James Barbour (born April 25, 1966)[1] is an American singer and theatre actor who played the title role in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera from February 2015 until December 2017.
In 2008, Barbour pleaded guilty to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child,[2] and he admitted to engaging in sexual activities with a 15-year-old on more than one occasion.
[8] He was nominated for a Drama League Award in the Outstanding Actor In A Musical category for his role as Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre.
[10] In late 2007, he performed the role of Sydney Carton in a pre-Broadway musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
[15][16] In the summer of 2014, he starred as Jean Valjean in the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts production of Les Misérables opposite Anthony Fedorov as Enjolras.
[30] In April 2006, Barbour was arrested and charged with five counts of sexual abuse and sodomy, after a woman accused him of committing statutory rape against her in 2001, when she was 15 years old.
[34][35][36][37][38] In January 2008, Barbour pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in exchange for a lesser sentence in jail and three years' probation.