Character guide
Mr. Wormwood
from Matilda the Musical
Mr. Wormwood is Matilda's dismissive, small-time-crook father in Matilda the Musical, a comic figure whose neglect drives much of the show's early humor.
- Show
- Matilda the Musical
- Broadway premiere
- 2013
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Tim Minchin
Mr. Wormwood on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1996 film and 2022 movie musical
Danny DeVito both directed the 1996 film and played Matilda's father, Harry Wormwood, a car salesman under FBI surveillance for buying stolen car parts, who flees to Guam with the family. In the 2022 movie musical, Stephen Graham plays Mr Wormwood, and the family's escape is to Spain.
Gabriel Ebert originated Mr. Wormwood on Broadway in 2013 and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical; Paul Kaye created the role in London. On stage, Mr. Wormwood gets the song Telly, in which he advises the audience to watch television instead of reading. That number does not appear in the 2022 film's song list.
Who is Mr. Wormwood?
Mr. Wormwood is a used car salesman with a taste for shady dealings and a strong preference for television over books. He treats his daughter Matilda with a mix of irritation and indifference, more concerned with appearances and quick money than with her obvious intelligence.
His character functions largely as comic relief and a source of conflict, standing in for a certain kind of self-absorbed parent who never bothers to notice the remarkable child in front of him.
Mr. Wormwood's role in the musical
Mr. Wormwood is a supporting character, but a memorable one thanks to his broad comic energy and a few standout musical moments. The role suits a performer comfortable with physical comedy and exaggerated bluster, since much of his humor comes from oblivious self-confidence.
Audiences enjoy him as a satirical jab at parents who prize style over substance, and his obliviousness makes Matilda's cleverness shine even brighter by comparison.
Mr. Wormwood: frequently asked questions
What show is Mr. Wormwood from?
Mr. Wormwood is a character in Matilda the Musical, which debuted in 2013 with a score by Tim Minchin.
Is Mr. Wormwood a lead or supporting role?
Mr. Wormwood is a supporting role, providing comic conflict rather than driving the main plot.
What is Mr. Wormwood like as a character?
He is a dishonest, self-important car salesman who largely ignores and undervalues his daughter Matilda.
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