You know that feeling when everyone is talking about a person they think they knew, but they’re actually talking about a ghost? That’s basically the entire premise of Connor Murphy. In the world of Dear Evan Hansen, Connor is the kid who dies before the story even really gets its legs. He’s the catalyst. The spark. But honestly, he’s also a total enigma.
Most people see him as the "angry kid" or the "villain" of the first ten minutes. He shoves Evan in the hallway. He screams at his parents. He’s got that chipped black nail polish and the kind of hair that says he hasn’t touched a comb in three days. Then, he’s gone.
The weirdest part? We spend the next two hours watching a version of him that doesn't even exist.
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Who Was the Real Connor Murphy?
Let’s be real for a second: the Connor Murphy that the audience falls in love with during "Sincerely, Me" is a complete fabrication. He’s a figment of Evan Hansen’s imagination and Jared Kleinman’s snarky sense of humor. The "real" Connor was a high school senior struggling with deep-seated depression, anxiety, and a pretty severe drug habit.
According to the original Broadway character descriptions, Connor was a social outcast with aggressive tendencies. He got high to cope. He lashed out because he didn't know how to handle the "noise" in his head. In the musical, we mostly see him through the eyes of people who were terrified of him or exhausted by him.
- Zoe Murphy: His sister remembers him as a bully who once banged on her door so hard it felt like it would break.
- Larry Murphy: His father saw a son who was constantly "slipping away" despite expensive rehabs and therapy.
- Cynthia Murphy: His mom was desperate to find a "good" version of him to hold onto, which is why she was so quick to believe Evan’s lies.
It’s tragic. He dies thinking nobody cares, and then the whole world starts caring about a guy who never lived.
The Massive Differences in the Book and Movie
If you’ve only seen the stage show, you’re missing half the story. The 2018 novel by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul actually gives Connor a voice from the "afterlife." It’s kinda surreal. He lingers as a narrator, watching Evan take over his life.
In the book, we find out Connor was actually bisexual—or "fluid," as he describes it. He had a secret romantic relationship with a boy named Miguel at a boarding school. This adds so much weight to his isolation. He wasn't just "angry"; he was hiding a whole part of himself that he felt he couldn't share with his rigid family.
Then there’s the 2021 movie. People had a lot of thoughts about Ben Platt's age, sure, but the movie actually tried to do something interesting with Connor’s legacy. In the film, Evan actually goes on a mission to find out who the real Connor was. He finds a video of Connor at a talent show or rehab center playing the guitar. It’s a tiny moment of humanity that the musical leaves out.
Why Mike Faist Changed Everything
You can’t talk about Connor Murphy without talking about Mike Faist. He originated the role on Broadway and snagged a Tony nomination for it. Faist played Connor with this incredible, vibrating energy. You weren't sure if he was going to punch you or burst into tears.
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Faist has mentioned in interviews that he saw Connor and Evan as "parallel existences." They were both drowning. They just had different ways of flailing their arms. While Evan turned inward and disappeared into his shirt collar, Connor turned outward and burned everything down.
The Controversy: Is Connor a Victim or a Villain?
This is where things get messy. A lot of critics, like E. Walczyk on Medium, have argued that the show treats Connor like a "stock trope" of a mentally ill person—violent and scary. They argue his suicide is just a plot device to make Evan Hansen more popular.
On the flip side, many fans find Connor deeply relatable. He represents the "ugly" side of mental illness that doesn't get a catchy pop song. He wasn't a "perfect victim." He was difficult. He was mean. He made mistakes. But that doesn't mean he deserved to be forgotten or replaced by a fake version of himself who likes "acorn gourds" and "forest expertise."
Key Facts About Connor Murphy
- Age: 17 (High School Senior).
- Cause of Death: Suicide (Act 1).
- The "Note": He didn't write it. It was a therapy letter Evan wrote to himself that Connor found in the computer lab.
- The Cast: He signed Evan's cast in a weird, aggressive attempt at a "joke" or a connection, which later served as "proof" of their fake friendship.
What We Can Learn from the "Connor Project"
In the story, the "Connor Project" becomes a viral sensation. It’s supposed to be about how "No One Deserves to be Forgotten." It’s a beautiful sentiment, but in the context of the show, it’s built on a foundation of total BS.
The real takeaway? We need to see people while they’re still here. Not the versions we want them to be, but the messy, chipped-nail-polish versions they actually are.
If you’re looking to understand the impact of Dear Evan Hansen more deeply, your best bet is to look at the work of real-world organizations. The show actually partnered with groups like the Trevor Project and Child Mind Institute to provide actual resources for people who feel like Connor.
To truly honor the character's legacy, it's worth moving past the catchy songs and looking at the reality of teen mental health. You can start by researching the "Look Around" campaign or reading the Dear Evan Hansen novel to get the perspective the stage show leaves out. Don't just settle for the "Ghost Connor" version of the story.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Read the Dear Evan Hansen novel to understand Connor's internal monologue and his relationship with Miguel.
- Watch Mike Faist’s performance of "Sincerely, Me" to see how he balances the comedy of the "fake" Connor with the tragedy of the real one.
- Support actual mental health initiatives like the Trevor Project if you want to turn the themes of the show into real-world action.