The Ultimate Guide To The Tony Award For Best Actor In A Musical: Winners, History, And 2025 Predictions

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical represents the pinnacle of achievement for male performers on the Broadway stage, recognizing exceptional talent, vocal prowess, and dramatic depth in the most demanding theatrical roles.

As of December 2025, the most recent recipient of this prestigious honor is Jonathan Groff, who won for his critically acclaimed performance in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's *Merrily We Roll Along*. This article provides a deep dive into the 2024 ceremony, a complete profile of the current winner, a look at the award's storied history, and a glimpse into the actors expected to compete for the prize at the upcoming 2025 Tony Awards.

Jonathan Groff: The Current Reigning Tony Winner (2024)

The 77th Annual Tony Awards, held in June 2024, saw Jonathan Groff finally take home the coveted prize for his work in a beloved Stephen Sondheim classic, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

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Biography and Profile of Jonathan Groff

• Full Name: Jonathan Drew Groff
• Born: March 26, 1985, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• Role/Musical (Winning): Franklin Shepard in the 2023-2024 Broadway revival of *Merrily We Roll Along*.
• Tony Award Win: Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (2024).
• Previous Tony Nominations: Best Leading Actor in a Musical for *Spring Awakening* (2007) and Best Featured Actor in a Play for *Hamilton* (2016).
• Notable Broadway Roles: Melchior Gabor (*Spring Awakening*), King George III (*Hamilton*).
• Screen Career Highlights: Jesse St. James on the Fox series *Glee*, Holden Ford on the Netflix series *Mindhunter*, and the voice of Kristoff in the Disney *Frozen* franchise.
• Significance of Win: Groff’s win was widely celebrated, marking his first Tony Award after two previous nominations. It cemented his status as a modern-day Broadway icon and a definitive interpreter of Stephen Sondheim's complex work.

Groff's portrayal of Franklin Shepard, a talented but morally compromised composer, was lauded for its emotional honesty and masterful handling of the musical's reverse-chronological structure. The role is considered one of the most challenging in the musical theater canon, and his victory was a highlight of the ceremony, which also saw his co-star Daniel Radcliffe win for Featured Actor in a Musical.

The 2024 Tony Award Nominees: A Year of Stellar Performances

The 2024 race for Best Leading Actor in a Musical was intensely competitive, featuring a mix of seasoned veterans and breakout stars. The nominees showcased the incredible range of talent currently on Broadway, from classic revivals to brand-new, original works.

The full list of nominees for the 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:

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• Jonathan Groff (Winner) - Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along
• Brody Grant - Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders
• Dorian Harewood - Noah Calhoun in The Notebook
• Brian d'Arcy James - The Baker in Into the Woods (Note: Brian d'Arcy James was nominated in 2023 for *Into the Woods*. The 2024 nomination for him was for the role of The Baker in the 2023-2024 season. *Correction: Brian d'Arcy James was nominated for *Days of Wine and Roses* in 2024. The data from the search result was a bit ambiguous, but a quick check confirms the correct 2024 nomination.* Let's use the confirmed list from the search: Jonathan Groff, Brody Grant, Dorian Harewood, Brian d'Arcy James, and Eddie Redmayne.
• Brian d'Arcy James - Kian in Days of Wine and Roses
• Eddie Redmayne - The Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Brody Grant, in his Broadway debut, was nominated for his performance in the new musical *The Outsiders*, which won the award for Best Musical. Meanwhile, Eddie Redmayne, already an Oscar winner, received a nomination for his highly stylized and acclaimed turn as The Emcee in the revival of *Cabaret*. The diversity of roles—from a 1920s Emcee to a 1970s composer and a 1960s greaser—underscored the vibrant state of musical theatre.

The Pantheon of Broadway: Historical Context and Record Holders

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical has been presented annually since the inaugural Tony Awards ceremony in 1947, recognizing the most profound and memorable performances on the New York stage.

The Two-Time Winners Club

Achieving a single Tony Award is a career-defining moment, but a select group of actors have managed to win the Leading Actor in a Musical category multiple times, setting a high bar for excellence. Nine actors are tied for the record of most wins in this category, with a total of two victories each. Among the most famous two-time winners are:

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• Nathan Lane: Widely regarded as a Broadway legend, Lane won for playing Pseudolus in *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* (1996) and for his iconic portrayal of Max Bialystock in *The Producers* (2001).
• Robert Preston: Won for his performance as Harold Hill in the original 1958 production of *The Music Man* and again for *I Do! I Do!* (1967).
• John Cullum: A two-time winner for *Shenandoah* (1975) and *On the Twentieth Century* (1978).

The Most Awarded Roles

Interestingly, some roles have proven to be so rich and demanding that multiple actors have won the Tony for playing the same character in different productions. The role of Pseudolus in *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* holds the record, having led three actors to a Tony win. Similarly, the role of Tevye in *Fiddler on the Roof* is also a multiple-time winner.

The award has also served as a launchpad for major Hollywood stars, including Matthew Broderick for *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!* (1995) and Hugh Jackman, who won a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2004 for *The Boy from Oz*, demonstrating the crossover appeal of Broadway talent.

Looking Ahead: 2025 Tony Award Predictions and Buzz

As the current Broadway season progresses, the anticipation for the 78th Annual Tony Awards in 2025 is already building. Early buzz and critic predictions highlight several performances that are strong contenders to succeed Jonathan Groff.

The competition is shaping up to be fierce, with several high-profile actors and brand-new musicals premiering this season. While the final nominations will not be announced until the spring, the following actors are frequently cited in early discussions for the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category:

• Darren Criss: Known for his screen work in *Glee* and his previous Broadway appearances, Criss is a major contender for a leading role in one of the season’s highly anticipated new musicals.
• Jeremy Jordan: A powerful vocalist and veteran Broadway performer, Jordan is often mentioned as a perennial favorite, with his performance in a new production generating significant critical discussion.
• Other Potential Entities: The success of new musicals like *Dead Outlaw* and revivals such as *Buena Vista Social Club* will undoubtedly introduce other strong contenders into the race, keeping the category dynamic and unpredictable.

The Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical is more than just an accolade; it is a historical marker of the best male stagecraft of a given year. From the enduring legacy of Nathan Lane and Robert Preston to the contemporary brilliance of Jonathan Groff, the award continues to celebrate the art form's most compelling and unforgettable leading men.