Ben Cook (actor)
American stage actor
Benjamin Tyler Cook (born December 11, 1997)[1] [2] is an American actor, singer and dancer, known for his work across stage and screen.
Cook has appeared on the Broadway stage in Ragtime , Billy Elliot the Musical (for which he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award ), Tuck Everlasting , Mean Girls , West Side Story , and Illinoise . He has also performed in two Broadway national tours, Billy Elliot the Musical and Newsies the Musical , and appeared on television in episodes of 30 Rock , House of Cards , Veep , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , and in the HBO film Paterno . He most recently appeared as a Jet in the 2021 film version of West Side Story and as Henry in the HBO Max horror series Pretty Little Liars (2022–present), a reboot of the original 2010s series .
Early life
Cook was born in Eden, North Carolina , and grew up in New York City and Lorton, Virginia .[3] He is the youngest child of Jill and Glenn Cook. His mother is the executive director of the American School Counsellor Association.[4] His father is a photographer, blogger, and publishing consultant.[5]
[6] He attended the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City for middle school and during high school.[7]
Career
Musical theatre
Cook performed in several productions as a child in Washington, D.C., including at Ford's Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts .[6] He made his Broadway debut at the age of eleven in Ragtime at the Neil Simon Theatre , understudying and performing the role of Edgar (The Little Boy).[6] [8] His next Broadway role was Tall Boy in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Imperial Theatre , and played the roles of Michael, then Billy in the North American National Tour of the production. His final tour performance as "Billy" was in Las Vegas, Nevada , on May 19, 2013.[9]
From the age of 16, he toured for a year and a half in the role of Race and occasionally performed the role of Crutchie as the understudy in the first national tour of Newsies the Musical .[6] [10] In January 2016, after over 500 performances, Cook left that tour and joined the original Broadway cast of Tuck Everlasting . Previews began in March 2016,[11] and the show closed the same May.[12]
Cook joined the ensemble of the musical adaptation of the film Mean Girls . Its pre-Broadway tryout began in October 2017 at the National Theatre, in Washington D.C.[13] [14] The show premiered on Broadway in April 2018.[8] He was set to appear in the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story as Riff, the leader of the Jets,[15] but he left the production after being injured in a preview performance.[16]
Film and television
On television, Cook appeared as young Jack on 30 Rock , in the episode "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish " (2010);[17] and as Walt in the episode of the HBO series Veep titled "The Choice" (2014).[18] He played Heather Dunbar's son in the episode "Chapter 27" of the Netflix series House of Cards (2013).[19] On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , he played Adam Turner in the episode "Great Expectations" (2017).[20]
Cook reprised his role of Race in Newsies in the film adaptation of the musical, which received a limited release in February 2017[21] [22] and later on Netflix before moving to Disney+.[23] [24] [25] In 2018, he appeared in the HBO film Paterno .[26]
He also appeared in the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story as Mouthpiece, a member of the Jets.[27]
Credits
Theatre
Theatre
Date
Title
Role
Theatre
Note
November 16, 2007 – December 30, 2007
A Christmas Carol
Tiny Tim [28]
Ford's Theatre
Washington D.C.
February 28, 2008 – April 13, 2008
Macbeth
Young Macduff[29]
Folger Shakespeare Library
December 2, 2008 – December 28, 2008
A Christmas Carol
Urchin, Ignorance, Turkey Boy
Ford's Theatre
February 3, 2009 – March 8, 2009
The Heavens Are Hung in Black
Tad Lincoln [30]
Lansburgh Theatre
April 18, 2009 – May 17, 2009
Ragtime
Understudy: Edgar (The little boy)[31]
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
November 15, 2009 – January 10, 2010
Understudy: Edgar (The little boy)[32] [33]
Neil Simon Theatre
Broadway
March 12, 2010 – April 4, 2010
The Golden Age
The Page[34]
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington D.C.
July 7, 2010 – October 14, 2011
Billy Elliot the Musical
Tall/Posh Boy, Understudy: Michael[35]
Imperial Theatre
Broadway
November 3, 2011 – January 22, 2012
Michael[36]
National Tour
National Tour
June 30, 2012 – May 19, 2013
Billy[37]
October 11, 2014 – January 31, 2016
Newsies the Musical
Race, Understudy: Crutchie[38]
Previews began: March 31, 2016 Opened on: April 26, 2016[39] [40] Closed on: May 29, 2016[41] [42]
Tuck Everlasting
Ensemble, Understudy: Jesse Tuck, Hugo[1]
Broadhurst Theatre
Broadway
October 31, 2017– December 3, 2017
Mean Girls
Ensemble[1]
National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
Pre-Broadway Out of Town Run
Previews began: March 12, 2018 Opened on: April 8, 2018 Cook's last performance: April 8, 2019[43]
August Wilson Theatre
Broadway
Previews began: December 10, 2019 Left production on: January 5, 2020
West Side Story
Riff
Broadway Theatre
June 23, 2023– July 2, 2023
Illinoise
Will/Player
Bard SummerScape
Regional
January 28, 2024– February 18, 2024
Carl/Player
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
March 2, 2024– March 26, 2024
Park Avenue Armory
Off-Broadway
April 24, 2024– August 10, 2024
St. James Theatre
Broadway
Film
Television
Awards
References
^ a b c Benjamin Cook. Performer , Playbill , 2016; retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ Benjamin Cook Theatre Credits , BroadwayWorld.com, 2016; retrieved February 12, 2015.
