Casey Likes
American actor (born 2001)
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Casey Likes (born December 25, 2001) is an American actor. He is known for playing Marty McFly in the 2023 Broadway production of Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre and originating the role of William Miller in the musical theatre adaptation of the film Almost Famous in 2019 in San Diego and then on Broadway in 2022.[1]
Casey Likes | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 25, 2001 Chandler, Arizona, U.S. |
| Education | Chandler High School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Beginning his career as a child actor, Likes has also acted in films and television and done some writing, directing and producing. In 2026 he is starring as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers at New World Stages.
Early life
Likes was raised in Chandler, Arizona.[2] His mother, Stephanie Likes, is also an actress and appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway and on a national tour.[citation needed] Likes attended Chandler High School where, in 2019, he starred as Jean Valjean in the school's production of Les Misérables, winning Best Lead Male at the 2019 ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards.[3] This award made Likes a contestant in that year's Jimmy Awards in New York City. At this competition, Likes was selected as one of the eight finalists.[4]
Career
Likes began his career performing in school and community theatre in and around his hometown.[2] His first professional stage role was William Miller in the new musical Almost Famous at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California.[5] The production ran from September to October 2019.[6] When it transferred to Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre from November 2022 to January 2023, Likes again played William Miller,[7] garnering a 2023 Theatre World Award.[8] The Broadway cast recording of Almost Famous, released on April 21, 2023, features Likes.[9]
Between his two runs in Almost Famous, Likes appeared in season 2 of Crypt TV's web series, The Birch, as Brian Moses (2021).[10] In 2021, he wrote, directed and acted in a short film titled Thespians, starring Broadway performers Sydney Lucas, Andrew Barth Feldman, Rob McClure and Antonio Cipriano.[11] Likes starred as Richie Shepherd in the MGM horror film Dark Harvest (2023).[12] He also played Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, in the Neil Bogart biopic Spinning Gold (2023).[13]
Likes starred as Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway from June 2023 until it closed on January 5, 2025.[14][15] In the role, he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.[16]
He directed and starred as Melchior Gabor in a production of Spring Awakening at Greasepaint Youtheatre in Scottsdale, Arizona, from April 4–13, 2025.[17] Likes stars as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers, which began performances at New World Stages on June 22, 2025, and is expected to play through at least May 24, 2026.[18]
Filmography
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Everything Must Go | Young Nick in 1969 | |
| 2010 | Cowboys vs. Vampires | Steve | |
| 2013 | American Blackout | Hank, Jr. | TV movie |
| 2015 | Thrasherland | Carpenter | Short film |
| 2018 | Krampus: Origins | Billy | |
| 2021 | The Birch | Brian Moses | Web series, 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Thespians | Mike | Short film; also writer, director and producer |
| 2023 | Spinning Gold | Gene Simmons | |
| 2023 | Dark Harvest | Richie Shepard | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | I Got You | writer, director, producer and cinematographer | Short film |
Stage
| Year | Show | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Jimmy Awards | Performer/Jean Valjean | Minskoff Theatre | Finalist |
| 2019 | Almost Famous | William Miller | Old Globe Theatre | Pre-Broadway production |
| 2022 | The Outsiders | Ponyboy Curtis | n/a | Workshop production |
| 2022–2023 | Almost Famous | William Miller | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre | Broadway debut |
| 2023–2025 | Back to the Future: The Musical | Marty McFly | Winter Garden Theatre | Broadway |
| 2025 | Spring Awakening | Melchior Gabor | Greasepaint Theater | Also director |
| Heathers: The Musical | Jason “J.D.” Dean | New World Stages | Off-Broadway |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards | Best Lead Male | Les Misérables | Won |
| Best Vocalist | Won | |||
| National High School Musical Theatre Awards | Best Actor | Finalist | ||
| 2023 | Theatre World Award | Almost Famous | Honoree | |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical | Back to the Future: The Musical | Nominated |