Joshua Gad American comedian Date of Birth: 23.02.1981 Country: USA

1. Childhood and Education
2. Early Career and Theater
3. Breakthrough and Voice Acting Career
4. "Beauty and the Beast" and Controversial Role
5. YouTube Show and Recent Projects

Childhood and Education

Born on February 23, 1981, in Hollywood, Florida, Josh Gad grew up in a large family with two biological brothers and two half-siblings. Raised in a Jewish household, Gad's parents both came from immigrant backgrounds: his father from Afghanistan and his mother from Germany.

He attended New Southeastern University High School, where he showcased his talent for public speaking by winning speech and humor competitions. Gad continued his education at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Fine Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama in 2003.

Early Career and Theater

Gad made his film debut in 2002's "Mary and Joe" as a college student. He also made guest appearances in popular television series such as "ER" and performed on Broadway. In 2009, he became a regular comedian on The Daily Show, where he provided humorous commentary for two years, notably impersonating Benjamin Franklin and Michelle Obama.

Concurrently, Gad pursued voice acting, making his debut in the animated comedy "Marmaduke" in 2010. He also returned to Broadway to star in the lead role of "The Book of Mormon" in 2011, earning a Tony Award nomination.

Breakthrough and Voice Acting Career

A major turning point in Gad's career came in 2013 with his portrayal of Steve Wozniak in the biopic "Jobs," for which he underwent a strenuous diet to lose 30 pounds. Later that year, the animated film "Frozen" premiered, catapulting Gad to further success.

He famously voiced the snowman Olaf, basing his performance on Broadway star Rory O'Malley, his classmate at Carnegie-Mellon. Gad reprised the role in subsequent "Frozen" installments and other projects, including "Once Upon a Time," "Olaf's Frozen Adventure," and video games.

"Beauty and the Beast" and Controversial Role

Gad's next high-profile project was the 2017 live-action remake of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." He portrayed LeFou, an assistant and loyal friend to Gaston (Luke Evans). Notably, under the direction of Bill Condon, the character was given romantic undertones, leading to a 3-second moment where LeFou dances with another male character.

This scene sparked both praise and criticism for its depiction of same-sex relationships in a family film. Several countries banned or withdrew the movie from theaters as a result.

YouTube Show and Recent Projects

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Gad launched the YouTube show "Reunited Apart." He reconnected with cast and crew members from iconic films, including "Back to the Future," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Ghostbusters." The show raised funds for charities, with the "Lord of the Rings" episode alone generating over $2 million.

Gad has continued his acting career, reprising his role in the second season of the science fiction series "Avenue 5" with Hugh Laurie. He also voices the main narrator in the animated sitcom "Central Park," serving as a co-creator and executive producer.

In 2023, Gad will star alongside Isla Fisher in the Australian romantic drama "Wolf Like Me." Additionally, a prequel series to "Beauty and the Beast" titled "The Gaston and Lefou" is slated to premiere, with Gad co-writing, starring, and executive producing.