^ Growing Up "Normal" Archived January 10, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved October 18, 2015.
^ About ASCA. Contact Us Archived May 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , schoolcounselor.org; retrieved May 23, 2015.
^ About Me. A Biography in 178 Words Archived June 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
^ a b c d Russo, Gianluca. BWW Interview: Benjamin Cook of Tuck Everlasting Talks Dance and Broadway , Broadway World, March 11, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ "Lorton's Ben Cook, 14, takes starring role in 'Billy Elliot' national touring production - Metro Arts" . metropolitanarts.org . January 29, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2017 .
^ a b Benjamin Cook , Internet Broadway Database ; retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ "Meet Billy Elliot: Ben Cook" , TheSkyKid.com; retrieved January 30, 2016.
^ Disney NEWSIES official website Archived October 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ; retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ Tuck Everlasting Begins Broadway Previews Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016
^ Viagas, Robert. Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today , Playbill , May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016
^ Mean Girls musical officially finds its cast , Marc Snetiker. Entertainment Weekly . July 27, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017
^ Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced , Ryan McPhee. Playbill. July 27, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017
^ " 'West Side Story' Broadway Revival Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)" . The Hollywood Reporter . July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019 .
^ Meyer, Dan. "Dharon E. Jones Set to Take Over as Riff in West Side Story on Broadway" , Playbill , January 9, 2010
^ "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish" , imdb.com; retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ Ben on HBO's "Veep" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine , glenncook.virb.com; retrieved April 30, 2015.
^ "Ben Cook on 'House of Cards'” , kids-on-tour.net Kids on Tour; retrieved April 30, 2015.
^ THE KING AND I Press Coverage, Ben Cook on Law and Order: SVU, and more! Emily Lang. Kids On Tour. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ Disney Theatrical Productions Presents Disney's Newsies The Broadway Musical , Fathom Events. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ "Newsies" Movie Shooting Soon Glenn Cook: Words, Photos. August 10, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ "Horrible News: 'Beauty and the Beast' Is Leaving Netflix Next Month" . Glamour . February 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2023 .
^ Carly (July 1, 2020). "The Musical Theater Fan's Guide to Disney+" . D23 . Retrieved August 20, 2023 .
^ "The 14 best live-action musicals on Disney+" . Mashable . May 13, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023 .
^ Toby, Mekeisha Madden. "TV Review: Paterno With Al Pacino on HBO" , Variety , April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019
^ Fierberg, Ruthie (April 16, 2019). "Tony Nominee Mike Faist, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Maddie Ziegler, More Join Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Movie" . Playbill . Retrieved April 16, 2019 .
^ Ponick, Terry (January 9, 2012). "Ben Cook – talented young DC area performer is outstanding supporting player in Billy Elliot" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ "Macbeth Run Extended at Folger Theatre" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ FORD’S THEATRE REOPENS WITH A WORLD PREMIERE OF THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK Fords Theatre Heavens Release, January 30, 2009; retrieved February 9, 2016.
^ Diamond, Robert. "RAGTIME to Be Filmed January 8 for Lincoln Center Archives" . Broadwayworld.com . Retrieved May 30, 2012 .
^ "Photo Flash: RAGTIME Plays Final Show on Broadway January 10" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ "Benjamin Cook" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ "Walter Bobbie Directs GOLDEN AGE At The Kennedy Center 3/12-4/4" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ "Cast list for Billy Elliot at the Imperial Theatre" . Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ "Meet Billy Elliot: Ben Cook" . BETM . October 20, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2018 .
^ "Ben Cook and Noah Parets Join BILLY ELLIOT's National Tour" . May 19, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012 .
^ "Seize the Day!: National Tour of Disney's Newsies Launches Today" . October 11, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2015 .
^ "Broadway Premiere of 'Tuck Everlasting' Sets Complete Cast" , Broadway.com, January 15, 2016; retrieved February 9, 2016.
^ Tuck Everlasting Opens on Broadway Tonight Robert Viagas. Playbill. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016
^ "Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Posts Closing Notice" Archived May 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Robert Viagas. Playbill, May 24, 2016
^ Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016
^ Cook, Ben. "@bentylercook instagram" . @bentylercook instagram . Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2019 .
^ Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish 30 Rock. Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ Chapter 27 House of Cards. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ The Choice Veep. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ Great Expectations Law & Order SVU. Great Expectations. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
^ Petski, Denise (March 10, 2021). " 'The First Lady': Aya Cash, Jake Picking, Ben Cook Among 8 Cast In Showtime Anthology Series" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 10, 2021 .
^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (September 1, 2021). " 'Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin': Carson Rowland, Jordan Gonzalez Among 5 To Recur In HBO Max Reboot" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 2, 2021 .
^ Lehman, Daniel. "Helen Hayes Award Nominees Announced" . Retrieved May 29, 2012 .
^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 23, 2024). "Dead Outlaw Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List" . Playbill .
External links