Who is the first actor to ever have played Jean Valjean?

hintmaster

"The man, who was perhaps sixty, had a grave serious look, his robust, wearied aspect conveying the impression that he had been a soldier. Had he worn any kind of decoration Marius would have supposed him to be a half-pay officer. He looked good-natured but unapproachable, and he never returned the glance of a passer-by. He wore blue trousers, a blue tail-coat and a wide-brimmed hat which always seemed new, a black cravat and a Quaker shirt - that is to say, of dazzling whiteness but coarse material. A shop-girl passing near remarked to her friend, 'A nice, clean old widower'. His hair was very white." http://members.aol.com/REELMACK/JeanValjean1.html Dec 01 06, 3:25 PM

spanishliz

Though I suspect you are looking for stage performances in the musical, this list provides a few more names, the earliest that I spot being Maurice Costello in a 1909 film version of the non-musical "Les Miserables". http://www.imdb.com/Find?select=Characters&for=jean%20valjean Dec 01 06, 4:16 PM