Josh Gad

Early life

Joshua Ilan Gad was born in Hollywood, Florida, on February 23, 1981. is a real estate agent and his stepfather is an investment advisor. Gad has two older brothers, a stepbrother and a stepsister. His mother was born in Germany to an Ashkenazi Jewish family of Holocaust survivors. Gad was raised Jewish.

Graduating in 1999, Gad attended the University School of Nova Southeastern University. While there, he won the National Forensics League (NFL) National Tournament Championships for Original Oratory in 1998 and 1999. He also won the 1999 Humorous Interpretation at the National tournament in Phoenix. He then attended the Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts, where he graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama. He attended college with fellow Broadway stars Leslie Odom Jr. and Rory O'Malley, the latter of whom he based his portrayal of Olaf in Frozen on. During this time, he undertook a semester-long exchange at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Career

2002–2008: Early career

Gad made his film debut in the 2002 film Mary and Joe. In 2005, Gad made his television debut by guest-starring in an episode of the NBC medical drama series ER. The same year, he replaced Dan Fogler as William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway after Fogler left the show. Gad went on to star in the Fox sitcom Back to You as news director Ryan Church. The sitcom lasted one season from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, Gad had a supporting role in the drama film 21, and a leading role in the comedy film The Rocker.

2008–2012: ''The Book of Mormon'' and minor success on television

In 2010, he had a supporting role in the romantic comedy-drama film Love & Other Drugs opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. That same year, Gad had a voice role in the family comedy film Marmaduke. In 2011, Gad voiced Mondo in the MTV adult animated sitcom Good Vibes. That same year, Gad portrayed Elder Cunningham in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. The show opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011. His last performance was June 6, 2012. Gad was nominated for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and won for Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, along with his co-star Andrew Rannells.

In 2012, Gad had a leading role in the independent film She Wants Me. Also in 2012, Gad co-created, produced and starred in the NBC sitcom 1600 Penn. Both Good Vibes and 1600 Penn were canceled after one season. That same year, Gad voiced the molehog Louis in Ice Age: Continental Drift.

2013–2019: ''Frozen'' franchise and continued success

In 2013, he played Andrew in the film The Internship and starred as Steve Wozniak in the film Jobs. The same year, he voiced Olaf in the Disney film Frozen, re-collaborating with co-songwriter Robert Lopez from The Book of Mormon. In 2014, Gad co-starred in Zach Braff's film Wish I Was Here, playing the main character's brother.

In 2015, Gad starred alongside Kevin Hart and Kaley Cuoco in The Wedding Ringer and starred alongside Adam Sandler and Peter Dinklage in Pixels, a film about video game players who are recruited by the military to fight 1980s-era video game characters who have attacked the earth. That same year, Gad co-starred with Billy Crystal on the FX comedy series The Comedians, which premiered on April 9, 2015. The series was canceled after one season. In 2016, Gad voiced Chuck in The Angry Birds Movie, based on the game franchise of the same name.

In 2017, Gad voiced the dog Bailey in A Dog's Purpose. Also that year, he played LeFou in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon and co-starring with Emma Watson. Gad also starred in Reginald Hudlin's biographical drama Marshall, alongside Chadwick Boseman and Beauty and the Beast co-star Dan Stevens, and Gad played Hector MacQueen in a film adaptation of Agatha Christie's detective novel Murder on the Orient Express, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, alongside Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, and Daisy Ridley.

In 2019, Gad starred with Lupita Nyong'o and Alexander England in the Hulu horror-comedy Little Monsters. He also starred in A Dog's Journey, the sequel to A Dog's Purpose, reprising his role as Bailey. Also in 2019, Gad reprised his role of Olaf in the sequel Frozen 2 as well as the video game Kingdom Hearts III.

2020–present: Expanding ventures

In 2020, Gad returned to television by starring in two different television series. First, Gad starred in the HBO science fiction comedy series Avenue 5 opposite Hugh Laurie. The series premiered on January 19 and was renewed for a second season a month later. Second, Gad created, produced and starred in the Apple TV+ animated musical comedy series Central Park. The series received a two-season order from Apple with each season set to consist of thirteen episodes each. The series premiered on May 29.

