Wikipedia

Kara Young (actress)

Kara Young[1] is an American actress. Known for her dynamic roles on stage both on Broadway and off-Broadway, she has received various accolades, including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and an Obie Award. Having won the Tony Award in 2024 and 2025, she is the first Black actress to be Tony-nominated in four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) for Best Featured Actress in a Play and the first African-American actress to win two consecutive Tonys.

Kara Young
Young in 2026
Born
Harlem, New York, U.S.
Alma materNew York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
OccupationActress
Years active2016–present

Young studied at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts before making her stage debut in Patricia Ione Lloyd's play Pretty Hunger (2016) at the Public Theater. The following year, 2017, she joined the LAByrinth Theater Company. She gained acclaim for portraying Viola in the 2022 off-Broadway revival of William Shakespeare's romantic play Twelfth Night at the Classical Theatre of Harlem.

She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in two consecutive years for playing a naive former servant in the Ossie Davis satirical play Purlie Victorious (2024) and a pregnant lesbian in the Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play Purpose (2025). She was Tony-nominated for her roles as a sandwich maker in Lynn Nottage's play Clyde's (2022) and a caretaker in Martyna Majok's dramatic play Cost of Living (2023).

Early life and education

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Young was born and raised in Harlem in New York City.[2] Both of her parents immigrated from Belize. Her father, Klay Young, began working in the Rainbow Room in 30 Rockefeller Plaza in 1992 as a server; he was later promoted to captain. (In 2022, Kara attended a special event there as a Tony Award nominee).[1] Her mother worked in health administration at Bellevue Hospital.[1]

Young had an interest in performing from the age of five, when she learned to mime in an afterschool program at the 92nd Street Y.[3] She briefly went to Gettysburg College and the City College of New York before studying at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, where she graduated.[2][4] She studied traditional theater in Thailand for a month in 2008.[2]

Career

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Young joined the LAByrinth Theater Company in 2017.[2] She has appeared off-Broadway in plays such as NSangou Njikam's Syncing Ink, Jonathan Payne's The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll'd, Stephen Adly Guirgis's Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven (a LAByrinth co-production), Jeff Augustin's The New Englanders, and C.A. Johnson's All the Natalie Portmans.[2][5][6] A New York Times review of her starring role in All the Natalie Portmans said that Young "can fit what feels like a mountain of blood, heart, sinew and febrile emotional response into a frame that can't stretch past five feet".[6] Young often plays characters much younger than herself, adolescents or even preadolescents, aided by her small size and wide-set eyes.[2]

In November 2021, Young made her Broadway debut at the Hayes Theater playing a single mother, Letitia, in Lynn Nottage's play Clyde's.[3] The Times called her performance "superb".[7] At the 75th Tony Awards, she was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Clyde's.[8]

In 2022, Young played a caregiver, Jess, in Martyna Majok's play Cost of Living at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway.[9] At the 76th Tony Awards, she was again nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Cost of Living.[10] In 2023 she portrayed Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins in the revival of the Ossie Davis play Purlie Victorious on Broadway, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2024.[11] In 2025 she won the Best Featured Actress in a Play Tony Award for her work in Purpose, which made her the first black performer to win acting Tony Awards consecutively. Because she was previously nominated for that award, she was also the first black performer to get four consecutive Tony nominations.[12]

In 2026, Young joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Proof as Claire, starring alongside Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle at the Booth Theatre.[13] Young was cast as a last-minute replacement for Samira Wiley, who departed the production due to a medical condition. Young has stated that, due to the suddenness of her addition to the cast, she was only allowed five days of preparation prior to the beginning of technical rehearsals.[14] Her performance was often cited as the strongest element of the show by critics.[a]

Acting credits

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Kara Young at the 2024 Tony Awards

Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
2018Hair WolfCamiMariama DialloShort film[19]
2020Chemical HeartsLaRichard Tanne[19]
King of KnivesDarlaJon Delgado[19]
2021After YangErinKogonadaUncredited[19]
2022MasterSaschaMariama Dillo[19]
F^¢k 'Em R!ght B@¢kYolandaHarris DoranShort film[19]
2023Blow Up My LifeCharlie AugustAbigail Horton / Ryan Dickie[19]
2024We StrangersMari WintersAnu Valia[19]
2026Is God IsRacine the Rough OneAleshea Harris [20]
I Love BoostersCrying Black MotherBoots Riley [21]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018Random Acts of FlynessJanelleEpisode: "They Got Some S**t That'll Blow Out Our Back"[19]
2019The Other TwoVMA AnnouncerEpisode: "Chase Performs at the VMAs"[19]
The PunisherWendy2 episodes[19]
2020Bite Size HalloweenBillieEpisode: "First Date"[19]
2022The StaircaseYasmine2 episodes[19]
2023I'm a VirgoJones7 episodes[22]
2024Great PerformancesLutiebell Gussie Mae JenkinsEpisode: "Purlie Victorious"[23]

