Raul Esparza

Raúl Esparza made his New York debut in the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show. Broadway: Arcadia, Speed-the-Plow (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), The Homecoming (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award - Ensemble), Company (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Taboo (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award) and Cabaret.

He appeared in Shakespeare in the Park’s Twelfth Night and Off-Broadway in The Normal Heart, Comedians and tick, tick... BOOM!, which earned him an Obie Award. In 2005, he received the HOLA José Ferrer Acting Award.

Outside New York, Esparza portrayed Che in the National tour of Evita, and starred in the 2002 Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration: Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along. Regional credits include work at Steppenwolf, Goodman in Chicago, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. Esparza made his film debut in Sidney Lumet’s 2006 Find Me Guilty.

Other films include Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take and GWB. Television series credits: A Gifted Man (recurring), Pushing Daisies (recurring) and numerous guest star appearances.

Awards:

2013 El Museo del Barrio - Excellence in the Arts Honoree

2011 Ovation Award - Lead Actor in a Musical (Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson Theatre)

2009 Tony Award Nomination - Best Actor in a Play (Speed-the-Plow) Drama Desk Award Nomination - Outstanding Actor in a Play (Speed-the-Plow)

2008 Tony Award Nomination - Best Featured Actor in a Play (The Homecoming) Drama Desk Award - Outstanding Ensemble Performance (The Homecoming)

2007 Tony Award Nomination - Best Actor in a Musical (Company on Broadway) Drama Desk Award - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Company on Broadway) Outer Critics Circle Award - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Company on Broadway)

2006 Enquirer Acclaim Award - Outstanding Musical Lead Performance (Company at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) Cincinnatie Entertainment Award - Outstanding Acting Performance by a Visiting Actor (Company at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park)

2005 HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

2004 Tony Award Nomination - Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Taboo) Drama Desk Award - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Taboo) Drama League Honoree (Taboo) Drama League Honoree (The Normal Heart)

2003 Barrymore Award - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Green Violin)

2002 Drama League Honoree (Comedians) Helen Hayes Award Nomination - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Sunday in the Park with George)

2001 Obie Award - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (tick, tick, BOOM!) Drama Desk Nomination - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (tick, tick...BOOM!) Drama League Honoree (tick, tick...BOOM!)

2000 Theatre World Award - Outstanding New York Debut (The Rocky Horror Show)