Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean in Broadway's Les Misérables
Iranian-born Ramin Karimloo attended high school in Canada but dropped out of school at 18 to begin his performing career early. Today, in the world of theatrical performers, Karimloo is known as one of the most formidable talents. The Iranian-born Canadian singer who began his professional career in London's West End - in The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, and Miss Saigon - is now starring as Jean Valjean in one of Broadway's longest running shows: Les Misérables at the New York's Imperial Theatre.
Hollywood Reporter indicates Ramin Karimloo's Broadway debut has been a long time coming but he doesn't disappoint. His Jean Valjean has the brawn and the brooding demeanor of a man who has endured two decades of incarcerated hard labor on minor charges. But he also brings the requisite spiritual elevation of the transformed Valjean, without forcing the victimized character's saintliness. His voice is a powerful instrument but also achingly sweet in "Bring Him Home," his affecting second-act prayer to save the life of the young Marius (Andy Mientus). That song yields the production’s most ecstatic applause.
Ramin was hand picked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to portray the lead role in his sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies. He originated the role of Phantom in this sequel, a role that won him the prestigious Theatregoer’s Choice Award and the Broadwayworld.com award for Best Actor in a musical.
In 2010 Ramin started writing music for SHEYTOONS (from Persian word "Sheytoon" meaning a rascal), a Due he formed with old friend Hadley Fraser.
Last August Ramin stopped in New York to perform songs off his latest album Human Heart, taking influence from the country, bluegrass, rock, and folk music that he experienced through his life (Link in Kodoom.com's event section).
Ramin met his wife Amanda Strike when he worked on cruise ships (Amanda was the boss). The two have two boys: Jaden (Nine) and Hadley (six).
Ramin will be staring as Alfie Daniels in the 2015 film, Silence of Seven.
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