André De Shields

Career Trajectory

André De Shields began his career in the experimental and off-Broadway theatre of the 1970s, establishing himself as a performer of intellectual depth and physical sophistication. Over five decades, he has built a career of remarkable breadth, moving fluidly between Shakespearean roles, contemporary drama, and musical theatre, while simultaneously developing a practice as a director and choreographer. His 2018 performance as Hermes in the Broadway revival of The Wiz—a role he originated in the 1975 production—crystallized his status as a living legend of American theatre, earning him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play at age 73.