Ben Crawford

Ben Crawford is an American singer and stage actor born on May 22, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona, where he was raised. He earned a BFA in Music Theatre from the University of Arizona before building a career as one of Broadway's prominent leading men.

Crawford entered Broadway in 2007 with Les Misérables, taking on understudy duties for the roles of Jean Valjean and Javert. His first principal Broadway role came as the title character in Shrek the Musical, establishing him as a performer capable of anchoring a major production. Over the course of his career he accumulated credits that also include Guys and Dolls, On the Twentieth Century, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The most prominent chapter of Crawford's career came with The Phantom of the Opera. He stepped into the title role on April 16, 2018, succeeding Peter Joback in the part. Crawford held the role for five years, a tenure interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic before he returned to the production in October 2021. He was positioned to serve as the final Phantom when the show prepared to close following its record 35-year Broadway run. On April 1, 2023, illness forced him out of the role in its final days, and the remaining fifteen performances were covered by Jeremy Stolle, Ted Keegan, and Laird Mackintosh. Crawford bears no relation to Michael Crawford, who originated the role.

In his personal life, Crawford announced his engagement on June 22, 2022, via Instagram to Kelsey Connolly, a former castmate from The Phantom of the Opera.