If you’ve spent any time in the Broadway fandom or recently binged the movie on a rainy Sunday, you know the name. Jared Kleinman. In the world of Dear Evan Hansen, he’s usually the guy people point to when they need a laugh. He’s the one with the biting one-liners and the questionable "family friend" status. But if you look closer, Jared is actually one of the most tragic, complicated figures in the entire story.
Most people see him as just the comic relief. You know the type: the guy who shows up, says something sarcastic about Evan’s sweaty palms, and exits stage left. But honestly? Jared Kleinman is the engine that makes the first half of the show work. Without him, Evan’s lie would have collapsed under its own weight in about ten minutes.
✨ Don't miss: How the Alvin and the Chipmunks film series basically redefined the modern family blockbuster
Why Jared Kleinman is Actually the "Villain" (And Why He's Not)
It’s easy to label Jared as a jerk. He’s mean. He’s dismissive. He literally tells Evan he only hangs out with him so his parents will pay for his car insurance. That’s cold. But in the context of jared dear evan hansen, "jerk" is a surface-level read.
Jared is a mirror. He reflects the same crushing loneliness that Evan feels, but he processes it through aggression instead of anxiety. While Evan shrinks, Jared barbs. He’s desperately insecure. He uses his "insanely cool" persona—a title he literally gives himself—to mask the fact that he has no real friends either. Think about it. If Jared actually had a social life, would he be spending his Friday nights helping a "family friend" forge emails from a dead kid? Probably not.
The Architect of the Lie
When Evan gets caught in the initial misunderstanding with the Murphy family, he’s paralyzed. He doesn't know how to fake a friendship with Connor Murphy. Enter Jared. In the show-stopping number "Sincerely, Me," we see Jared take charge. He’s the one who understands how teenagers actually talk. He’s the one who adds the "kinky" jokes and the "my life hath been utmost" nonsense to make the emails feel real—or at least, real enough for a grieving family to believe.
He thinks it’s a game. To Jared, this isn't about a tragedy; it's about being "the mastermind." It gives him power. For the first time, he’s the one in control of a narrative. He’s not just a background character in someone else’s life; he’s the director.
The Will Roland Legacy and the Movie Shift
You can't talk about Jared without talking about Will Roland. He originated the role on Broadway and brought a specific kind of "lovable asshole" energy that defined the character for years. Roland played Jared with a frantic, high-energy wit that made his eventually being "left behind" by Evan feel like a genuine gut punch.
Then the movie happened.
In the 2021 film adaptation, Jared’s last name was changed to Kalwani, and he was played by Nik Dodani. The vibe shifted. While the stage version of Jared feels like a defensive bully, the film version feels a bit more like a modern, tech-savvy cynical teen. Both versions, however, hit the same wall: the moment Evan doesn't need them anymore.
The Breaking Point: "Good For You"
The song "Good For You" is a turning point for every character, but for Jared, it’s a moment of pure, unadulterated salt. Evan has the girl. He has the "replacement" family. He has the internet fame. And Jared? Jared is still just the guy in the bedroom, forgeing emails that no one is even looking at anymore.
📖 Related: Who Owns Graceland Now: What Really Happened to Elvis Presley's Estate
When Jared snaps and says, "I guess you're not the only one who's been exploited," he’s finally being honest. He realized he was used. Evan needed his brains and his sarcasm to build the lie, but once the lie was self-sustaining, Jared became a liability.
It’s a brutal look at how "friendships of convenience" fall apart when the power dynamic shifts. Jared is essentially the only person who knows the "real" Evan, and that makes him dangerous. But instead of outrunning the truth, Evan just stops answering Jared's texts. It’s a very modern kind of cruelty.
What Jared Tells Us About Modern Loneliness
The brilliance of the writing in Dear Evan Hansen is that every teenager in the show is a different flavor of lonely.
🔗 Read more: Ballad of Farquaad Lyrics: What Most People Get Wrong
- Evan is lonely because he’s afraid.
- Connor was lonely because he was angry.
- Alana is lonely because she’s a perfectionist.
- Jared is lonely because he’s "too cool" to care.
Jared is the embodiment of the kid who uses irony as armor. If you never take anything seriously, nothing can hurt you, right? Wrong. By the end of the story, Jared is left in the dust. He doesn't get a big redemption arc. He doesn't get a hug. He just... stops being part of the story.
In many ways, that’s more realistic than a happy ending. Sometimes, when a group of people is bonded by a lie, the end of that lie means the end of the group. Jared was a co-conspirator, and when the conspiracy died, so did the friendship.
Key Takeaways for Fans and Performers
If you’re analyzing the character or preparing for an audition, keep these specific nuances in mind.
- Sarcasm is a Shield: Every time Jared makes a joke, ask yourself what he’s trying to avoid feeling.
- The "Family Friend" Label: This is his biggest insecurity. He hates that his connection to Evan is forced by parents, yet it's the only connection he has.
- Intellectual Superiority: Jared needs to be the smartest person in the room because he knows he’s not the most liked.
- The Vocal Range: The role requires a high tenor (up to a B4) with a lot of character and "snarl" in the delivery.
If you want to understand the full scope of the story, don't just watch Evan. Watch the guy standing next to him. Watch the way Jared's posture changes when Evan starts talking about the Murphys. Watch the way he lingers before leaving a scene. Jared Kleinman isn't just a sidekick; he’s a warning about what happens when we value being "cool" over being kind.
To truly grasp the impact of this character, listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording of "Sincerely, Me" followed immediately by "Good For You." The shift in tone perfectly captures the rise and fall of Jared's relevance in Evan's world. Pay attention to the lyrics—Jared is often the one pushing the boundaries of the lie, which makes his eventual exclusion all the more ironic.