Jonathan Larson

Jonathan David Larson (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) was an American composer, lyricist and playwright, most famous for writing the musicals Rent and Tick, Tick... Boom!, which explored the social issues of multiculturalism, substance use disorder, and homophobia. Larson had worked on both musicals throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s.

After several years of workshopping, Rent began an off-Broadway run in early 1996, though Larson died from an aortic dissection the day before its first preview performance. The show went on to enjoy critical and commercial success, and transferred to Broadway that April, becoming one of the longest-running Broadway productions. Larson posthumously received three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Rent was also adapted into a 2005 film. Tick, Tick... Boom! received an off-Broadway production in 2001, and was also adapted into a 2021 film, in which Larson is portrayed by Andrew Garfield.