Is Cole Escola anyone else’s latest obsession? No? We’ll give you a few minutes to read this article and then ask again.
After a number of stints on the stage and a few smaller roles on television series over their career, the past year saw Escola’s star rise meteorically on the coveted Broadway stage. They just snagged a Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, making them the first non-binary actor to be bestowed the prestigious award. Oh, and they also wrote the play and starred in it solo too.
Now that our favourite dramatic darling is *finally* getting the recognition they deserve, we thought it was only fitting to offer up some behind-the-curtains context into the life and career of Cole Escola. Scroll on for everything you need to know about the Broadway star you’re probably seeing everywhere.
Who Is Cole Escola?
Born in Clatskanie, Oregon, Escola is a quick-witted comedic genius who has been in the entertainment sphere for almost two decades. Growing up in a small town, they found a second family in the theatre community, participating in school productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Les Misérables. They first broke into the scene back in the late 2000s, posting comedic content to YouTube. Their popular digital presence lead them to collaborate with fellow actor Jeffery Self on a sketch comedy program that ran for two seasons between 2009 and 2010 titled Jeffery & Cole Casserole. The show led to Escola nabbing roles on popular TV series like Difficult People, At Home with Amy Sedaris and Search Party, and they also contributed as a writer and producer on acclaimed shows like Hacks and The Other Two.
In 2024, Escola made a major splash with their Broadway debut of Oh, Mary!, a satirical spin on Mary Todd’s (the wife of former US President Abraham Lincoln) life. They wrote and performed in the production, later receiving the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, marking them as the first and only non-binary star to win in this category so far.
Did Cole Escola Attend the 2025 Met Gala?
Aside from Escola’s stand-out performances on the screen and stage, their style is something to take note of in and of itself. At the 2025 Met Gala, paint box-bright florals met razor sharp tailoring in an ensemble by Christopher John Rogers, perfectly suiting (see what we did there?) this years theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
