Ethan Slater, born June 2, 1992, is an American actor and singer from Washington, D.C. He originated the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical in 2016, earning a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award.
In 2024, he played Boq in the blockbuster film Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Who is Ethan Slater?
Ethan Samuel Slater is an American actor and singer best known for originating the role of SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway and for playing Boq in Universal’s two-part Wicked film adaptation. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and trained as a drama student before breaking into professional theatre.
His Broadway work spans musical comedy, drama, and revival productions. His television career includes recurring roles on Gen V (2025) and guest spots across major network dramas.
Ethan also works as a songwriter and recording artist. He has released two EPs independently, both produced during his Broadway years.
His relationship with Ariana Grande, whom he met on the set of Wicked in 2022, brought him to a much wider public audience beginning in mid-2023. Since then, he has moved between high-profile film releases, television, and stage work.
Early Life of Ethan Slater
Ethan Slater was born on June 2, 1992, in Washington, D.C. He is the third child of Jay Slater, who works as an employee at the Food and Drug Administration. His mother, Ellen Goldmuntz, died when Ethan was just seven years old.
He has two older sisters, Sara and Tamara. His family later moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years.
Ethan is Jewish and was raised Conservative, attending the Ohr Kodesh congregation in Silver Spring. His early education included Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and then Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C.
He discovered a love for performing early in school and pursued drama throughout his teenage years. His family supported his interest in musical theatre from a young age, and he carried that support into his college years.
Ethan Slater Age
Ethan Slater is 34 years old as of July 4, 2026, born on June 2, 1992. His zodiac sign is Gemini. In July 2026, he is set to join the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, taking over from Jordan Fisher as Seymour opposite Betsy Wolfe as Audrey.
Ethan Slater Ethnicity and Nationality
Ethan Slater holds American nationality, born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He is of Jewish heritage and was raised in the Conservative tradition. His family background includes his late mother Ellen Goldmuntz and his father Jay Slater, an FDA employee who raised the family in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Ethan Slater Height and Weight
Ethan Slater stands at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall. His weight is approximately 67 kg (147.5 lbs). He has an athletic build that he has maintained across his demanding stage and film schedule, including two years of production on the Wicked films.
Ethan Slater Education
Ethan Slater attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School for his early education, then moved to Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C. He later studied drama at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2014.
His training at Vassar gave him the technical foundation for his subsequent Broadway auditions. Shortly after graduating, he began working toward his professional stage debut.
Vassar College has produced a notable list of performing arts alumni, and Ethan’s training there contributed directly to the physicality and range he brought to the SpongeBob role.
Ethan Slater Career
Ethan Slater began his professional acting career after graduating from Vassar in 2014. He spent his early years building stage credits in New York before landing one of Broadway’s most physically demanding leading roles.
Early Career
His first major Broadway credit came in the 2004 revival of Assassins, though his national profile remained relatively modest through his early post-college years. He continued building stage and television credits before the SpongeBob role arrived.
On television, Ethan appeared in Murphy Brown, Instinct, and Fosse/Verdon in the early stages of his screen career. These credits established his presence on network television alongside his ongoing stage work.
In 2016, he originated the title role of SpongeBob SquarePants in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical at the Palace Theatre. The production opened in late 2017 and ran through 2018. His performance earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award.
Building His Career Beyond Broadway
In 2022, Ethan originated the role of Max Weinbaum in Good Night, Oscar at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, which ran from March to April that year. From 2023 to 2024, he joined the Broadway revival of Spamalot at the St. James Theatre, playing the Historian, Prince Herbert, and several other roles.
That same period brought him his most high-profile film opportunity. Jon M. Chu cast him as Boq, a lovestruck Munchkin, in the two-part film adaptation of Wicked. He met Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, during production.
Wicked released on November 22, 2024, to strong box office performance. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, followed in November 2025. Ethan’s character Boq also becomes the Tin Man across the two films. Both films began streaming on Peacock on May 21, 2026.
Recent Work
In 2025, Ethan appeared in Gen V, the Amazon Prime Video superhero series that functions as a spinoff of The Boys. He played Thomas Godolkin, a recurring character he is set to reprise in the prequel series Vought Rising, scheduled for 2027.
In July 2026, he is joining the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, stepping into the lead role of Seymour, replacing Jordan Fisher, opposite Betsy Wolfe as Audrey.
His career now spans Broadway origination work, major studio film releases, and streaming television, with further television commitments through 2027.
Ethan Slater Awards and Recognition
Ethan Slater won the Drama Desk Award for his role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the Broadway musical of the same name. He also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for the same performance in 2018.
His Tony nomination at age 26 placed him among the younger nominees in that category in recent Broadway history.
His work in the Wicked films earned him coverage across major entertainment outlets through the 2024 press cycle. The two-part film brought his profile to a global audience significantly larger than any Broadway production.
Ethan Slater’s Partner
Ethan Slater began dating singer Ariana Grande in July 2023, confirmed by People magazine. The two met on the set of Wicked in 2022, when both were filming their respective roles in Jon M. Chu’s production.
Prior to this relationship, Ethan was married to Lilly Jay, a clinical psychologist and former high school classmate, from 2018 to 2024. Their son was born in August 2022. Ethan filed for divorce in July 2023, and the divorce was finalized in September 2024.
As of 2026, Ethan and Ariana Grande continue their relationship.
Ethan Slater Children
Ethan Slater has one son with his former wife Lilly Jay. His son was born in August 2022. The child’s name has not been publicly confirmed by Ethan or Lilly Jay.
He has spoken about navigating public scrutiny during the period when his private life changed significantly in 2023. Ethan has kept his son out of public coverage since the divorce.
His custody arrangements have not been publicly confirmed.
Ethan Slater Net Worth
Ethan Slater’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026. His income comes from his Broadway roles, television appearances, and his parts in the two Wicked films.
His original Broadway run in SpongeBob SquarePants spanned over a year and included a full cast album, extensive merchandise, and a national touring cast. Both Wicked films were major studio productions distributed by Universal Pictures.
His recurring role in Gen V and the forthcoming Vought Rising also contribute to his ongoing screen income.
Ethan Slater Social Media
Ethan Slater is active on Instagram under the handle @ethanslater. He posts about his theatre and film projects, personal milestones, and behind-the-scenes moments.
He also maintains a presence on other platforms, though Instagram remains his most consistently updated public account. His social media profile grew substantially in 2023 and 2024 alongside the Wicked press cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ethan Slater’s net worth?
Ethan Slater’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026, earned through his Broadway origination work, television roles, and his parts in the two Wicked films.
How old is Ethan Slater?
Ethan Slater is 34 years old as of July 4, 2026, born on June 2, 1992, in Washington, D.C.
Who is Ethan Slater dating?
Ethan Slater is in a relationship with Ariana Grande, which was confirmed in July 2023. The two met on the set of Wicked in 2022.
What is Ethan Slater’s biggest role?
Ethan Slater is best known for originating the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical (2017-2018), for which he won a Drama Desk Award and earned a Tony nomination.
Where was Ethan Slater born?
Ethan Slater was born in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 1992, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland.
What is Ethan Slater famous for?
Ethan Slater is famous for playing SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway and for playing Boq in the Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025) films opposite Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
The Bottom Line
Ethan Slater originated the title role of SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway in 2017, earning a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical at age 26.
He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, studied drama at Vassar College, and lost his mother at age seven. His father Jay Slater raised him and his two older sisters in a Jewish household in the Washington, D.C. area.
In July 2026, Ethan is set to take over the lead role of Seymour in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, adding another major stage credit after his global exposure in the Wicked films. We hope you enjoyed reading about Ethan Slater. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!