Daniel Radcliffe among winners at Tony Awards

Music
17 Jun 24

Daniel Radcliffe during his Tony Awards acceptance speech via Twitter

The 77th Tony Awards took place on Sunday evening at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe won his first Tony Award on Sunday, during a ceremony dominated by first-time winners.

Radcliffe won the award for best actor in a musical for his role in the revival of Stephan Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along.

Following a performance with the cast of Merrily We Roll Along on stage, Radcliffe appeared shocked to win the award.

"This has been one of the best experiences of my life," the actor said.

He thanked the late George Furth and Stephen Sondheim "for writing this unbelievable show" in 1981, the songs of which he described as "a gift to get to sing every night".

Radcliffe described it as an "honour" to share the stage with co-stars Lindsay Mendez and Jonathan Groff in the musical.

"I will miss you so much. I don't really have to act in this show, I just have to look at you and I feel everything. I will never have it this good again," he said.

In his acceptance speech, the 34-year-old wished his father a happy Father's Day and thanked his girlfriend Erin Darke.

"My love Erin, you and our son are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you so much, thank you so much,” he said.

Jonathan Groff also won his first Tony for his performance in the musical.

He praised his co-stars, Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez and called them "more than old friends".

"You are soulmates, and I’m looking forward to watching each other change for the rest of our lives," he said.

Merrily We Roll Along director Marie Friedman collected the award for Best Revival of a Musical alongside her producer sister Sonia.

Among other first-time winners was Succession's Jeremy Strong, who triumphed in the Best Actor in a Play category for An Enemy of the People, as well as Sarah Paulson who won the award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in Appropriate, and Angelina Jolie who won an award for producing The Outsiders.

The Outsiders picked up three other awards after receiving a total of 12 nominations, including the coveted Best Musical award.

Kecia Lewis was also awarded her first Tony Award for Featured Actress for her role in the musical Hell's Kitchen.

Illinoise, the dance musical by Justin Peck based on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 album Illinois, won Best Choreography award. Peck earned the honor over Here Lies Love’s Annie-B Parson, Hell’s Kitchen’s Camille A. Brown, The Outsiders’ Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, and Water for Elephants’ Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll.

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, who choreographed and starred in the opening number of the ceremony, returned for the third time as host.

The ceremony saw Nick Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, and Cynthia Erivo among the attendees alongside a surprise performance from Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.

"I had to do something crazy, this is my hometown," Keys said after the pair joined the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical Hell's Kitchen to perform their 2009 song 'Empire State of Mind' in tribute to New York.

Nicole Scherzinger, who recently triumphed at the Olivier awards for her role in Sunset Boulevard, performed during the in-memoriam to theatre stars who have died.

Among those remembered were British stars Sir Michael Gambon, Glenda Jackson and theatre impresario Bill Kenwright, alongside US actors Louis Gossett Jr and Ron Cephas Jones.

Tony Awards 2024 winners list:

Best Musical
The Outsiders

Best Play
Stereophonic, Author: David Adjmi

Best Revival of a Play
Appropriate, Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Best Revival of a Musical
Merrily We Roll Along

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell's Kitchen

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along