Ephraim Manessah Sykes (born July 17, 1985, in St. Petersburg, Florida)[1] is an American actor and singer. Sykes played the role of George Eacker in the original Broadway cast of the musical Hamilton. In 2017, Sykes originated and was nominated for a Tony Award for the role of David Ruffin in the musical Ain't Too Proud, a stage musical based on the life of The Temptations.[2]

Ephraim Sykes
Born (1985-07-17) July 17, 1985 (age 39)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materFordham University
OccupationDancer · choreographer · actor · singer · musician
RelativesMartina Sykes (sister)

In December 2016, he played Seaweed J. Stubbs in NBC's live production of Hairspray Live!.

Filmography

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Theatre

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Year Title Role Theater
2009 The Little Mermaid Ensemble (replacement) Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2009–2010, 2011 Memphis Ensemble, Be Black Trio, u/s Gator (original), Ensemble (replacement) Shubert Theatre
2011 Rent Benjamin Coffin III New World Stages
2011-2012 Newsies Mush/Ensemble Nederlander Theatre
2013-2014 Motown: The Musical Temptation, Robert Gordy, Contour, Jackson 5 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2015-2016 Hamilton George Eacker/Ensemble

u/s Hercules Mulligan/James Madison

Public Theater, Richard Rodgers Theatre
2017-2020 Ain't Too Proud David Ruffin Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kennedy Center, Ahmanson Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre, Imperial Theatre
2023 Pal Joey Joey New York City Center
2024 Bye Bye Birdie Conrad Birdie John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts[4]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Astaire Awards Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show Memphis Nominated
2012 Newsies Nominated
2016 Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show Hamilton Nominated
2019 Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male) Ain't Too Proud Won
Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2020[5] Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Ephraim M. Sykes". Playbill. December 8, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Berkeley Rep. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Farber, Stephen (21 June 2011). "Leave it on the Floor: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ Kennedy Center Bye Bye Birdie
  5. ^ "2020 Grammy Nominees". grammy.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
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