Christian Borle

Christian Dominique Borle (born October 1, 1973) is an American actor and singer. He is a two-time Tony Award winner for his roles as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher and as William Shakespeare in Something Rotten!. Borle also originated the roles of Prince Herbert, et al. in Spamalot, Emmett in Legally Blonde, and Joe in Some Like It Hot on Broadway, earning Tony nominations for the latter two. He starred as Marvin in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos, which also earned him a Tony nomination. His first leading role on Broadway was Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He would later also star as Bert in Mary Poppins and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also portrayed Orin Scrivello in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Borle starred as Tom Levitt on the NBC musical-drama television series Smash and Vox in the adult animated black comedy musical series Hazbin Hotel.

He has been nominated for five Tony awards and won two, and he also won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for the original cast recording of Some Like It Hot in 2024.

Early life Christian Dominique Borle was born on October 1, 1973, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Andre Bernard Borle (1930–2011), a professor of physiology at the University of Pittsburgh. His love for Star Wars and drawing made him dream of becoming a comic book artist when he grew up, but it was only when a friend convinced him to audition for a school play in his second year at Shady Side Academy that he began to develop an interest in acting.

Borle attended the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University, graduating in 1995. After he graduated, he moved to New York City and landed his first acting job. He worked as an elf at Macy's Santaland.

Career 1995–2004: Early career, Broadway debut and Thoroughly Modern Millie Soon after moving to New York City, Borle was cast in The Who's Tommy. Returning to the states, he joined the national tour of West Side Story in 1996, as a replacement for the role of Riff. Borle was next cast as Willard Hewitt in the first national tour of Footloose, which opened on December 15, 1998.

After his tenure as Willard, Borle made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. He left the production after two months to reprise his role of Willard Hewitt (succeeding Tom Plotkin) in the Broadway production of Footloose in June 2000. Soon after joining the company, the show received its closing notice, and Borle remained with the show for a few weeks through its final performance on July 2, 2000.

He was the dance captain and understudy for several characters for the short-lived 2002 musical Amour.

Borle appeared in a 2003 advertisement for the California-based online auction company eBay. In the 30-second TV spot, Borle plays a store clerk who breaks into song and dance when asked about a product. The song, "That's on eBay", was a parody of the Dean Martin standard "That's Amore". Also in 2003, he replaced Gavin Creel in the role of Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He married his co-star, actress Sutton Foster, who had played Millie, in September 2006. Borle and Foster divorced in 2009.

2005–2010: Spamalot, Legally Blonde and Mary Poppins Borle performed in Monty Python's Spamalot, in which he originated a number of roles, including Prince Herbert, the Historian, Not Dead Fred, A French Guard, and Sir Robin's Minstrel. His performance earned him a 2005 Drama Desk Award nomination as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical. He is known for originating the role of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde on Broadway, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. The musical is based on MGM's 2001 film of the same name.

He was featured in the Encores! staged concert version of On the Town as Ozzie in November 2008. He appeared in a workshop production of a new play titled Peter and the Starcatcher in 2009. He played Bert in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins, replacing Adam Fiorentino in the role on October 12, 2009, and then left the cast on July 15, 2010.

In 2010, he played a golf caddy in the film The Bounty Hunter. In Fall 2010/Winter 2011, Borle played the role of Prior Walter in Signature Theatre Company's 20th anniversary production of Tony Kushner's Angels in America.

2011–2014: Smash and Peter and the Starcatcher On February 25, 2011, it was announced that Borle had joined Steven Spielberg's new NBC pilot Smash with Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Brian d'Arcy James, and Megan Hilty. The series follows a cross-section of characters who come together to mount a Marilyn Monroe-themed musical (which is called Bombshell) on Broadway. In May 2011, it was reported that NBC had picked up the show as a series for the 2011–2012 season. In March 2012, NBC announced it would renew the series for a second season with 15 episodes. The show was officially cancelled by NBC in May 2013.

Borle was a member of the original cast in the Regional and Off-Broadway productions of Peter and the Starcatcher that ran until April 24, 2011. He reprised the role of "Black Stache" on Broadway in April 2012, where his performance earned him his second Tony Award nomination and first win as Best Featured Actor in a Play. He ended his run in the Broadway production of Peter and the Starcatcher on June 30, 2012, ahead of taping for Smash, which began in August 2012.

Borle played Max Dettweiler in the live television production of The Sound of Music Live!, which aired on NBC on December 5, 2013. He played Mr. Darling and Mr. Smee in the live TV production of Peter Pan Live!, which aired on NBC on December 4, 2014.

2015–2018: Something Rotten!, Falsettos and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory He won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for the role of William Shakespeare in Something Rotten!, which opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 23, 2015, in previews and officially on April 22, 2015. Borle provided the voice of Mr. Bungee on the cast recording of Encores! A New Brain. Dan Fogler, who played the part onstage, was unable to record the album as he was busy filming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Borle played Marvin in the limited Broadway revival of Falsettos, directed by James Lapine, alongside Andrew Rannells and Stephanie J. Block who played Whizzer and Trina, respectively. Borle left the cast of Something Rotten! on July 16, 2016, to prepare for Falsettos, which opened in previews on September 29, 2016, and officially on October 27, 2016. Borle was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance. The show closed on January 8, 2017, after 30 previews and 84 performances.

