Paul Sparks

Studied chemical engineering in Oklahoma before moving on to drama at New York University, where he also minored in philosophy. Appeared as an understudy in Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out in 2003, but considers his Broadway debut a starring role in a 2009 revival of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, costarring Mary-Louise Parker. Earned fifth Drama Desk Award nomination for Stephen Belber's Dusk Rings a Bell in 2011; his first was in 2000 for Bruce Graham's Coyote on a Fence. Has type 1 diabetes, and ran his first marathon—in 3:52:46, by the way—in New York City in 2011 to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; he's since become an avid runner.