Gavin Lee is an English actor. Known for his work in musical theatre in the West End and on Broadway, he portrayed Bert in Mary Poppins, and originated the role of Squidward Tentacles in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical.
Life and career Early years and education Lee is an alumnus of the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts after which he has been involved in various musicals as a performer and choreographer.
Career Lee appeared in the dance play Contact in the West End at the Queen's Theatre, opening in October 2002."Broadway hit 'Contact' at Queens in Oct 02" londontheatre.co.uk, accessed 13 March 2016
In 2004, Lee auditioned to be the Bert understudy in the London production of Mary Poppins, but won the role outright. He originated the role of Bert in the original West End production. He also starred as Bert in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. He was chosen for the Broadway role because of his critically acclaimed performance as Bert in the West End production. He departed the Broadway production after nearly two years to launch the US National Tour, but returned to the Broadway production in August 2010 until January 2013. Lee was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical at the 2005 Olivier Awards and the 2005 Theatregoer's Choice Awards for originating the West End role of Bert. For his Broadway performance, Lee was nominated for the 2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards (Outstanding Actor in a Musical) and the 2007 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He also won the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Featured Actor in a Musical and an award for Outstanding Broadway Debut at the 63rd annual Theatre World Awards. In August 2007, Lee was added to Sardi's caricature gallery with other Broadway actors.
In June 2008, Lee performed in a concert version of Show Boat at Carnegie Hall as Frank Schultz.Gans, Andrew. "Principal Casting Complete for Carnegie Hall 'Show Boat'" Playbill, 7 May 2008, retrieved 23 November 2017 He has performed as part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera film adaptation, appearing as one of the singers/dancers in the "Masquerade" scene.
Lee and former London co-star Laura Michelle Kelly performed as Bert and Mary Poppins in the America Celebrates 4 July at Fords Theatre in front of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on 6 June 2010. The special aired on 2 July 2010 on ABC. Lee again reunited with Kelly when he returned to the role of Bert in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins on 24 August 2010."Gavin Lee Will Return to Broadway Cast of 'Mary Poppins'" Playbill
He took over the role of Jerry Travers in the West End production of Top Hat beginning 5 February 2013. He joined the Broadway revival of Les Miserables as Thenardier beginning 3 March 2015.
Lee played Squidward Tentacles in SpongeBob SquarePants, the Broadway Musical. The stage musical premiered at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, and ran from June to July 2016.Rickwald, Bethany. "Gavin Lee, Nick Blaemire, and More Join 'The SpongeBob Musica'l Cast" theatermania.com, 19 February 2016 Lee reprised his role as Squidward for the Broadway run of the musical, starting with November 2017 previews at the Palace Theatre and remaining until it closed in September 2018."'SpongeBob' Musical Will Close on Broadway and Plan for a Tour" nytimes.com, Retrieved 13 January 2019 Lee was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Squidward.
In June 2019, he appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, taking on the role of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. He reprised the role in the 2021 UK tour. The production then transferred to the West End's London Palladium for a limited engagement beginning June 2022.
On 17 February 2020, he performed the Manhattan Concert Productions' 50th-anniversary celebration of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center. He played the Butler.
