Jesse Merlin Headshot

Jesse Merlin

Get Jesse Merlin Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Jesse Merlin BIO

Jesse Merlin recently starred as villain Dr. Hill in the cult smash "Re-Animator: The Musical" at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, which earned him nominations for an Ovation Award and a BroadwayWorld Award. Also at the Steve Allen, he played the President of the USA in "The Beastly Bombing," a role he reprised at NYMF and in Amsterdam with Opera aan het Ij. His international debut was Le Terrain Vague at the Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris. He's sung 45 leading operatic roles including Mephistopheles in Faust, Leporello in Don Giovanni, and the title role in Don Pasquale. From 2002-2006, he was a Principal Artist in Residence at Opera San Jose. A Gilbert & Sullivan specialist, he's played numerous leading roles, mostly on tour, in HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers, The Mikado, Princess Ida, and Iolanthe.

Recent engagements include La Boheme with Opera Santa Barbara and Tosca with Opera Las Vegas.

Local roles include Oscar Wilde in Carved in Stone at Theater Asylum, Captain Corcoran in USS Pinafore at Crown City Theatre, and several with Long Beach Opera.

He made his film debut in Jackass: 3D, appears prominently in Jackass 3.5, and plays Werewolf Hitler in the upcoming feature FDR: American Badass! starring Barry Bostwick.

He's featured on the Rocky Horror Picture Show blu-ray reissue as the Criminologist in "The Late Night, Double-Feature, Picture-in-Picture show."

Jesse Merlin Photos

Jesse Merlin Videos

Jesse Merlin News


JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA Comes to San Jose This Week


JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA comes to 3Below Theaters, produced by Guggenheim Entertainment. Learn more about the production here!

EXORCISTIC Starring Emma Hunton And Kirsten Vangsness Possesses San Francisco Sketchfest


Direct from sold out Los Angeles and Off-Broadway runs Exorcistic makes its way to San Francisco Sketchfest for one night only Saturday January 20th. BEST MUSICAL WINNER of the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013 returns ten years later to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Exorcist with an original rock musical that'll make your head spin and your bed shake!

Interview: Sandro Monetti Anxious To Have A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS


Jeff Schell and The Habit’s A Very Die Hard Christmas opens December 10, 2023 at Theatre 40. Celebrating the film’s 35th anniversary, Sandro Monetti directs this musical parody with the cast of Nick Versteeg, Lauren Samuels, Jesse Merlin, Raymund King, Nick Bredosky, and Theatre 40 favorites Roslyn Cohn, Joe Clabby and Kristal Dickerson. Sandro graciously made it a priority to promptly answer a few of my queries.

A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS Opens December 10 At Theatre 40


A Very Die Hard Christmas, a musical, opens at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. Written by Jeff Schell and The Habit, with additional dialogue by Sandro Monetti. Directed by Sandro Monetti.

Photos: Inside Opening Night of EXORCISTIC: THE ROCK MUSICAL Off-Broadway


EXORCISTIC presented by HRS Productions and Orgasmico Theatre, premiered on October 8th and officially opened on October 10. The unauthorized parody of The Exorcist was brought back by popular demand after their sold-out run at The Three Clubs in Los Angeles.  Check out photos from opening night here!

Photos: Get a First Look at EXORCISTIC at The Box


Get a first look at EXORCISTIC at The Box with exclusive photos. Explore the haunting production and get ready for a spine-chilling experience as you dive into the spooky world of this thrilling show.

Emma Hunton, Lindsay Heather Pearce & More to Star in EXORCISTIC Parody Rock Musical


The new rock musical, EXORCISTIC presented by HRS Productions and Orgasmico Theatre will premiere in NYC just in time for Halloween. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

EXORCISTIC The Rock Musical Extends At The Three Clubs Hollywood


Get ready to be thrilled by the must-see rock musical experience of 2023! EXORCISTIC The Rock Musical returns to The Three Clubs Hollywood for a limited run, featuring powerhouse rock tunes, iconic imagery, and a talented cast. Book your tickets now!

Interview: EXORCISTIC's Choreographer Camal Pugh Always Excited to Extract Budding Talent


HRS Productions and Orgasmico’s Exorcistic: The Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of The Exorcist has taken up residence at Three Clubs in Hollywood playing Fridays and Saturdays through September 22, 2023. This original rock musical co-directed by Chadd McMillan and Alli Miller-Fisher, features book, lyrics and music by Michael Shaw Fisher. Camal Pugh choreographed the triple-threat cast of: Nick Bredosky, Brian Logan Dales, Kim Dalton, Frankie Grande, Emma Hunton, Mitchell Gerrard Johnson, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Jesse Merlin, Michael Shaw Fisher, Leigh Wullf and Gabby Sanalitro. Rotating Diva guests include: Carly Jibson, Garret Clayton, Jeff Sumner, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Elle Deran, Matt Shively and Brendan Hunt. Camal took some time between his teaching and creating to answer a few of my queries.

Review: EXORCISTIC: THE ROCK MUSICAL at The Three Clubs On Vine


Ten years after its premiere, EXORCISTIC has made a breathtaking return. And as a nod to the 50th Anniversary of “The Exorcist” (the movie), opening night was nothing less than a perfect display of limelight infused celluloid send-up.

Emma Hunton, Frankie Grande, And Brian Logan Dales Star In EXORCISTIC THE ROCK MUSICAL


BEST MUSICAL WINNER of the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013 returns ten years later to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Exorcist with an original rock musical that'll make your head spin and your bed shake! We watch as the dysfunctional Orgasmico Theatre Company dissects the film's cultural relevance, its controversial themes, the 1970s mentality, and pack their pretentious theories all into one big blasphemous rock musical parody that allows them to break the fourth wall and engage the audience.

