Jonathan Groff

Gleeheads know actor/singer/songwriter Jonathan Groff as the sultry rival Jesse St. James, but the actor got his start as Melchior Gabor in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening. Groff only debuted Spring Awakening on Broadway in 2006 (he ended his run in mid-2008), but he also starred in the Off Broadway production. In 2007, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Tony as Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role in Spring Awakening. Soap fans may also remember Groff for his role as Henry Mackler on ABC's One Life to Live.

Jonathan Groff on Glee
Groff currently guest stars as Jesse St. James, the lead vocalist of rival glee club, Vocal Adrenaline and as a love interest for his former Spring Awakening co-star Lea Michele's character, Rachel Berry. Groff introduced Michele to Glee creator Ryan Murphy before the show began.

Gay Actors "Playing Straight"
Groff's sexuality was a main theme in a controversial essay by critic Ramin Satoodeh Newsweek. Satoodeh opined that gay actors play unconvincing straight characters, singling out Promises, Promises star Sean Hayes and Jonathan Groff. Satoodeh wrote that Groff "seems more like your average theater queen, a better romantic match for Kurt than Rachel." Glee creator Ryan Murphy described Satoodeh, himself an openly gay man, as homophobic and called for a boycott of Newsweek.

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