Brandon J. Dirden

Brandon J. Dirden
Born1978 or 1979 (age 47–48)
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1997–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2006)​
Children1

Brandon J. Dirden (born 1978 or 1979) is an American actor, best known for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the Broadway production of Robert Schenkkan's All the Way.[1]

Career

Dirden received his bachelor's in math and drama from Morehouse College and his Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.[2] He made his Broadway debut in Prelude to a Kiss. He has since appeared regularly both on and off Broadway in plays such as Clybourne Park, The First Breeze of Summer and Detroit 67.

In 2012, he received an OBIE Award,[3] AUDELCO VIV Award[4] and a Theater World Award[5] and was nominated for The Drama League and Lucille Lortel awards for his portrayal of Boy Willie in the Signature Theatre's revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson. In 2017 he appeared in August Wilson's Jitney at Manhattan Theatre Club, and in 2022, appeared on Broadway in both Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew and the revival of Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out. Dirden was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actor in a Play for his role as Reggie in Skeleton Crew.[6]

Dirden made his directorial debut in September 2015 directing August Wilson's Seven Guitars at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. In 2024, he starred in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, also at the Two River Theater.

He played Dennis Aderholt in The Americans. Dirden has guest-starred in TV series such as The Big C, The Good Wife, and Ed Burns' Public Morals.

Personal life

Dirden is married to actress Crystal A. Dickinson, whom he met while in graduate school at The University of Illinois. They have one son, Chase Ari Dirden. His brother is Jason Dirden,[7] also an actor. They frequently appear in plays together.

Stage credits

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2007 Prelude to a Kiss Ensemble Broadway, American Airlines Theatre [8]
2010 Enron Security Guard, Trader Broadway, Broadhurst Theatre [9]
2012 Clybourne Park Albert, Kevin (u/s) Broadway, Walter Kerr Theatre [10]
The Piano Lesson Boy Willie Off-Broadway, Signature Theatre Company [11]
2014 All the Way Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre [12]
2017 Jitney Booster Broadway, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre [13]
2022 Skeleton Crew Reggie [14]
Take Me Out Davey Battle Broadway, Hayes Theatre [15]
Broadway, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre [16]
2025 Waiting for Godot Pozzo Broadway, Hudson Theatre [17]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2013 Theatre World Award The Piano Lesson Won [18]
Lucille Lortel Award Lead Actor in a Play Nominated [19]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated [20]
Obie Award Distinguished Performance Won [21]
2022 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play Skeleton Crew Nominated [22]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Nominated [23]
2026 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Waiting for Godot Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Brandon Dirden has a realistic new take on Martin Luther King Jr. in Robert Schenkkan's 'All the Way'". New York Daily News. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Brandon Dirden". tisch.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  3. ↑ "New York 58th Annual Obies Awards – May 20, 2013 @ Webster Hall". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ "AUDELCO". Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  5. ↑ "Theatre World Awards – Theatre World Awards". AUDELCO.
  6. ↑ "Nominees - Drama Desk Awards". Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Brother Act: Brandon J. and Jason Dirden Take the Stage in All The Way and A Raisin in the Sun – Playbill". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Rooney, David (March 9, 2007). "Prelude to a Kiss". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  9. ↑ "Enron Cast". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  10. ↑ "Open House! Pulitzer Prize-Winner Clybourne Park Celebrates a Swanky Broadway Opening". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  11. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (November 19, 2012). "The Piano Lesson, With Chuck Cooper, Brandon J. Dirden, Roslyn Ruff, Gets Second Extension at NYC's Signature". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  12. ↑ Naomi Serviss (February 27, 2014). "BWW Interview: ALL THE WAY's Brandon J. Dirden Takes MLK the Distance". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  13. ↑ Levitt, Hayley (November 6, 2025). "Interview: Brandon J. Dirden on How His Texas Roots Influenced His Pozzo". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  14. ↑ Raymond, Gerard. "In 'Skeleton Crew,' It's Hard to Be the Boss and Have a Heart". TDF Stages. Theatre Development Fund. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  15. ↑ Farmer, Jim (April 4, 2022). "Ex-Atlantan Brandon J. Dirden comes full circle with "Take Me Out" on Broadway". ArtsATL. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  16. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (August 17, 2022). "'Take Me Out' Returning to Broadway in October With Jesse Williams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  17. ↑ Stevens, Kaitlin (September 30, 2025). "Brandon J. Dirden Embraces the Unknown as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  18. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 7, 2013). "Tom Hanks, Bertie Carvel, Valisia LeKae, Rob McClure and More Are Theatre World Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  19. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (5 May 2013). "Dogfight, The Whale and The Piano Lesson Are Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "2013 Drama League Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  21. ↑ "Off-Broadway, 2013 Obie Award Winners Announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  22. ↑ "2022 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  23. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 17, 2022). "The Lehman Trilogy Leads 2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Six Wins Best Musical; See the Complete List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
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