Justin Cooley

Justin Cooley
Cooley in 2026
Born (2003-06-23) June 23, 2003 (age 23)
OccupationActor

Justin Cooley (born June 23, 2003) is an American actor. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Seth in the off-Broadway and Broadway theatre productions of Kimberly Akimbo in 2022 and 2023.

Life and career

Cooley was born to Paul and Julie. He grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and he attended Olathe East High School. He was named outstanding actor in a lead role for the Blue Star Awards, a regional theatre competition for high school students, and became a finalist for the Jimmy Awards. He enrolled at Texas Christian University, but received an offer to join the cast of Kimberly Akimbo and quickly deferred school for one semester to join the production off-Broadway as Seth. Cooley earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination for Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Awards nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and a Theatre World Award for his performance in the off-Broadway production.

Cooley made his Broadway debut when Kimberly Akimbo moved to the Booth Theatre. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance.

Cooley has been announced to portray Leaf Coneybear in New World Stages' production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which opened November 17th, 2025.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2026 Pizza Movie Byron Film debut

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2021 Kimberly Akimbo Seth Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway premiere
2022 Booth Theater Broadway
2025 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Leaf Coneybear New World Stages Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Kimberly Akimbo Nominated
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Theatre World Award Honoree
2023 Tony Awards Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2026 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Nominated
Dorian Award Outstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway Production Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Adler, Eric (June 9, 2023). "'Trial by fire': How this 19-year-old went from Olathe East to Broadway to Tony Awards". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tauer, Kristen (December 5, 2022). "Justin Cooley Makes His Broadway Debut in 'Kimberly Akimbo'". Yahoo.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gutierrez, Lisa (May 3, 2023). "Johnson County 19-year-old is up for a Tony Award for debut role in Broadway musical". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Paulson, Michael (April 26, 2023). "Meet the 19-Year-Old 'Kimberly Akimbo' Actor Who's Charming Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2022). "Nominees for 71st Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced". Playbill.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Kevin McHale to Lead the Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Playbill.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  7. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 20, 2026). "2026 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  8. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Outer Critics Circle Award 2026 Nominations". New York Theater. April 21, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  12. ↑ Abourizk, Michael (May 13, 2026). "Dorian Theater Awards announces 2026 nominees". Broadway News. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  13. ↑ Mandell, Jonathan (May 13, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead". New York Theater. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  14. ↑ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween". New York Theater. Retrieved June 1, 2026.