Paul Tazewell

Paul Tazewell
Tazewell in 2025
Born (1964-09-15) September 15, 1964
EducationNorth Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
New York University (MFA)
AwardsHelen Hayes Awards Resident Design
Lucille Lortel Awards
AUDELCO Award
Princess Grace Award

Paul Tazewell (born September 15, 1964) is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, film, opera and television. After training at New York University Tisch School of the Arts he started his career on Broadway. He has since won an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and two Tony Awards.

Tazewell made his Broadway debut as a costume designer with Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk in 1996. He went on to receive the Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton (2016) and Death Becomes Her (2025). His other Tony-nominated works include The Color Purple (2006), In the Heights (2008), Memphis (2010), A Streetcar Named Desire (2012), Ain't Too Proud (2019), MJ (2022), and Suffs (2024).

For his work on Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (2021), Tazewell became the first African American male costume designer to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. He eventually won said award for his work on Wicked (2024) at the 97th Academy Awards. He has also received a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on The Wiz Live! (2016).