Anthony Rapp

Anthony Rapp is an actor and singer who originated the role of Mark Cohen in Rent on Broadway (1996), one of the landmark musicals of its era, which centered on LGBTQ+ characters and people with AIDS in New York's East Village. He was openly gay throughout his career and reprised the role in the 2005 film adaptation. He then joined Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access/Paramount+, 2017–2024) as Lt. Paul Stamets — one of the first openly gay characters in Star Trek history, depicted in a committed relationship with Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) — becoming part of the first canonically gay couple in the Trek universe. Rapp is also known for his 2017 public allegation of sexual assault against Kevin Spacey, which became a landmark moment in the #MeToo movement.