Joseph Morales is a theater, TV and film actor known for his starring roles in Hamilton and In the Heights.

In 2009, he replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda as Usnavi in the Original Broadway First National Tour of In the Heights, touring the show across the US, Canada, and Japan. 

Following Heights, he was cast in the Original Chicago Company of Hamilton as the Hamilton alternate. Later that year, producer Jeffrey Seller announced he would originate Alexander Hamilton in the show's national tour (Philip Company) alongside Nik Walker as Aaron Burr. Joseph was the first Asian American in history to play Alexander Hamilton full-time. 

Apart from his work on Hamilton and Heights, Joseph’s career spans decades: the first national tour of Bombay Dreams, the original cast of Rock of Ages starring Laura Bell Bundy, the first national tour of If/Then starring Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp, Henry and Mudge at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre, as well as original and regional premieres at The Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, East West Players, Pioneer Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company and more. TV and film credits include: The Christmas Pitch (Amazon Prime), Chicago Med (NBC) and Colony (USA Network). 

In 2022, he had the pleasure of performing at the NY Philharmonic Opening Night and grand reopening of David Geffen Hall alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda and other Hamilton cast members. In 2023, he toured China with Jenn Colella, Zachary Noah Piser and Keri René Fuller in Nederlander Worldwide’s Next Stop Broadway tour. Other concert work include performances with The Skivvies, the Miss Mississippi Pageant, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, and Rockwell Table & Stage.

Mexican, German-Irish and Japanese, Joseph was born in New Mexico and raised in a military family, living in Virginia, Texas, and Hawaii. He currently lives in New York City with his family. He is represented by Paradigm.

Photo: Luke Fontana