Raúl Esparza
{{Short description|American actor (born 1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raúl Esparza
| image = RaulEsparza-byPhilipRomano.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Esparza in 2025
| birth_name = Raúl Eduardo Esparza
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|24}}
| birth_place = Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
| alma mater = New York University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Michelle Perez|1994|2008|end=divorced}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Raúl Eduardo Esparza (born October 24, 1970) is an American actor. Considered one of Broadway's most prominent leading men since the 2000s, he is best known for his Tony Award-nominated performance as Bobby in the 2006 Broadway revival of Company and for his television role as New York Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Rafael Barba in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where he had a recurring role in Season 14 and was promoted to a series regular in Seasons 15 to 19.
He made his Broadway debut in 2000 as Riff Raff in the revival of The Rocky Horror Show. Subsequently, he starred as Jonathan in the original Off-Broadway production of Tick, Tick... Boom! and Caractacus Potts in the original Broadway production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005. He received Tony nominations for his roles as Philip Sallon in the Boy George musical Taboo in 2004; Bobby in the musical comedy Company in 2006; Lenny in Harold Pinter's play The Homecoming in 2008; and Charlie Fox in David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow in 2009. Most recently, he starred in the Off-Broadway productions Road Show and Seared in 2019, and Oliver! in 2023.
Esparza has been nominated in all Tony categories for which an actor is eligible. He is widely regarded for his versatility on stage, having performed musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Boy George, the Sherman Brothers and in plays by Mamet, Pinter, William Shakespeare, Tom Stoppard, and more.
His film work includes Sidney Lumet's Find Me Guilty and Wes Craven's My Soul to Take, and his television credits include roles on The Path, Medium, Hannibal and Pushing Daisies. He narrated the audiobook for Stephen King's Under the Dome as well as several others, and he has sung in concerts across the country.
Early life
Raúl Esparza was born in Wilmington, Delaware, to Cuban parents, María Elena Cecilia García y Gutiérrez and Raúl Esparza y Rues, who had fled Fidel Castro's regime.Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 4, 2022 While his paternal grandfather had been established in Castro's sugar ministry, his father's family grew disillusioned with the government and, in 1966, his father and grandmother escaped to the U.S. by boat, while his grandfather defected through Spain. Esparza's maternal grandfather had originally moved to Cuba from Figueres, Alt Empordà, Catalonia, Spain.
Esparza was raised in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Belen Jesuit in 1988 and won a Silver Knight Award in Drama that same year.The International Jesuit Alumni Directory Belen (Forum Press Inc., 1994) In 1992, Esparza received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and a Bachelor's degree in English from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.{{cite web|date=August 6, 2015|title=Grad Acting Alumnus Raúl Esparza on Shakespeare in the Park|url=https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting-alumnus-raul-esparza-on-shakespeare-in-the-park|access-date=2017-05-20|website=tisch.nyu.edu}}
Esparza participated in the genealogy program Finding Your Roots, during Season 8, Episode 3. He learned during the episode that his Catalan great-great-grandparents founded Garcia de Pou Restaurant Supply Store in Madrid, still owned and operated by members of his family. He also learned that another branch of his family came from the small town of Navata, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, where they can be traced back fourteen generations.{{Cite web | url=https://video.ideastream.org/video/children-of-exile-pqt7ts/ | title=Finding Your Roots | Children of Exile | Season 8 | Episode 3 | date=July 2023 }}
Career
=Theatre=
==Broadway theatre==
Esparza first drew attention with his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, which won him the Theatre World Award. Esparza's other Broadway credits include Cabaret (2001), Taboo (2003), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2005), and Stephen Sondheim's Company (2006). He received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 58th Tony Awards and won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in Taboo. His performance in Company earned him a second Tony nomination, this time for Best Actor in a Musical at the 61st Tony Awards, as well as his second Drama Desk Award, this time for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Beginning in November 2007, he appeared in Harold Pinter's play The Homecoming and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play at the 62nd Tony Awards. In 2008, he played Charlie Fox in the revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow co-starring Jeremy Piven and Elisabeth Moss on Broadway.{{cite news|last=Friedman|first=Roger|date=December 22, 2008|title='Entourage' Star Bashed For Being Diva|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/entourage-star-bashed-for-being-diva|access-date=January 1, 2021}} His performance in Speed-the-Plow earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play at the 63rd Tony Awards, making him the second performer (after Boyd Gaines) to be nominated in all four acting categories a performer is eligible for at the Tonys, although he has yet to win one.
