Cole Escola, an actor and writer, was awarded the prestigious title of Best Actor in a Play at the Tony Awards 2025 for their performance in Oh, Mary!. Cole is the first openly non-binary actor to win this award. On June 8, 2025, the Tony Awards honored Broadway’s 2024–25 season and outstanding theater talent.
Cole Escola’s performance in Oh, Mary! has wowed both audiences and critics. They also wrote the play, which tells a funny and different story about Mary Todd Lincoln’s life.
People liked Escola’s funny and interesting performance as the First Lady, which made them a rising star on Broadway. The Tony Awards they won in 2025 were a big moment in their career and confirmed their place in the theatre world.
The 78th Tony Awards also saw other stellar performances. Maybe Happy Ending won Best Musical, while Darren Criss earned the award for Best Actor in a Musical. On the play front, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose took home the Tony for Best Play, with Kara Young winning Best Featured Actress in a Play
Cole Escola wins Best Actor in a Play for Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola clinched the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play at the Tony Awards 2025 for their standout performance in Oh, Mary!, as aforementioned. This show was Escola’s first time on Broadway.
Mary Todd Lincoln is portrayed by Escola in a new and humorous way, transforming the historical figure into a lively yet troubled cabaret performer who yearns to escape her husband’s shadow.
Cole Escola outperformed other eminent nominees in a competitive field, including George Clooney, Jon Michael Hill, Daniel Dae Kim, Harry Lennix, and Louis McCartney. Though Escola’s bold and unforgettable portrayal of Lincoln won the heart of the Tony Awards 2025 voters, the gifted actors in this category gave the stage original performances.
Escola’s role in Oh, Mary! was also a significant step in their career, having written the play themselves. Their ability to blend humor with historical drama impressed both critics and audiences. Escola’s win in this category marks an important achievement not only for their career but also for the representation of non-binary actors in mainstream theater.
Also read: Stranger Things: The First Shadow earns five Tony Awards nominations
More about Cole Escola
Cole Escola is a multi-talented American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright. Born in Clatskanie, Oregon, on November 25, 1986, they grew to be passionate about the arts, acting in community theater and high school shows. Escola relocated to New York City in order to pursue a career in theater and comedy, rising to be a familiar sight in the comedy scene.
Before their Tony win, Escola gained popularity for their appearances in several TV shows. They starred in Difficult People (2015–2017), where they played the quirky and unforgettable character of Matthew.
Escola also featured in shows like At Home with Amy Sedaris and Big Mouth, making notable contributions to the comedy and animation scenes. Their unique comedic style earned them recognition among a wide range of audiences.
Also read: Critics Choice Awards 2025: Full list of winners
Work by Escola has gone beyond theater and television. Being a content producer, their humorous sketches and YouTube videos have attracted interest. Working with Jeffery Self, their viral series Very Good Looking (VGL) Gay Boys became a cult hit and inspired their own TV show, Jeffery & Cole Casserole, which ran on Logo TV.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on the Tony Awards 2025.
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Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay
