Robert John Spencer (born February 12, 1969), known as J. Robert Spencer, is an American musical theatre and television actor, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical Next to Normal.

J. Robert Spencer
Born
Robert John Spencer

February 12, 1969 (1969-02-12) (age 55)
OccupationActor
SpouseJenny-Lynn Suckling
Children2

Education

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He graduated cum laude in 1991 from the Shenandoah University musical theatre program, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 2009.[1]

Acting career

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His Broadway debut was as a "swing" in the musical Side Show in 1997. He appeared in the musical Weird Romance in April 2004 at the York Theatre, New York,[2] and the musical God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater in April 2005 at the York Theatre.[3] He went on to star as "Nick Massi" in the original Broadway cast of the musical Jersey Boys (2005).

He starred in the Broadway musical Next to Normal, for which he received a Tony Award nomination as Best Actor in a Musical. He was also in the Arena Stage production (2008)[4] and received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production. He departed from the production on May 16, 2010 and was succeeded by original Off-Broadway cast member Brian d'Arcy James.[5]

Spencer starred as Abraham Lincoln in the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival production of Bayonets of Angst, a bluegrass musical comedy about the Civil War.[6] Spencer was awarded a New York Musical Theatre Festival Award for Excellence for "Outstanding Individual Performance."[7]

He also has formed his own company, "7 Spencer Productions", for which he produces, writes, directs and acts in his own low-budget movies.[1][8]

As a voice actor, Spencer was the voice of Seita in the anime movie, Grave of the Fireflies.

For television he has appeared on Law & Order, All My Children, and Girls Behaving Badly.

Personal life

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Spencer is married to actress Jenny-Lynn Suckling, and they have two children.[8]

Filmography

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TV Series

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Short

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  • High Expectations – Worthington
  • The Quest – Narrator

Movies

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  • Amon Saga – Mabo, Messenger (voices)
  • Farm Girl in New York – Alan
  • Grave of the Fireflies – Seita (Central Park Media Dub) (voice)
  • Heterosexuals – Larry
  • Lost on Purpose – Loan Officer Don
  • Night of the Dog – Bob
  • The Ascension – Hitchhiker Bob
  • The Vanilla Series – Masao Sera (voice)

Broadway Credits

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Preceded by
--
Swing, Side Show
Oct 16, 1997 – Jan 4, 1998
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
originated role
Nick Massi, Jersey Boys
Oct 14, 2005 – September 14, 2008
Succeeded by
Matt Bogart
Preceded by
Brian d'Arcy James but Spencer originated role for Broadway
Dan Goodman, Next to Normal
Mar 27, 2009 – May 16, 2010
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ a b BWW News Desk."NEXT TO NORMAL'S J. Robert Spencer Receives Honorary Degree From Shenandoah Univ" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, broadwayworld.com, November 24, 2012
  2. ^ Weird Romance listing Archived 2009-07-17 at the Wayback Machine aislesay.com, accessed May 25, 2009
  3. ^ BWW News Desk."God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Part Of Musical in Mufti Series Set For April 1, 2 and 3", broadwayworld.com, March 30, 2005
  4. ^ Arena Stage listing for Next to Normal[permanent dead link] arena-stage.org, accessed May 25, 2009
  5. ^ "Brian d'Arcy James Will Rejoin Normal Cast in May". Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved Apr 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "Next to Normal's J. Robert Spencer Set for NYMF's Bayonets of Angst | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved Apr 17, 2020.
  7. ^ BWW News Desk. "CLONED!, THE GIG, ACADEMIA NUTS and More Top NYMF's 2014 Awards for Excellence". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved Apr 17, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Henderson, Kathy.Q&A: J. Robert Spencer Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine broadway.com, April 13, 2009
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