Esparza appeared in a limited-engagement revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, which began previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on February 25, 2011, and opened on March 17, 2011.{{cite web|date=December 29, 2010|title=Crudup, Esparza, Williams & More to Star in ARCADIA; Begins at Barrymore Theatre on Feb. 25|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Crudup-Esparza-Williams-More-to-Star-in-ARCADIA-Begins-at-Barrymore-Theatre-on-Feb-25-20101229|website=BroadwayWorld}}
Esparza appeared in the musical Leap of Faith in the role of the "Reverend" Jonas Nightingale. He was involved in the workshop in 2008, the out-of-town tryout at the Ahmanson Theatre (Los Angeles) in 2010, and the Broadway production in 2012,{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=April 26, 2012|title=Leap of Faith, With Raúl Esparza at the Musical Pulpit, Opens on Broadway|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/leap-of-faith-with-raul-esparza-at-the-musical-pulpit-opens-on-broadway-com-192952|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=Playbill}} for which he received a 2012 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.{{cite web|last=Bacalzo|first=Dan|date=April 27, 2012|title=2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced|url=https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/2012-drama-desk-award-nominations-announced_55780.html|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=TheaterMania}}
==Other theatre==
In 1999, Esparza played Che in the national tour of Evita, opposite Natalie Toro. The tour was intended to open on Broadway, but failed to do so. In 2001, he appeared Off-Broadway in tick, tick... BOOM! by Jonathan Larson, garnering a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. He appeared in two musicals by Stephen Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along at the 2002 Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration.{{cite web|date=July 12, 2002|title=Merrily We Roll Along Begins Kennedy Center Previews July 12|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/merrily-we-roll-along-begins-kennedy-center-previews-july-12-com-107020|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=Playbill|language=en}} He also appeared as the Arbiter in the Actors Fund of America concert of Tim Rice's Chess in September 2003.{{cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=September 23, 2003|title=DIVA TALK SPECIAL: Julia and Josh Dazzle in All-Star Chess|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/diva-talk-special-julia-and-josh-dazzle-in-all-star-chess-com-115371|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=Playbill|language=en}}
In 2009, Esparza starred in a production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Delacorte Theater (New York) with Anne Hathaway, from June 25 through July 12.{{cite web|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=June 25, 2009|title=Hathaway, McDonald, White and Esparza Open Twelfth Night in Central Park June 25|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/hathaway-mcdonald-white-and-esparza-open-twelfth-night-in-central-park-june-25-com-162165|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=Playbill}} He starred as J. Bowden Hapgood in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert production of Anyone Can Whistle from April 8 to 11, 2010, opposite Sutton Foster as Fay Apple and Donna Murphy as the Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper.Healy, Patrick. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/theater/18arts-RALESPARZAJO_BRF.html "Raúl Esparza Joins Anyone Can Whistle"], The New York Times, March 17, 2010; accessed May 16, 2014.
