Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Video: Go Inside Opening Night of JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE (May 1, 2026)
70th Annual Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List (Apr 29, 2026)
Photos: JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night (Apr 27, 2026)
BIO
Ruben most recently helmed the world premiere of John Leguizamo’s The Other Americans at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and the Public Theatre in NYC. He will star opposite Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara in This World of Tomorrow, written by Hanks and James Glossman, at NYC’s The Shed in November 2025. His Broadway production of Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau received 4 Tony® nominations, including Outstanding New Play. His own autobiographical Lackawanna Blues was awarded The Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards as well as a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor. With Lackawanna Blues, Ruben became the first person in the history of Broadway to write, direct and star in a play. His Broadway production of Jitney garnered several awards for Outstanding Revival including the Tony Award and six Tony nominations. Santiago-Hudson adapted August Wilson’s play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for Netflix: produced by Denzel Washington, directed by George C. Wolfe, and starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.
Santiago-Hudson received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and made his Broadway acting debut alongside Gregory Hines in Jelly’s Last Jam; other Broadway credits include Stick Fly and Gem of the Ocean.
Ruben wrote, executive produced and co-starred in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues based on his Obie- and Helen Hayes Award-winning play. The movie received many honors, including an Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, The Christopher Award, and the Humanitas Prize.
Film and television credits include “East New York,” American Gangster, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Shaft, Devil’s Advocate, Domestic Disturbance, Forgotten Genius, The Red Sneakers, Selma, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Solomon and Sheba (the first time a biblical movie starred actors of color), Rear Window, “The Quad,” “Public Morals,” “Low Winter Sun,” “David Makes Man,” “Billions,” “The West Wing,” “Law & Order,” and numerous other guest star appearances. Santiago-Hudson starred in the hit ABC series “Castle” for three seasons as Capt. Roy Montgomery.
Ruben’s other honors as writer, director or actor include the Humanitas Prize, the National Board Of Reviews, the Christopher Award, the Clarence Derwent Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, 4 Obie Awards, 6 Audelco Awards, the Helen Hayes Award, the NAACP Image Award, the Glen Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award, the SDCF Joseph Calloway Directing Award, the Lloyd Richards Directing Award, the Nederlander Apple Award, and honorary doctorate degrees from Wayne State University and Buffalo State University.
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Movies
[ 1988 ] Street Hustler Ruben Hudson
[ 1994 ] Blanket
[ 1994 ] Mahatma
[ 1994 ] Todd
[ 1997 ] Bum #2
[ 1997 ] Leamon Heath
[ 2000 ] Jimmy Groves
[ 2001 ] Sgt. Edgar Stevens
[ 2002 ] Samuel Menendez
[ 2006 ] Manny Botero
[ 2007 ] Doc
[ 2007 ] Hawkins
[ 2007 ] Stokely
[ 2009 ] Landlord
[ 2014 ] Bayard Rustin
[ 2020 ] writer
TV Shows
Captain Billy Cooper
Raul Gomez
Captain Roy Montgomery
Curtis, Orlando, Larry
Officer Marvin Sandeford
Gabriel
Attorney Winters
Eddie Diaz
Walter Perry, Johnny
Otis
Jess Chapel
Cecil Diamond
[ 1990-2025 ] Defense Attorney WintersDr. Paul JacksonDetective Brian KeeneMr. Gaines
Awards and Nominations
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Skeleton Crew
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jitney
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jitney
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Jitney
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson
winner
Ruben Santiago-HudsonLackawanna Blues
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
winner
Ruben Santiago-Hudson , Seven Guitars
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ruben Santiago-Hudson has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Skeleton Crew, Special Achievement Awards (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Jitney, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Jitney, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for August Wilson's Jitney, Outstanding Solo Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Piano Lesson, Direction (Obie Awards) for The Piano Lesson, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for The Piano Lesson, Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Outstanding Solo Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Lackawanna Blues, Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Lackawanna Blues and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Seven Guitars.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson has received several prestigious awards throughout his career. He won the Special Achievement Award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Lackawanna Blues. He received the Outstanding Director of a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Jitney and also earned a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for the same production. He was awarded for Direction at the Obie Awards for The Piano Lesson, along with the Outstanding Director at The Lortels for the same play. Additionally, he won the Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production at the Helen Hayes Awards for Lackawanna Blues and the Outstanding Solo Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for the same work. He received Special Citations at the Obie Awards for Lackawanna Blues and was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for Seven Guitars.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson has written 1 shows including Lackawanna Blues (Playwright).
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