Who Is Ethan Slater? Wicked Star’s Broadway Rise

Who is – Ethan Slater—born June 2, 1992 in Washington, D.C.—has gone from a Tony-nominated Broadway breakout as SpongeBob SquarePants’ lead to becoming part of Wicked’s film-era as Boq. Offstage, his relationship with Ariana Grande began after his July 2023 divorce fil

For Ethan Slater, the jump from stage spotlight to film stardom is already in motion—and it’s happening while his personal life is being scrutinized in real time.

In July 2023, Grande’s surprise split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez arrived, and soon after that news broke, she began dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. That same month, Slater moved to end his marriage to his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, by filing for divorce.

Slater is now preparing to step back into two major roles in Wicked’s film series: Ariana Grande is scheduled to play Glinda for the second part, while Slater has signed on for another go at Boq in Wicked Part Two as well.

The first installment is set to arrive on November 27, 2024, and Wicked: Part Two follows on November 26, 2025.

Born June 2, 1992, in Washington, D.C., Slater has been chasing drama for much of his life. He studied at Vassar College before eventually heading to Broadway. His rise accelerated when he landed the title role in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical, earning a Tony Award nomination in 2018. That same year, he described landing the gig as “a stroke of luck” to People. He didn’t win the Tony, but he did take home a Drama Desk Award for his performance.

With Wicked, Slater is stepping into the kind of pop-cultural moment Broadway stars dream about—only this time, it comes with the added pressure of a massive fanbase already watching his offstage story unfold.

Slater and Lilly Jay married in November 2018. For their two-year anniversary, he shared a black-and-white wedding photo and captioned it, “Two years into marriage and we still find each other funny. Phew.Happy anniversary to the love of my life.”

Then came the shift. In January. Slater used Instagram to announce that he and Lilly were expecting their first child. posting a photo carousel with a onesie that read “Wicked Cute” and the caption. “Super vague post. but we have a baby now.” Later—via Mother’s Day—he confirmed they’d welcomed a son. On that post. he wrote. “Happy first Mother’s Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world. – from me and this little guy.”.

While his personal headlines have moved fast since 2023, Slater’s professional credits have been steady. Beyond his Broadway run and awards. he has also appeared on several television shows. including Emmy-winning programs such as Law & Order: SVU. Fosse/Verdon. and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, per his IMDb.

Ethan Slater Ariana Grande Wicked Boq SpongeBob SquarePants musical Tony Award Drama Desk Award Lilly Jay Dalton Gomez Law & Order: SVU Fosse/Verdon The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel