Jesse Merlin is a talented performer who has made a name for himself in various fields. He started his career in the opera world, where he sang a wide range of roles, including Mephistopheles in "Faust," Leporello in "Don Giovanni," and the title role in "Don Pasquale." He was a Principal Artist-in-Residence with Opera San Jose for four seasons, singing 17 different roles.
Merlin then transitioned to musical theater, where he created the role of Dr. Hill in Stuart Gordon's "Re-Animator: The Musical." He earned an Ovation Award nomination and a rave review in the New York Times for his performance. He has also appeared in other musicals, including "The Sirens of Titan" and "Silence! The Musical."
In addition to his work in musical theater, Merlin has also appeared in several films and television shows. He played the mysterious Elric in Jackson Stewart's "Beyond the Gates," which won the Nightfall Jury Prize at the LA Film Festival. He has also voiced characters in video games such as "Mega Man 11" and "Street Fighter V."
Merlin has also been involved in various other projects, including a concert version of Peer Gynt with the San Francisco Symphony and Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. He has also been featured in a nationally aired, award-winning story on NPR's Weekend Edition about his niche career as "Mr. Horror Musicals."
