Most actors begin their careers on stage. Whether it's a school production or a summer theater camp, actors have cited their love for the stage as the impetus to their acting career. It's no suprise they continue to be drawn to the stage as adults, often transitioning from film to stage, and vice versa. And no stage is as prestigous as the Broadway stage.
Lots of actors are known for their time on Broadway. Jane Krakowski, Idinia Menzel, Ben Platt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are Broadway legends known also for their work in Hollywood, but there are a slew of actors who are just the opposite: known for their work in Hollywood with Broadway experience, too. Here are some actors you might not know starred on Broadway:
10 Anna Kendrick
Best known for her role as Beca in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, Anna Kendrick has shown she's a multi-talented performer singing in those movies, as well as in Into the Woods and both Trolls movies. Kendrick's had a successful career in Hollywood, but she started on Broadway in 1998, where she starred in the musical High Society, and was nominated for a Tony for her work.
9 Bryan Cranston
Best known for his role as Walter White in the hit television series Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston also did a stint on Broadway, where played former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in All The Way. Cranston went on to star in a second Broadway production, and earned a Tony Award for both performances.
8 Chris Rock
Comedian Chris Rock has won Emmy and Grammy awards for his work in Hollywood, but the actor has taken his talents to Broadway, too, where he starred on stage after his hit movie Grown Ups premiered. Rock is best known for his work on his award-winning television series The Chris Rock Show.
7 Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell has an impressive resume. She's lent her voice to Disney as Anna in the Frozen sequels and to the CW as the Gossip Girl narrator, and she's starred in other television shows Veronica Mars and The Good Place. But before her success in Hollywood, Bell played Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on Broadway. She appeared again on the Broadway stage in a revival of The Crucible.
6 Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is best known for her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw. SJP first gave life to the character in the HBO series Sex and the City, reprised the role for two movies of the same name, and will again be starring as Carrie in the upcoming revival series. She's starred in movies like The Family Stone and Disney's cult-classic Hocus Pocus, but before her time in Hollywood, she was a child actor on Broadway. Her second role on stage was the titular character in the hit musical Annie.
5 Viola Davis
Highly accomplished actress Viola Davis is one award away from claiming EGOT status, only missing a Grammy. Her career started on the stage, and she has won two Tony Awards for her work on Broadway. Davis is best known for her work as Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder, and has starred in blockbuster films like The Help and Suicide Squad.
4 Andrew Garfield
While most people know Andrew Garfield for his time as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man sequels, he has also flexed his acting muscles on Broadway. Before acting as the legendary superhero, Garfield was cast as Bill Loman in a revival of Death of a Salesman. Garfield is also known for his work in The Social Network and Hacksaw Ridge, the latter for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
3 Daniel Radcliffe
It might be hard to picture Daniel Radcliffe playing any role other than Harry Potter, but the actor has a diverse resume and has been in several Broadway productions. In fact, he made his Broadway debut before the Harry Potter series ended. His debut performance was laden with controversy, as he appeared on stage nude. Some suspected he risked his role as Harry Potter, but Warner Bros. released a statement showing their support for his artistic endeavors.
2 Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson has had an illustrious acting career, starring in film after film like Her, the Sing sequels, and multiple Marvel movies as the Black Widow. Johansson was even nominated for two Oscars in one season, one for her role in Marriage Story and another for her role in Jojo Rabbit, joining a very small list of actors who've been nominated twice in one year. But Johansson's career hasn't just been in Hollywood. The actress has starred in multiple Broadway productions, and won a Tony Award for her role in A View From the Bridge.
1 Chris Evans
Chris Evans has earned most of his clout in Hollywood starring as Captain America in multiple Marvel movies, but the actor has proven his talent lies beyond superhero films through his work in other projects like Knives Out, Defending Jacob, and his role in the Broadway play Lobby Hero.