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Cole Escola

Cole Escola is an American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright known for cabaret work, television appearances, and the Broadway play *Oh, Mary!*.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Cole Escola is an American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright known for cabaret work, television appearances, and the Broadway play *Oh, Mary!*. They won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for *Oh, Mary!* and were also a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist.

Early life

Cole Escola was born in Clatskanie, Oregon, in 1986. They later moved to New York City to pursue entertainment work. Public biographies describe them as non-binary and using they/them pronouns.

Career

Escola built a reputation through cabaret performances, sketch comedy, and television acting. Their screen credits include *Difficult People*, *At Home with Amy Sedaris*, *Search Party*, and *Big Mouth*.

Oh, Mary!

Escola wrote and starred in *Oh, Mary!*, a comedic play centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. The production opened on Broadway in 2024 and became their most prominent stage success.

Recognition

Escola received two Tony Award nominations for *Oh, Mary!* and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. The play also helped make them a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Key facts

  • Cole Escola is an American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright.
  • They are known for cabaret, stage, and screen comedy work.
  • Their television credits include *Difficult People*, *At Home with Amy Sedaris*, *Search Party*, and *Big Mouth*.
  • They wrote and starred in *Oh, Mary!*, which opened on Broadway in 2024.
  • For *Oh, Mary!*, Escola won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and was a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist.
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Canadian context

Cole Escola has a broader relevance for Canadian readers as an internationally recognized Broadway and television performer whose work has been covered in North American entertainment media.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Cole Escola?
Cole Escola is an American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright known for cabaret, television comedy, and the play *Oh, Mary!*.
What is Cole Escola best known for?
They are best known for *Oh, Mary!* and television roles in *Difficult People*, *At Home with Amy Sedaris*, *Search Party*, and *Big Mouth*.
What award did Cole Escola win for *Oh, Mary!*?
Escola won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for *Oh, Mary!*.
Where was Cole Escola born?
Cole Escola was born in Clatskanie, Oregon, United States.
What are Cole Escola’s pronouns?
Public biographies identify Cole Escola as non-binary and using they/them pronouns.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cole_Escola
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, occupation, notable credits, Tony Award win, Pulitzer finalist status.
  2. Wikipedia (Portuguese) — https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cole_Escola
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, occupations, TV credits, Tony Award win, Pulitzer finalist status.
  3. Cole Escola official website — https://www.coleescola.com/about
    Supports: Career overview, television credits, writing and starring in *Oh, Mary!*, pronoun usage context.
  4. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/person/cole-escola/umc.cpc.5tqudsx41d5l1wx0c2lfsxlxn
    Supports: Professional description, credits, and *Oh, Mary!* recognition.
  5. BroadwayWorld — https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cole-Escola/
    Supports: Theatre credits and awards related to *Oh, Mary!*.