💬 From the Lair to the World Stage

Many of the actors who portrayed the Phantom went on to flourish in both musical theatre and opera. Their careers span iconic roles on Broadway, in the West End, international tours, and at prestigious opera houses. These performances showcase not only their remarkable vocal range but also their dramatic depth and artistic longevity.

Michael Crawford: Best known as the original Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), he also created memorable roles such as Count Fosco (The Woman in White), Frank Spencer (Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, TV), Cornelius Hackl (Hello, Dolly!), P.T. Barnum (Barnum), the Wizard (The Wizard of Oz, Las Vegas), and multiple fantasy figures in EFX — the Master, Merlin, Houdini, and H.G. Wells.

Steve Barton: Originated Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera before later taking on the Phantom himself. He was Count von Krolock (Tanz der Vampire), Jekyll/Hyde (Jekyll & Hyde), Munkustrap (Cats), Fred/Petruchio (Kiss Me, Kate), Magaldi (Evita), and Fred Gaily (Miracle on 34th Street).

Cris Groenendaal: Appeared as Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Monsieur André and later the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Major Rizzolli (Passion), Miles Gloriosus (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), George (Sunday in the Park with George), and Candide (Candide).

Timothy Nolen: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera) and a wide operatic repertoire: Sweeney Todd and Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd), Doyle (Grind), Cyrano and De Guiche (Cyrano: The Musical), Boone (Whistle Down the Wind), as well as roles in classic operas such as Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Figaro (The Barber of Seville), Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Baron Zeta (The Merry Widow), Krusina (The Bartered Bride), Trinity Moses (The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny), Oscar Hubbard (Regina), Mr. Peachum (The Beggar’s Opera), and Colonel Calverley (Patience).

Jeff Keller: Covered multiple roles in Phantom (André, Firmin, and the Phantom). Elsewhere he appeared as Johnny Cantone (The 1940’s Radio Hour), Edward Dunlop (Dance a Little Closer), Max Jacobs (On the Twentieth Century), Perchik (Fiddler on the Roof), Louis/Billy Webster (Sunday in the Park with George), and Jacob Marley (A Christmas Carol).

Mark Jacoby: Known for the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat), Father (Ragtime), Neil Diamond (A Beautiful Noise), Walter Hobbs (Elf: The Musical), Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd), the Padre (Man of La Mancha), Vittorio Vidal (Sweet Charity), Oscar Jaffee (On the Twentieth Century), Hub (Secondhand Lions), the Mayor (The Visit), and Felix Von Gaigern (Grand Hotel).

Marcus Lovett: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Alex Dillingham (Aspects of Love), Billy Bigelow (Carousel), David (King David), the Man (Whistle Down the Wind), Bobby Strong (Urinetown), Jim Reynolds (SCKBSTD), and multiple roles in And the World Goes ’Round.

Brad Little: Known for the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Jekyll/Hyde (Jekyll & Hyde), Old Deuteronomy (Cats), and Erik (Phantom).

Howard McGillin: One of Broadway’s longest-running Phantoms, also appeared as John Jasper/Mr. Clive Paget (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Billy Crocker (Anything Goes), Archibald Craven (The Secret Garden), Molina (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Steven Kodaly (She Loves Me), Honoré Lachaille (Gigi), Judge Roan/Old Soldier (Parade), and Mack Sennett (Mack & Mabel).

Gary Mauer: Played both the Phantom and Raoul (The Phantom of the Opera), Enjolras (Les Misérables), and Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat).

Ted Keegan: Appeared as the Phantom, André, and Piangi (The Phantom of the Opera), as well as the Bird Seller (Sweeney Todd), the Wizard (Wicked), Firmin (The Phantom of the Opera), and the Phantom in Ken Hill’s Phantom.

Davis Gaines: Starred as the Phantom and Raoul (The Phantom of the Opera), Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha), King Arthur (Spamalot), Juan Perón (Evita), and Javert (Les Misérables).

Kevin Gray: Performed as the Phantom and Raoul (The Phantom of the Opera), the Engineer (Miss Saigon), Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat), the King of Siam (The King and I), Pontius Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar), Thomas Andrews (Titanic), Scar (The Lion King), Valentin (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Kayama (Pacific Overtures), and the Prince (Chu Chem).

Simon Bowman: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Chris (Miss Saigon), Jean Valjean, Marius, and the Bishop of Digne (Les Misérables), Radames (Aida), Joe Gillis (Sunset Boulevard), Frankie Valli (Jersey Boys), and the Man (Whistle Down the Wind).

Peter Polycarpou: Took on the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), John (Miss Saigon), Jean Valjean and Enjolras (Les Misérables), Beadle Bamford (Sweeney Todd), Sancho (Man of La Mancha), Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls), Ali Hakim (Oklahoma!), Buddy Fidler/Irwin S. Irving (City of Angels), and the Baker (Into the Woods).

Hugh Panaro: Played both Raoul and the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), as well as Marius and Jean Valjean (Les Misérables). Other credits include Buddy Foster (Side Show), Julian Craster (The Red Shoes), Martin Guerre (Martin Guerre), Lestat (Lestat), Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat), Sweeney Todd and Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Franklin Shepard (Merrily We Roll Along), Bobby (Company), Georges Seurat/George (Sunday in the Park with George), Fagin (Oliver!), and Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls).

