The Fans Have Spoken: Les Miz Headliner Ramin Karimloo Is the 2014 Broadway.com Star of the Year!

After an intense week of voting, finger-crossing, praying and tweeting, readers have named Les Miserables headliner Ramin Karimloo the 2014 Broadway.com Star of the Year! The banjo-playing poppa, plant owner and Iranian jumping bean is in great company—his new title was held in previous years by Patina Miller (2013), Steve Kazee (2012), Daniel Radcliffe (2011 and 2008), Kristin Chenoweth (2010) and Constantine Maroulis (2009). Congratulations, Ramin—let’s take a look at all the awesome stuff you did this year!

THE YEAR IN RAMIN...


1. First, Hugh Jackman inspired him to get in shape—like, really in shape, for his first-ever Broadway role: Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.


2. Ramin made his Broadway debut, becoming the first JVJ to wildly rip his shirt open during the show. FINALLY.


3. After that, he made us weep openly while watching morning TV. Multiple times.


4. He brought his own music genre, broadgrass, to NYC. We all need more banjos in our lives.


5. Next, he got a Tony nomination! OMG!


6. But he couldn’t choose between Tony Danza and Tony Shalhoub on his Broadway.com Tony questionnaire, because he’s just that nice.


7. Then he got his own Broadway.com video blog, and all was right in the world. We also got frequent updates on the health and vital signs of his houseplant.


8. We absolutely fell in love with his kids—those adorable accents! Those puppets! We can't.


9. Then he made his second appearance on Show People! (And he revealed what kind of ladies he’s into. Spoiler alert: Muscley ones.)


10. And in his greatest contribution of 2014, Ramin singlehandedly won the Ice Bucket Challenge. No contest.

CONGRATULATIONS, RAMIN!