Ramin Karimloo is an Iranian-Canadian actor and recording artist. Based in the UK, Karimloo has performed in productions of several well-known musicals including Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, and Aladdin.
Beginning in April 2022, Karimloo will star in Broadway’s first revival of Funny Girl with American actress Beanie Feldstein.
Ramin Karimloo: Stage and TV actor, singer
Karimloo’s performing career began on cruise ships. He danced and sang Freddie Mercury tributes for two years after dropping out of school at 18. Karimloo ended up in London. His first role in the UK was as the titular character in Chatham’s pantomime production of Aladdin in 2001. In 2002 he made his debut in London’s West End as Feuilly in Les Misérables.
In 2007 Karimloo played the Phantom in a West End production of The Phantom of the Opera. His performance earned him a Theatregoers’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actor in a Take Over Role.
From 2009-2011 Karimloo played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel Love Never Dies. He performed alongside American actress and singer Sierra Boggess.
Karimloo made his debut on Broadway as Jean Valjean in the 2014 remake of Les Misérables. Following this performance, Karimloo was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
The stage actor has also made appearances in TV. He appeared in an episode of the CBS police drama Blue Bloods in 2015. In 2019 he joined the main cast of the BBC One medical drama Holby City. He played consulting cardiothoracic surgeon Kian Madani.
That same year Karimloo released his second studio album, From Now On, with Sony Masterworks. The album features fan favorites from stage and film musicals including The Greatest Showman and Hamilton.
Ramin Karimloo’s proud family
Karimloo was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up in Ontario, Canada. His mother assisted a tailor for work. His father was a member of the Shah’s Imperial Guard. The family fled to Italy during the Iranian revolution when he was a baby.
“I am so proud to be Iranian, especially in this world,” Karimloo told Pop Culturalist. “I get so many messages and DMs saying, ‘I’m Iranian, but performing is not something my family wants me to do.’ I had that same story until I became successful then my dad was like, ‘I always knew you could do it!’ And I tell him, ‘You tried to steer me away from it!’…Looking back, I know he did it ’cause he was worried.”
At 12 years old, Karimloo saw The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto while on a school trip. Irish-Canadian musical actor Colm Wilkinson was performing the title role.
“It was the first time I remember having a lump in my throat,” Karimloo told The New York Times. “I was so embarrassed that I kept fighting the tears.”
He ended up seeing the show 22 times, lingering by the stage door to ask Wilkinson questions. It was at that time he decided to become a performer.
Karimloo is married to his wife Amanda and has two sons.
Ramin Karimloo to star in Funny Girl
Karimloo is returning to Broadway to play Nick Arnstein in a 2022 revival of Funny Girl. He will perform opposite Hello, Dolly!’s Beanie Feldstein and alongside A Soldier’s Play’s Jared Grimes and Glee’s Jane Lynch.
Funny Girl takes place in New York City before, during, and after World War I. The musical stars Fanny Brice, a unconventionally beautiful teenager who is determined to make it in vaudeville. She meets, falls in love with, and marries gambler Nick Arnstein. The show begins with Fanny awaiting his release from prison. Their story unfolds through flashback.
“I’m very excited to be joining ‘Funny Girl’s’ return to Broadway,” Karimloo told Variety. “I’ve been waiting 2 years to sink my teeth into Nicky Arnstein and get into the room with Michael Mayer, the creative team and cast, led by the exceptional Beanie Feldstein. Cannot wait.”
The production is directed by Michael Mayer, featuring a book revised by Harvey Fierstein. Ellenore Scott and Ayodele Casel are choreographers. Jule Styne wrote the music, with Bob Merill writing lyrics. Isobel Lennart wrote the original book.
Funny Girl will officially open at the August Wilson Theatre in Manhattan, New York on April 24. The production will begin previews on March 26.
Purchase tickets here. here.
