Biography of Kelli O’Hara

Kelli O’Hara was born on April 16, 1976 in Oklahoma, is an American stage actress, singer, and songwriter.

O’Hara has been nominated for three Tony Awards: for her performance as Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza; for her performance as Babe Williams in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of The Pajama Game, where she starred alongside Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael McKean; and, most recently, for her performance as Nellie Forbush in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of South Pacific.

O’Hara was recently seen as Dot/Marie in the L.A. Reprise! concert staging of Sunday in the Park with George. She can be heard as the voice of producer Beth Totenbag on PBS’s 2008 animated series Click and Clack’s As the Wrench Turns.

O’Hara grew up in Oklahoma in an Irish American family. She graduated from Deer Creek High School and also attended Oklahoma City University, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Music in vocal performance/opera. O’Hara studied voice with Florence Birdwell, who also taught Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth four years earlier. O’Hara and Chenoweth are both alumnae of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

O’Hara is married to Greg Naughton, son of actor James Naughton, brother of actress/singer Keira Naughton. Their first child, Owen James, was born on June 27, 2009.