Biography

Sahr Ngaujah is an American theater actor, director and musician. Originally from Atlanta, he spent most of his early career working in experimental theater in Amsterdam. He made his breakthrough for his Tony Award-nominated performance as Fela Kuti in the 2009 Broadway musical Fela! He was nominated for his second Tony Award for his performance Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge! (2019). On screen, he is best known for his roles in ABC's Last Resort (2012) and Netflix's Luke Cage (2018).

Sahr Ngaujah originated the role of "Toulouse-Lautrec" in Moulin Rouge under the direction of Alex Timbers, which he is playing to sold out audiences on Broadway. And which earned him his 2nd Tony Nomination. Previously on-stage he was seen starring in Athol Fugard's Boesman & Lena at the Signature Theater off-Broadway and in the title role in the world premiere production of Lynn Nottage's Mlima's Tale at The Public Theater under the direction of Jo Bonney, for which he received a Drama League Award nomination. Ngaujah earned an Obie Award in 2009 for creating the role of 'Fela Anikulapo-Kuti' when Fela! premiered Off-Broadway at 37 Arts in 2008. He subsequently reprized his work on Broadway in 2009, and in London, where he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. He then led the company for a special Nigerian engagement of the musical and a European/US Tour.

Fela! earned 11 of the 12 possible Tony nominations, including a nomination for Sahr as Best Actor in a Leading Role. Among his other awards and recognition's for Best Actor in the musical: winning a 2012 Helen Hayes Award and 2012 Toronto Critics' Award; plus receiving a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award and a 2009 Drama Desk Award. The Fela! Original Broadway Cast Recording lead by Sahr also received a 2010 Grammy nomination. Sahr's performance was recorded at the National Theater and was broadcast internationally.

Ngaujah is a Signature Theater regular, and was last seen in Athol Fugard's Master Harold...and the Boys. He was also seen in productions of Signature Theater One-Acts, under the direction of Lila Neugebauer and Fugard's The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek.

On television, Ngaujah can be seen in a crucial season long arc on the Season 2 of Marvel's "Luke Cage" on Netflix. Ngaujah has guested on "High Maintenance" "The Good Wife," and recurred on the NBC series "Law & Order: SVU," and "The Blacklist". Ngaujah starred on the short-lived ABC series "The Last Resort" and opposite John Leguizamo in the CBS ½ hour comedy pilot "Taxi-22".

On the feature side, Ngaujah played the hip-hop producer 'O-Z' in the Sundance hit Patti Cake$ which was distributed by Fox Searchlight. Previously, Ngaujah was recently seen in Jodie Foster's Money Monster and Freeheld (opposite Julianne Moore and Ellen Page). Sahr has maintained a presence in the world of film since the late 1990's, with appearances in Passing Glory, A Lesson Before Dying, The Signal, Stomp the Yard and Blood Done Sign My Name, Kensho at the Bedfellow, among other films.

Sahr Ngaujah is also a DJ. He is one of the founding members of the DJ/Art Collective called FON Sound System. As a musician he has published work with, DIRECTORS band. With lead performances on the Grammy Nominated soundtracks of FELA! Broadway Cast Album and Moulin Rouge Broadway Cast Album. He is currently performing live with FELA aKUsTIc and Chop & Quench (The Fela! Band).

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Sahr Ngaujah