Theater

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2016 Pretty Hunger Lea The Public Theater [24]
In the Event of My Death Kate IRT Theatre [25]
2017 Syncing Ink Sweet Tea Alley Theatre
The Flea Theater		 [26]
2018 The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll'd Karma The Duke on 42nd Street [27]
2019 The New Englanders Eisa New York City Center [5]
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Lil Melba Diaz Linda Gross Theatre [28]
2020 All the Natalie Portmans Keyonna Susan and Ronald Frankel Theater [29]
2021–2022 Clyde's Letitia Hayes Theater, Broadway [3]
2022 Twelfth Night Viola Classical Theatre of Harlem [30]
Cost of Living Jess Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway [9]'
2023–2024 Purlie Victorious Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins Music Box Theater, Broadway [3]
2024 The Apiary Zora Tony Kiser Theatre, Off-Broadway [31]
Syncing Ink Sweet Tea Victoria Theater, Off-Broadway [32]
Table 17 Jada MCC Theater, Off-Broadway [33]
2025 Purpose Aziza Hayes Theater, Broadway [33]
Gruesome Playground Injuries Kayleen Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway [34]
2026 Proof Claire Booth Theatre, Broadway [35]
The Whoopi Monologues Performer Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway [36]
2027 Mix and Master TBA Todd Haimes Theatre, Broadway [37]

