# Ethan Slater
**Ethan Slater** (born 1992) is an American actor, singer, writer, and composer best known for originating the title role in the Broadway musical *[SpongeBob SquarePants](https://www.edgepedia.org/spongebob-squarepants-musical)*, which earned him a 2018 Tony Award nomination, and for playing Boq in the two-part film adaptation of *Wicked* (2024 and 2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) He was born in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of [Vassar College](https://www.edgepedia.org/vassar-college).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) • [3](https://www.gq.com/story/ethan-slater-wicked-gq-hype)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992, Washington, D.C., USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Breakthrough role | SpongeBob SquarePants in the Broadway musical (Palace Theatre, December 4, 2017 – September 16, 2018)[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) |
| 2018 honors | Tony Award nominee, Best Actor in a Musical; winner of the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) • [4](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/ethan-slater) |
| Film role | Boq (later the Tin Man) in *Wicked* (2024) and *Wicked: For Good* (2025), directed by Jon M. Chu[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) • [5](https://apnews.com/article/26a69a719e3b81bf9f7936ace465452e) |
| Other Broadway | *Spamalot* revival (2023–2024) as the Historian, Prince Herbert, and other roles[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) |
| Writing | Co-wrote and starred as Marcel Marceau in *Marcel on the Train*, Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company (2026)[6](https://playbill.com/article/check-out-new-photos-of-ethan-slater-and-betsy-wolfe-in-little-shop-of-horrors-off-broadway) |
| Music | Released the extended plays *Wanderer* (2019) and *Life Is Weird* (2020)[7](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ethan-slater/ratings) |
## Early life and education
Slater made his musical-theater debut at age four, playing Toto to his older sister's Dorothy in *The Wizard of Oz*, and took up the guitar in late elementary school, which led to an interest in songwriting.[3](https://www.gq.com/story/ethan-slater-wicked-gq-hype) He studied drama, political science, and music at Vassar College, and was a sophomore there when he auditioned for *SpongeBob SquarePants*; he received the call offering him the part while on the train from Manhattan back to the Vassar campus in Poughkeepsie.[3](https://www.gq.com/story/ethan-slater-wicked-gq-hype) Before theater, he was a high school and college wrestler, a background he credited for the discipline and body awareness the physically demanding SpongeBob role required.[8](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-tony-ethan-slater-20180607-story.html)
## SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway
Slater's first theater appearance came at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in July 2015, starring as Luis in *Claudio Quest*, followed that autumn by *Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally* Off-Broadway and [Barry Levinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/barry-levinson)'s play *[Diner](https://www.edgepedia.org/diner-1982-film)* at the Delaware Theatre Company.[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ethan-Slater/) In 2016 he was cast as SpongeBob in the world-premiere production of the musical in Chicago, directed by Tina Landau, which moved to Broadway's Palace Theatre, opening December 4, 2017 and closing September 16, 2018.[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ethan-Slater/) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) The role was physically extreme: in the $20-million production he climbed an 18-foot ladder and sang upside down.[8](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-tony-ethan-slater-20180607-story.html)
For the performance he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical and won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, along with the Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) He reprised the role in the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) television special *The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!* in 2019.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true)
## Screen work
Slater made his television debut on CBS's *Murphy Brown* and appeared in *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *Instinct*, and *Fosse/Verdon* (as [Joel Grey](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-grey)) between 2018 and 2019.[10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/ethan-slater/profile/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) His *Law & Order: SVU* appearance, as a villain in the fourth episode of season 20 in 2018, drew renewed attention after he became better known through *Wicked*.[11](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/after-law-and-order-svu-revisited-ethan-slater-performance-cant-wait-wicked) Later television work includes a 2023 guest role as Steven in *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*, Officer Reese Chandler in *[Elsbeth](https://www.edgepedia.org/elsbeth-tv-series)* (2025–2026), and Thomas Godolkin in *Gen V* (2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true)
His film career centers on *Wicked*. He plays Boq, a Munchkin with an unrequited crush on Glinda, in [Jon M. Chu](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-m-chu)'s two-part adaptation, and in the 2025 second film, *Wicked: For Good*, the character becomes the Tin Man.[5](https://apnews.com/article/26a69a719e3b81bf9f7936ace465452e) • [12](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/after-wicked-for-good-final-trailer-ethan-slater-straight-up-spoils-boq-fate) He has said the actors sang live on set, which he argued made for better performances.[5](https://apnews.com/article/26a69a719e3b81bf9f7936ace465452e) He also starred as Henry in *[Lost on a Mountain in Maine](https://www.edgepedia.org/lost-on-a-mountain-in-maine-film)* (2024).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) As part of the *Wicked* ensemble he shared a Gold Derby Film Award for ensemble cast and nominations including a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.[13](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/awards/)