He starred in the science fantasy adventure Artemis Fowl (2020), based on the book of the same name by Eoin Colfer. The film was initially set for a theatrical release but was changed to a streaming release on Disney+ due to the coronavirus pandemic. In September 2020 Gad joined Princess Bride Reunion, a virtual live script read-through of the 1987 movie, in the role of Fezzik, originally played by André the Giant. The A.V. Club review singled out his performance as "Josh Gad’s surprisingly moving Andre the Giant tribute... It was an impression in the gentlest, sweetest sense of the word, something remarked on repeatedly by the rest of the cast and host/moderator Patton Oswalt. 10s across the board."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, where people were encouraged to practice social distancing, Gad launched the YouTube series Reunited Apart, which reunites the cast, via video conferencing, of several popular movies and movie series including Back to The Future and Lord of the Rings. The series encourages its viewers to support non-profit charities such as Dig Deep, Project Hope and No Kid Hungry. In June, Gad announced that the episode on Ferris Bueller's Day Off would be the last, though the series later returned for a second season, which premiered in December 2020 with the cast of Wayne's World.

In the runup to the 2020 election, Gad joined other Broadway celebrities with the voter education nonprofit VoteRiders for a virtual party to raise awareness around the complexities of voter ID laws targeting at-risk voters.

In the TV series Wolf Like Me (2022-2023), Gad plays Gary, a widowed father, raising his troubled 11-year-old daughter and the healing journey that ensues when a mysterious woman struggling with lycanthropy enters their lives. He was also set to serve as co-creator, co-writer, and executive-producer for a Beauty and the Beast prequel limited series for Disney+, in which he would also reprise his role as LeFou as a series regular. However, the series was postponed indefinitely in February 2022 due to creative and scheduling issues. Gad was also announced to star as Nick Szalinski in the upcoming film Shrunk, a legacy-sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

From September 2023 to January 2024, he starred in Gutenberg! The Musical! * with Andrew Rannells. The Cast Recording with the two released on May 3, 2024 digitally and physically on May 17, 2024. Gad will make his debut as director with a biopic about Chris Farley with Paul Walter Hauser playing the lead role. Published by Dark Horse Comics in June 2024, Gad co-wrote alongside Ben and Max Berkowitz (Berkowitz Bros.) a four-issue comic book mini series, called The Writer, with interior art by Ariel Olivetti. The comic book series is inspired by Jewish folklore. Gad announced that he will be debuting his picture book called PictureFace Lizzy in fall of 2024.* Gad's Frozen co-star, Kristen Bell, has been announced to be narrating PictureFace Lizzy. Recently, Gad announced he will be publishing a memoir in 2025 called In Gad We Trust. He is set to star in Spaceballs 2, which is being produced by himself and Mel Brooks.

In early July 2025, was announced that Gad had joined the regional production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl as King Herod. However he had announced his withdrawal from the production later that month due to a COVID-19 infection, only to return for the final showing. He had a voice cameo as a mole named Paul Moldebrandt in Zootopia 2, released in 2025. In January 2026, Gad appeared as "a spoofed hyper-famous version of himself" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series Wonder Man.

Personal life

In 2004, Gad met actress Ida Darvish after the two were cast to play a married couple in the David Ives play All in the Timing. They married in 2008. They have two daughters. He is godfather to Bryce Dallas Howard and Seth Gabel's two children.

Gad has publicly talked about his struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, as part of his effort to combat mental health stigma and shame. As an effort towards quashing the mental health stigma, Gad joined other celebrities in 2018 in an ongoing project through the Child Mind Institute, titled #MyYoungerSelf. This campaign focuses on normalizing mental health, especially in kids. The website features Gad and other celebrities talking about their own personal struggles with mental health and how they've found the help they need, while they also encourage viewers to find what can specifically help them. Gad's YouTube series Reunited Apart helped him get through the pandemic and sheltering at home. While he was out of work for the duration of the pandemic, he was able to focus on the series and not let his mental health decline.

