Wicked has truly left an indelible mark on the world of theater. This iconic musical, which first graced the stage and then the big screen, has seen an array of talented celebrities don the iconic roles. From Elphaba to the Wizard, each actor has brought their own unique flair to these beloved characters.

Celebrating the Stars Who've Lit Up the Wicked Stage

Elphaba:

Ana Gasteyer, a Saturday Night Live alum, made her mark by originating the role of Elphaba in a sit-down production in Chicago in 2005. Her comedic genius shone through as she later reprised the role on Broadway the following year. Ana has also left her mark on the silver screen with films like Mean Girls and Wine Country, and on television in shows like The Goldbergs and American Auto. This year, she returned to Broadway to star in a revival of Once Upon a Mattress alongside Sutton Foster and Michael Urie.Another notable Elphaba is Megan Hilty. Before her success on NBC's short-lived musical series Smash, she was one of the first performers to replace Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda on Broadway. She also originated a role in the 2009 musical adaption of 9 to 5. Smash brought her to new heights, and she continued to shine with further TV and stage performances, including in the series Sean Saves the World in 2014, a Tony-nominated turn in a revival of Noises Off in 2015, and NBC's live musical Annie Live! in 2021. Currently, she can be seen in the original Broadway musical adaptation of Death Becomes Her.

Glinda:

Annaleigh Ashford's career is a testament to her talent. After appearing in the original run of Legally Blonde, she played Glinda on Broadway in 2007. She has since gone on to originate roles in other musicals such as Kinky Boots in 2013 and the revival of You Can't Take It With You in 2014, for which she won a Tony. On TV, she has garnered an Emmy nom for the 2022 miniseries Welcome to Chippendales and has appeared in shows like Masters of Sex, American Crime Story (both the Gianni Versace and Impeachment seasons), and B Positive.Megan Hilty also made a significant impact as Glinda. As mentioned earlier, she was one of the first to take on the role and has since had a successful career on both TV and stage.

Madame Morrible:

Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning Golden Girls icon, had an impressive career that included starring as the headmistress of Shiz University in 2005. Her portrayal added a unique charm to the role.Sheryl Lee Ralph is a Broadway legend, having originated and won a Tony for the role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls in 1981. She became the first Black woman to play Madame Morrible when she joined Wicked on Broadway in 2016. Her performance in the hit ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary earned her an Emmy in 2022.Carol Kane is another notable Madame Morrible. She first broke through in 1975 with the film Hester Street and is well known for her work in Taxi (earning two Emmys) and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Since 2005, she has starred in various productions of Wicked.Miriam Margolyes, a legendary British actor, is best-known stateside for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. She also starred in notable films like Yentl, Little Shop of Horrors, The Age of Innocence, and Romeo + Juliet. As for Wicked, she originated the role of Madame Morrible on London's West End in 2006 and later appeared in the Broadway production.

Fiyero:

Taye Diggs is a household name with roles in films like The Best Man franchise, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Brown Suger, Chicago, and Set It Up. On TV, he's starred in series like Kevin Hill, Private Practice, Murder in the First, and All American. His theater career is equally impressive. He originated the character of Benny in Rent in 1996 and later played Fiyero in Wicked in 2003. He has also gone back to Broadway over the years, including as Billy Flynn in Chicago (the same year he played the character in the film adaption) and Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2015.Joey McIntyre, best known as a member of New Kids on the Block, is also a star of the stage. In 2004, he made his Broadway debut playing Fiyero in Wicked and returned in 2019 for a role in Waitress. He has also appeared in off-Broadway productions like being part of the original cast of Drag: The Musical, co-starring with RuPaul's Drag Race winner Alaska Thunderfuck.Aaron Tveit is a force to be reckoned with in musical theater. He originated roles in Next to Normal, Catch Me If You Can, and most recently, Moulin Rouge! He won a Tony for Moulin Rouge! Before that, he cut his teeth on Broadway in Hairspray in 2006 as Link Larkin and Wicked in 2008 as Fiyero. Onscreen, he can be recognized from the 2012 film adaption of Les Misérables, as Nate Archibald's cousin Tripp van der Bilt on Gossip Girl, and in the musical TV series Schmigadoon!Justin Guarini, the first-ever American Idol runner-up, has found success on Broadway. He began by appearing in American Idiot in 2011 and followed it up with original roles in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in 2010 and Romeo and Juliet in 2013. In 2014, he starred as Fiyero in Wicked and recently originated characters in two musicals: In Transit in 2016 and Once Upon a One More Time in 2023. He is also known as Lil’ Sweet in the Dr. Pepper ads.

Boq:

Robin De Jesús originated the role of Sonny in In The Heights on Broadway in 2008 and garnered a Tony nomination. He has also been nominated for Tony awards for his work in La Cage aux Folles in 2010 and The Boys in the Band in 2019. Between these performances, he starred as Boq in Wicked from 2014 to 2016. He is also known from his roles in the film adaptions of The Boys in the Band in 2020 and Tick, Tick…Boom! in 2021.

The Wizard:

Kevin Chamberlin is a Broadway vet with three Tony nominations for his work in plays like Dirty Blonde and musicals like Seussical and The Addams Family. Disney Channel kids might recognize him from his role as Bertram in Jessie and Dr. Fusion in Teen Beach Movie. His most recent run on Broadway was portraying The Wizard in Wicked in 2018 and 2019.There are countless other legends who have starred in Wicked, and we invite you to share your favorite actors in the comments below. Wicked continues to captivate audiences with its magical story and talented cast.