In July 2013, Esparza starred in a production of The Cradle Will Rock at the New York City Center.{{Cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=July 11, 2013|title=A Tuneful Depression-Era Howl|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/theater/reviews/the-cradle-will-rock-a-30s-revival-at-city-center.html|access-date=2021-01-01|issn=0362-4331}}
In February 2018, Esparza played Freddie Trumper in the Kennedy Center's revival of Tim Rice's Chess. From October to December 2018, Esparza played the title role in Classic Stage Company's Off-Broadway production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. He was nominated for the 2019 Drama Desk Award for Best Actor for the role.{{cite web|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|date=April 25, 2019|title=Nominations for the 2019 Drama Desk Awards Announced; Oklahoma!, Tootsie, Rags Parkland Lead the Pack|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/nominations-for-the-2019-drama-desk-awards-announced-oklahoma-tootsie-rags-parkland-lead-the-pack#|website=Playbill}}
In July 2019, Esparza appeared in a production of Road Show at the New York City Center.{{cite web|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|date=June 24, 2019|title=Brandon Uranowitz, Raúl Esparza, More Set for Road Show at New York City Center|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/brandon-uranowitz-raul-esparza-more-set-for-road-show-at-new-york-city-center|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Playbill|language=en}} In October of the same year, Esparza played Harry in the off-Broadway comedy Seared by Theresa Rebeck.{{cite web|title=Seared|url=https://www.broadway.com/shows/seared/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Broadway.com|language=en}}
In April 2020, he was a host, executive producer, and performer in Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Celebration, a virtual concert in honor of the 90th birthday of composer Stephen Sondheim benefiting the charity organization ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty).{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Lindsey|date=April 26, 2020|title=Tonight! Spot the Slew of Stars Slated for Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/199172/tonight-spot-the-slew-of-stars-slated-for-take-me-to-the-world-a-sondheim-90th-birthday-celebration/|access-date=2020-07-28|website=Broadway.com|language=en}}
In December 2022, Esparza was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.[https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/epcot/candlelight-processional/ Candlelight Processional narrators 2022] In 2023, he starred as Fagin in Oliver! in New York's Encores! two-week run.{{cite web |title=Lionel Bart's Oliver! |url=https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2022-2023/oliver/ |website=New York City Center |access-date=8 January 2024}} In 2023, it was announced that he would star in the world premiere of the musical Galileo at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in summer 2024.{{cite web |last1=Masseron |first1=Meg |title=Raúl Esparza Will Star in World Premiere of Galileo Musical at Berkeley Rep |url=https://playbill.com/article/raul-esparza-will-star-in-world-premiere-of-galileo-musical-at-berkeley-rep |website=Playbill |access-date=6 December 2023}}
=Television=
In 2007, Esparza had a recurring role on the TV show Pushing Daisies as traveling salesman Alfredo Aldarisio, a role originally given to Paul Reubens. In 2009, Esparza recorded the audiobook Under the Dome by Stephen King. He has done narration for The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer{{cite book|title=The House of the Scorpion Audiobook|url=http://books.simonandschuster.com/House-of-the-Scorpion/Nancy-Farmer/9780743572477|access-date=January 25, 2010|publisher=Simon & Schuster|date=October 21, 2008|isbn=9780743572477}} and The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark.{{cite web|title=The Book of Unholy Mischief Audiobook|url=http://books.simonandschuster.com/Book-of-Unholy-Mischief/Elle-Newmark/9780743578035|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228104751/http://books.simonandschuster.com/Book-of-Unholy-Mischief/Elle-Newmark/9780743578035|archive-date=December 28, 2009|access-date=January 25, 2010|website=Simon & Schuster|df=mdy-all}} In January 2010, Esparza performed opposite Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Valarie Pettiford at the 92Y's Lyrics and Lyricist event honoring Desi Arnaz and his orchestra, Babalu: The American Songbook Goes Latin.{{cite web|url=http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T%2DTC5LL11|title=Lyrics & Lyricists—Babalu: The American Songbook Goes Latin|work=92Y.org|access-date=January 25, 2010}} In 2010, Esparza appeared as Abel Plenkov in Wes Craven's My Soul to Take.{{cite web|url=https://www.collider.com/2009/10/19/wes-cravens-258-becomes-my-soul-to-take|title=Wes Craven's 25/8 Becomes My Soul To Take|publisher=Collider.com|access-date=January 25, 2010|archive-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129193819/http://www.collider.com/2009/10/19/wes-cravens-258-becomes-my-soul-to-take|url-status=dead}}
From 2013 to 2015, Esparza appeared in the recurring role of Dr. Frederick Chilton in Hannibal.{{cite web|last=Cerasaro|first=Pat|date=May 2, 2013|title=Raul Esparza Makes Debut on HANNIBAL tonight|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Raul-Esparza-Makes-Debut-On-HANNIBAL-Tonight-20130502|access-date=June 12, 2013|website=BroadwayWorld}} He appeared in the 2016 film Custody, written and directed by James Lapine, as Luis Sanjaro an Administration for Children's Services agent.DeFore, John (April 18, 2016). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/custody-tribeca-review-884743 "'Custody': Tribeca Review"]. Hollywood Reporter.
