Adam Pascal

Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor, best known for origionating the role of Roger Davis in the Jonathan Larson musical Rent, as well as origionating the role Radames in Tim Rice and Elton John's Aida.

Pascal was born to a Jewish family in The Bronx, New York, but raised in Syosset, Long Island. Though he started as a rock musician playing in a number of bands he formed with his schoolmates, Pascal became drawn to musical theater. At the suggestion of his high school friend's (Idina Menzel who played Maureen in Rent) boyfriend he auditioned for the role of Roger in Rent and was cast.

His performance in Rent earned him a Tony nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award. The role helped Pascal gain notoriety on Broadway, and he was subsequently cast in the Elton John and Tim Rice musical Aida (musical) as Radames (original and final cast), and Kander and Ebb's Cabaret, closing the show as the Emcee (closing cast). Pascal felt that he was looked upon solely as a broadway singer, however, and so he returned to his roots with a solo recording contract on Sh-K-Boom Records.

He made his film debut in SLC Punk (1999), and also appeared in School of Rock (2003) and Temptation (2004). He has released two solo rock albums, Model Prisoner (2000) and Civilian (2004). He also contributed a cover of Billy Joel's New York State of Mind to the CD Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays.

Pascal, along with most of the other original cast members, was cast in the film version of Rent, reprising the role of Roger. The film was released on November 23, 2005.