Honestly, if you've spent any time on the "theatre" side of the internet over the last decade, you've definitely seen the red hoodie. That's George Salazar. He's become this sort of king of the cult musical, the guy who takes roles that could be background noise and turns them into actual anthems for anyone who’s ever felt like a bit of an outsider. People always ask what has George Salazar been in because his career is this wild mix of "Wait, he was the guy in that viral YouTube song?" and "Oh, he's the brother in that sitcom I love."
He’s not just a Broadway guy anymore. He’s voice acting for Disney. He’s recurring on network TV. Basically, he's everywhere.
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The Role That Changed Everything: Be More Chill
You can't talk about what has George Salazar been in without starting in the bathroom. No, seriously.
In 2015, a little musical called Be More Chill premiered at Two River Theater in New Jersey. It could have just stayed there and died, but the internet—specifically Tumblr and YouTube—decided otherwise. Salazar played Michael Mell, the "best friend" character. He wore a red hoodie covered in patches (which, fun fact, included Filipino and Ecuadorian flags to represent his own heritage).
His performance of the song "Michael in the Bathroom" went absolutely nuclear. It has been streamed over 35 million times. It’s a gut-wrenching, panic-attack-set-to-music number about feeling abandoned at a party. By the time the show finally hit Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in 2019, Salazar was already a superstar to a very specific, very passionate demographic. He ended up winning a Lucille Lortel Award for it, and honestly, he deserved it just for the sheer lung capacity required for those belt notes.
Broadway and Beyond: The Theater Credits
Long before he was Michael Mell, Salazar was already grinding in the New York scene. Most people don't realize he made his Broadway debut back in 2011. He was in the revival of Godspell, singing "Light of the World."
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If you're looking for the full list of what has George Salazar been in on stage, it’s actually pretty diverse:
- Spring Awakening (2010): He was Otto on the national tour. This was his big entry point.
- The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical: He originated the role of Grover (and Mr. D). This earned him a Drama Desk nomination. If you like Be More Chill, this has a very similar "scrappy underdog" energy.
- Tick, Tick... BOOM!: He played Michael (the best friend again!) in the 2016 Off-Broadway revival.
- Here Lies Love: He was a member of the original ensemble at the Public Theater.
- Little Shop of Horrors: In 2019, he starred as Seymour Krelborn at the Pasadena Playhouse. It was a reimagined production with Mj Rodriguez as Audrey, and it was very cool.
More recently, he's been doing a lot of West Coast work. He starred in Head Over Heels as Musidorus and La Cage Aux Folles as Jacob, both at the Pasadena Playhouse. He’s also done smaller, grittier stuff like The Bottoming Process with IAMA Theatre Company.
Moving to the Screen: Superstore and More
Television is where the "casual" fans usually recognize him.
His most prominent TV role is Eric Sosa in the NBC comedy Superstore. He showed up in Season 5 as Amy’s brother and eventually became Mateo’s husband. It was a great bit of casting because he brought that same "earnest but slightly awkward" energy he uses on stage. He’s also popped up in:
- Nancy Drew (The CW): He played Sal in a couple of episodes.
- Impeachment: American Crime Story: This was a bit of a departure—he played George Conway.
- Bull and Divorce: Smaller guest spots early in his TV career.
The New Frontier: Voice Acting and 2026 Projects
Right now, as we're looking at his 2026 trajectory, the biggest thing on the horizon is actually a voice role. Salazar is the voice (and facial capture) for Happy in the live-action remake of Disney's Snow White. It’s a massive jump into the Disney machine, and it makes total sense given his vocal range.
He's also attached to a project called These Little Ones Perish, playing a character named Father Ramirez. It seems like he’s leaning more into film and TV while still keeping his feet in the theater world.
Why You Should Care
George Salazar is important because he’s part of a wave of actors who didn't wait for the "traditional" Broadway path. He used the viral success of Be More Chill to build a personal brand. He’s openly queer, he’s vocal about his multi-ethnic background, and he’s incredibly kind to his fans.
If you’re trying to keep up with what has George Salazar been in, your best bet is to look at cast recordings. His discography is huge. From the Godspell revival album to his cabaret-style recording with Joe Iconis called Two-Player Game, his voice is everywhere.
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Actionable Next Steps
- Listen to "Michael in the Bathroom": If you haven't, do it. It explains his whole career in four minutes.
- Watch the Superstore finale: His chemistry with the cast in those final episodes is genuinely heartwarming.
- Check out Two-Player Game: It’s a studio album of his cabaret act. It shows off his range way better than a standard cast recording.
- Keep an eye on the Snow White release: Seeing how he translates his stage energy to a CGI character like Happy will be the next big test of his career.
George isn't just a "Broadway actor" anymore; he's a versatile performer who found a niche in playing the heart of the story. Whether he's a goat-boy in The Lightning Thief or a brother-in-law on a sitcom, he brings a specific kind of sincerity that’s hard to fake.