Gad has stated that while he loves the traditional aspects of Judaism and celebrates some traditions of his wife's Catholicism, he considers himself spiritual but not religious.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Web

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Book of Mormon Star Josh Gad". Playbill.
2. "Josh Gad biography".
3. (7 June 2017). "Today is my mom's birthday. She is the inspiration, the motivation & the primary reason that I am the person I am today. Love you @susangad".
4. (January 3, 2018). "Diversions – SD JEWISH JOURNAL".
5. (March 25, 2011). "Josh Gad Talks "Gigi: Almost American," "The Book Of Mormon," And Physical Comedy".
6. (May 24, 2014). "Josh Gad combats sadness with laughter". inquirer.net.
7. (July 2014). "To Have and Have Knot: Exploring Family Ties in 'Wish I Was Here'". Jewish Exponent.
8. (January 3, 2018). "Diversions – SD JEWISH JOURNAL".
9. Eric Spitznagel. (June 9, 2011). "Josh Gad Has No Formal Musical Training and Five-to-Two Odds That He'll Win the Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical". [[Vanity Fair (magazine).
10. Ellen Gamerman. "A Missionary From the Borscht Belt". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
11. "Nationals History".
12. (April 24, 2017). "Living the Dream with Rory O'Malley".
13. (March 9, 2017). "Beauty and the Beast's Josh Gad: controversy over the gay LeFou 'very blown out of proportion'". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
14. "Josh Gad to Replace Tony Winner Dan Fogler in Spelling Bee".
15. Matt Tobey. (May 6, 2009). "Josh Gad on the Daily Show". Comedy Central.
16. Rudolph, Ileane. (July 27, 2015). "Alumni Association: A roundup of ''The Daily Show''{{'}}s coolest Graduates". [[TV Guide]].
17. (August 27, 2015). "'Daily Show' correspondents: Where are they now?".
18. (2011). "About the Show". The Book of Mormon Musical.
19. (May 3, 2011). "2011 Tony Nominations Announced! 'The Book of Mormon' Leads With 14!". Broadway World.
20. (May 15, 2013). "Josh Gad Joins Zach Braff's 'Wish I Was Here'". Variety.
21. Sneider, Jeff. (February 26, 2014). "Adam Sandler to Star in Sony's Big-Budget Video Game Movie 'Pixels'". thewrap.com.
22. Maane Khatchatourian. (February 14, 2015). "Watch: Billy Crystal and Josh Gad in 'The Comedians' First Trailer". Variety.
23. (2016-08-26). "Josh Gad is Reincarnated Over and Over in the A Dog's Purpose Trailer".
24. (19 January 2017). "A Dog's Purpose filmmakers face animal cruelty accusations – BBC News". Bbc.com.
25. (March 13, 2015). "Josh Gad Joining Disney's Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
26. Clark, Stewart. (2017-10-30). "Lupita Nyong'o, Josh Gad to Star in Zombie Rom-Com 'Little Monsters'".
27. Petski, Denise. (2020-02-13). "'Avenue 5' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO".
28. Shoemaker, Allison. (September 14, 2020). "Mandy Patinkin's six-fingered sword and other delights from the Princess Bride reunion". AV Club.
29. O'Kane, Caitlin. (June 1, 2020). "Actor Josh Gad reunites stars of "Lord of the Rings" while raising money for kids in need". CBS News.
30. . (2020-06-18). ["Josh Gad reveals his next 'Reunited Apart' will also be his last"](https://www.connectradio.fm/2020/06/18/josh-gad-reveals-his-next-reunited-apart-will-also-be-his-last/).
31. Walsh, Michael. (December 7, 2020). "Josh Gad Reunited the WAYNE'S WORLD Cast". [[The Nerdist]].
32. Strause, Jackie. (2020-10-07). "Broadway Stars to Host Virtual Party to Educate At-Risk Voters".
33. Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells & More Host Voter Education Virtual Party".
34. Goldberg, Lesley. (March 6, 2020). "'Beauty and the Beast' Prequel Series in the Works at Disney+ (Exclusive)".
35. (February 10, 2022). "'Beauty and the Beast' Prequel Series Delayed at Disney Plus".
36. Andreeva, Nellie. (February 10, 2022). "'Beauty And The Beast' Prequel Series Not Going Forward At Disney+ For Now".
37. (2019-05-13). "Exclusive: 'Honey I Shrunk The Kid' Reboot 'Shrunk' in the Works With Josh Gad to Star".
38. Stephan, Katcy. (2024-04-12). "Chris Farley Biopic in the Works With Paul Walter Hauser to Star, Josh Gad to Direct".
39. Kit, Borys. (2024-04-05). "Josh Gad to Co-Write Comic Book 'The Writer,' Inspired by Jewish Folklore (Exclusive)".
40. Schedeen, Jesse. (2024-04-05). "The Writer: Josh Gad Makes the Jump to Comics In New Fantasy Series".
41. "Josh Gad Takes on Consumerism in Debut Children's Book: 'Let's Meet Each Other in the Middle' (Exclusive)".
42. "Kristen Bell to Narrate Josh Gad's New Picture Book: 'The Only Person for the Job' (Exclusive)".
43. "Josh Gad Announces New Memoir To Publish in 2025: 'I Am Thrilled To Share My Stories' (Exclusive)".
44. Stephan, Katcy. (2024-06-18). "'Spaceballs' Sequel in Development at Amazon MGM With Josh Gad Starring, Mel Brooks Producing".
45. Evans, Greg. (July 14, 2025). "Phillipa Soo & Josh Gad Join Hollywood Bowl's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Starring Cynthia Erivo – Update".
46. (July 30, 2025). "Josh Gad Withdraws From Jesus Christ Superstar Hollywood Bowl Concert Due to COVID".
47. Garner, Glenn. (2025-08-03). "Josh Gad Makes Surprise Return To 'Jesus Christ Superstar' After Covid Diagnosis: "What A Joy"".
48. Mendoza, Andrew McGowan,Giana Levy,Leia. (2025-11-26). "‘Zootopia 2’ Cast Guide: All the Hollywood Stars Voicing Animals in Disney’s Sequel".
49. (January 28, 2026). "Frozen Star's Shocking MCU Transformation: See Josh Gad Like Never Before!".
50. Gilcrease, Grayson. (June 19, 2020). "Josh Gad and Ida Darvish Actually Played a Married Couple Before Coupling Up in Real Life".
51. Ann Oldenburg. (February 18, 2014). "Josh Gad welcomes baby girl". [[USA Today]].
52. Erin Hill. (June 14, 2011). "Bryce Dallas Howard: I've Always Wanted My Dad to Direct Me". Parade.com.
53. Knot, Anneke. (2024-10-14). "Who Is Bryce Dallas Howard's Husband? All About Actor Seth Gabel".
54. "#MyYoungerSelf".
55. Berryman, Rachel. (2022-02-09). ""Reunited Apart": Charity Reunion Specials on YouTube in Lockdown". Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network.
56. (October 1, 2014). "Angry Birds Movie Voice Cast Announced, Includes Game of Thrones and SNL Vets". Yahoo News.
57. Hipes, Patrick. (October 30, 2017). "Lupita Nyong'o & Josh Gad To Star In Zombie Comedy 'Little Monsters'".
58. Schaffstall, Katherine. (January 29, 2019). "'A Dog's Journey' Trailer: Josh Gad Returns as Bailey in 'Dog's Purpose' Sequel".
59. "John Cohen (@JohnCohen1) on X".
60. (July 15, 2025). "Ariana Grande, Josh Gad to Lead 'Oh, The Places You'll Go!' Voice Cast".
61. Renner, Amy. (March 16, 2020). "Everything You Need to Know About Shrunk Movie (Development)". Movie Insider.
62. (February 19, 2015). "Sesame Street Season 45 Episode 4520 – Bert's Sign Painting Challenge". Muppet Central Forum.
63. Kelley, Seth. (May 14, 2015). "Watch 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Dominate 'Celebrity Jeopardy'". Variety.
64. Starner, Nina. (June 26, 2020). "Quibi just announced a Princess Bride remake you never expected to see".
65. Breznican, Anthony. (June 26, 2020). "Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride".
66. (2015). "[[Disney Infinity 3.0]]".