John Owen-Jones: Performed as Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat), Burrs (The Wild Party), Captain von Trapp (The Sound of Music), John (The Hired Man), Phil Hollinghurst (The Great British Bake Off Musical), Edouard Dindon (La Cage aux Folles), Miles Gloriosus (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Stephen (If/Then), Meyer Wolfsheim (The Great Gatsby), Antipholus (The Boys from Syracuse), Enoch Snow (Carousel), Adolfo Pirelli (Sweeney Todd), Samuel (The Pirates of Penzance), Mr. Erlanson (A Little Night Music), Cléante (The Hypochondriac), Valère (Le Médecin Volant), Lorenzo (The Merchant of Venice), Will (Tomorrow Morning), the Marquess of Bute (Tiger Bay The Musical), and multiple roles in Les Misérables (Feuilly, Grantaire, Factory Foreman).

Ramin Karimloo: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera) and originated the Phantom in Love Never Dies. He has also appeared as Jean Valjean and Enjolras (Les Misérables), Che (Evita), Tom Watson (Parade), Gleb (Anastasia), Anatoly Sergievsky (Chess), Doctor Zhivago (Doctor Zhivago), Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar), Joe Gillis (Sunset Boulevard), King Arthur (Camelot), Nick Arnstein (Funny Girl), Gomez Addams (The Addams Family), and the Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance). In 2024, he made his operatic debut as Piquillo in Songbird at Washington National Opera, Kennedy Center. In 2025, he returned to Broadway as the Pirate King in Pirates! The Penzance Musical.

John Cudia: Played both Raoul and the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), Juan Perón (Evita), Curly McLain (Oklahoma!), Emile de Becque (South Pacific), Cassio (Otello), and Alfredo Germont (La Traviata).

Peter Jöback: Took on the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Chris (Miss Saigon), Michael (The Witches of Eastwick), Robert (Kristina från Duvemåla), the Emcee (Cabaret), Albin (La Cage aux Folles), and Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar).

Earl Carpenter: Known for the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Javert (Les Misérables), Joe Gillis (Sunset Boulevard), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Juan Perón (Evita), and André (The Phantom of the Opera).

Thomas James O’Leary: Played the Phantom and André (The Phantom of the Opera), Billy (Carousel), Lancelot (Camelot), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), and Captain von Trapp (The Sound of Music).

David Thaxton: Performed as Enjolras and Javert (Les Misérables), Raoul (Love Never Dies), Giorgio (Passion), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), Pontius Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar), the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), and Kevin T (Come From Away).

Ben Forster: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), Buddy (Elf: The Musical), Magaldi (Evita), and Brad Majors (The Rocky Horror Show).

James Barbour: Appeared as the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities), Leon Czolgosz (Assassins), Edward Fairfax Rochester (Jane Eyre), the Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Officer Lockstock (Urinetown), Lancelot du Lac (Camelot), Bill Sikes (Oliver!), Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), Darryl Van Horne (The Witches of Eastwick), and Edward Rutledge (1776).

Norm Lewis: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Javert (Les Misérables), Porgy (Porgy and Bess), King Triton (The Little Mermaid), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), Billy Flynn (Chicago), Caiaphas (Jesus Christ Superstar), Harold Hill (The Music Man), Jake (Side Show), and Senator Edison Davis (The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit).

Laird Mackintosh: Performed as the Phantom, Raoul, and André (The Phantom of the Opera), George Banks (Mary Poppins), Gabriel John Utterson (Jekyll & Hyde), Henry Higgins and Freddy Eynsford-Hill (My Fair Lady), Cornelius Hackl (Hello, Dolly!), Robert Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Phil Davis (White Christmas).

Killian Donnelly: Took on Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Charlie Price (Kinky Boots), Huey Calhoun (Memphis), Deco (The Commitments), Tony (Billy Elliot the Musical), Raoul (The Phantom of the Opera), Bruce Bechdel (Fun Home), and roles in Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert (Courfeyrac) and the film (Combeferre).

Tim Howar: Played the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Roger (Rent), Freddie Trumper (Chess), Stacee Jaxx (Rock of Ages), Stuart Clutterbuck (Tonight’s the Night), and Marius (Les Misérables).

Jon Robyns: Appeared as Jean Valjean (Les Misérables), the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera), Gaylord Ravenal (Show Boat), Burrs (The Wild Party), and Captain von Trapp (The Sound of Music).

Ben Crawford: Best known as the Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), he made his Broadway debut as the understudy for Jean Valjean and Javert (Les Misérables). His first leading role was as Shrek in Shrek the Musical, and he has appeared as Mr. Salt (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Don Price and understudy Edward Bloom (Big Fish), and ensemble/understudy roles in On the Twentieth Century. His regional credits include Che (Evita), Starbuck (110 in the Shade), Luther Billis (South Pacific), Jud Fry (Oklahoma!), Frederick Barrett (Titanic), Beauty (Beauty and the Beast), Earl Hunterson (Waitress), Orin Scrivello (Little Shop of Horrors), and Julian Marsh (42nd Street).

Jeff Kready: Known for his long Broadway career, he joined the Phantom legacy in 2025, starring in the immersive revival Masquerade off-Broadway as the Phantom himself. His addition marks one of the most recent entries in the Phantom’s performance history, bridging the classic role with a new generation of theatergoers.

Isaiah Bailey: The Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera, 2025–2026 North American Tour), Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Hollywood Bowl), Simba (The Lion King, U.S. Tour), and ensemble roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (U.S. Tour).