# Bryan Terrell Clark
**Bryan Terrell Clark** (born 1980) is an American actor and singer-songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland, known for originating the role of [Marvin Gaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvin-gaye) in the Broadway musical *Motown: The Musical* and for playing [George Washington](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-washington) in *Hamilton* on Broadway.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) He is also a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and co-founder of the youth-empowerment initiative inDEFINED.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, Baltimore, Maryland, USA[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) |
| Broadway debut | Marvin Gaye (original cast) in *Motown: The Musical*, April 14, 2013 to January 18, 2015[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) |
| *Hamilton* | George Washington as a replacement, January 10, 2017 to October 28, 2018, and again from December 17, 2019[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) |
| Other Broadway | *Thoughts of a Colored Man* as Happiness, October 13 to December 22, 2021[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) |
| Training | Temple University (Theater, Film and Media Arts, class of 2003); Yale School of Drama master's degree, 2006[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark) |
| Music | Co-writer of "Irreversible" on Mary J. Blige's album *My Life II*[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) |
| Television | *When They See Us*, *Queen Sugar*, *Cherish the Day*, *Inventing Anna*, *Empire*, and Mr. Tea in *Diarra From Detroit*[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) |
## Early life and training
Clark grew up in Baltimore, where his mother worked as a teacher and principal and later became a pastor, and his father was a blue-collar worker.[4](https://playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-cue-a-motown-the-musicals-marvin-gaye-bryan-terrell-clark-com-204909) He sang in the church choir and recited Easter poems as a child, and has described performance and art as constant presences in his upbringing.[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark) He has credited the arts with giving him a voice as a shy child dealing with a father who struggled with drug addiction.[5](https://www.fastcompany.com/40586193/hamilton-star-bryan-terrell-clark-is-forging-an-actor-activists-path)
Before transferring to [Temple University](https://www.edgepedia.org/temple-university), he enrolled briefly at the University of Maryland, where he saw *Rent* for the first time and decided he wanted to be in that musical.[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark) While still a Temple undergraduate in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts, he traveled to New York to audition for shows such as *Rent* and *The Lion King* and for the soap opera *All My Children*.[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark) He graduated from Temple in 2003 and earned a master's degree from the [Yale School of Drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-school-of-drama) in 2006.[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark)
## Stage career
**Early roles.** Clark made his stage debut in 2006 playing Cory in *Fences* at the [Pasadena Playhouse](https://www.edgepedia.org/pasadena-playhouse) opposite [Laurence Fishburne](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurence-fishburne) and [Angela Bassett](https://www.edgepedia.org/angela-bassett).[3](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark) His other regional theater credits include the Mark Taper Forum's production of *Immediate Family*, directed by Phylicia Rashad; the Alliance Theatre's *Sophisticated Ladies*; and *His Girl Friday* at the Guthrie Theater.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
**Motown: The Musical.** In 2013 Clark made his Broadway debut as Marvin Gaye in *Motown: The Musical*, which ran at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from April 14, 2013 to January 18, 2015.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) He auditioned three additional times for the role after his final workshop lab and learned he had won it three days before rehearsals began.[6](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/168478/motowns-bryan-terrell-clark-on-feeling-the-spirit-of-his-soulful-character-marvin-gaye/) In the show he sang "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," "What's Going On," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and "Mercy Mercy Me."[6](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/168478/motowns-bryan-terrell-clark-on-feeling-the-spirit-of-his-soulful-character-marvin-gaye/) Critics noted that he and the rest of the cast avoided direct imitation of the Motown artists, instead bringing their own qualities to the roles.[7](https://www.broadwayworld.com/reviews/Motown-The-Musical) He is featured on the show's Original Broadway Cast Album, which received a 2014 Grammy Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
**Hamilton.** Clark joined *Hamilton* on Broadway as a replacement in the role of George Washington on January 10, 2017, playing the part through October 28, 2018, and returned to it on December 17, 2019.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) He has called the eight-shows-a-week schedule grueling, and in a 2018 interview described the role as "the best bartending gig ever," using downtime between performances to develop projects in television, film, and music.[5](https://www.fastcompany.com/40586193/hamilton-star-bryan-terrell-clark-is-forging-an-actor-activists-path)
**Thoughts of a Colored Man.** In 2021 Clark joined the ensemble cast of *Thoughts of a Colored Man*, Keenan Scott II's play about seven Black men in a Brooklyn neighborhood, playing the character [Happiness](https://www.edgepedia.org/happiness).[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see) The production opened on October 13, 2021 and closed on December 22, 2021 after 79 performances.