Ben Cook (actor)

Benjamin Cook
Benjamin Cook in January 2012
Born	Benjamin Tyler Cook December 11, 1997 Eden, North Carolina
Occupation	Actor, dancer, singer
Years active	2007–present
Known for	Ragtime Billy Elliot the Musical Newsies the Musical Tuck Everlasting

Benjamin Tyler Cook (born December 11, 1997)^[1][2][3] is an American actor, dancer and singer. A Helen Hayes Award nominee, he has appeared in three Broadway productions, Ragtime, Billy Elliot the Musical, and most recently, Tuck Everlasting. He has also performed in two Broadway national tours, Billy Elliot the Musical and Newsies the Musical and appeared on television in episodes of 30 Rock, House of Cards and Veep.

Early life

Cook was born in Eden, North Carolina. He grew up in New York City, Bethesda, Maryland and Lorton, Virginia.^[4] He is the youngest child of Jill and Glenn Cook. His mother is an assistant director^[5] for the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). His father is an award-winning freelance writer,^[6] photographer,^[7] publishing consultant^[8] and blogger.^[9]

Career

Cook is best known for his musical theatre roles.^[10] He made his Broadway debut in Ragtime, at the Neil Simon Theatre, understudying and performing the role of "Edgar (the little boy)". He performed in several productions at both Ford's Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C.^[11] Cook then returned to Broadway, in the role of "Tall Boy", in Billy Elliot the Musical, at the Imperial Theatre, and played the roles of "Michael", then "Billy", in the North American National Tour of the production. His final tour performance as "Billy" was in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 19, 2013.^[12] After that, he toured for a year and a half in the role of "Race" and occasionally performed the role of "Crutchie," as the understudy, in the First National tour of Newsies the Musical.^[13]

On television, Cook has appeared as "Young Jack" to Alec Baldwin's "Jack Donaghy", on 30 Rock, in the episode entitled, "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish;"^[14] as well as appearances, as Walt, in the episode of the HBO series, Veep, entitled "The Choice"^[15] and "Chapter 27", as Heather Dunbar's son on the Netflix series, House of Cards.^[16]

On January 15, 2016, it was announced that on January 31, 2016, after over 500 performances, Cook would leave the national tour of "Newsies" to become a member of the original Broadway cast of the new musical,"Tuck Everlasting," based on the 1975 children's novel, Tuck Everlasting, written by Natalie Babbitt. Previews began on March 31, 2016^[17] and the show opened, at the Broadhurst Theatre, on April 26, 2016.^[18]

The production closed on May 29, 2016, after 28 previews and 39 performances.^[19][20]

Cook subsequently reprised his work in the role of "Race" in "Newsies," in the filmed production of the stage musical, slated to open in movie theatres on February 16, 18, 22, 2017.^[21][22]

Following the filmed production of "Newsies," Cook filmed an appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing the role of "Adam Turner," in the episode entitled, "Great Expectations."^[23][24]

Theatre

Theatre
Date	Title	Role	Theatre	Note
November 16, 2007 - December 30, 2007	A Christmas Carol	Tiny Tim[25]	Ford's Theatre	Washington D.C.
February 28, 2008 - April 13, 2008	Macbeth	Young Macduff[26]	Folger Shakespeare Library
December 2, 2008 - December 28, 2008	A Christmas Carol	Urchin, Ignorance, Turkey Boy	Ford's Theatre ("A Christmas Carol" played at Ford's) Lansburgh Theatre[27]
February 3, 2009 - March 8, 2009	The Heavens Are Hung in Black	Tad Lincoln[28]
April 18, 2009 - May 17, 2009	Ragtime	Understudy: Edgar (The little boy)[29]	John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
November 15, 2009 - January 10, 2010		Understudy: Edgar (The little boy)[30][31]	Neil Simon Theatre	Broadway
March 12, 2010 - April 4, 2010	The Golden Age	The Page[32]	John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts	Washington D.C.
July 7, 2010 - October 14, 2011	Billy Elliot the Musical	Tall/Posh Boy, Understudy: Michael[33]	Imperial Theatre	Broadway
November 3, 2011 - January 22, 2012		Michael[34]	National Tour	National Tour
June 30, 2012 - May 19, 2013		Billy[35]
October 11, 2014 - January 31, 2016	Newsies the Musical	Race, Understudy: Crutchie[36]
Previews began: March 31, 2016 - Opened on: April 26, 2016[37][38] - Closed on: May 29, 2016[39][40]	Tuck Everlasting	Ensemble, Understudy: Jesse Tuck, Hugo[41]	Broadhurst Theatre	Broadway

Television

Television
Year	Title	Role	Episode	Original Air date	Network
2010	30 Rock	Young Jack[42]	"Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish"	December 2, 2010	NBC
2013	House of Cards	Heather Dunbar's son[43]	"Chapter 27"	February 27, 2015	Netflix
2014	Veep	Walt[44]	"The Choice"	April 13, 2014	HBO
2016	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Adam Turner[45]	"Great Expectations"	November 30, 2016	NBC

Awards

Theatre
Year	Award	Category	Result	Production	Theatre
2012	Helen Hayes Award	Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production	Nominated[46]	Billy Elliot the Musical	The Kennedy Center

Awards

In 2012, Cook received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his work in Billy Elliot the Musical.^[46]

Personal life

Benjamin Cook is the youngest of Jill and Glenn Cook's children. He has three siblings.

