ODOM STANDS UP FOR PAY EQUITY
Leslie Odom Jr. wasn’t down for the okeydoke.
The Tony and Grammy Award-winning star of “Hamilton” almost didn’t appear in the filmed adaptation of the Broadway juggernaut over pay equity.
On a recent episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast, Odom told host Dax Shepard why he nearly bowed out of the newest opportunity for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical.
The 39-year-old Queens native explained that when executives approached him about filming, he remained adamant that he would not “sell it away for magic beans” nor “give it away” because it was his “area of expertise. This is all I have. This is my life’s work on the stage.”
Odom, who originated the role of Aaron Burr, the third U.S. vice president, understood that he was a major part of the production and wanted to ensure he would be compensated fairly.
After doing research, he found out what Aaron Tveit, a white actor, made when performing on Fox’s “Grease Live!” television special.
“So when I found out what he made, I didn’t ask for a penny more. I didn’t ask for one penny more, but I said, ‘You must pay me exactly what that white boy got to do “Grease Live!” ’ That’s the bottom line,” the Carnegie Mellon University alumnus recounted.
Apparently, the folks behind the filmed adaptation didn’t budge, which resulted in Odom having to make one final stand.
“The day before we shot that movie I called out,” he revealed. “I was not kidding. … I was not coming to work the next day to do the movie. … It was a principle for me.”
Raised in Philadelphia, Odom’s stage credits include 2012’s “Leap of Faith,” “Tick, Tick … Boom,” “Rent,” “Jersey Boys” and “Venice.” He’s also delivered memorable, scene-stealing roles in hit TV dramas such as “Law & Order: SVU,” “House of Lies,” “Smash” and “Person of Interest.”
Odom used crowdfunding resources to successfully produce and release a self-titled album in 2014.
While it is unknown what executives paid Odom in the end, he did go on to appear in the movie, which was originally slated to hit theaters in October 2021.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Disney+ paid a reported $75 million for the “Hamilton” streaming rights.” According to Variety, the movie’s July 3 premiere propelled the $6.99 app to be downloaded 752,451 times globally, during its first weekend of availability.
Last week, Disney announced the streaming platform has grown to 60.5 million subscribers since it launched last November.