André De Shields

André De Shields is an actor, singer, director, choreographer, and composer whose career in American theater spans more than five decades. De Shields began his professional career in the Chicago production of "Hair" and quickly established a presence on the New York stage. He made his Broadway debut in the 1970s, performing as Xander in Stuart Gordon's science fiction play "Warp!" and later made his choreography debut in a Bette Midler revue. De Shields holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Arts in African American studies from New York University, where he serves as an adjunct professor.

De Shields gained recognition through a series of landmark Broadway productions. Prior to his Tony Award, he was known for performances in "The Wiz" (title role), "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Emmy Award), "Play On!" (Tony nomination), and "The Full Monty" (Tony nomination). He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for his performance in the NBC broadcast of "Ain't Misbehavin'." In addition to his Broadway work, De Shields wrote, choreographed, directed, and starred in "André De Shields' Haarlem Nocturne," a Broadway musical revue featuring standards from the American songbook, pop hits from the early 1960s, and his own songs. His regional theater work has earned him three Jeff Awards, with his most prolific appearances on the New York stage.

A defining moment in De Shields' career came with the Broadway musical "Hadestown." He is a triple-crown winner of the awards season, having won the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Grammy, and Tony Awards as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Hermes. He also received the Project1Voice Lifetime Achievement Award, the SAGE Joyce Warshow Lifetime Achievement Award, The York Theatre Company's Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre, and was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. His work continued with his portrayal of Old Deuteronomy in the reimagined "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," which was recognized with the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical, the Dorian Theater Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway Production, the LGBTQ Theater Trailblazer Award, and the AUDELCO Award, along with citations from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Obie Awards. He reprised his role when the production transferred to Broadway, earning another Tony nomination.

Beyond the stage, De Shields has appeared in film and television. He appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut film, "tick, tick... BOOM!" on Netflix, as a patron of the Moondance Diner in the musical scene for "Sunday." He also plays the supporting role of Jack in the Netflix comedy "Uncoupled." De Shields has appeared on television on Another World, Cosby, Sex and the City, Great Performances, Lipstick Jungle, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Elsbeth.

De Shields is also known for his activism and philanthropy. He has lived with HIV for more than three decades and publicly disclosed his status to advocate for the modernization of HIV criminalization laws as a spokesperson for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation's campaign, "HIV Is Not A Crime." GMHC honored him with the Howard Ashman Award for his advocacy and activism for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as LGBTQ+ communities. He has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at several colleges and universities, including Southern Methodist University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, SUNY Buffalo State University, Florida Atlantic University, CUNY's Hunter College, and NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. As a philanthropist, De Shields founded the André De Shields Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to benefit students who experience cultural marginalization, and an André De Shields Scholarship has been established at Boston's Berklee College of Music. De Shields' career bridges performance, advocacy, and mentorship in the Broadway and performing arts community.