==''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''==
In 2012, Esparza became a recurring actor on the long-running NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba, starting in the third episode of the show's 14th season, "Twenty-Five Acts".{{cite web|date=October 2, 2012|title=Raul Esparza Set to Appear on LAW & ORDER: SVU, 10/10|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Raul-Esparza-Set-to-Appear-on-LAW-ORDER-SVU-1010-20121002|access-date=October 2, 2012|work=BroadwayWorld}} He appeared in 11 episodes of the show's 14th season. On July 17, 2013, he was promoted to series regular for the show's 15th season.{{cite web|date=July 12, 2013|title=Justin Hartley Joins ABC's 'Revenge', Raul Esparza Upped To Regular On 'Law & Order: SVU'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/justin-hartley-revenge-abc-540001/|access-date=July 17, 2013|website=Deadline Hollywood}} His character became the first series-regular ADA since Stephanie March's character Alexandra Cabot in the 11th season and the first regular male ADA in series history. His role on SVU was not his first Law & Order franchise role, however, as he had previously portrayed ADA Kevin Mulrooney in a 2009 season 8 episode, "Lady's Man", of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Dennis Di Palma, a suspect in "Blackmail", a 2010 season 20 episode of the original Law & Order. On February 7, 2018, Esparza left SVU in the season 19 episode "The Undiscovered Country" after six seasons on the show.{{cite magazine|last=Abrams|first=Natalie|date=February 7, 2018|title=Raúl Esparza exits Law & Order: SVU after six seasons|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/07/law-order-svu-raul-esparza-exit/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 10, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=February 7, 2018|title=Raul Esparza Exits 'Law & Order: SVU'; 'Chicago Justice' Vet Promoted To Series Regular|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/law-and-order-svu-raul-esparza-1202281264/|access-date=February 16, 2018}}
Although having left the series to return to the stage, Esparza has been back on the show, making a very brief cameo before the main title in the season 21 episode "Redemption in Her Corner".{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Daniel S.|date=February 6, 2020|title='Law & Order: SVU' Viewers Shocked by Surprise Cameo From Fan-Favorite Cameo|url=https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/law-order-svu-fans-shocked-surprise-cameo-from-rafael-barba/|access-date=February 6, 2019|work=popculture.com}} He made another guest appearance in season 22 episode "Sightless in a Savage Land" and in the season 23 finale, "A Final Call at Forlini's Bar.{{cite web|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|date=December 28, 2020|title=Law & Order: SVU Reveals 'Emotional' Nature of Barba's January Return|url=https://tvline.com/2020/12/28/law-and-order-svu-barba-returns-season-22-episode-4/|access-date=December 2, 2020|work=TVLine.com}}
Personal life
Esparza married Michele Marie Perez, his high-school girlfriend, in 1994. They divorced in 2007.{{cite web|last=Shewey|first=Don|date=July 9, 2007|title=Is He Or Isn't He?|url=http://www.donshewey.com/theater_reviews/company.html|publisher=donshewey.com|magazine=The Advocate}} Esparza was the subject of a New York Times profile in 2006 in which he revealed that he is bisexual.{{cite news|last=Wadler|first=Joyce|date=November 26, 2006|title=Breaking Character for the First Time in His Life|newspaper=The New York Times|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/theater/26wadl.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=May 16, 2014}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
---|
1997
| Reporter | Episode: "In the Heat of the Day" |
2007
| 2 episodes |
2009
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | ADA Kevin Mulrooney | Episode: "Lady's Man" |
rowspan=2|2010
| Dennis Di Palma | Episode: "Blackmail" |
Medium
| David Ostrowski | Episode: "Blood on the Tracks" |
2011
