Ethan Samuel Slater, born June 2, 1992, is an American actor and singer. He gained significant recognition for his portrayal of SpongeBob SquarePants in the Broadway musical adaptation, a performance that earned him a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. His career also includes roles in the musical film adaptations of 'Wicked,' where he plays Boq Woodsman / The Tin Man. Slater's early life was shaped by his upbringing in a Conservative Jewish household and the early loss of his mother. He pursued his passion for drama at Vassar College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 2014.

Slater's professional acting career began in Off-Broadway productions and theatre festivals before his breakout role. He has since appeared in various television series and stage productions, including 'Assassins' and a Broadway revival of 'Spamalot.' As a singer, he has released solo extended plays, 'Wanderer' (2019) and 'Life Is Weird' (2020). Slater was married and has a son, and is currently in a relationship with singer Ariana Grande.

Born in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 1992, Ethan Samuel Slater was raised in a Conservative Jewish tradition. His father, Jay Slater, worked for the Food and Drug Administration. Slater attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School before his family relocated to Silver Spring, Maryland. A significant event in his childhood was the death of his mother when he was seven years old, an experience he has described as profoundly formative. He completed his secondary education at Georgetown Day School and went on to study drama at Vassar College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama in 2014. During his college years, an audition for a Shakespeare workshop led to an opportunity to audition for director Tina Landau.

Ethan Slater's professional acting career commenced with appearances in New York's theatre scene. In July 2015, he starred as Luis in the musical 'Claudio Quest' at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, receiving a nomination for Best Individual Performance. He then performed in 'Please Excuse my Dear Aunt Sally' with the One Year Lease Theater Company later that year. In December 2015, Slater joined the Delaware Theatre Company to act in Barry Levinson's play 'Diner.' This period also saw him involved in several short films, including 'Lightning Bugs in a Jar' and 'Evol.'

Slater achieved widespread recognition in 2016 when he was cast as the lead in the musical 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' directed by Tina Landau. The production, which premiered in Chicago before moving to Broadway, was critically acclaimed. For his performance as SpongeBob, Slater received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, along with a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. He also earned a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut. More recently, he portrayed Boq Woodsman / The Tin Man in the highly anticipated film adaptations of the musical 'Wicked,' released in 2024 and scheduled for 2025.

Beyond his musical theatre successes, Ethan Slater has also engaged in television acting and other stage productions. Between 2018 and 2019, he made guest appearances on several television series, including 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' 'Murphy Brown,' 'Instinct,' and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.' He participated in a theatrical special of 'Camelot' at Lincoln Center Theater in 2019. Slater starred as Lee Harvey Oswald in the Classic Stage Company's production of the musical 'Assassins' (2021-2022), earning a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination. He also originated the role of Max Weinbaum in 'Good Night, Oscar' (2022) and performed in the Broadway revival of 'Spamalot' (2023-2024).

“really big, formative thing in my life. She had left this huge imprint on me, even though I had so few memories.”