## Stage work after SpongeBob
After *SpongeBob* closed, Slater worked steadily in New York theater. He played the Balladeer and [Lee Harvey Oswald](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-harvey-oswald) in Classic Stage Company's 2021–2022 [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) revival of [Stephen Sondheim](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-sondheim)'s *Assassins*, earning a Lucille Lortel Award nomination, and originated the role of Max Weinbaum in *Good Night, Oscar* at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2022.[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ethan-Slater/) In the 2023–2024 Broadway revival of *Spamalot* at the St. James Theatre he played the Historian, Prince Herbert, Not Dead Fred, and several other small parts.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043) He joined *Spamalot* shortly before the 2023 actors' strike, replacing Rob McClure, who had left for *Doubtfire*.[14](https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/the-theatre-podcast-with-alan-seales/ep372-ethan-slater-from-bikini-bottom-to-shiz-university/413)
In 2026 he co-wrote (with Marshall Pailet) and starred as mime [Marcel Marceau](https://www.edgepedia.org/marcel-marceau) in the world-premiere play *Marcel on the Train* at Classic Stage Company, which received Drama League nominations for Outstanding Production of a Play and for his Distinguished Performance.[6](https://playbill.com/article/check-out-new-photos-of-ethan-slater-and-betsy-wolfe-in-little-shop-of-horrors-off-broadway) • [15](https://playbill.com/person/ethan-slater) He then succeeded [Jordan Fisher](https://www.edgepedia.org/jordan-fisher) as Seymour in the long-running Off-Broadway revival of *Little Shop of Horrors* at the Westside Theatre, opposite Betsy Wolfe as Audrey, from July 2026.[6](https://playbill.com/article/check-out-new-photos-of-ethan-slater-and-betsy-wolfe-in-little-shop-of-horrors-off-broadway)
## Personal life
Slater was previously married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay, with whom he has a child. He and his *Wicked* co-star [Ariana Grande](https://www.edgepedia.org/ariana-grande) were reported to be dating in July 2023, when he was separated from Jay; he filed for divorce that month, and the divorce was finalized in September 2024. His relationship with Grande attracted substantial media attention.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true) • [16](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/wicked-ethan-slater-how-the-musical-changed-his-life-besides-relationship-ariana-grande) • [17](https://www.vogue.com/article/ariana-grande-ethan-slater-relationship-timeline) As a singer-songwriter he has released the extended plays *Wanderer* (2019) and *Life Is Weird* (2020).[7](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ethan-slater/ratings)
## References
1. [Ethan Slater, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/?showAllCredits=true)
2. [Ethan Slater, Internet Broadway Database (IBDB)](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ethan-slater-515043)
3. [How Wicked's Ethan Slater Made It to Oz and Back, GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/ethan-slater-wicked-gq-hype)
4. [Ethan Slater On Stage, New York Theatre Guide](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/ethan-slater)
5. [Ethan Slater landing the role of Boq in 'Wicked' has an element of magic to it, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/26a69a719e3b81bf9f7936ace465452e)
6. [Check Out New Photos of Ethan Slater and Betsy Wolfe in Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/check-out-new-photos-of-ethan-slater-and-betsy-wolfe-in-little-shop-of-horrors-off-broadway)
7. [Ethan Slater Ratings, AuteurGraph](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ethan-slater/ratings)
8. [Can Ethan Slater squeeze out a Tony Award from the 'SpongeBob' musical?, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-tony-ethan-slater-20180607-story.html)
9. [Ethan Slater, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ethan-Slater/)
10. [Ethan Slater Biography, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/ethan-slater/profile/)
11. [After Law And Order: SVU Revisited Ethan Slater's Chilling Performance, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/after-law-and-order-svu-revisited-ethan-slater-performance-cant-wait-wicked)
12. [After Wicked: For Good's Final Trailer, Ethan Slater Straight Up Spoils Boq's Fate, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/after-wicked-for-good-final-trailer-ethan-slater-straight-up-spoils-boq-fate)
13. [Ethan Slater Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5724788/awards/)
14. [Ep372 – Ethan Slater: From Bikini Bottom to Shiz University, Broadway Podcast Network](https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/the-theatre-podcast-with-alan-seales/ep372-ethan-slater-from-bikini-bottom-to-shiz-university/413)
15. [Ethan Slater, Playbill](https://playbill.com/person/ethan-slater)
16. [Wicked's Ethan Slater On How The Musical 'Changed' His Life, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/wicked-ethan-slater-how-the-musical-changed-his-life-besides-relationship-ariana-grande)
17. [A Timeline of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Relationship](https://www.vogue.com/article/ariana-grande-ethan-slater-relationship-timeline)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to So*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 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