Daniel Breaker
American actor and comedian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Breaker (born June 2, 1980) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Donkey in the original cast of Shrek the Musical. His other Broadway credits include principal roles in Hamilton, Hadestown, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Book of Mormon.
- Actor
- comedian
Daniel Breaker | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 2, 1980 Manhattan, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Career
Beginning his career in 2002, immediately after graduating from Juilliard, Breaker has performed in Off-Broadway, London, and U.S. regional theatre productions. He performed in five plays at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. His first major role was the Youth, protagonist of the Off-Broadway premiere of Passing Strange, for which he won an Obie Award in 2008. He was then nominated for a Tony Award for the show's Broadway transfer, in which he again played the Youth; he also played this role in Spike Lee's filmed version of the musical.
One of his most recognizable roles was Donkey in the original Broadway production of Shrek the Musical, which ran from November 2008 through January 2010. He starred alongside long-time Broadway stars Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, John Tartaglia, and Christopher Sieber. For his portrayal, Breaker earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.[1][2] His voice can be heard on the original cast recording of the show.
He has also appeared in the plays Well and Cymbeline.[3] In 2009, he co-hosted the Obie Awards.[4]
Breaker previously played Mafala Hatimbi in The Book of Mormon on Broadway. He also appeared as the King of Navarre in The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of the Love's Labour's Lost musical.[5] He played Aaron Burr in Hamilton in Chicago and joined the musical's Broadway cast.[6]
Breaker has also been a guest star on TV.[7][8] Since 2021, he has been part of the supporting cast of the Peacock show Girls5Eva. Breaker starred as the Jester alongside his former Shrek the Musical co-star Sutton Foster in the 2024 Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress.[9] On January 9, 2025, it was announced that Breaker would take over the role of Hermes in the Broadway production of Hadestown starting February 18[10], and on December 26, 2025, it was announced that he would take over the same role in the London production at the Lyric Theatre.[11]
Personal life
Breaker has been married to theatre director Kate Whoriskey since 2008. They have two children.[7][12]
Stage credits
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Limitless | Campaign Manager | |
| 2012 | Red Hook Summer | Cliff | |
| 2013 | He's Way More Famous Than You | EMT | |
| Shrek the Musical | Donkey | ||
| 2015 | Sisters | Airport Bartender |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Zach | Episode: "The Pilgrim" |
| 2009 | Great Performances | Youth | Episode: "Passing Strange" |
| 2011 | Unforgettable | Mark | Episode: "Lost Things" |
| 2014 | Submissions Only | Dean Klausen | 5 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | Mozart in the Jungle | Virgil | 16 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Agent Dunleavy | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Helpsters | Artist Andrew | Episode: "Camper Cortez/Artist Andrew & Detective Dudley" |
| 2020–2023 | Billions | Roger 'Scooter' Dunbar | 34 episodes |
| 2021–2024 | Girls5eva | Scott | 12 episodes |
| 2022 | The Good Fight | Randy Elkin | 5 episodes |