Leslie Odom Jr.

If anyone can hold their own in a star-studded ensemble while bringing the nuances of a historical figure to life, it's Leslie Odom Jr. He won a Tony, Grammy, and spot on The Root 100 in 2016 for his breakthrough role of Aaron Burr in "Hamilton." Whether he's rocking a Broadway stage or Tiny Desk Concert for his album "Mr," the 20-year veteran makes every performance look effortless. In "One Night In Miami," Odom starred as R&B crooner Sam Cooke on a fateful night he crossed paths with Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Malcolm X in 1964. He captured Cooke's compelling inner turmoil between chasing crossover success and using his platform to represent people's struggles with "A Change Is Gonna Come." His performance earned dozens of nominations, including Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song for "Speak Now." With "Knives Out 2" and reboots of "The Exorcist," "The Sopranos" and "The Proud Family" in the pipeline, Odom's talent continues to transcend genres and disciplines.