Lee returned to the Paper Mill Playhouse to play Max Detweiler in its production of The Sound of Music from 2 December – 1 January 2023.Ashley Blanchet, Graham Rowat, and Gavin Lee to Lead Paper Mill's The Sound of Music Playbill, 19 October 2022 He then went on to star in the tribute revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, which opened at the Gielgud Theatre on 3 October 2023 following preview performances that began on 21 September. The production ran until 6 January 2024. In 2025, the revue transferred to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and then to Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre."Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends – Los Angeles", Playbill. Retrieved 25 March 2025"Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends – Broadway", Playbill (vault), retrieved 8 April 2025 Lee took over the role of Scar in the Broadway production of The Lion King beginning 22 July 2025."Two-Time Tony Nominee Gavin Lee Joins The Lion King as Scar", Broadway.com. Retrieved 2 July 2025
Acting credits Theatre Year Show Role Venue Notes2025-present The Lion King Scar Minskoff Theatre Broadway replacement 2025Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Himself/Various Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Broadway production; originated role Ahmanson Theatre 2024-2025Les MisérablesMonsieur Thénardier-Arena Spectacular World Tour 2023-2024 Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Himself/Various Gielgud Theatre West End 2023 Oliver! Fagin New York City Center Encores!; Standby but went on several performances during the 11-day run 2022 The Sound of Music Max Detweiler Paper Mill Playhouse 2021-2022 Beauty and the Beast Lumière UK Tour & London Palladium Reprising his role from the 2019 Paper Mill Playhouse production 2020 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Butler David Geffen Hall 2019 Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol Mr. Magoo/Scrooge Gerald W. Lynch Theater 2019 Beauty and the Beast Lumière Paper Mill Playhouse 2018 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical The Grinch US National Tour In Chicago, Boston, and New York 2017 SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical Squidward Tentacles Palace Theatre Broadway production; originated role 2016 Oriental Theatre Originated role 2015-2016 Les Misérables Monsieur Thénardier Imperial Theatre Broadway Replacement 2014 Holiday Inn Ted Hanover Goodspeed Opera House Replacement 2013 Top Hat Jerry Travers Aldwych Theatre Replacement 2010–2013 Mary Poppins Bert New Amsterdam Theatre Return to role 2009–2010 US National Tour Originated role 2008 Show Boat Frank Schultz"Fish Got to Swim, Birds Got to Fly, Genres Got to Meld" nytimes.com, Retrieved 24 January 2019 Carnegie Hall 2006–2008 Mary Poppins Bert New Amsterdam Theatre Broadway production; originated role 2004–2006 Bristol Hippodrome & Prince Edward Theatre West End production; originated role 2002 Contact Aristocrat Queen's Theatre West End 2002 Let's Kick Arts Ensemble Bridewell Theatre 2002 Aladdin Wishee Washee Devonshire Park Theatre 2001 Zip Goes a Million Percy Piggott The Theatre Museum 2001 DuBarry Was a Lady Harry/Captain of the Guard Her Majesty's Theatre West End 2001 Peggy Sue Got Married Richard Shaftesbury Theatre West End; Originated role 2000 Whenever Oscar Stephen Joseph Theatre 1999 A Saint She Ain't Danny O'Reilly Apollo Theatre & King's Head Theatre West End; Originated role 1999 Of Thee I Sing J.P. Wintergeen Bridewell Theatre 1999 Jubilee Prince James Her Majesty's Theatre West End; Also choreographer 1998-1999 Oklahoma! Slim National Theatre & Lyceum Theatre West End; Originated role 1998 Singin' in the Rain Don Lockwood Haymarket Theatre 1998 Snoopy Linus Watermill Theatre 1997 Saturday Night Male Vocalist Bridewell Theatre Originated role 1997 Crazy for You Bobby Child National Tour 1993 Swing Prince Edward Theatre 1996 Immaculate Deception Rosenburg Wimbledon Studio Theatre 1984 Flower Drum Song Wang San Wolsey Theatre 1983 Bugsy Malone Seymore Scoop Her Majesty's Theatre West End debut
Cast recordings Mary Poppins A Saint She Ain't Zip Goes a Million Saturday Night SpongeBob SquarePants (musical)
Film Beyond the Sea The Phantom of the Opera
Television White Collar – Alan Woodford (5 episodes) The Good Wife – Jake Alister (Season 2, Episode 18 "Killer Song", 2011)"Killer Song" tv.com, retrieved 14 April 2019 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – Dennis Griscomb (2 episodes) The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! – Squidward Tentacles (reprising his role from the Broadway musical) Little America – Henry (Season 1, Episode 4)
Awards and nominations Tony Awards Note: The year given is the year of the ceremony YearAwardPerformanceResult2007Best Actor in a MusicalMary Poppins2018Best Featured Actor in a MusicalSpongeBob SquarePants
Drama Desk Awards Note: The year given is the year of the ceremony YearAwardPerformanceResult2007Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalMary Poppins2018SpongeBob SquarePants
Laurence Olivier Awards Note: The year given is the year of the ceremony YearAwardPerformanceResult2005Best Actor in a MusicalMary Poppins
See also List of British actors References
External links