Casey Likes

Casey Likes (born December 25, 2001) is an American actor. He is known for playing Marty McFly in the 2023 Broadway production of Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre and originating the role of William Miller in the musical theatre adaptation of the film Almost Famous in 2019 in San Diego and then on Broadway in 2022. From 2025 to 2026, he starred as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers at New World Stages.

Early life Likes was raised in Chandler, Arizona. His mother, Stephanie Likes, is also an actor and appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway and on a national tour.

Likes performed in school and community theatre in and around his hometown. As a result, Likes was a contestant in that year's Jimmy Awards in New York City where he was selected as one of the eight finalists.

Career His first professional stage role was William Miller in the musical Almost Famous at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California. The production ran from September to October 2019. When it transferred to Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre from November 2022 to January 2023, Likes again played William Miller, garnering a 2023 Theatre World Award. He appears on the cast recording.

Between his two runs in Almost Famous, Likes appeared in season 2 of Crypt TV's web series The Birch as Brian Moses (2021). In 2021, he wrote, directed and acted in a short film titled Thespians, also starring Sydney Lucas, Andrew Barth Feldman, Rob McClure, and Antonio Cipriano. Likes starred as Richie Shepherd in the MGM horror film Dark Harvest (2023). He also played Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, in the Neil Bogart biopic Spinning Gold (2023).

Likes starred as Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway from June 2023 until it closed on January 5, 2025. For this performance he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

In 2024, he appeared on Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical concept album Warriors. He sang the role of Jesse. He directed and starred as Melchior Gabor in a production of Spring Awakening at Greasepaint Youtheatre in Scottsdale, Arizona, from April 4 to 13, 2025.

Likes starred as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers at New World Stages from June 2025 to April 2026.

Filmography Film and television + As an actor Year Title Role Notes 2010 Everything Must Go Young Nick in 1969 2010 Cowboys vs. Vampires Steve 2013 American Blackout Hank, Jr. TV movie 2015 Thrasherland Carpenter Short film 2018 Krampus: Origins Billy 2021 The Birch Brian Moses Web series, 4 episodes 2021 Thespians Mike Short film; also writer, director and producer 2023 Spinning Gold Gene Simmons 2023 Dark Harvest Richie Shepard 2026Sheriff CountryPaul

+ As a filmmaker Year Title Role Notes 2020 I Got You writer, director, producer and cinematographer Short film

Stage Year Show Role Theatre Notes 2019 Almost Famous William Miller Old Globe Theatre Pre-Broadway production 2022 The Outsiders Ponyboy Curtis n/a Workshop production 2022–2023 Almost Famous William Miller Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway debut 2023–2025 Back to the Future: The Musical Marty McFly Winter Garden Theatre Broadway 2025 Spring Awakening Melchior Gabor Greasepaint Theater Regional; Also director 2025–2026 Heathers: The Musical Jason “J.D.” Dean New World Stages Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations + Stage Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2023 Theatre World Award Almost Famous 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Back to the Future: The Musical