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) • [8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see) Per a profile of Clark, the show was Broadway's first production with writing, direction, and a cast entirely by Black artists, and it was the first play to come back to Broadway once live theater, which had gone dark in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed.[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see) He has called it one of the most fulfilling things he has done.[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see)
## Screen and music work
Clark's television credits include [Ava DuVernay](https://www.edgepedia.org/ava-duvernay)'s Peabody Award-winning Netflix limited series *When They See Us* (2020), *Cherish the Day* and *Queen Sugar* on OWN, Shonda Rhimes' *Inventing Anna* on Netflix, *Snowpiercer* on Warner Bros. Television, CBS's *NCIS: New Orleans*, *Blue Bloods*, *Person of Interest*, *Unforgettable*, *CSI: NY*, and *The Unit*, NBC's *The Mysteries of Laura*, Fox's *Empire*, [USA Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-network)'s *Royal Pains*, BET's *The New Edition Story*, and [Tyler Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-perry)'s *House of Payne*.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) He appeared in the Warner Bros. feature film *Collateral Beauty* (2016).[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
Since 2024 he has starred as Mr. Tea, a gay former basketball player and singer who teaches at the same school as the title character, in the BET+ mystery-comedy series *Diarra From Detroit*.[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see) Series creator Diarra Kilpatrick and co-executive producer Ester Lou Weithers approached him in the fall of 2022 about the part, and the pilot's script drew on actual conversations between Clark, Kilpatrick, and the writers.[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see) Clark has described Mr. Tea as the kind of well-rounded queer Black character he had wanted to see on screen.[8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see)
As a singer, songwriter, and producer, Clark co-wrote "Irreversible" for [Mary J. Blige](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-j-blige)'s album *My Life II* and has performed alongside Maxwell, Brandy, Anita Baker, and [Michael Bublé](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-buble), among others.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) In March 2024 he performed Motown songs at [Carnegie Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/carnegie-hall) in New York City with Valisia LeKae and the New York Pops.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) • [8](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see)
## Activism and recognition
Clark co-founded inDEFINED, an initiative launched in 2017 that teaches young people to use their voices to challenge constrictive labels in society.[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Bryan-Terrell-Clark/) In 2017 his production company, Artists Park Productions, formed a collaboration with INE Entertainment on digital and television projects.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) He also hosts acting and singing workshops for predominantly Latin and African-American high school students in New York City, with proceeds from a T-shirt brand funding arts-education charities.[5](https://www.fastcompany.com/40586193/hamilton-star-bryan-terrell-clark-is-forging-an-actor-activists-path)
Among the honors he has received are [Rutgers University](https://www.edgepedia.org/rutgers-university)'s 2018 Voice for Social Justice Award, Temple University's 2019 Gallery of Success Award, HELP USA's 2019 "Help Hero Award," and ICONETALKS's 2020 "Visionary Award for Volunteerism."[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio) He is married to Devario D. Simmons, the costume designer he worked alongside on *Thoughts of a Colored Man*.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846) • [10](https://tresamagazine.com/2022/08/15/bryan-terrell-clark/) He divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City.[2](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
## References
1. [Bryan Terrell Clark – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bryan-terrell-clark-493846)
2. [BIO | Bryan Terrell Clark, official website](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/bio)
3. [Seen on campus: Bryan Terrell Clark, Temple Now (October 16, 2024)](https://now.temple.edu/news/2024-10-16/seen-campus-bryan-terrell-clark)
4. [PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Motown: The Musical's "Marvin Gaye," Bryan Terrell Clark (April 30, 2013)](https://playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-cue-a-motown-the-musicals-marvin-gaye-bryan-terrell-clark-com-204909)
5. ["Hamilton" star Bryan Terrell Clark is forging an actor-activist's path, Fast Company (July 5, 2018)](https://www.fastcompany.com/40586193/hamilton-star-bryan-terrell-clark-is-forging-an-actor-activists-path)
6. [Motown's Bryan Terrell Clark on Feeling the Spirit of His Soulful Character, Marvin Gaye, Broadway.com (April 16, 2013)](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/168478/motowns-bryan-terrell-clark-on-feeling-the-spirit-of-his-soulful-character-marvin-gaye/)
7. [Motown the Musical Broadway Reviews, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/reviews/Motown-The-Musical)
8. [Bryan Terrell Clark Is Portraying The Character He Always Wanted To See (March 2024)](https://www.bryanterrellclark.com/post/bryan-terrell-clark-is-portraying-the-character-he-always-wanted-to-see)
9. [Bryan Terrell Clark (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Bryan-Terrell-Clark/)
10. [Bryan Terrell Clark – TresA Magazine (August 15, 2022)](https://tresamagazine.com/2022/08/15/bryan-terrell-clark/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting coaches and training biographies › Overview of acting teaching and coaching*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license