Cole Escola Biography: Net Worth, Age, Movies, Height, Parents, Husband, Gender, TV Shows, Big Mouth

Biography

Cole Escola (born November 25, 1986) is an award-winning American non-binary comedian, actor, singer, and playwright known for their surreal humour and Tony Award-winning performance.

Raised in Clatskanie, Oregon, they gained prominence through the cult YouTube series Jeffery & Cole Casserole and TV roles in Difficult People, At Home with Amy Sedaris, and Hacks.

Escola’s Broadway debut, Oh, Mary! (2024), which they wrote and starred in, earned them a Tony for Best Actor in a Play and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist nomination. Their work blends queer joy, absurdity, and fearless authenticity.

American comedian and actor
Cole Escola
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Cole Escola
Born:	25 November 1986 (age 38 years old)
Place of Birth:	Clatskanie, Oregon, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	R. A. Long High School, Marymount Manhattan College
Height:	167 cm
Parents:	Christine Escola, Steven Escola
Siblings:	2
Spouse:	Not Married
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Actor • Comedian
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Cole Escola was born on November 25, 1986, in Clatskanie, Oregon, USA.

They are of Finnish and Norwegian descent, with paternal lineage tracing back to Finnish and Norwegian immigrants and maternal ancestors from Kuusamo, Finland, and Vadsø, Norway, of Finnish (Kven) descent. Their religious belief is Christianity.

Born to Christine Escola and Steven Escola, Cole faced early challenges when, at age six, their father, a Vietnam War veteran with severe PTSD, chased the family out of their mobile home with a gun, leading to separation.

Cole, their mother, and younger brother moved into government housing, while their sister lived elsewhere. Cole has a younger brother and a sister, though details about them are scarce.

They attended R. A. Long High School in Longview, Oregon, graduating in 2005, and participated in community theater, starring in productions like Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, and Little Shop of Horrors. At 16, they moved to live with a cousin to attend a high school with a stronger theater program.

After graduating, Escola moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan College, studying humanities for one year before dropping out to pursue performing. They honed their skills at cabarets, children’s birthday parties, and working at the Scholastic bookstore in Soho.

Early struggles, including family challenges and moving to New York at 18 to follow a high school sweetheart (a relationship that later ended), shaped their resilience and unique comedic voice, blending surreal humor with authenticity.

Career

Cole Escola’s career is a dazzling blend of comedy, acting, writing, and performance art, defined by their singular brand of surreal humor and unapologetic individuality.

After leaving Marymount Manhattan College in 2006, Escola dove headfirst into New York City’s underground performance scene, juggling odd jobs—including working children’s birthday parties and shelving books at the Scholastic bookstore in Soho—while developing their voice as a performer.

Escola first gained widespread attention with Jeffery & Cole Casserole (2009–2010), a quirky, low-budget YouTube series co-created with Jeffery Self. The show’s absurd sketches and DIY charm earned them a cult following and opened the door to more prominent opportunities in comedy and television.

Escola’s breakout role came as the hilariously unhinged Chipmunk on Hulu’s Difficult People (2015–2017), where they stood out for their razor-sharp delivery alongside Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner.

Their TV résumé expanded with scene-stealing roles like Matthew on At Home with Amy Sedaris (2017–2020), where they also contributed as a writer, helping shape the show’s eccentric, whimsical tone.

Escola went on to appear in acclaimed series such as Search Party (2020–2022), Ziwe (2021–2022), What We Do in the Shadows (2022), Big Mouth (2022), and Hacks (2024), earning praise for their unique comedic rhythm and unpredictable character work.

As a writer, Escola has brought their subversive, queer perspective to shows like The Other Two (2019–2023) and contributed to Smash (2012–2013).

Their writing is often infused with biting satire and heartfelt absurdity, echoing the themes of identity, performance, and cultural critique that run through their work. They also appeared in The Chris Gethard Show (2015–2018) and made a notable film appearance in Please Baby Please (2022).

The defining moment of Escola’s career came with their Broadway triumph, Oh, Mary! (2024), a darkly comedic, anarchic reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln. Escola not only wrote the play but starred in it, first at the Lucille Lortel Theatre before its acclaimed transfer to the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.

The show became a sensation, praised for its blend of camp, queer storytelling, and historical satire. Escola’s performance earned them the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, a Drama Desk Award, and recognition as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama—cementing their status as a bold new voice in American theater.

Beyond Broadway, Escola continues to thrive on stage, performing in cult cabaret hits like Our Hit Parade and The Lesbian Agenda at Joe’s Pub, showcasing their fearless commitment to blending comedy, queerness, and performance art into something wholly original.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Cole Escola
• Instagram: Cole Escola (@coleescola)
• IMDb: Cole Escola
• Facebook: Cole Escola
• YouTube: Cole Escola
• TikTok: Cole Escola (@coleescola)

Personal Life

Cole Escola was born on November 25, 1986, making them 38 years old as of June 13, 2025.

They identify as non-binary and use they/them pronouns. Escola is currently unmarried and has no husband, wife, or partner. They have not been publicly linked to any marriages, and there are no records of them having children.

Escola has mentioned moving to New York City at 18 to follow a high school sweetheart, a relationship that eventually ended, though no specific details about the partner or timeline have been disclosed.

Since then, Escola has kept their personal life private, and no verified information exists about other romantic relationships or current dating status.

As for physical attributes, Cole Escola’s height is not explicitly documented in reliable sources, but based on their appearances in theater and television, they appear to be of average height, likely around 5’6” to 5’8”, though this is an estimate.

Net Worth

Cole Escola’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million.

Their wealth stems from a diverse career in acting, writing, and performing, including roles in TV shows like Difficult People and At Home with Amy Sedaris, voice work in Craig of the Creek, and their Tony-winning Broadway play Oh, Mary!. Live performances and cabaret shows also contribute to their income.

Filmography

Television (Acting)

• Law & Order (2005) – One-off role
• Jeffery & Cole Casserole (2009–2010) – Co-creator, writer, and star
• The Chris Gethard Show (2015–2018) – Recurring sketches
• Difficult People (2015–2017) – Chipmunk (recurring role)
• At Home with Amy Sedaris (2017–2020) – Matthew (recurring role)
• Search Party (2020–2022) – Recurring role
• Ziwe (2021–2022) – Guest appearances
• What We Do in the Shadows (2022) – Guest role
• Big Mouth (2022) – Voice role
• Craig of the Creek (2023) – Voice role
• Hacks (2024) – Guest role

Television (Writing)

• At Home with Amy Sedaris (2017–2020) – Writer
• Smash (2012–2013) – Staff writer
• The Other Two (2019–2023) – Writer

Film

• Please Baby Please (2022) – Supporting role

Theater

• Oh, Mary! (2024) – Playwright and star (Mary Todd Lincoln); premiered at Lucille Lortel Theatre, transferred to Lyceum Theatre (Broadway); won Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (2025)
• Our Hit Parade – Regular performer in monthly cabaret show
• The Lesbian Agenda – Co-star at Joe’s Pub

Web/Online

• Jeffery & Cole Casserole (2009–2010) – YouTube sketch comedy series, co-created and starred

Other Performances:

• Various cabaret performances in New York City, including solo and collaborative shows
• Community theater and high school productions (Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors) during teenage years
• Children’s birthday party performances (early career)