QUICK FACTS
NAME
Lin-Manuel Miranda
OCCUPATION
Playwright,Songwriter,Theater Actor
BIRTH DATE
January 16,1980(age 38)
EDUCATION
Wesleyan University,Hunter College High School
PLACE OF BIRTHNew York,New York
Lin-Manuel MirandaBiography
Playwright, Songwriter, Theater Actor(1980–)
QUOTES
“I’m a biography buff. My favorite book growing up was 'Chuck Amuck,' by Chuck Jones. I think I bought it as a kid because of the included flip-book: flip the pages, and Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner down the margins of the page. But it’s also one of the most beautiful books about the creative process I’ve ever read.”
—Lin-Manuel Miranda
Native New Yorker Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning actor, performer and writer known for his groundbreaking Broadway musicals 'In the Heights' and 'Hamilton.'
Who Is Lin-Manuel Miranda?
Born in 1980 in New York City, Lin-Manuel Miranda developed a devotion to musical theater and hip-hop before attending Wesleyan University. He wrote and starred in the Tony-winning 2008 musicalIn the Heightsbefore working on additional Broadway productions and making screen appearances. Inspired by reading Ron Chernow's biography ofAlexander Hamilton, Miranda eventually developed the musicalHamilton, a groundbreaking work that tells the story of the U.S.Founding Fatherwith hip-hop/R&B musical forms and a black and Latino cast. With Miranda in the titular role, the production was a phenomenal success commercially and critically, winning the Pulitzer Prize and 11 Tony Awards in 2016. Miranda also scored a Grammy Award and an Oscar nomination for composing the song "How Far I'll Go" from the 2016 animated filmMoana.
Background and Early Life
Lin-Manuel Miranda was born on January 16, 1980 in New York City, the son of Puerto Rican parents. Hisclinical psychologistmother,Luz Towns-Miranda,and hispolitical consultantfather,Luis A. Miranda, Jr.,settled in the Inwood neighborhood ofManhattan.Miranda and his sister grew up in a musically-oriented family. Both siblings taking piano lessons and were encouraged by their parents who loved the music of Broadway. (Luis particularly adores the showThe UnsinkableMolly Brown.) While the Mirandas weren’t able to routinely see live performances, they were nonetheless able to listen to cast recordings.
Exposed to a wide range of musical genres while growing up, Lin-Manuel also developed a love of hip-hop, including the music of theBeastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions and Eric B. & Rakim. During hispre-teen and teenage years,Miranda performed in student stage productions while he attended Hunter College’s elementary and high schools. He went on to major in theater studies at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he worked as a high school English teacher for a time.
Tony Wins for 'In the Heights'
While at Wesleyan, Miranda started developing the musical that would becomeIn the Heights. With Miranda starring in the production and writing the show’s music and lyrics,In the Heightswas set in Washington Heights, featuring Latin sounds interwoven with more standard show tune fare. The musicaldebuted in 2008 andwas a hit, running for almost two years and winning four Tony Awards, including the prize for best musical.
Miranda continued to be a force on Broadway, doing translation work for a 2009 revival ofWest Side Storyand contributing music and lyrics to 2012’sBring It On: The Musical. The performer also did screen work: He appeared on various TV programs includingThe Sopranos, How I Met Your MotherandModern Familyas well as in the filmsThe Odd Life of Timothy Green(2012) and200 Cartas(2013). And in a perfect fusion of career interests, Miranda won an Emmy in 2014with Tom Kitt for their song “Bigger” from the 67th Annual Tony Awards telecast.
Massive Success of 'Hamilton'
While on vacation in 2008, Miranda picked up the 2004 Ron Chernow bookAlexander Hamilton, an acclaimed biography of America’s first secretary of the treasury. Having already developed an interest in the historical figure, Miranda was inspired to create a full-length work chronicling Hamilton’s life.
He first presented a song from the future show in 2009, at the White House'sfirst-ever Evening of Poetry & Spoken Word. The musical was also part ofLincoln Center Theater’s 2012 American Songbook Series and the New York Stage and Film’s 2013 Powerhouse Theatre Season at Vassar College.Hamiltoneventually debuted at the Public Theater in early 2015, and just months later hit Broadway, racking up monumental advance ticket sales. That same year he was also honored with aMacArthur Foundation Award.
With Miranda in the titular role, the show documents some of the prominent historical events associated with Hamilton, from his high-profile sex scandal to his life-ending duel withAaron Burr.Hamiltonhas garnered wide acclaim for its unique sensibilities—relying on a black and Latino cast with hip-hop/R&B sounds in a stage musical format to tell the story of this U.S. Founding Father. The Broadway musical has become a must-see event, not only for theater fans, but also for scores of famous figures,includingPresident Barack Obamaand musical iconStephen Sondheim.
In April 2016,Hamiltonwon the Pulitzer Prize for drama, and in May, the musical set a new record when it was nominated for 16 Tony Awards, the most in Broadway history. The production ultimately received 11 Tonys—just one short of the record-setting 12 wins had byThe Producers. Hamilton counted among its wins the prizes for best musical and best direction, with Miranda himself receiving two Tonys in the categories of original score and book.
Miranda has also won two Grammys for the cast recordings ofIn the HeightsandHamiltonand an Emmy Award for the music and lyrics at the 2013 Tony Awards show.
Film Projects
In 2016, Miranda brought his talents to the big screen, composing the lyrics and music for "How Far I'll Go," for the animated filmMoana. The track was nominated for an Oscar in 2017, before winninga Grammy the following year for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Personal Life
Miranda wed scientist and lawyer Vanessa Nadal, a graduate of MIT, in 2010. The couple has a son, Sebastian.