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 The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for his work in the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

musical ''

Next to Normal ''Next to Normal'' (stylized in all lowercase) is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing ...

''. He graduated cum laude in 1991 from the

Shenandoah University Shenandoah University is a private university in Winchester, Virginia. It has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students across more than 200 areas of study in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences (including the Division of Education and Le ...

musical theatre program, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 2009.BWW News Des
"NEXT TO NORMAL'S J. Robert Spencer Receives Honorary Degree From Shenandoah Univ"
, broadwayworld.com, November 24, 2012 His Broadway debut was as a "swing" in the musical ''

Side Show In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, traveling carnival, carnival, fair, or other such attraction. Types There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions: *The Ten-in-One offers ...

'' in 1997. He appeared in the musical ''Weird Romance'' in April 2004 at the

York Theatre York Theatre is an off-Broadway theatre company based in East Midtown Manhattan, New York City. In its 50th year, York Theatre is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each seas ...

, New York, and the musical ''God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater'' in April 2005 at the York Theatre. He went on to star as "Nick Massi" in the original Broadway cast of the musical ''

Jersey Boys ''Jersey Boys'' is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of the ...

'' (2005). He starred in the Broadway musical ''

'', for which he received a

nomination as Best Actor in a Musical. He was also in the

Arena Stage Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. Established in 1950, it was the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C. and its founders helped start the U.S. regional theater movement. It is ...

production (2008) and received a

Helen Hayes Award The Helen Hayes Awards are theater awards recognizing excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are named in tribute of Helen Hayes, who is also known as the "First Lady of American Theatre." They ar ...

nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production. He departed the production on May 16, 2010 and was succeeded by original Off-Broadway cast member Brian d'Arcy James. Spencer starred as

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

in the 2014

New York Musical Theatre Festival The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) was an annual three-week summer festival that operated from 2004 to 2019. It presented more than 30 new musicals a year in New York City's midtown theater district. More than half were chosen by leading theate ...

production of

Bayonets of Angst ''Bayonets of Angst'' is a musical comedy written by Rick Kunzi and Adam Barnosky. The show about the American Civil War. Production history In 2013, ''Bayonets of Angst'' was a finalist in the Ken Davenport Ten Minute Play Contest. The premie ...

, a bluegrass musical comedy about the Civil War. Spencer was awarded a New York Musical Theatre Festival Award for Excellence for "Outstanding Individual Performance." He also has formed his own company, "7 Spencer Productions", for which he produces, writes, directs and acts in his own low-budget movies.Henderson, Kath
Q&A: J. Robert Spencer
broadway.com, April 13, 2009 As a voice actor, Spencer was the voice of Seita in the anime movie, ''

Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese animated war tragedy film based on a 1967 short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. It was written and directed by Isao Takahata, and animated by Studio Ghibli for Shinchosha Publishing. The film stars , , and . Set in the city ...

''. For television he has appeared on '' Law & Order'', '' All My Children'', and '' Girls Behaving Badly''. Spencer is married to actress Jenny-Lynn Suckling, and they have two children.

Filmography

TV Series

* '' Law & Order'' – Lt. Mason * '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' – Joseph Soltice

Short

* ''High Expectations'' – Worthington * ''The Quest'' – Narrator

Movies

* ''

Amon Saga is an anime OVA released in 1986. The character and conceptual art was contributed by Yoshitaka Amano. It was released by Manga Entertainment Manga Entertainment was a producer, licensee, and distributor of anime in the United States an ...

'' – Mabo, Messenger (voices) * ''Farm Girl in New York'' – Alan * ''

'' – 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

References

External links

* * *
Official siteJ. Robert Spencer: “NEXT TO NORMAL is a perfect piece”
– interview in todoMUSICALES.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, J. Robert 1969 births Living people American male musical theatre actors American male stage actors American male television actors Place of birth missing (living people)