Awards and nominations

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Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
Actors' Equity Foundation 2022 Clarence Derwent Awards Clyde's Won [38]
Antonyo Awards 2019 Best Actor in a Play Off-Broadway All the Natalie Portmans Nominated [39]
2022 Best Featured Actor in a Play (Broadway) Clyde's Nominated [40]
AUDELCO Awards 2020 Special Achievement Award Won [41]
Dorian Awards 2025 Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play Purpose Nominated [42]
Drama Desk Awards 2022 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Clyde's Nominated [43]
2023 Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Cost of Living Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Twelfth Night Nominated
2024 Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Purlie Victorious Won
2025 Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Purpose Won
2026 Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Gruesome Playground Injuries Nominated [44]
Drama League Awards 2024 Distinguished Performance Purlie Victorious Nominated [45]
2025 Distinguished Performance Purpose / Table 17 Nominated
2026 Distinguished Performance Gruesome Playground Injuries / Proof Nominated [46]
Innovative Theatre Awards 2017 Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role In the Event of My Death Nominated [47]
Lilly Awards 2022 Stacey Mindich Go Work in Theater Award Won [48]
Lucille Lortel Awards 2020 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play All the Natalie Portmans Nominated [49]
2025 Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Table 17 Won [50]
2026 Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Gruesome Playground Injuries Nominated [51]
Obie Awards 2020 Performance Twelfth Night Won [52]
Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024 Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Purlie Victorious Won [53]
2025 Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Purpose Nominated [54]
Tony Awards 2022 Best Featured Actress in a Play Clyde's Nominated [8]
2023 Best Featured Actress in a Play Cost of Living Nominated [10]
2024 Best Featured Actress in a Play Purlie Victorious Won [55]
2025 Best Featured Actress in a Play Purpose Won [56]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple references:[15][16][17][18]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Paulson, Michael (May 27, 2022). "Why the Biggest Ovation at the Tonys Luncheon Was for a Waiter". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vincentelli, Elisabeth (September 16, 2020). "For Kara Young, a Zooming Career Is Followed by a Zoom Role". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brunner, Jeryl (December 22, 2021). "Making Her Broadway Debut In 'Clyde's,' Kara Young Is A Force On Stage And Screen". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Notable Alumni". New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Green, Jesse (October 2, 2019). "'The New Englanders' Review: Trying Too Hard to Be Special". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Soloski, Alexis (February 25, 2020). "'All the Natalie Portmans' Review: An Imaginary Friend With an Oscar". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Green, Jesse (November 23, 2021). "'Clyde's' Review: Sometimes a Hero Is More Than Just a Sandwich". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Sherman, Rachel (May 9, 2022). "Full List of the 2022 Tony Award Nominees". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Cox, Gordon (September 27, 2022). "Why 'Cost of Living' Is on the Broadway Forefront". Variety. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (May 2, 2023). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Kara Young 2024 Tony Awards First Impressions". The Tony Awards (Youtube). June 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ Dziemianowicz, Joe (June 9, 2025). "Kara Young on her record-setting Tony Award win for 'Purpose'". New York Theatre Guide.
  13. ↑ "Tony Winner Kara Young Joins Broadway Proof Revival". Playbill. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Murphy, Chris (May 5, 2026). "Kara Young Is Still Broadway's Not–So-Secret Weapon". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Lawson, Richard (April 17, 2026). "Proof review – Ayo Edebiri struggles but Kara Young soars in Broadway revival". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Holdren, Sara (April 16, 2026). "Does Proof Still Compute?". Vulture. Vox Media. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ Travis, Emlyn (April 16, 2026). "Proof review: Ayo Edebiri plus Don Cheadle equals an intriguing Broadway revival of Tony-winning play". Entertainment Weekly. People Inc. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ Feldman, Adam (April 16, 2026). "Broadway review: Ayo Edebiri shows her work in Proof". Time Out New York. Time Out Group. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Kara Young - IMDB". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  20. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (August 9, 2025). "Orion's 'Is God Is' Lands High-Profile Summer 2026 Release in Theaters (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ Halpern, Josh (January 27, 2026). "'I Love Boosters' Trailer: Boots Riley's New "Fashionable, C*nty" Comedy Stars Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige & Naomi Ackie". The Playlist. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ "The Actor Bringing Harlem to Broadway". The Cut. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Purlie Victorious, Starring Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young, to Broadcast on PBS May 24". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  24. ↑ "PRETTY HUNGER and TEENAGE DICK Set for Public Studio This Spring". BroadwayWorld.com. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ "The World Premiere of In the Event of My Death". Irttheatre.org. June 8, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Cast, Creatives Set for NSangou Njikam's World Premiere of SYNCING INK at Alley Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ Wild, Stephi. "Jonathan Payne's THE REVOLVING CYCLES TRULY AND STEADILY ROLL'D Opens Tonight". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  28. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (November 26, 2019). "HALFWAY BITCHES GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN Extends One Week through December 29". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  29. ↑ Ware, J. Gabriel (April 21, 2022). "More Than a Character: For Actor Kara Young, the Right Role Is Liberating". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  30. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (June 13, 2022). "Cast Announced for TWELFTH NIGHT at Classical Theatre Of Harlem". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  31. ↑ Hall, Margaret (February 27, 2024). "Kara Young to Join Kate Douglas' The Apiary Off-Broadway".
  32. ↑ Masseron, Meg (May 18, 2024). "Syncing Ink Officially Opens NYC Return May 19".
  33. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (August 8, 2024). "Kara Young-Led Table 17 Extends Off-Broadway Prior to Opening".
  34. ↑ "Gruesome Playground Injuries". Playbill.
  35. ↑ "Tony Winner Kara Young Joins Broadway Proof Revival". Playbill. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Kerry Washington, Kara Young to Star in The Whoopi Monologues for Lincoln Center Theater". Playbill. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  37. ↑ "THE FULL MONTY, THE IMAGINARY INVALID, MIX AND MASTER Will Arrive on Broadway in Roundabout's 2026/27 Season". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  38. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (May 16, 2022). "Amber Gray, Kara Young & More Receive 2022 Actors' Equity Foundation Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  39. ↑ Cristi, A. A. (June 9, 2020). "TINA, Audra McDonald, Joshua Henry, LaChanze, Arienne Warren and More Nominated for 2020 Antonyo Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  40. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "2nd Annual Antonyo Award Nominations Announced - See The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  41. ↑ Wild, Stephi (December 4, 2020). "Winners Announced For 2020 AUDELCO Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  42. ↑ "'Death Becomes Her' leads nominations for Dorian Theater Awards". Broadwaynews. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  43. ↑ Rosky, Nicole. "SIX, KIMBERLY AKIMBO Lead Nominations for 2022 Drama Desk Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Beau, Mexodus Lead 2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations; Read the Full List Here". Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  45. ↑ "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  46. ↑ "2026 Drama League Award Nominations Announced". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Nominees Announced for the 2017 Innovative Theatre Awards; Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. July 26, 2017. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  48. ↑ Putnam, Leah (May 13, 2022). "2022 Tony Nominee Kara Young Wins Lilly Award; See the Full Winners List". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  49. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (May 3, 2020). "The Winners Are In for the 2020 Lucille Lortel Awards- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  50. ↑ "2025 Lucille Lortel Awards Winners- Updating Live". May 4, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Mexodus, Prince Faggot Lead 2026 Lucille Lortel Nominations; Read the Full List Here". April 1, 2026.
  52. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (February 24, 2023). "FAT HAM, ENGLISH, Kara Young, Saheem Ali & More Win Obie Awards for 2020-2022 Season". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  53. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 13, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Death Becomes Her Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  55. ↑ Sherman, Rachel (April 30, 2024). "Tony Awards Nominations 2024: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  56. ↑ "2025 Tony Awards: 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. May 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
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