Adam Pascal

Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor. He is best known for originating the role of Roger Davis in Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. Pascal was born to a Jewish family in The Bronx, New York, but raised in Syosset, Long Island. Though he started as a rock musician playing in a number of bands he formed with his schoolmates, Pascal became drawn to musical theater. At the suggestion of his high school friend's (Idina Menzel who played Maureen in Rent) boyfriend he auditioned for the role of Roger in Rent and was cast. His performance in Rent earned him a Tony nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award. The role helped Adam gain notoriety on Broadway, and he was subsequently cast in the Elton John and Tim Rice musical Aida as Radames (in both the original and final cast), and Kander and Ebb's Cabaret, closing the show as the final Emcee. Pascal felt that he was looked upon solely as a broadway singer, however, and so he returned to his roots with a solo recording contract on Sh-K-Boom Records. He has released two solo rock albums, Model Prisoner (2000) and Civilian (2004) and Blinding Light (with Larry Edoff). He also contributed a cover of Billy Joel's New York State of Mind to the CD Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays. He made his film debut in SLC Punk (1999), and also appeared in School of Rock (2003) and Temptation (2004). Pascal, along with most of the other original cast members, was cast in the film version of Rent, reprising the role of Roger. The film was released on November 23, 2005. Along with Anthony Rapp, Adam returned to the Broadway cast of Rent to reprise the role that made him famous. He is currently performing the part of Roger on the farewell broadway tour across the US and right now slated to end with performances in Seoul, South Korea. There is currently some talk of the tour going to a second leg.