Nicholas Cook, his older, half brother,^[47] is a May 2015 graduate of Elon University, in Elon, North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts.^[48] In 2015, Nicholas made his Carnegie Hall debut, performing in Elon's a cappella singing group, "Vital Signs."^[49] He is currently an admissions counselor at his alma mater.^[50]

Older sister Kate,^[47] is a June 2015 graduate of Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia,^[51] lives with ADHD/bipolar disorder and resides in Tampa, Florida^[52] Emma, by one minute an older twin sister,^[47] is also a trained dancer and a high school student.^[47]

The Cook family home remains in Lorton, Virginia.^[53]

References

1. Benjamin Cook. Performer Playbill. 2016; retrieved February 12, 2015.
2. Benjamin Cook Theatre Credits BroadwayWorld.com. Copyright Wisdom Digital Media. 2016; retrieved February 12, 2015.
3. Benjamin Cook profile, imdb.com; retrieved February 12, 2015
4. Growing Up "Normal", glenncook.virb.com; retrieved October 18, 2015.
5. About ASCA. Contact Us Archived May 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine., schoolcounselor.org; retrieved May 23, 2015.
6. Award Winners, glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
7. Glenn Cook Photography Glenn Cook Photography; retrieved May 23, 2015.
8. About Me. A Biography in 178 Words, glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
9. Glenn Cook: Words, Photos, glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
10. BWW Interview: Benjamin Cook of TUCK EVERLASTING Talks Dance and Broadway Gianluca Russo. Broadway World. March 11, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
11. Benjamin Cook Internet Broadway Database; retrieved April 15, 2015.
12. "Meet Billy Elliot: Ben Cook", TheSkyKid.com; retrieved January 30, 2016.
13. Disney NEWSIES official website; retrieved April 15, 2015.
14. "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish", imdb.com; retrieved April 15, 2015.
15. Ben on HBO's "Veep", glenncook.virb.com; retrieved April 30, 2015.
16. "Ben Cook on 'House of Cards'”, kids-on-tour.net Kids on Tour; retrieved April 30, 2015.
17. Tuck Everlasting Begins Broadway Previews Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. Mar 31, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016
18. Broadway Premiere of Tuck Everlasting Sets Complete Cast, Broadway.com, January 15, 2016; retrieved February 9, 2016.
19. "Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Posts Closing Notice" Archived May 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Robert Viagas. Playbill, May 24, 2016
20. Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016
21. Disney Theatrical Productions Presents Disney's Newsies The Broadway Musical Fathom Events. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
22. "Newsies" Movie Shooting Soon Glenn Cook: Words, Photos. August 10, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
23. Great Expectations Law & Order SVU. Great Expectations. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
24. THE KING AND I Press Coverage, Ben Cook on Law and Order: SVU, and more! Emily Lang. Kids On Tour. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
25. Ponick, Terry (January 9, 2012). "Ben Cook – talented young DC area performer is outstanding supporting player in Billy Elliot". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
26. "Macbeth Run Extended at Folger Theatre". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
27. Full Cast Set for A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre, theatermania.com, November 10, 2008; retrieved January 31, 2016.
28. FORD’S THEATRE REOPENS WITH A WORLD PREMIERE OF THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK Fords Theatre Heavens Release, January 30, 2009; retrieved February 9, 2016.
29. "RAGTIME to Be Filmed January 8 for Lincoln Center Archives". Retrieved May 30, 2012.
30. "Photo Flash: RAGTIME Plays Final Show on Broadway January 10". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
31. "Benjamin Cook". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
32. "Walter Bobbie Directs GOLDEN AGE At The Kennedy Center 3/12-4/4". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
33. "Cast list for Billy Elliot at the Imperial Theatre". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
34. Katzarova, Ekaterina (January 22, 2012). "Billy Elliot comes to Cincy". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
35. "Ben Cook and Noah Parets Join BILLY ELLIOT's National Tour". May 19, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
36. "Seize the Day!: National Tour of Disney's Newsies Launches Today". October 11, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
37. "Broadway Premiere of 'Tuck Everlasting' Sets Complete Cast", Broadway.com, January 15, 2016; retrieved February 9, 2016.
38. Tuck Everlasting Opens on Broadway Tonight Robert Viagas. Playbill. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016
39. "Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Posts Closing Notice" Archived May 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Robert Viagas. Playbill, May 24, 2016
40. Broadway Musical Tuck Everlasting Closes Today Robert Viagas. Playbill. May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016
41. Benjamin Cook Playbill. 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016
42. Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish 30 Rock. Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
43. Chapter 27 House of Cards. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
44. The Choice Veep. The Choice. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
45. Great Expectations Law & Order SVU. Great Expectations. IMDB. 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016
46. Lehman, Daniel. "Helen Hayes Award Nominees Announced". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
47. The Last 5 Years: Our Reality Show, glenncook.virb.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
48. Nick Cook. About Me, nick-cook-design.com; retrieved May 23, 2015.
49. Elon a cappella group invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, Elon.edu, May 21, 2014; retrieved May 23, 2015.
50. Full-Time Administrative Staff Elon University; retrieved October 18, 2015
51. Graduation Day!, glenncook.virb.com; retrieved June 20, 2015
52. Fly Away Home Blog: Our Reality Show. Glenn Cook: Words and Photos. September 1, 2015; retrieved September 20, 2015
53. METROPOLITAN SCHOOL of the ARTS’ STUDENT to PERFORM in DISNEY’s NEWSIES at NATIONAL THEATRE WUSA9.com; retrieved May 23, 2015

External links

• Ben Cook at the Internet Broadway Database
  
• Ben Cook at the Internet Movie Database