ladies Eliminated
Theatre
In 2010, Walpole starred as Lonny in the Canadian premiere production of Rock of Ages. The musical opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on April 20, 2010 and closed on January 2, 2011.
Walpole made his Broadway debut in 2012, where he appeared as Annas in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. The production was originally presented in 2011 at the Stratford Festival, before transferring to the La Jolla Playhouse where it played a pre-Broadway engagement. The show closed on July 1, after four months of performances.
In 2013, Walpole appeared in a revival of Les Misérables, where he played Champmathieu and understudied the role of Jean Valjean. The musical had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto between September 27, 2013 and February 2, 2014. The musical then transferred to Broadway, where it began performances at the Imperial Theatre on 1 March 2014.
In 2015, Walpole joined the first national tour of Kinky Boots, where he played Don.
In 2025, Walpole will appear as a standby in the Canadian revival production of Come from Away. The musical will play at the Babs Asper Theatre in Ottawa between August 14 and September 1, 2024, before transferring to the Royal Alexandra Theatre where it will begin performances on September 22, 2024.
Television and film Walpole's first major acting role was in the 2003 television movie, Deacons for Defense. He also starred in the 2011 movie Silent But Deadly as Rob. Since then, he has appeared in several television shows.
Personal life On October 4, 2014, Walpole married Stefanie Oechslin. They have one child, a son named Eli.
Credits
Theatre YearProductionRoleLocationCategory2004 Guys and Dolls Angie the Ox / Master of Ceremonies Festival Theatre Regional / Stratford Festival2004 Anything Goes Quartet Tenor #2 Avon Theatre Regional / Stratford Festival2010–2011 Rock of Ages Lonny Royal Alexandra Theater Canadian production / Mirvish Productions2011 Camelot Sir Lionel Festival Theatre Regional / Stratford Festival2011 Jesus Christ Superstar Annas Avon Theatre Regional / Stratford Festival La Jolla Playhouse Pre-Broadway engagement2012 Neil Simon Theatre Broadway2013–2014 Les Misérables alt. Jean Valjean Princess of Wales Theatre Pre-Broadway engagement: Toronto2014–2016 Imperial Theatre Broadway2015–2017 Kinky Boots Don First National Tour 2017 Rock of Ages Lonny Dunfield Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment2018 The Little Mermaid Chef Louis Huron Country PlayhouseSt. Jacobs Country Playhouse Regional / Drayton Entertainment2018 Man of La Mancha Sancho Panza / Cervantes' Manservant Dunfield Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment2021 Jesus Christ Superstar Annas Tokyu Theatre Orb Concert staging: Tokyo, Japan 2022 It Runs in the Family Police Sergeant Hamilton Family TheatreHuron Country Playhouse Regional / Drayton Entertainment2023 Evita Ensemble Hamilton Family Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment2023 Fiddler on the Roof Mendel/Russian Soloist Hamilton Family Theatre Regional / Drayton Entertainment2024 Come from Away Standby Babs Asper Theatre Pre-Toronto engagement: Ottawa2024–2025 Royal Alexandra TheatreCanadian production / Mirvish Productions
Television Year ShowRole Notes 2003 Deacons for Defense Jimmy TV movie 2005 Canadian IdolHimself3rd-place finalist2011Breakout KingsSkip BlaxEpisode S1.E10: "Paid in Full"2021 In the DarkSecurity GuardEpisode S3.E4: "Safe and Sound"2021 The Hot ZoneSecurity GuardEpisode S2.E2: "Hell's Chimney"2023AccusedBailiff #2Episode S1.E13: "Samir's Story"
Film Year Title Role Notes2014Silent but DeadlyRob
Discography
Canadian Idol: High Notes – Sony BMG, 19 Recordings (2005) Aaron Walpole (2006)
References
External links