Borle also made an appearance with his former wife, Sutton Foster, in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. His musical talents were used in Episode 3 for the Star's Hollow musical, which walked through the history of the quirky small town. The two had "found Gilmore Girls together and became fans of the show long before there were talks of a revival. For both actors, being a part of the Stars Hollow world was a special experience because they already loved the show before they became involved with it."

On May 9, 2016, it was announced that Borle would play Willy Wonka in the Broadway production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, which opened on March 23, 2017. A cast album was announced March 21, 2017. The show played its final performance on January 14, 2018.

Borle made his directorial debut with Popcorn Falls, which premiered at the Riverbank Theatre in Marine City, Michigan. The show ran from August 18–27, 2017. It was such an unexpected success that the theatre had to add extra performances to keep up with demand.

In March 2018, it was announced that Borle would again reunite with Sutton Foster, this time for two episodes of her TV show Younger as a journalist named Don Ridley. He was also announced as the lead in the Encores! production of Me and My Girl, alongside former Mary Poppins co-star Laura Michelle Kelly.

2019–present: Little Shop of Horrors and Some Like It Hot In July 2019, it was announced that Borle would star as Orin Scrivello in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, which began previews at the Westside Theatre on September 17, 2019, with an official opening of October 17. Borle won a Lucille Lortel Award and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance.

In August 2021, it was announced that Borle would star in the 2022 Encores! season. Borle was cast as the Baker in Into the Woods, running from May 4–15, 2022. This would have been his third show in the 2022 Encores! season. Borle was ultimately replaced by Neil Patrick Harris.

In March 2022, it was announced that Borle was cast in a workshop for the new musical Some Like It Hot, an adaptation of the 1959 film of the same name, as Joe/Josephine. He originated this role on Broadway through the show's end on December 30, 2023, at the Shubert Theatre. He won a Grammy in 2024 for the original cast recording of Some Like It Hot in the Best Musical Theater Album category.

Borle voices Vox, a recurring antagonist in the adult animated dark comedy series Hazbin Hotel. The ongoing series premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.

Borle has directed two concerts in the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists series. In 2023, Borle directed Tale as Old as Time: The Songs of Howard Ashman, which starred Heather Ayers, John Cariani, Nadina Hassan, Manu Narayan, and Khadija Sankoh. In 2025, Borle directed The Lovers, The Dreamers, & Me: The Songs of Paul Williams in collaboration with his wife, the dancer and choreographer Skye Mattox, who co-wrote the program with Borle.

Personal life Borle met actress Sutton Foster in college and they married on September 18, 2006. They divorced in 2009. In 2012, Foster said that she and Borle remain friends and continue to support and appear in each other's work. In 2018, Borle began dating Broadway dancer and choreographer Skye Mattox, granddaughter of the dancer and choreographer Matt Mattox. Borle and Mattox married in 2024.

Theatre credits Year(s) Production Location Role Notes 1995 The Who's Tommy Offenbach, Germany Pinball Lad 1 Replacement 1996–1997 West Side Story National Tour Riff 1998–2000 Footloose National Tour Willard Hewitt 2000 Jesus Christ Superstar Ford Center for the Performing Arts Disciple Original Broadway Revival Cast Footloose Richard Rodgers Theatre Willard Hewitt Replacement 2001 The Baby and Johnny Project New York Theatre Workshop Billy Kostecki Just So North Shore Music Theatre Kangaroo / Cooking Stove / Bushbuck The 3 Musketeers, One Musical For All American Musical Theatre of San Jose Planchet Original American Cast 2002 Prodigal York Theatre Kane Flannery / Zach Marshall Original Cast Amour Music Box Theatre Dance Captain, Advocate (Understudy) / Bertrand (Understudy) / Dusoleil (Understudy) / Newsvendor (Understudy) / Painter (Understudy) Original Broadway Cast 2003 Elegies: A Song Cycle Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater Original Performer 2003–2004 Thoroughly Modern Millie Marquis Theatre Jimmy Smith Replacement 2004 Snoopy! The Musical New York City Center Snoopy Time After Time New York City Center H. G. Wells 2004–2005 Spamalot Shubert Theatre Historian / Not Dead Fred / French Guard / Minstrel / Prince Herbert 2005–2006 Shubert Theatre Original Broadway Cast 2005 The Flamingo Kid Workshop Performer 2007 Legally Blonde Golden Gate Theatre Emmett Forrest 2007–2008 Palace TheatreOriginal Broadway Cast 2008 On the Town Encores!New York City Center Ozzie 2009 Peter and the Starcatcher La Jolla Playhouse Black Stache, et al. 2009–2010 Mary Poppins New Amsterdam Theatre Bert Replacement 2010–2011 Angels in America Signature Theatre Company Prior Walter, et al. 2011Peter and the Starcatcher New York Theatre Workshop Black Stache, et al. 2012 Brooks Atkinson Theatre Original Broadway Cast 2014 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Lincoln Center Adolfo Pirelli Little Me New York City Center Various Characters 2015–2016 Something Rotten! St. James Theatre The Bard / William Shakespeare Original Broadway Cast 2015 A New Brain Encores!New York City Center Mr. Bungee Cast Album Only 2016–2017 Falsettos Walter Kerr Theatre Marvin Original Broadway Revival Cast 2017–2018 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Willy Wonka Original Broadway Cast 2017 Popcorn Falls Riverbank Theatre Director & Dramaturg 2018 Me and My Girl Encores!New York City Center Bill Snibson 2019 The Who's Tommy John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Captain Walker 2019–2022 Little Shop of Horrors Westside Theatre Orin Scrivello & Others Original Off-Broadway Revival Cast 2022–2023 Some Like It Hot Shubert Theatre Joe / Josephine Original Broadway Cast2024 Bye Bye Birdie John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Albert Peterson Tammy Faye Palace Theatre Jim Bakker Original Broadway Cast 2026 Falsettos Carnegie Hall Marvin Reunion concert