| {{sortname|A|Gifted Man}} | Phillip Romero | 2 episodes |
2012–2018, 2020–2022 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | ADA Rafael Barba | Recurring (Season 14) |
2012
| Phillip Perez | Episode: "Hypnos" |
2013–2015
| Hannibal | Dr. Frederick Chilton | 12 episodes |
2014
| Dora and Friends: Into the City! | Big Bad Wolf (voice) | Episode: "Puppet Theater" |
2016–2018
| Ralph Stilton (voice) | 8 episodes |
2018
| The Path | Jackson Neill | 6 episodes |
rowspan=3|2020
| Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Celebration | Himself (host) | TV special |
Poetry in America with Elisa New
| Himself | Episode: "Finishing the Hat - Stephen Sondheim" |
The Good Fight
| Bryan Kneef | Episode: "The Gang Is Satirized and Doesn't Like It" |
rowspan=2|2021
| Dopesick | Paul Mendelson | Miniseries; 6 episodes |
Law & Order: Organized Crime
| Rafael Barba | Episode: "The Christmas Episode" |
2022
| Candy | Don Crowder | rowspan="2" | Miniseries |
2023
| A Murder at the End of the World | David Alvarez |
Theater credits
Class= wikitable sortable | ||||
Year | Title | Role | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998–1999
| Evita | Che | US National Tour | 20th Anniversary | ||||
2000–2001
| Riff Raff | Circle in the Square Theatre | Broadway | ||||
2001
| Jonathan | ||||
2001–2002
| Cabaret | The Emcee | Broadway | ||||
rowspan=2|2002
| Sunday in the Park with George | Georges Seurat / George | rowspan=2|Kennedy Center | rowspan=2|Washington, D.C. | ||||
Merrily We Roll Along
| Charley Kringas | ||||
rowspan=2|2003
| Gethin Price | Off-Broadway | ||||
Chess
| The Arbiter | Actors Fund of America Concert | ||||
2003–2004
| Taboo | Philip Sallon | Broadway | ||||
2004
| Ned Weeks | Off-Broadway | ||||
2005
| Broadway | ||||
2006
| rowspan=2|Company | rowspan=2|Robert | The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park | Regional | ||||
2006–2007
| rowspan=3|Broadway | ||||
2007–2008
| Lenny | ||||
2008–2009
| Charlie Fox | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | ||||
2009
| Orsino | ||||
rowspan=2|2010
| J. Bowden Hapgood | Off-Broadway | ||||
Leap of Faith
| Jonas Nightingale | Regional | ||||
2011
| Arcadia | Valentine Coverly | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | rowspan=2|Broadway | ||||
rowspan=2|2012
| Leap of Faith | Jonas Nightingale | ||||
Fun Home
| Bruce Bechdel | Sundance Institute's Theater Lab | Workshop | ||||
2013
| Larry Foreman | New York City Center | Off-Broadway | ||||
2015
| Iachimo | Delacorte Theatre | Shakespeare in the Park | ||||
rowspan=3|2018
| Chess | Freddie Trumper | Pre-Broadway | ||||
The Waves
| Bernard | Regional | ||||
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
| Arturo Ui | Off-Broadway | ||||
rowspan=3|2019
| Galileo | Galileo | Susan Stein Shiva Theater | Workshop | ||||
Road Show
| New York City Center | rowspan=2|Off-Broadway | ||||
Seared
| Harry | ||||
2020
!- | Online | ||||
2023
| Oliver! | Fagin | New York City Center | Off-Broadway | ||||
2024
| Galileo | Galileo | Regional |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.raulesparza.com/}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IMDb name|1654778}}
- {{iobdb name|944}}
- [https://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4194115 Video interview] in which Esparza discusses his relationship to Catholicism
- [http://broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_Exclusive_InDepth_InterView_Part_1_Raul_Esparza_Talks_ROCKY_HORROR_TABOO_More_20101217 Interview] in which Esparza discusses his stage and film work
{{Navboxes
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Category:American bisexual male actors
Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:American male Shakespearean actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of Catalan descent
Category:Drama Desk Award winners
Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people
Category:LGBTQ people from Delaware
Category:LGBTQ people from Florida
Category:Male actors from Miami
Category:Male actors from Wilmington, Delaware
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni