ENTERTAINMENT
What is Jonathan Groff most famous for? The actor and singer’s biggest TV and movie roles
Broadway star Groff has moved out of his comfort zone in recent years, receiving critical acclaim for his performance in Netflix crime series ‘Mindhunter’.
Jonathan Groff has had an increasingly varied acting career since first appearing on our screens in ABC soap opera One Life to Live in 2007.
Groff’s musical beginnings in Glee and Frozen
A Broadway regular since he was a teenager, the now 39-year-old will, for some TV viewers, forever be synonymous with his role as Jesse St. James in Glee, appearing as a recurring guest star in 15 episodes in the musical-comedy-drama between 2009 and 2015.
Given his background, it’s perhaps not a surprise his initial steps into the acting world had musical connections. Disney fans will, of course, recognise his voice as much as his appearance, as he has voiced the roles of both Kristoff and Sven in the Frozen franchise, which has spanned two full-length movies and three short films, since 2013.
Critical acclaim in Hamilton
His performance as King George III in the biographical musical Hamilton earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award, along with the rest of the cast, for Best Musical Theater Album. Later, he also received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his part in a Disney+ live stage recording of the musical.
Groff plays lead role in Netflix series Mindhunter
But Groff has since moved out of his comfort zone out and shown his versatility in recent years, most notably in Netflix crime thriller series Mindhunter. The Pennsylvania native plays main character Holden Ford, an FBI agent whose main responsibilities are to profile and interview serial killers, and investigate murder cases.
The series received critical claim and Groff’s performance as Ford earned him a Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Mindhunter was put on hold after two seasons, although there has been some suggestion it may resume further down the line.
In 2021, he starred in the fourth movie of The Matrix franchise (The Matrix Resurrections) alongside “originals” Keanu Reaves and Carrie-Anne Moss. And before too much longer, Groff will appear as a guest star in science-fiction series Dr. Who, which has something of a cult following in the United Kingdom in particular.