After Netflix dropped its newest Ryan Murphy feature onto the platform, one face may look strangely familiar among the insanity. Leading The Politician is the fast-talking, manically charming Ben Platt, playing high school political hopeful Payton Hobart. Platt's role is hardly his first time in the spotlight though. Actually, Platt has one of the most varied careers of anyone his age, which explains his superb acting amid all the chaos. At the young age of 26, he's already established himself as a triple threat, earning himself an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy. Here's what you need to know about Ben Platt.
"I Know Him From Something Else, Though?"
Odds are, you're thinking about Pitch Perfect. Platt played Benji Applebaum, the nerdy roommate with a stellar voice and a penchant for magic. He kicked off the role in the original film, quickly becoming an audience favourite. When the film came back for its second instalment, Platt returned to give Benji life once again. He was 19 when the first film came out, though he was already entrenched in theatre at that point. He was an extra in Red Riding Hood a few years before that, but for all intents and purposes, Pitch Perfect was his debut into film.
Platt is also set to star in Merrily We Roll Along, a musical-turned-film directed by Richard Linklater. And because Linklater is all about those "movies of a lifetime," the film will be shot over the course of 20 years. So, yeah, you'll definitely be seeing Platt again.
Any Other Stuff?
There's also this little musical called Dear Evan Hansen, which absolutely dominated the Tonys between 2016 and 2017. Platt played the titular role of Evan Hansen to massive acclaim. His performance made that the hot ticket on Broadway, where it remains a musical theatre stalwart even after his departure. For that performance alone, he locked in a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy. He also made his Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon the year before that, shortly before locking in the role of Hansen.
In addition to playing Payton in The Politician, Platt also released his first LP this year, Sing to Me Instead. The thespian-turned-singer-turned-TV star has his hands in about six different jars at once, and whether the material is stellar (see: Dear Evan Hansen) or a... mixed bag (see: The Politician), Platt knows how to make the most of a moment—big or small.
Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and the South. Along with Esquire, his work has appeared in NYLON, Vulture, and USA Today.
