Andrew Rannells
A Broadway leading man with a clarion voice and razor-sharp comic timing, he announced a major new talent by preaching the 'Hello!' of 'The Book of Mormon.'
Born 1978 (age 48)·American actor·Birthday: August 23·Generation X
Biography
Andrew Rannells didn't just arrive on Broadway; he exploded onto it. After years of ensemble work and touring, his performance as the blindingly optimistic, catastrophically naive missionary Elder Price in 'The Book of Mormon' became an instant theater legend. His opening number, 'Hello!', was a masterclass in charismatic, committed comedy, earning him a Tony nomination and setting a new standard for musical theater leading men. Rannells possesses a rare duality: a powerhouse singing voice capable of belt and nuance, paired with an everyman relatability that shines in both theater ('Falsettos,' 'Hedwig') and television ('Girls,' 'Black Monday'). He represents a modern breed of actor—equally at home dissecting emotional complexity on a premium cable drama and delivering a show-stopping eleven o'clock number under the bright lights of Times Square.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Andrew was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Elder Price in 'The Book of Mormon.'
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album as a principal soloist on the cast recording of 'The Book of Mormon.'
- Earned a second Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Whizzer in the 2016 Broadway revival of 'Falsettos.'
- Starred as a series regular in the HBO comedy-drama 'Girls,' playing the character Elijah Krantz.
Did You Know?
He is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, and performed in community theater there as a teenager.
He was a replacement actor in the Broadway productions of 'Hairspray' and 'Jersey Boys' before his breakout.
He provided the singing voice for King Cyrus in the animated film 'The Prophet.'
He co-hosted the Broadway-themed podcast 'The 500' with his 'Book of Mormon' co-star Josh Gad.
“Omaha will always be my home. It's where I learned to do this. It's where I fell in love with theater.”
