Lin-Manuel Miranda wears many hats — composer, lyricist, rapper, actor, and producer among them. A native New Yorker, Miranda was raised in Washington Heights, a neighborhood that would later become central to his creative identity. Deeply influenced by hip-hop, Latin music, and musical theater, he has become one of the most influential voices of his generation.
By age 25, Miranda had already written In the Heights (2005), a vibrant portrait of life in Washington Heights inspired by the predominantly Dominican-American community where he grew up. Developed with director Thomas Kail, the show went on to earn 13 Tony Award nominations and won four, including Best Musical.
Miranda’s global breakthrough came with Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. The groundbreaking musical received a record 16 Tony nominations, winning 11 awards, and earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016 — solidifying Miranda’s status as a transformative force in American theater.
In the years since, Miranda has expanded his impact beyond Broadway. He composed music for major films including Moana and Encanto, earning widespread acclaim for bringing Latin-inspired sounds to mainstream animation. He also made his feature directorial debut with Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021), which earned multiple Academy Award nominations. More recently, Miranda has continued working across film, theater, and music while remaining active in philanthropy and arts advocacy, particularly in support of Puerto Rico and arts education.
Scroll through to see how Lin-Manuel Miranda has changed over time.
