Leslie Odom Jr Leaving Hamilton — Page 11

He is never, NEVER going to make the kind of money he made in Hamilton again



That's a silly thing to say. If I were his agent, I would be expecting to get him more, much more in the future.

I would also be eagerly submitting him for TV pilots and whatever feature-films roles I could. This Tony was for the best performance by a male actor this season. There's reason to believe the award could catapult him onto the A list of contemporary African-American actors, across theater, television and film.

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MyLife said: "It shouldn't just be about the money. What will it look like years down the line when this is released and Leslie isn't there? I think it's less about whether he's ungrateful or not and more about Leslie (and his agent?) being shortsighted.



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It will look like a filming of a show without Leslie Odom Jr. I don't really see your point... This kind of thing happens all the time. It's business.

To me it just looks like the rest of the cast cares more about the show than Leslie does. Obviously they are all getting paid but it looks ridiculous that he is the only one holding out for more money (or whatever he's holding out for). He won a Tony for his performance and to have another actor portray Burr in the filming would be a shame because he was one of the standouts for me and a lot of other people.

The one person I didn't expect to come back for the filming was Groff and the fact that he moved his tv production schedule so he could make it says a lot.

I think many of you are putting personal judgements on a business matter. None of us know whether his raise was reasonable or not. None of us know if Odom's demands were reasonable or not.



It comes down to this: HE didn't feel valued, so he did what he felt he needed to do. I respect that.

Updated On: 6/23/16 at 02:40 PM

Liza's Headband said: "MyLife said: "It will look like a filming of a show without Leslie Odom Jr. I don't really see your point... This kind of thing happens all the time. It's business. "

I respectfully disagree. But it's up to him if he wants to be part of Hamilton's legacy, or erase himself from the narrative, so to speak

There are people getting incredibly rich off this show and Leslie is ungrateful for demanding to be paid more? When you have two sides fighting, and one is rich and angling to be richer, and one is not and is fighting for income that could make a big difference during down times in an unpredictable industry, I just can't see how so many people come down on the side of the wealthy. I have no idea what the range is that Leslie is asking for, but face it, the money is there to pay it. And he deserves it. Jeffrey Seller and Lin and Lin's dad will still be quite rich if a few (or even many) thousand dollars come out of their pockets and go into Leslie's.

Leslie has had at least two significant TV roles (one of which he gave up to do Hamilton). He has a history in a higher paying industry (TV), he's talented, he's handsome, he's likable. I doubt this will be the highest paid job in his career.

However, there is a great deal of pressure from tenured teachers and the union to not work the extra hours in the building without pay because it sets a precedent that we will work for free. You constantly feel that pull in both directions in education, so I would imagine it is somewhat similar for actors.

I'm in a similar position in my job. Appealing to people's better nature, love of the job, etc. are ways to take advantage of good people and pay them less than they're worth. It's ridiculous to say the other actors care more about the show because they're doing the filming. Anyone who's ever heard Leslie talk about Hamilton knows what a profound and meaningful experience it's been for him. He's spoken from his heart about it in a way that really impresses me. He cares, a lot, but he also cares about fairness and what's right. I hate to see him getting judged so harshly for standing up for himself.

Updated On: 6/23/16 at 02:57 PM

Doing something for the "love of the art" is the most community theatre answer I've ever read. This is Odom's career. This is how he pays his rent and his bills. This show is the most wildly profitable show in our lifetime. If he, or any member of the cast, is not being compensated fairly (for their day to day performances OR for the filming), he has a right to withdraw. The people on the top seem to always be looking for ways to d*ck the people actually making them their money. And, yes, I understand that the producers are the one who saddle ALL of the financial risk. But, when a show is THIS successful and the producers are not paying their performers fairly... that's BS. Leslie doesn't owe the producers, us, himself, his fellow cast, Lin, or ANYONE the right to have his performance filmed and then further profited from if he isn't getting paid fairly for it.

Updated On: 6/23/16 at 03:22 PM

Since I haven't read anyone's contracts or sat in on any meetings or negotiations, I can't really speak with much authority on this topic. But LOJ isn't exactly a tenderfoot in this business, so I am inclined to side with him on whether SOMETHING was a bit off.

If he's really not doing it that's a real shame. This document will live on for many years, probably centuries or more. I can't believe he'd give up something like that over money.

"My definition of an A list actor across theatre, TV and film would be someone like Bryan Cranson who in the last few years has achieved either nominations or wins in the top industry awards in each sector: Emmys, Tony and Oscar and a major role in a box office hit movie ( Godzilla). "



Am I missing something? Pretty sure nobody here said Leslie is on that level.

Leave Leslie Odom, Jr. alone! He can do whatever he wants and there ain't nothing anyone can do about it.