Fun fact: It’s sweet having Leslie Odom Jr. as a dad.
For starters, the Tony Award-winning star is currently on Broadway starring in the play “Purlie Victorious” — which means that his 6-year-old daughter, Lucy, and 2-year-old son, Able, get to spend the most wonderful time of the year in New York City. “When you’re on Broadway during the holidays, it’s a little bit like you’re a theme park performer,” he says. “So many families come to see you. I love providing the service to the community!”
Odom also has unlimited access to delicious candy, thanks to his new partnership with Kinder. The brand recently debuted the Kinder Chocolate bar, which is packaged in a way that makes it perfect for sharing with others. To commemorate the launch, the company created a two-day immersive experience designed for kids and parents in downtown NYC known as Kinderland.
At home, Odom admits he’s not strict about letting his kids indulge in snacking — especially compared to his wife, fellow Broadway performer Nicolette Robinson. “I’m a little more lenient because the best moments in my childhood are when my dad and I got ice cream or I bought myself a chocolate bar after I did a task like mowing the lawn,” he says. “Those are precious memories, you know?”
Ahead, Odom shares eight of his everyday essentials with CNN Underscored.
Socks and the City: Odom keeps his feet happy with an array of these stylish cotton-blend socks. “They’re well made and comfortable,” he says. “It’s also a little luxury when you can spend some money on a sock, even if nobody else sees it.”
This waterproof and dustproof wireless speaker with a 16-hour battery life may be small, but it literally provides music to Odom’s ears. “I keep it in my dressing room, but it’s also good for the shower,” he says. “I have 600 songs and keep it on shuffle. Then I let the music influence all 95 minutes of my performance.” Among his favorite artists: Rihanna, Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Given that he performs eight times a week, Odom needs his coffee. As a more organic alternative, he also consumes shots of this pineapple-flavored drink. Each one is infused with vitamin B12, vitamin C, guayusa and green tea extract. (Other flavors are available as well.) “My trainer recommended it,” he says. “It’s a natural way to get an energy boost.”
Odom has been jotting down his thoughts in journals for years and often does so just before showtime. “It’s one of my favorite things to do,” he says, adding that he gets a different notebook each time to stay extra creative. His latest one: This leather-bound hardcover composition book with lined pages and a ribbon. His wife customized it with his initials!
Before heading out, Odom spritzes this unisex cologne that’s handmade in L.A. With notes of leather, vanilla musk, tobacco, rare coins and fresh-cut foliage, Odom says, “It smells like the back of an old car but in a natural and good way,” he says. “I’ve been wearing it for a few years.”
Did you see Odom in the 2022 sequel “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”? Then you saw him modeling these sleek shades, which feature hand-polished frames and mineral glass lenses. “They’re my favorite indulgence, so I like getting away with wearing them whenever I can,” he says.
Odom says he found this handsome Italian-made leather crossbody bag at a sample sale in a hotel lobby. “It’s the perfect size, so I can carry my journal, an iPad, a little novel, my wallet and a phone,” he says. “I use it almost every day and get a lot of compliments on it!” Available in five colors, Odom has the bag in black.