"Saturday Night Live" actor Taran Killam makes his Broadway debut in the musical-theater megasmash "Hamilton." He is joining the cast along with a handful of other new additions over the next few months.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Killam will step into the ornate shoes of the comical King George in "Hamilton." His character originated by Jonathan Groff and also played by Andrew Rannells and Brian d'Arcy James off-Broadway. Rory O'Malley, who currently plays the role, will play his final performance on Jan. 15.
Killam is one of five performers stepping into the New York edition of "Hamilton" over the next several weeks, Variety reported. The principal cast includes Alysha Deslorieux playing Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds as of Dec. 16, J. Quinton Johnson as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison as of Jan. 6, Bryan Terrell Clark as George Washington as of Jan. 10, and lastly, Anthony Lee Medina as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton starting March.
Killam's casting in the hit production "Hamilton" is upon his exit in "Saturday Night Live," wherein his tenure for six years ended in August 2016. He was seen on the New York stage last summer in a concert staging of Encores Off Center production's "Little Shop of Horrors," in which he played the role of a sadist dentist Orin opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.
On film, Killam recently wrapped his feature directorial debut "Why We're Killing Gunther," which is an action comedy he wrote with Arnold Schwarzenegger in a lead role. He also appeared in movies such as "The Heat," "12 Years a Slave," and Showtime's comedic anthology pilot "Mating" from "Parenthood" and "Friday Night Lights" creator Jason Katims.
Coincidentally, Killam's wife Cobie Smulders will also make her Broadway debut this year, opposite Kevin Kline and Kate Burton in the revival of the play "Present Laughter." Killam will play King George in "Hamilton" beginning today, Jan. 17.
Watch the video about Taran Killam having his first "Hamilton" rehearsal: