Eric Anderson (actor)

Career in California

In 2006, Anderson won the inaugural Joel Hirschhorn award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre, awarded by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. He received two San Diego Critics Circle Craig Noel Awards and multiple Back Stage West Garland Awards as best actor in a musical.

His performances on the West Coast have included Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Richard M. Nixon in Judy's Scary Little Christmas, and Burrs in both versions of The Wild Party. Anderson is a member of the Troubadour Theater Company.

He left California in 2007 to play Merlyn in a U.S. national tour of Camelot opposite Michael York, and moved to New York in 2008. In 2020, he returned to the West Coast to play Captain Hook in Fly at La Jolla Playhouse.

Broadway

In 2009, Anderson made his Broadway debut as Stewpot in the Tony award-winning revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center. He was in the original Broadway casts of Kinky Boots, written by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, Rocky the Musical, The Last Ship written by Sting, and Soul Doctor at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where he received critical acclaim for his starring role as Shlomo Carlebach. Anderson was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his portrayal in the pre-Broadway production at New York Theatre Workshop. Anderson originated the role of Cal in the musical adaption of Waitress on Broadway, written by Sara Bareilles. Anderson also played the role of Barney Thompson in the musical adaptation of Pretty Woman. In 2022, he took over the role of Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre; after Danny Burstein's departure from the show. In 2024, he originated the role of Meyer Wolfsheim in the Broadway production of The Great Gatsby.

Film and television

Anderson portrayed Mr. O'Malley in The Greatest Showman (2017), and has had guest roles on television, including Elementary, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Alias. He reprised his role as Cal in Waitress: The Musical filmed on Broadway in 2021 and released in cinemas in 2023.

Personal life

Anderson is married to actress Jessica Rush, and has a daughter, Elliot.

Theatre credits

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle – LADCC Awards".
2. "2002 Awards".
3. [http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news/jan09/pacific06jan09.htm/ Pacific News], New York Theater Guide, January 9, 2006
4. "''Kinky Boots'' Cast".
5. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/178479-Shlomo-Carlebach-Musical-Soul-Doctor-Will-Play-Broadways-Circle-in-the-Square-This-Summer-Eric-Anderson-Will-Star "Shlomo Carlebach Musical Soul Doctor Will Play Broadway's Circle in the Square This Summer; Eric Anderson Will Star"] playbill.com, May 29, 2013
6. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-verdict-critics-review-shlomo-carlebach-musical-soul-doctor-on-broadway-208587 "The Verdict: Critics Review Shlomo Carlebach Musical 'Soul Doctor' On Broadway"] playbill.com, August 16, 2013
7. Clark, Jason. [http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/04/29/2013-drama-desk-nominations/ "Tom Hanks, Bette Midler and Steve Martin among 2013 Drama Desk Nominations"] {{Webarchive. link. (May 2, 2013 popwatch.ew.com, April 29, 2013)
8. Viagas, Robert. [http://playbill.com/news/article/christopher-fitzgerald-joins-cast-of-broadway-bound-waitress-tix-info-announced-370116/ "Christopher Fitzgerald Joins Cast of Broadway Bound ''Waitress''"] {{Webarchive. link. (February 2, 2016 playbill.com, November 4, 2015)
9. "Inside the Playbill: ''Kinky Boots'' Opening Night at Al Hirschfeld Theatre". [[Playbill]].
10. Zinoman, Jason. (August 15, 2012). "T''Religious Roots Tangle With the Groovy '60s''". [[The New York Times]].
11. (November 25, 2013). "Complete Cast and Creative Team Announced for Rocky on Broadway". Playbill.
12. [https://ovrtur.com/recording/178953518 parade lincoln center]
13. [http://gulfnews.com/life-style/celebrity/jessie-mueller-to-star-in-sara-bareilles-s-waitress-1.1493583 "Jessie Mueller to Star in Sara Bareilles 'Waitress'"] gulfnews.com
14. (June 22, 2015). "Sara Bareilles' Waitress Musical, Starring Jessie Mueller, Reveals Complete Cast". Playbill.
15. (November 5, 2015). "'Waitress' Musical Adds Kimiko Glenn of 'Orange is the New Black'".
16. Clement, Olivia. (November 22, 2017). "'Pretty Woman' Musical Finds Its Broadway Home, Sets Summer 2018 Opening"". Playbill.
17. [https://playbill.com/article/opening-upagain-waitress-returns-to-broadway-september-2 Opening Up…Again: Waitress Returns to Broadway September 2]
18. [https://playbill.com/article/eric-anderson-joins-cast-of-broadways-moulin-rouge-the-musical-january-18 Eric Anderson Joins Cast of Broadway's Moulin Rouge the Musical]
19. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Noah-J-Ricketts-Samantha-Pauly-Eric-Anderson-and-More-Join-the-Cast-of-THE-GREAT-GATSBY-on-Broadway-20240201 Noah J. Ricketts, Samantha Pauly, Eric Anderson, and More Join the Cast of THE GREAT GATSBY on Broadway]
20. [https://lajollaplayhouse.org/show/3-summers-of-lincoln/ La Jolla Playhouse 3 Summers of Lincoln]