Lea Michele Biography: Husband, Age, Kids, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Parents, Height, Broadway

Lea Michele Sarfati, known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter renowned for her role as Rachel Berry in the Fox series Glee (2009–2015), which earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and for her acclaimed Broadway performances, including Fanny Brice in the 2022–2023 revival of Funny Girl.

Beginning her career as a child actress on Broadway in productions like Les Misérables and Spring Awakening, she has built a versatile career spanning television, film, and music, releasing four studio albums, including Louder (2014).

Profile

• Full Name: Lea Michele Sarfati
• Stage Name: Lea Michele
• Born: 29, August 1986
• Age: 38 years old
• Birthplace: The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Singer, Songwriter, and Author
• Height: 1.59m
• Parents: Edith Thomasina Porcelli, Mark David Sarfati
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Zandy Reich (m. 2019)
• Boyfriends: Cory Monteith (ex), and Landon Beard (ex)
• Children: Ever Leo Reich, Emery Sol Reich
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $12 million

Early Life and Education

Lea Michele Sarfati was born on August 29, 1986, in The Bronx, New York City, to Edith Thomasina Porcelli, a nurse of Italian descent, and Mark David Sarfati, a real estate agent of Sephardi Jewish ancestry. She grew up as an only child in Tenafly, New Jersey, where she attended Tenafly High School.

Michele was homeschooled for a year while performing in Ragtime in Toronto and trained at Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts center in the Catskills. She was accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts but declined to pursue her acting career. Her ethnicity is Italian-American and Sephardi Jewish, and she was raised Catholic.

Career

Lea Michele began her career at age eight, landing the role of Young Cosette in Les Misérables (1995–1996) after spontaneously auditioning during an open call. She went on to perform in Ragtime (1997–1999) as the Little Girl and in Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005) as Shprintze.

Her breakthrough came at 14 when she originated the role of Wendla Bergmann in Spring Awakening, performing in workshops and off-Broadway before its Broadway debut in 2006. Her performance, which included a controversial sex scene, earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and established her as a rising star in theater.

Michele’s fame soared with her role as Rachel Berry in Glee (2009–2015), a part written specifically for her by co-creator Ryan Murphy. Her portrayal of the ambitious glee club star earned a 2009 Satellite Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for an Emmy and two Golden Globes.

She was the lead singer for 14 of Glee’s top 20 best-selling songs, including “Don’t Stop Believin'”, and contributed to three Grammy-nominated cast albums. She made her film debut in New Year’s Eve (2011) and released her debut album, Louder (2014), which reached number 4 on the Billboard 200. Her subsequent albums, Places (2017), Christmas in the City (2019), and Forever (2021), showcased her theatrical and pop influences.

From 2022 to 2023, Michele returned to Broadway as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl, a role that fulfilled a lifelong dream inspired by her idol, Barbra Streisand. Her performance broke box office records, earned critical acclaim, and led to her inclusion in Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

She performed at the 2023 Tony Awards and made her Carnegie Hall debut in October 2023. Recent projects include a guest role in The Mayor (2017) and a 2025 announcement to star in the Broadway revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre, where she debuted 30 years prior. Michele’s enduring impact lies in her powerful vocals and ability to bridge Broadway and mainstream media.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @leamichele
• Facebook Handle: Lea Michele
• Twitter Handle: @LeaMichele

Personal Life

Lea Michele married businessman Zandy Reich on March 9, 2019, after announcing their engagement in 2018. They have two children: a son, Ever Leo, born August 20, 2020, and a daughter, Emery Sol, born in 2024. Previously, she dated Glee co-star Cory Monteith until his death in 2013, and stage actor Landon Beard.

In 2020, she faced controversy when former Glee co-star Samantha Marie Ware accused her of unprofessional behavior, prompting Michele to issue an apology. A vegan and advocate for gay and animal rights, she has supported PETA and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. She resides in Los Angeles, balancing family life with her career.

Filmography

• Les Misérables (1995–1996)
• Ragtime (1997–1999)
• Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005)
• Spring Awakening (2006–2008)
• Glee (2009–2015)
• New Year’s Eve (2011)
• Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (2014)
• Sons of Anarchy (2014)
• Scream Queens (2015–2016)
• The Mayor (2017)
• Funny Girl (2022–2023)
• Chess (2025, upcoming)

Discography

• Louder (2014)
• Places (2017)
• Christmas in the City (2019)
• Forever (2021)

Net Worth

Lea Michele has an estimated net worth of $12 million, primarily earned through her acting roles in Glee, Scream Queens, and Broadway productions like Funny Girl. Her music career, including four studio albums and Glee cast recordings, along with concert tours and performances at events like the Super Bowl, significantly contributes to her wealth.