Ben Levi Ross is an American stage actor and singer who became one of the most talked-about young performers on Broadway for his emotionally raw portrayal of Evan Hansen in the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen.
From a childhood theater program in Santa Monica to Broadway’s biggest stages, Ross has built a career defined by vulnerability, vocal talent, and range. This biography covers his early life, education, career, awards, and net worth.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Benjamin Levi Ross |
| Born | January 15, 1998 |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Birthplace | Santa Monica/Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Stage Actor, Singer |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Education | Santa Monica High School; Interlochen Center for the Arts; Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama (attended one year) |
| Known For | Dear Evan Hansen, tick, tick… BOOM!, Ragtime, Elsbeth |
Early Life
Ben Levi Ross was born on January 15, 1998, to a Jewish family, and grew up in Santa Monica, California. He began studying theater at the remarkably young age of seven, making his stage debut in a production of Beaky the Duck. His passion for performance only grew from there, and by his teenage years he was already earning national recognition, being named a 2016 National Young Arts finalist, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee, and a Music Center Spotlight Awards grand prize finalist.
Education
Ross attended Santa Monica High School, where he was deeply involved in the school’s theater program, performing in productions including The Zoo Story, Pippin, Into the Woods, and Clybourne Park. During summers, he trained at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he performed in Oklahoma!, and also attended NYU’s Steinhardt summer study program. In 2017, he enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama in Pittsburgh to study musical theater, but left after completing only his first year to accept a professional role in the national touring production of Dear Evan Hansen.
Career
Ben Levi Ross’s big break came at an audition for The Low Road at New York’s Public Theater, where he caught the attention of Dear Evan Hansen director Michael Greif. On October 31, 2017, Ross joined the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen as an understudy for the roles of Evan, Connor, and Jared, making his Broadway debut playing Jared. He spent roughly ten months understudying all three roles before leaving the Broadway company in 2018 to take on the title role of Evan Hansen in the show’s first national tour, a run that lasted until September 15, 2019.
In early 2020, Ross starred as Henry in the Kennedy Center’s production of Next to Normal. He made his feature film debut in 2021, playing Freddy in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Netflix musical film tick, tick… BOOM!, alongside Andrew Garfield and Alexandra Shipp. That same year, he appeared in the short film River Fork. From March to May 2022, Ross returned to Broadway for a limited engagement, once again starring as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.
Ross continued expanding into new theatrical territory, originating the role of Ethan Dobson in the off-Broadway premiere of The Connector at MCC Theater, and performing as Mother’s Younger Brother in a gala concert staging of Ragtime at New York City Center — a role he later reprised in the full Broadway revival of Ragtime, which opened in October 2025. On television, Ross joined the cast of the CBS procedural drama Elsbeth in its second season in 2024.
Awards & Nominations
- Nominee, 2024 — for The Connector (MCC Theater)
- Nominee, 2026 Tony Award — Mother’s Younger Brother in Ragtime (Broadway revival)
- Winner, 2026 — for Ragtime
Social Media
Ben Levi Ross maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates from his stage productions, performances, and personal life with his fanbase, many of whom followed him from his years playing Evan Hansen.
Personal Life
Ben Levi Ross has been romantically linked to fellow Dear Evan Hansen cast member Taylor Trensch. He has spoken about the intensive preparation behind his performance as Evan Hansen, including months spent studying anxiety disorders and teenage psychology and consulting mental health professionals to portray the character with sensitivity and accuracy.
Net Worth
Ben Levi Ross’s net worth is not officially confirmed, but as a working Broadway lead actor with a Tony-nominated revival credit, a Netflix film role, and a recurring network television part, his income is derived primarily from stage performance fees, film work, and touring engagements.
Filmography / Stage Credits
- Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway, 2017–2019, 2022) as Jared Kleinman (understudy) / Evan Hansen
- Dear Evan Hansen (First National Tour, 2018–2019) as Evan Hansen
- Next to Normal (Kennedy Center, 2020) as Henry
- tick, tick… BOOM! (2021) as Freddy
- River Fork (2021)
- The Connector (MCC Theater, off-Broadway) as Ethan Dobson
- Ragtime (NYC Center gala concert; Broadway revival, 2025–2026) as Mother’s Younger Brother
- Elsbeth (2024) – recurring television role
FAQs
Who is Ben Levi Ross?
Ben Levi Ross is an American stage actor and singer best known for playing Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.
How old is Ben Levi Ross?
Ben Levi Ross was born on January 15, 1998, making him 28 years old as of 2026.
Did Ben Levi Ross attend college?
He attended Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama for one year before leaving to join the Dear Evan Hansen national tour.
What is Ben Levi Ross known for besides Dear Evan Hansen?
He is also known for playing Freddy in the film tick, tick… BOOM! and Mother’s Younger Brother in the Broadway revival of Ragtime.
Conclusion
From a seven-year-old theater kid in Santa Monica to a Tony-nominated Broadway leading man, Ben Levi Ross has built a career grounded in emotional authenticity and vocal talent.
With his acclaimed run in Ragtime following years of defining performances in Dear Evan Hansen, Ben Levi Ross continues to be one of musical theater’s most compelling young stars.