Filmography Film Year Show Role Notes 1995 Stonewall Bar Patron Uncredited 2001 The Accident Delivery Guy Short (unreleased) 2010 The Bounty Hunter Caddy 2014 Shutterflies Lieutenant Burns Short Dinner Father Short 2015 Blackhat Jeff Robichaud

Television Year Show Role Notes 1998 Ghost Stories Trevor Mooney Episode: "Consumers" 2001 Law & Order Tanto Episode: "Swept Away" 2007 Legally Blonde: The Musical Emmett Forrest Filmed stage production 2008 Johnny and the Sprites Bridge Troll Episode: "The Bridge Troll" 2012–13 Smash Tom Levitt 32 episodes2013 The Sound of Music Live! Max Detweiler TV movie Funny or Die's Billy on the Street Himself Episode: "It's Debra Messing, You Gays!" 2013–15 The Good Wife Carter Schmidt 4 episodes 2014 Lifesaver Dr. Graham Permenter Pilot (unreleased) Lucky Duck Lucky (voice) TV movie Masters of Sex Frank Masters 3 episodes Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Live from Lincoln Center Adolfo Pirelli Filmed stage production Sofia the First Slickwell (voice) Episode: "Baileywhoops" Peter Pan Live! Smee/George Darling TV movie 2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Carl Episode: "Summer" 2017 Falsettos: Live from Lincoln Center Marvin Filmed stage production The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Himself Episode: "Jennifer Hudson; Chris Hayes; Christian Borle" 2018 Vampirina Rusty Topsail (voice) Episode: "Treasure Haunters" Younger Don Ridley 2 episodes Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Father Francis (voice) Episode: "Freebird" Elementary Dr. David Horowitz Episode: "The Visions of Norman P. Horowitz" 2018–21 The Good Fight Carter Schmidt 3 episodes 2019 Project Runway All Stars Himself – Willy Wonka Episode: "Pure Imagination" (special thanks) Until the Wedding Miles Pilot (not released) 2020Helpsters Mail Carrier Marty Episode: "Primmflandia Day/Marching Band Marsha" 2021 Prodigal Son Friar Pete 6 episodes Run the World Brett Episode: "Because... ADOS"2024 Evil Nell Episode: "Fear of the Unholy" Elsbeth Carter Schmidt 2 episodes 2024–present Hazbin Hotel Vox (voice) Recurring role; 9 episodes

Discography Cast albums 2003 - Prodigal (Original York Theatre Cast) 2003 - Elegies (Original Off-Broadway Cast) 2005 - Spamalot (Original Broadway Cast) 2007 - Legally Blonde: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast) 2013 - Bombshell (Smash TV Cast) 2013 - The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event (2013 TV Cast) 2014 - Peter Pan Live! (2014 TV Cast) 2015 - Something Rotten! (Original Broadway Cast) 2015 - James and the Giant Peach (World Premiere Cast) 2016 - A New Brain (2015 Encores! Cast) 2016 - Falsettos (Original Broadway Revival Cast) 2017 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Original Broadway Cast) 2019 - Little Shop of Horrors (The New Off-Broadway Cast) 2021 - Dreamland (Studio Cast) 2023 - Some Like It Hot (Original Broadway Cast)

Soundtrack albums 2013 - Bombshell 2024 - Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack) 2025 - Hazbin Hotel: Season Two (Original Soundtrack)

Singles 2013 - "Don't Say Yes Until I've Finished Talking" (featured in Smash Season 1) 2013 - "A Love Letter From the Times" (duet with Liza Minnelli, featured in Smash Season 2) 2013 - "Vienna" (featured in Smash Season 2) 2013 - "The Right Regrets" (duet with Debra Messing, featured in Smash Season 2) 2025 - "Hazbin Guarantee (Trust Us)" (with the cast of Hazbin Hotel, featured in Hazbin Hotel Season 2)

Awards and nominations