The 54th Annual Tony Awards marked a vibrant moment in Broadway history, celebrating a slate of performers and creatives whose work helped define a new era of theatrical storytelling. As these winners celebrate two and a half decades since their big night, we look back at what earned them Broadway’s top honor and where their careers have taken them since.
Brian Stokes Mitchell – Best Actor in a Musical (Kiss Me, Kate)
One of Broadway’s most iconic leading men, Brian Stokes Mitchell earned his Tony for his performance as Fred Graham / Petruchio in the 1999 revival of Kiss Me, Kate.Today, he remains a cornerstone of the Broadway community. In the years since his win, he has starred in King Hedley II (earning another Tony nomination), Man of La Mancha, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Shuffle Along. During the pandemic, Mitchell became a symbol of hope with his nightly balcony serenades on West 98th Street, which raised awareness for the Entertainment Community Fund (then called The Actors Fund), where he also served as Chairman of the Board. He continues performing in concerts nationwide and remains one of Broadway’s most beloved ambassadors, even acting as the voice of God during the 2025 Tony Awards.
Heather Headley – Best Actress in a Musical (Aida)
Heather Headley’s electrifying performance in Disney’s Aida made her a Broadway legend overnight. After her Tony win, she shifted into a successful recording career and earned a Grammy Award.Headley later returned to the stage with acclaimed performances as Shug Avery in The Color Purple, the Witch in Into the Woods and Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard. She has also built a robust television résumé with roles in Chicago Med, Sweet Magnolias, and She’s Gotta Have It. Today, Headley remains a multi-hyphenate force who moves between stage, screen, and studio.
Boyd Gaines – Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Contact)
Boyd Gaines won his third Tony Award in 2000 for Susan Stroman’s groundbreaking dance musical Contact. Already a respected stage veteran, Gaines has continued to show his versatility across genres.
He went on to appear in Gypsy (earning another Tony), Journey’s End, Twelve Angry Men, Pygmalion, Driving Miss Daisy, and An Enemy of the People. His screen credits include The Good Wife, Law and Order, and The Goldfinch. Though he has taken a step back from stage acting, with his last role being in 2012, Gaines remains one of the most decorated performers in Tony history.
Karen Ziemba – Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Contact)
Karen Ziemba’s luminous performance in Contact earned her a well-deserved Tony, solidifying her status as one of Broadway’s most dynamic triple threats.In the years since, she has appeared in Curtains, Bullets Over Broadway, Prince of Broadway, The Visit, and Hot Mikado. Ziemba continues to work steadily in regional theatre, Off Broadway, and concert settings, bringing her blend of warmth, dance expertise, and comic timing to every project. She remains a beloved figure in the musical theatre landscape.
Stephen Dillane – Best Leading Actor in a Play (The Real Thing)
Stephen Dillane’s quietly smoldering performance as Henry in The Real Thing earned him a Tony Award cemented his status as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. A British actor known for his intellectual intensity and emotional precision, Dillane has moved fluidly between stage and screen throughout his career. Interestingly, though, this was his only foray to Broadway, with all of his other stage roles coming on the West End
After The Real Thing, he continued to deliver acclaimed theatrical work, most notably in Macbeth and The Tempest, while also branching into film and television with roles in The Hours, John Adams, and Game of Thrones. With a degree in history and politics from Exeter, Dillane remains a master of thoughtful, layered character work, celebrated for bringing a scholar’s mind and a poet’s sensitivity to every role.
Jennifer Ehle – Best Leading Actress in a Play (The Real Thing)
Jennifer Ehle’s luminous performance as Annie in The Real Thing showcased her natural warmth, keen intelligence, and effortless charisma, earning her a Tony Award and introducing Broadway to one of its most versatile talents.
She went on to build a distinguished career across mediums, appearing in productions such as The Coast of Utopia (winning another Tony), Oslo, and Design for Living. On screen, Ehle is known for her work in The King’s Speech, Zero Dark Thirty, Contagion, and Fifty Shades of Grey. Whether on Broadway or in film, Ehle continues to impress with performances marked by grace, emotional depth, and impeccable craft.
Blair Brown – Best Featured Actress in a Play (Copenhagen)
Blair Brown won her Tony for her nuanced work in Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen, a play that dominated the 2000 season, with wins for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play.After her win, she continued a prolific career on stage and screen, appearing in The Minutes, The Parisian Woman and Mary Page Marlowe. On television, she is widely known for memorable roles in Orange is the New Black, Fringe, and Limitless. Brown remains a respected actor whose work spans drama, science fiction, comedy, and high profile streaming hits.
Roy Dotrice – Best Featured Actor in a Play (A Moon for the Misbegotten)
Roy Dotrice’s commanding turn as the rough-edged yet fiercely devoted Phil Hogan in A Moon for the Misbegotten earned him a Tony Award and reaffirmed his reputation as one of the great character actors of his era. A master storyteller with a booming presence and meticulous craft, Dotrice brought Eugene O’Neill’s world to life with humor, heart, and unmistakable grit.
Following his Tony win, he continued a wide-ranging career on stage and screen. Dotrice holds the Guinness World Record for most character voices by an individual for an audiobook for A Song of Ice and Fire. Though he passed in 2017, Dotrice’s wide breadth of work cemented him as a singular talent whose voice and versatility left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide.
Susan Stroman – Best Choreography (Contact)
Susan Stroman’s elegant, movement-driven storytelling transformed the Broadway musical when she won her third Tony Award for Best Choreography for Contact.Since then, Susan Stroman has become one of the most influential directors and choreographers working today. Her credits include the blockbuster The Producers (which earned her two more Tonys in 2001), Bullets Over Broadway, The Scottsboro Boys, Young Frankenstein, New York, New York, and Crazy for You. She remains an essential artistic voice in contemporary musical theatre, championing new works and nurturing rising creators.
