- Won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as Aaron Burr in the Broadway sensation Hamilton (2015).
- An accomplished singer and dancer, Leslie made his Broadway debut at 17 playing "Paul" in Rent.
- Leslie and his "best friend" on Smash, Megan Hilty, were students at Carnegie Mellon University together. Hilty was just 1 year under Odom, Jr. in the Theatre program.
- Graduated with honors from Carnegie Mellon University's prestigious School of Drama.
- His talented Freshman class at Carnegie included Josh Groban, Katy Mixon Greer, Brennan Hesser, Griffin Matthews, Audra Blaser, Angela Lin, Josh Gad, and Ben Pelteson.
- Won the 2012 Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer on Broadway and was nominated for a Drama League Award for his work in the short lived Broadway flop "Leap of Faith" with music by Academy Award winning writer Alan Menken. The show officially ran for just 2 and a half weeks at the St. James Theater in New York City.
- Turned down the role of "Mereb" in the original cast of AIDA to continue his studies at CMU.
- Alumnus of the College of Fine Arts (CFA) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU); School of Drama, class of 2003.
- Daughter Lucille Ruby (b. April 23, 2017).
- Was a 2002 Princess Grace Award winner for Acting.
- According to his memoir, Leslie had met his wife, Nicolette Robinson, when he started taking professional acting lessons from her father, Stuart Robinson.
- Born in New York. Grew up in Philadelphia with his parents and little sister. Attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Graduated and moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2003.
- Counts Anna Deavere Smith as a major inspiration in his life.
- Friends with Cynthia Erivo.
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