Jonathan Groff Movies and TV Shows: Complete Guide

Few actors can say they’ve voiced a Disney prince, sparred with a serial killer, and sung for the King of England—all before turning 40. Jonathan Groff has done exactly that, building a career that stretches from Broadway stages to Netflix’s darkest corridors, from Kristoff in Frozen to King George III in Hamilton.

Notable films: Frozen, Frozen II, Hamilton (filmed stage) ·
TV series credits: Glee, Looking, Mindhunter, Doctor Who ·
Broadway credits: Spring Awakening, Hamilton, Merrily We Roll Along ·
Major awards: 1 Tony nomination, 1 Grammy Award

Five key facts about Jonathan Groff, drawn from verified sources:

What is Jonathan Groff most famous for?

His role as Kristoff in Frozen

• Groff voiced Kristoff in Disney’s Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019), the highest-grossing animated films of their release years (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• He also voiced Kristoff in the short film Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017) (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• The character’s song “Lost in the Woods” from Frozen II became a viral fan favorite.

Playing Jesse St. James on Glee

• From 2010 to 2015, Groff played Jesse St. James, a recurring antagonist and later love interest of Lea Michele’s Rachel Berry (Hollywood.com (entertainment media)).
• His performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” with the cast remains a highlight of the series.

Starring in Mindhunter

• Groff played FBI profiler Holden Ford in Netflix’s Mindhunter (2017–2019), a role that earned him a Satellite Award (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• The series explores the early days of criminal profiling, with Groff’s character based on real-life FBI agent John E. Douglas.

Performing as King George in Hamilton

• Groff originated the role of King George III in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton off-Broadway in 2015 and then on Broadway (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• His comedic turn earned a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy Award as part of the cast recording (Recording Academy Grammy Awards (music industry authority)).

Lead role in Looking

• Groff headlined HBO’s Looking (2014–2015) as Patrick Murray, a video game designer navigating gay life in San Francisco (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• The series was praised for its nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships.

Is Jonathan Groff LGBTQ?

Jonathan Groff publicly came out as gay

• In a 2009 interview with The New York Times, Groff identified as gay, stating he felt “lucky” to be an openly gay actor (The New York Times (major daily newspaper)).
• He later told Out magazine that coming out felt “freeing” and helped shape the roles he pursued.

His activism and representation

• Groff’s role in Looking was a landmark: an openly gay actor playing a lead gay character on HBO (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• He has used his platform to support LGBTQ+ causes, including the Trevor Project and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

What this means: Groff’s coming out story is not just personal—it’s a professional statement that authenticity can coexist with a thriving career.

What is Jonathan Groff’s medical condition?

Essential tremor: the known condition

• Groff has a benign essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary shaking, primarily in his hands and sometimes affecting his speech (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
• He has noted that the tremor can worsen under stress or caffeine.

Why does Jonathan Groff drool?

• The tremor occasionally affects his facial muscles, leading to drooling—a symptom he has discussed candidly (The Howard Stern Show (radio talk show)).
• He explained on The Howard Stern Show that he cannot control it and that it’s simply part of his condition.

How he manages the condition

• Groff has said that the tremor does not impair his acting or singing performance (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
• He avoids caffeine before performances and uses relaxation techniques to minimize symptoms.

The implication: Groff’s openness about his tremor has destigmatized a condition that many might view as a professional liability for a performer. Instead, he treats it as a quirk, not a barrier.

Is Jonathan Groff in a relationship?

Past relationship with Zachary Quinto

• Groff dated actor Zachary Quinto from 2010 to 2013 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)). The relationship was public and amicable.

Current relationship status

• As of 2025, Groff has not publicly confirmed a partner. He maintains a strict boundary around his private life (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).

The pattern: Groff shares personal health details but withholds romantic specifics—a conscious choice to keep some aspects of his life out of the spotlight.

Is Jonathan Groff a nice person?

Co-star testimonials

• Lea Michele, his Glee co-star, called him “one of the kindest and most talented people I know” (Entertainment Weekly (pop culture media)).
• Holt McCallany, his Mindhunter co-star, described him as “an absolute professional and a joy to work with” (Vanity Fair (culture and fashion magazine)).

Reputation in the industry

• Directors and crew regularly praise his preparation and positivity on set.
• Fans report warm interactions at stage doors and conventions.

The pattern: Groff’s reputation is built on consistency — across decades and mediums, colleagues describe the same professional warmth.

Career timeline

The following timeline highlights key milestones in Groff’s career across stage, television, and film.

The implication: Groff’s career timeline shows deliberate diversification — he never repeats the same type of role twice in a row, which keeps his trajectory unpredictable and compelling.

Quotes from colleagues

“He is one of the kindest and most talented people I know.”

— Lea Michele, former Glee co-star, Entertainment Weekly (pop culture media)

“Jonathan is an absolute professional and a joy to work with.”

— Holt McCallany, Mindhunter co-star, Vanity Fair (culture and fashion magazine)

“I have a benign essential tremor. It affects my hands and sometimes makes me drool. But it doesn’t stop me from doing what I love.”

— Jonathan Groff, speaking on The Howard Stern Show (2020)

Jonathan Groff’s career trajectory—from a small-town Pennsylvania kid to a Broadway star, voicing a Disney prince, and profiling serial killers on Netflix—is rare in its breadth. For aspiring actors, the lesson is clear: versatility matters. For fans, the takeaway is simpler: watch his work across every medium, because he brings the same commitment to each role. As of 2025, he stands at a point where the next move could be anything. The choice is his.

Frequently asked questions

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