Damon Daunno

Damon Daunno
Born (1984-11-28) November 28, 1984
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationNew York University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • composer
  • musician
  • singer
Years active2006–present
SpouseKirsty Woodward (2018-2025)

Damon Daunno (born November 28, 1984) is a Tony and Grammy-nominated American actor, singer, musician, and composer.[1] He is best known for his work on Broadway and for the role of Curly McLain in the 2019 revival of musical Oklahoma! for which he received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album.[2][3]

Early life and education

Daunno was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.[1] He attended Glen Ridge High School for one year before transferring to the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut.[1]

He graduated from Loomis Chaffee School and then studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, earning a BFA in drama in 2006.[1][4]

Career

On October 18, 2010, Daunno released his debut 3-song EP of original music called "Adulterated Trappings".[5] He lists Jeff Buckley and Radiohead to be among his musical influences.[6]

In March 2011, Daunno performed a tribute concert for Jeff Buckley at New York's Knitting Factory.[7] Around this time was when he also had a performance residency at Niagara NYC.[6]

Daunno originated the role of Orpheus in Hadestown in the off-Broadway production which ran from May 6 to July 31, 2016, at New York Theatre Workshop.[8] He appears on the Off Broadway Original Cast Recording.

Daunno starred in the 2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! as Curly, for which he received a nomination for the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[2][9]

In August 2020, Daunno was featured on the soundtrack Broadway Sings Blood Rock: The Musical with Andy Mientus, Jennifer DiNoia, and Robert Torti.[10]

Personal life

Daunno previously dated actress Betty Gilpin while both were attending Loomis Chaffee School.[11]

Daunno met British actress Kirsty Woodward in 2014 while performing at the Kneehigh Theatre Company.[12] The two married in 2018 in Brooklyn, New York.[12] In 2025, they divorced.[13]

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Venue
2010 The Last Goodbye Romeo Williamstown Theatre Festival[14]
2010–2011 Brief Encounter Ensemble, Bill Studio 54, Broadway
2012 Pippin Pippin American Repertory Theater
2013 Fly By Night Harold McClam Dallas Theater Center
2015 Oklahoma! Curly McLain Bard SummerScape
These Paper Bullets! Claude Gil Cates Theater
2016 Hadestown Orpheus New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway
2017 Beardo Beardo St. John's Lutheran Church
The Tin Drum Jan Shoreditch Town Hall [15]
2018 The Lucky Ones Kai Connelly Theater
2019–2020 Oklahoma! Curly McLain St. Ann's Warehouse
Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway
2023 Almost Famous Jeff Bebe Eugene O'Neill Theater Center[16]
2024 The Lonely Few Dylan Newman Mills Theater, Off-Broadway[17]
2025 The Counterfeit Opera Macheath The Amph at Little Island[18]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2013 The Following Steve Episode: "Love Hurts"
2020 Blue Bloods Mancuso Episode: "Where the Truth Lies"
2021 The Hating Game Danny
2022 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel J.J. Episode: "Everything is Bellmore"
2022, 2026 Interview with the Vampire Bruce Episode: "A Vile Hunger for Your Hammering Heart", Episode: "Toronto"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2018 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical The Lucky Ones Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical Won
2019 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Oklahoma! Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2020 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Nominated [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Damon Daunno Nominated for a Tony". Italian Tribune. May 9, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Tony Nominee Spotlight: Damon Daunno on Breaking With Tradition in 'Oklahoma!,' Plus Watch 'People Will Say We're in Love' (Exclusive)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (November 20, 2019). "Hadestown, Oklahoma!, More Cast Albums Receive 2020 Grammy Award Nominations". Playbill.
  4. ↑ Kuperinsky, Amy (April 30, 2019). "Tony Awards 2019: N.J.'s Ali Stroker and Damon Daunno nominated for 'Oklahoma!' revival; see full list of nominees". nj.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Adulterated Trappings EP — Damon Daunno". Last.fm. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Admin, J. B. M. "ARCHIVE Vol. 13:09 03/31/11". Jeff Buckley. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  7. ↑ Damon Daunno @ The Knit, Jeff Buckley Tribute, retrieved March 16, 2024
  8. ↑ "Damon Daunno Interview - Hadestown Interview | StageBuddy". StageBuddy.com. June 18, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Oklahoma! Star Damon Daunno on Leveling Up in a Classic Role and Strumming His Way to Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ Wild, Stephi. "'Broadway Sings BLOOD ROCK' is Now Available on iTunes and Apple Music, Featuring Andy Mientus, Damon Daunno, and More!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers (July 17, 2019). "Maggots or Magic". Las Culturistas (Podcast). Forever Dog. Event occurs at 14:25.
  12. 1 2 King, Eric (April 6, 2019). "Oklahoma! Star Damon Daunno on Leveling Up in a Classic Role and Strumming His Way to Broadway". Broadway.Com.
  13. ↑ "Case 551048/2024 Woodward, Kirsty V. Daunno, Damon - Trellis: Legal Intelligence + Judicial Analytics". Trellis. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Last Goodbye, the".
  15. ↑ Herman, Judi. (2018, July 7). The Tin Drum ★★★★. Jewish Renaissance. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://www.jewishrenaissance.org.uk/blog/review-theatre-the-tin-drum
  16. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "ALMOST FAMOUS Headed Back into Workshops at the O'Neill". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  17. ↑ Harms, Talaura (February 12, 2024). "Damon Daunno and Taylor Iman Jones Will Lead New Off-Broadway Musical The Lonely Few". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ "The Counterfeit Opera' Comes Together Like a Madcap Caper". NYTimes.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List". www.grammy.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
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