Michael Maliakel Biography Age, Wife, Career, Personal Life, and Broadway Success
Michael Maliakel is an Indian-American actor and vocalist celebrated for his theatrical and musical talents. He is best known for being the first South Asian actor to play the title role of Aladdin in Disney’s Broadway production, an achievement that marks a milestone in representation for South Asian performers on stage. Maliakel’s journey is an inspiring story of passion, perseverance, and breaking barriers in the performing arts industry.
In 2025 he trades Agrabah for West Egg, stepping into Nick Carraway in the hit revival of The Great Gatsby and headlining PBS’s Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Michael Maliakel |
| Profession | Broadway Actor • Singer (Baritone) • Concert Soloist |
| Birth Date | August 24, 1988 |
| Age (2026) | 36 |
| Birth Place | New Jersey, USA (parents from Kerala, India) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Aladdin (Broadway title role) • The Great Gatsby (Nick Carraway) • PBS Tabernacle Choir specials |
| Ethnicity | Indian-American (Malayali) |
| Zodiac Sign | n/a (public) |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) agency listing |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) visual estimate |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Qualification | B.Mus. Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins) • Georgetown University |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Sarah Maliakel (m. pre-2022) |
| Children | 1 daughter (Nina, b. May 2022) |
| Hobbies | Kerala cuisine, running, vintage Broadway vinyl, cricket |
| Years Active | 2013 – present |
| Net Worth (2025) | ≈ $1.8 million |
| Current Salary | ≈ $100 k/yr (Broadway base + concerts) |
Early Life and Background
Michael Maliakel was born on August 24, 1988, in Hamilton, New Jersey, USA. He was raised in a close-knit Indian-Christian family of Kerala heritage. His parents emigrated from Kerala to the United States in the late 1980s in search of better opportunities. Growing up, Michael was immersed in the values and culture of his Indian roots, which influenced his outlook on life and career.
From a young age, Michael exhibited a strong inclination toward music and performing arts. His early musical journey began with piano lessons and progressed when he joined the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. There, he discovered his passion for classical music and vocals.
Michael pursued higher education in music at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where he specialized in classical voice and opera studies. This academic foundation shaped him into a versatile performer capable of excelling in both traditional and contemporary art forms.
Career Journey
2013-2016: Student & Competition Circuit
- 1st Prize – NATS National Music Theater Competition
- 1st Prize – American Traditions Vocal Competition
- Phantom 25th North American Tour – ensemble/understudy Raoul
2017-2019: Regional Break-outs
- Monsoon Wedding (Berkeley Rep) – record-breaking run
- She Loves Me (PlayMakers) – Georg
- Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center) – Joe Gillis opposite Stephanie J. Block
2021-2024: Disney Prince Era
- Aladdin (Broadway) – title role; 3-year run, 1,000+ performances
- PBS specials – Broadway’s Brightest Lights, An Evening with Lerner & Loewe, Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir (2024)
2025: Post-Disney Leading Man
- The Great Gatsby (Broadway) – Nick Carraway (replacement started March 31, 2025)
- Symphony in the Park – soloist with Asheville Symphony (Sept 2025)
- Maya (new musical) – Gandhi’s salt march story; all-South-Asian cast, workshop 2025
Career Stats
- 2 PBS concert specials (2024)
- 1 Kennedy Center debut
- 1 Disney Broadway lead
- 3 major vocal-competition 1st prizes
- 8 orchestra/concert solo appearances 2025 season
Movies & TV Shows (On-Camera / Streaming)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | FBI (CBS) | Adam Michaels | Episode: “The Line” |
| 2020 | Bull (CBS) | Joy | Episode: “Prison Break” |
| 2024 | Before (Apple TV+) | Jeremy | 3-episode arc |
| 2024 | Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir | Himself (soloist) | PBS / BYUtv |
| 2025 | Broadway’s The Great Gatsby | Nick Carraway | Currently on stage |
Oops, Nip & Body-Posi Moments
- Zero wardrobe malfunctions on record; conservative concert attire.
- 2024 Instagram post-workout shirtless (tastefully cropped) – captioned “Baritone needs cardio too” – fans loved the rare thirst-trap .
Boyfriend / Relationship Timeline
| Period | Partner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2022 | Sarah Maliakel | College sweetheart; married before Broadway debut. |
| 2022-present | Sarah Maliakel | Parents of daughter Nina (May 2022) . |
Personal Life
Lives in Connecticut; commutes to NYC for 8-show weeks. Wife Sarah is a marketing manager; daughter Nina often visits stage door dressed as Princess Jasmine. Kerala Christmas brunch = appam + stew (not ham) .
Awards & Achievements
- 2024 NATS National Music Theater – 1st Prize
- 2024 American Traditions Competition – 1st Prize
- 2024 PBS Christmas special – highest-rated in 5 yrs
- 2025 Broadway.com Audience Choice – nominee Favorite Replacement (Gatsby)
Physical Statistics
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Shoe Size | 11 (US) |
| Suit Size | 42 R |
| Hair | Black |
| Eyes | Dark Brown |
Quotes
- “Representation matters, but so does range—I want to play grown-ups, not just princes.”
— India Currents, Dec 2024 - “Singing with 500 choir members feels like surfing a sound wave.”
— PBS backstage, 2024 - “Aladdin was my magic carpet—now I’m ready to drive into the Valley of Ashes.”
— Broadway.com, Mar 2025
Controversies
- Zero scandals; praised for “gracious humility” backstage.
- 2023 Twitter clap-back at casting call seeking “ambiguous ethnic”—posted “Just say Indian-American baritone”; tweet went viral, call re-worded .
Favorites
| Category | Choice |
|---|---|
| Pre-show ritual | 5-min meditation + steam inhalation |
| Curry | Mom’s Kerala fish molee |
| Broadway cast album | “She Loves Me” 2016 revival |
| Work-out | 5-mile Central Park run |
| Comfort show | The Office (US) |
| Coffee order | Cold brew, oat milk, no sugar |
Salary & Net Worth 2025
Broadway base: $2,800/week → ≈ $145k/yr with overtime & understudy bumps. Concert fees: $2k–$5k per solo; 2025 symphony calendar adds ≈ $40k. Residuals / PBS specials ≈ $15k. Total annual income ≈ $200k. Estimated net worth: $1.8 million (NYC-co-op equity, 529 plan for Nina, mutual funds) .
Interesting Facts
- Still owns first Aladdin magic-lamp prop (rubbed nightly for luck).
- Can recite “Friend Like Me” backward—party trick proved on TikTok.
- Once filled in as Raoul in Phantom with 90-min notice; received standing O.
- Collects vintage Playbills—oldest is 1955 “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”.
- Daughter Nina’s first word: “Genie”—captured on iPhone backstage.
Social Media Links
| Platform | Handle / URL |
|---|---|
| @michaelmaliakel | |
| TikTok | @michaelmaliakel |
| X (Twitter) | @MMaliakel |
| /in/michael-maliakel-6a8b521a3 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is Michael Maliakel still in Aladdin?
A: No—closed 2024; now plays Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby .
Q2: What is his ethnicity?
A: Indian-American; parents from Kerala .
Q3: Is he married?
A: Yes—wife Sarah and daughter Nina (b. 2022) .
Q4: What is his net worth?
A: ≈ $1.8 million (2025 estimate).
Q5: Where can I see him in 2025-26?
A: Broadway’s The Great Gatsby (ongoing) and symphony concerts (Greenville, Asheville, Kravis Center) .
Conclusion
From midnight Mass in Jersey to opening-night ovations on 45th Street, Michael Maliakel keeps proving the American musical is big enough for every story—and every voice. Whether crooning Christmas carols with 500 choir members or narrating Gatsby’s doomed dream, he’s the baritone next door who made it—and brought the rest of us along for the ride.
Share this bio, book a Gatsby ticket, and listen for the note that sounds like home.