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Announces Extension And Cast Additions


Bazalaam Beats Productions has announced a second extension of the cult-hit musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, now playing at the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Theater in Los Angeles. Having been previously shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020, the musical reopened in February of 2023 for a limited engagement of twelve performances.

BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Amanda Conlon: The Actor, Singer and Director Who Created Bucket List Theatre


This Spotlight focuses on Amanda Conlon, the actor, singer and director who created Bucket List Theatre after relocating to Los Angeles from NYC. As the company's Artistic Director, her talents as an actor, singer, writer and director enhance every production in which she appears or organizes for her company of equally talented, triple-threat performers. Amanda recently joined Theatre 40 and has also appeared in and directed productions for that professional company on the campus of Beverly Hills High School.

BWW Review: SILENCE - THE MUSICAL - Channel Your Inner Lecter, Starling And All Things Lambish, Outlandish & Untamed At The Let Live Theatre


OMG!! Raunchy, Irreverent, full of belly-laughs, snorts, insane giggling and possibly peeing your pants, this Musical stars Jesse Merlin and Amanda Conlon as Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling in SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, a satirized tribute, fully choreographed and revisited, to the iconic movie 'The Silence of the Lambs.' with Music & Lyrics by Jon Kaplan & Al Kaplan, Book by Hunter Bell, originally done Off-Broadway, this newest version compares to The Book of Mormon, in references, 'inside' jokes, campy impersonations and an array of talented performers milking it for all it's worth. A terrific ensemble puts their all into every moment, which is indelibly seared into your memory because of a movie everyone has seen and continues watching to this day.

Photo Flash: A Peek Inside Opening Night of SILENCE THE MUSICAL


Bucket List Theatre is excited to present SILENCE! The Musical, a bawdy, raunchy tribute to the iconic movie 'The Silence of the Lambs.' Bucket List Theatre is bringing this hilarious musical parody back to Los Angeles for the first time following its highly acclaimed 2012 run at The Hayworth Theatre where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Musical Score (2012). Original Los Angeles cast member Jesse Merlin stars as Dr. Hannibal Lecter along with Amanda Conlon as Clarice Starling and a multitalented cast who will provide a silly and suspenseful salute to the film.

VIDEO: First Look at Bucket List Theatre's SILENCE! The Musical


Bucket List Theatre is excited to present SILENCE! The Musical, a bawdy, raunchy tribute to the iconic movie "The Silence of the Lambs." Bucket List Theatre is bringing this hilarious musical parody back to Los Angeles for the first time following its highly acclaimed 2012 run at The Hayworth Theatre where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Musical Score (2012). Original Los Angeles cast member Jesse Merlin stars as Dr. Hannibal Lecter along with Amanda Conlon as Clarice Starling and a multitalented cast who will provide a silly and suspenseful salute to the film.  

Photo Flash: Bucket List Theatre Presents SILENCE! The Musical


Bucket List Theatre is excited to present SILENCE! The Musical, a bawdy, raunchy tribute to the iconic movie "The Silence of the Lambs." Bucket List Theatre is bringing this hilarious musical parody back to Los Angeles for the first time following its highly acclaimed 2012 run at The Hayworth Theatre where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Musical Score (2012). Original Los Angeles cast member Jesse Merlin stars as Dr. Hannibal Lecter along with Amanda Conlon as Clarice Starling and a multitalented cast who will provide a silly and suspenseful salute to the film.  

FIRST LOOK: SILENCE! THE MUSICAL by Bucket List Theatre, Opening 10/11 at Let Live Theatre


Here's your first look at staged photos from Bucket List Theatre's production of SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, a bawdy, raunchy tribute to the iconic movie "The Silence of the Lambs." This hilarious musical parody returns Los Angeles for the first time following its highly acclaimed 2012 run at The Hayworth Theatre where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Musical Score (2012). Original Los Angeles cast member Jesse Merlin stars as Dr. Hannibal Lecter along with Amanda Conlon as Clarice Starling, and a multi-talented cast featured in these photos who will provide a silly and suspenseful salute to the film.

Bucket List Theatre Announces the Cast of SILENCE! THE MUSICAL opening 10/11


SILENCE! The Musical is an award-winning, unauthorized parody of the hit movie 'The Silence of the Lambs' with Music & Lyrics by Jon Kaplan & Al Kaplan, Book by Hunter Bell, presented by Bucket List Theatre from October 11 to November 3, 2018 at the Let Live Theatre (at The Actors Company) in Hollywood, directed and choreographed by Amanda Conlon with musical direction by Edgar Cardoso, presented under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association Los Angeles Self-Produced Project Code. Featured in the cast are Jesse Merlin (Dr. Hannibal Lecter), Amanda Conlon (Clarice Starling), Nick Dothee (Buffalo Bill), Sherry Mandujano (Catherine Martin), Brian Dyer (Jack Crawford), Kevin Michael Moran (Dr. Chilton), Courtney Bruce (Ardelia, Lamb), Philip McBride (Papa Starling, Lamb), Suzanne Slade (Senator Martin, Lamb), Jesse Gavin (Stone Rockbrockmanrock, Lamb), Jeff LaGreca (Bimmel, Lamb), Michael C. Silva (Miggs, Lamb), Patrick Pizzolorusso (Jack Crawford understudy).

Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival Announces Full Lineup


Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival today announced the full lineup for its third annual festivities on August 18-21, in conjunction with Wizard World Chicago.

Get Jesse Merlin Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos