David Benoit (actor)
David Benoit (actor)
David Benoit (born 1966) is an American actor, singer, and musician known for his long-running work in Broadway and other musical productions. He grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, and later lived in Somerset with his family. He studied musical theatre at the Boston Conservatory, graduating in 1988, and moved to New York City to pursue a stage career. He also spent eight years playing the tuba and is a hobby puppet maker, having crafted puppets for Forbidden Broadway.
Early life and education
Born in Fall River, Benoit grew up in nearby Somerset with his father (a bus driver), his mother, two sisters, and a brother. He earned a degree in musical theatre from the Boston Conservatory in 1988 and then moved to New York to begin his professional life. He has an interest in puppetry and played the tuba for several years.
Acting career
After moving to New York in 1992, Benoit worked on Broadway and in touring productions. His credits include Forbidden Broadway, Forever Plaid, Dance of the Vampires, All Shook Up, Avenue Q, Les Misérables, Young Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, and a Dreamgirls concert for the Actor’s Fund. He is known for taking on multiple roles and for replacing actors in several productions.
Broadway highlights
- Les Misérables (1997–2002): performed in various parts, including understudying Javert and Thenardier.
- Avenue Q (2007): played Bear, Nicky, and Trekkie Monster as a replacement.
- Jekyll & Hyde (2013): played the Bishop of Basingstoke and Spider.
Off-Broadway and touring
Off-Broadway, he appeared in Forever Plaid as Sparky and took roles in Forbidden Broadway (1992), The Big Bang (2000) as Jed, and Forbidden Broadway Summer Shock! (2004). His regional and national tour work has been extensive, with credits in The Nerd, 1940’s Radio Hour, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Spitfire Grill, Les Misérables (National Tour), Avenue Q, All Shook Up, Camelot, 42nd Street, The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, and Girl from the North Country (2023–2024) as Mr. Burke, among others.
Summary
David Benoit has built a versatile career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national tours since the early 1990s. With training in musical theatre and a background in multiple musical styles, he has taken on a wide range of roles across many major productions and continues to perform on stage.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 15:42 (CET).