Character guide
Angel Dumott Schunard
from Rent
Angel Dumott Schunard is the warmhearted street drummer and performer in Rent, whose kindness and love story with Tom Collins give the show much of its heart.
- Show
- Rent
- Broadway premiere
- 1996
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Jonathan Larson
Angel Dumott Schunard on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 2005 film and Rent: Live (2019)
Wilson Jermaine Heredia won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as the original Angel, and he reprised the role in Chris Columbus's 2005 film, one of six of the eight original Broadway principals who returned.
In Fox's Rent: Live (2019), Angel was played by Valentina. Because Brennin Hunt, the broadcast's Roger, broke his foot at the dress rehearsal the day before, most of what viewers saw of that Angel was taped rehearsal footage, with only the final 15 minutes aired live.
Who is Angel?
Angel is part of a group of artists and friends living in New York's East Village, many of them navigating poverty, creativity, and the AIDS crisis together. Angel is known for warmth, generosity, and a bold sense of self-expression, quickly becoming a beloved presence among the show's ensemble of characters.
Angel's relationship with Tom Collins, a philosophy professor and fellow member of the friend group, is one of the most tender threads running through Rent, portrayed with openness and joy even as the characters face serious hardship.
Angel's role in Rent
Angel is a supporting role, but a deeply important one within the show's ensemble, embodying its themes of chosen family, love, and living fully in the face of mortality. The part calls for a performer with strong stage presence, comfort with bold physical performance, and real emotional depth beneath the character's vibrant exterior.
Angel resonates with audiences because the character offers pure kindness in a story full of struggle, and Angel's arc has made the role a meaningful and often deeply moving one for performers to take on.
Angel Dumott Schunard: frequently asked questions
What show is Angel Dumott Schunard from?
Angel Dumott Schunard is a character in Rent, the 1996 musical with music by Jonathan Larson.
Is Angel a lead or supporting role?
Angel is a supporting role within Rent's ensemble cast.
Who is Angel's love interest in Rent?
Angel is in a relationship with Tom Collins, a philosophy professor and part of the same friend group.
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