Ephraim Sykes

Ephraim Sykes
Born (1985-07-17) July 17, 1985
Alma materFordham University
OccupationDancer · choreographer · actor · singer · musician
Known forHamilton
Ain't Too Proud
Our Town
RelativesMartina Sykes (sister)

Ephraim Manessah Sykes (born July 17, 1985)[1] is an American actor and singer. Sykes played the role of George Eacker in the original Broadway cast of the musical Hamilton. In 2017, Sykes originated and was nominated for a Tony Award for the role of David Ruffin in the musical Ain't Too Proud, a stage musical based on the life of The Temptations.[2] In 2024, he starred as George Gibbs in the Broadway revival of the American classic Our Town.[3]

In December 2016, he played Seaweed J. Stubbs in NBC's live production of Hairspray Live!.

Filmography

Theatre

Year Title Role Theater
2009 The Little Mermaid Ensemble Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway
The Wiz Ensemble
u/s Scarecrow
New York City Center, Off-Broadway
2009–2010 Memphis Ensemble / Be Black Trio
u/s Gator
Shubert Theatre, Broadway
2011 Bring It On: The Musical Ensemble Alliance Theatre
Memphis Ensemble / Be Black Trio
u/s Gator
Shubert Theatre, Broadway
2011-2012 Rent Benjamin Coffin III New World Stages, Off-Broadway
2012 Newsies Mush / Ensemble Nederlander Theatre, Broadway
2013-2014 Motown: The Musical Temptation / Robert Gordy / Contour / Jackson 5 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway
2015 Hamilton George Eacker / Ensemble

u/s Hercules Mulligan / James Madison

The Public Theater, Off-Broadway
2015-2016 Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
2017 Ain't Too Proud David Ruffin Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2018 Kennedy Center
Ahmanson Theatre
Princess of Wales Theatre
2019-2020 Imperial Theatre, Broadway
2023 Pal Joey Joey Evans New York City Center, Off-Broadway
2024 Bye Bye Birdie Conrad Birdie Kennedy Center[5]
2024-2025 Our Town George Gibbs Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
2025 Guys and Dolls Sky Masterson Ogunquit Playhouse
Hello, Dolly! Cornelius Hackl Carnegie Hall
2026 The Fear of 13 Man 4 / Wesley James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Astaire Awards Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show Memphis Nominated
2012 Newsies Nominated
2016 Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show Hamilton Nominated
2019 Chita Rivera Award Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show Ain't Too Proud Won[6]
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male) Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2020[7] Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Ain't Too Proud Nominated
2025 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Our Town Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Ephraim M. Sykes". Playbill. December 8, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Berkeley Rep. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ Henderson, Kathy Our Town’s Ephraim Sykes on Leaping from Dance to Drama and Celebrating the Quiet Diversity of Grover's Corners Broadway.com, October 8, 2024
  4. ↑ Farber, Stephen (21 June 2011). "Leave it on the Floor: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Kennedy Center Bye Bye Birdie
  6. ↑ "Hadestown, Alice By Heart Among 2019 Chita Rivera Award Winners". Playbill. May 20, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "2020 Grammy Nominees". grammy.com. 20 November 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.