Anthony Rapp
He gave voice to a generation of struggling artists as the original Mark Cohen in the revolutionary Broadway musical 'Rent.'
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: October 26·Generation X
Biography
Anthony Rapp emerged from the downtown New York theater scene to become a defining face of a new, gritty, and emotionally raw style of musical storytelling. A child actor who worked consistently on stage and screen, his career was forever altered when he originated the role of filmmaker Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson's 'Rent.' As the narrator and emotional anchor of the Pulitzer-winning show about artists living with HIV/AIDS, Rapp's performance captured the angst and hope of 1990s youth. He carried the role from workshop to Broadway, to the film adaptation, and on tour, making it synonymous with his name. A versatile performer, he also shone as Charlie Brown in a Broadway revival and later found a new legion of fans as the astromycologist Paul Stamets on 'Star Trek: Discovery,' bringing a cerebral warmth to the sci-fi franchise. Off-stage, Rapp has been a candid voice, publishing a memoir about his mother's death and courageously coming forward as one of the first accusers in the allegations against Kevin Spacey.
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.
Anthony was born in 1971, 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 Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Originated the role of Mark Cohen in the groundbreaking Broadway musical 'Rent,' performing it on stage and in the film adaptation.
- Starred as Commander Paul Stamets, one of the first openly gay characters in the 'Star Trek' franchise, on 'Star Trek: Discovery.'
- Played the title role in the 1999 Broadway revival of 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.'
- Published the memoir 'Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent,' detailing his mother's death and the show's impact.
- Originated the role of Lucas in the Broadway musical 'If/Then' starring Idina Menzel.
Did You Know?
He made his Broadway debut at age 10 in the musical 'The Little Prince and the Aviator.'
He performed in the rock band Band from TV with fellow actors including Greg Grunberg and Hugh Laurie.
His younger brother, Adam Rapp, is an accomplished novelist and playwright.
He was an early and vocal accuser in the allegations of sexual misconduct against actor Kevin Spacey in 2017.
He is an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team.
“The great thing about 'Rent' is that it meets people where they are.”
