Leslie Odom Jr. wanted to be paid the same as a white actor doing the filmed version of a live musical Ale Russian is a contributing writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023.

Leslie Odom, Jr: The willingness to fail led me to some ... The biggest highlight was the White House, for sure. With that President and that First Lady, it meant so much to me and to my castmates.

The Tony nominee (and past winner) was joined by his wife while at the 77th Tony Awards Leslie Odom ... wore a black wool ...