You probably know him as the guy who made eating lukewarm ham and cheese sandwiches look like a romantic peak. If you've spent any time in a Broadway theater over the last decade, Drew Gehling is likely the face you associate with Dr. Pomatter, the lovable, slightly neurotic OB-GYN in Waitress. But honestly, if you only know him from the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, you're missing about half the picture. Drew Gehling movies and TV shows have been quietly building a resume that spans from high-stakes HBO dramas to cult-classic video games.
It’s easy to get pigeonholed when you originate a role as iconic as Dr. Jim Pomatter. It happens to the best of them. But Gehling has this weird, chameleonic ability to show up in your favorite prestige TV shows and blend in so well you might not even realize it’s him until the credits roll.
The TV Grind: From Succession to 30 Rock
Most people don't realize that Gehling has been a staple of the "filmed in New York" television circuit for years. It’s a rite of passage for stage actors, sure, but his guest spots aren't just background noise.
Take Succession, for example. He appeared in the first season as a "Business Alchemist." If that doesn't scream peak Roy-family-nonsense, I don't know what does. He’s also popped up in the procedural heavy-hitters like The Blacklist, where he played Skip Hadley, and Chicago P.D. His range is actually kind of wild when you look at it. He can do the buttoned-up lawyer thing in The Code (as Lt. Zephyr 'Tank' Tarkanian) and then pivot to playing a guy named Danford in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
His early work in 30 Rock and Smash basically cemented him as part of the NBC "theatre-friendly" ecosystem. But it’s his more recent work that shows he’s moving away from just "the Broadway guest star" trope.
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The Big Screen and the Waitress Movie
Okay, we have to talk about the movie. In 2023, the world finally got a high-definition, professionally shot version of the Waitress stage musical. This wasn't just some bootleg; it was a full cinematic release. For many fans who couldn't make it to New York during the show's massive run, this was their first real introduction to the Gehling/Bareilles chemistry.
But if you’re looking for his non-musical film work, it gets interesting:
- Unconformity (2022): He plays Dr. Petro Stein. It’s a far cry from a singing doctor.
- The Day Shall Come (2019): He showed up as a bank manager in this Chris Morris satire.
- Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight (2013): A prestige HBO film where he played a Marshall’s Clerk.
The jump from a stage recording of a musical to a gritty indie drama like Unconformity shows that Gehling is looking for more than just a 2:00 PM matinee. He’s got this "everyman" quality that directors love to exploit, especially when they need someone who can look professional but feel slightly unhinged under the surface.
That Video Game Fact Nobody Mentions
I’m going to level with you: the coolest thing in the Drew Gehling filmography isn't even a movie. It’s a video game. Back in 2006, Rockstar Games released Bully (also known as Canis Canem Edit). If you were a gamer in the mid-2000s, you definitely spent time running around Bullworth Academy.
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Gehling provided the voice for Gord Vendome, one of the Preppy clique members. It’s one of those "wait, WHAT?" facts that usually wins trivia nights. It shows that his career started with voice-over and character work long before he was a leading man on 47th Street.
Stage to Screen: The Almost Famous Evolution
In late 2022 and early 2023, Gehling took on the role of Jeff Bebe in the musical adaptation of Almost Famous. This is relevant to his screen career because he was essentially stepping into the shoes of Jason Lee.
Playing a character originated by a movie star is a tightrope walk. You can't just mimic them, but you have to respect the DNA of the film. Gehling’s version of the narcissistic lead singer of Stillwater was "peacocking around the stage like a fool," as he once described it. It was a massive departure from the stuttering, sweet doctor in Waitress. It proved he could handle the rock-and-roll energy of a 1970s frontman just as well as he could handle a stethoscope.
What’s Next for Drew Gehling?
As of 2025 and 2026, Gehling has been keeping his feet in both worlds. He recently took over the role of William Shakespeare in & Juliet on Broadway, which is basically the most "pop star" version of the Bard you can imagine.
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But the industry buzz suggests he’s leaning more into the "limited series" world of streaming. With his background in both comedy (30 Rock) and drama (The Good Fight), he’s the kind of actor who is one "right" role away from being the next Broadway-to-Hollywood breakout.
If you’re trying to catch up on his work, here is the most efficient path:
- Watch the Waitress (2023) movie first to see why he became a star.
- Binge his The Blacklist episodes to see him play a more calculated character.
- Find Unconformity for a glimpse at his indie film chops.
- Listen for Gord the next time you boot up an old copy of Bully.
The bottom line is that Drew Gehling movies and TV shows represent a career that refuses to stay in one lane. He isn't just a "Broadway actor" who does the occasional TV spot. He’s a versatile character actor who just happens to have a world-class singing voice.
To truly understand his range, look for his guest spots on Succession and The Good Fight. These roles, though small, show an actor who can hold his own against Emmy winners without breaking a sweat. If you want to stay updated on his upcoming projects, following his social media is usually more effective than waiting for an IMDb update, as he often shares behind-the-scenes clips from sets long before they are officially announced. Check out the 2023 stage-to-screen recording of Waitress on digital platforms for the definitive look at his most famous performance to date.