Dylan O'Brien

Early life and education

O'Brien was born in New York City, the son of Lisa (née Rhodes), a former actress who ran an acting school, and Patrick O'Brien, a camera operator. He grew up in Springfield Township, New Jersey, until the age of twelve, when he and his family moved to Hermosa Beach, California. He is of Irish, Italian, English, and Spanish descent. After graduating from Mira Costa High School in 2009, he considered pursuing sports broadcasting and possibly working for the New York Mets.

At 14, O'Brien began posting original videos onto his YouTube channel. In his senior high school year, a local producer and director approached him about working for a web series. While working on the series, O'Brien met an actor who connected him with a manager. O'Brien subsequently changed his plans to attend Syracuse University as a sports broadcasting major to pursue acting.

Career

Before beginning his acting career, O'Brien produced, directed and starred in a number of short comedy films which he released through his personal YouTube channel, "moviekidd826". He was also the drummer for the independent rock band Slow Kids at Play.

O'Brien's acting break came when he landed one of the main roles in MTV's Teen Wolf, a series loosely based on the 1985 film. He was intended to play Scott, but after reading the script, he wanted to audition for the part of Stiles instead. After four auditions, he was cast, and started playing the role in 2010. He received several Teen Choice Awards and a Young Hollywood Award for his work on the series.

In 2011, O'Brien was introduced to audiences in the entirely improvised independent comedy film High Road. The next year, he starred in the romantic comedy The First Time.

In 2013, while on hiatus from Teen Wolf, he co-starred in the comedy film The Internship; and that summer, filmed The Maze Runner (2014), playing the lead role of Thomas. Yahoo! Movies named him as one of the 15 Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2014. He reprised the role of Thomas in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, released on September 18, 2015.

In March 2016, O'Brien was seriously injured on set while filming a stunt for Maze Runner: The Death Cure. He was in a harness on top of a moving vehicle when he was unexpectedly pulled off the vehicle and hit by another vehicle. His injuries included facial fractures, a concussion, and brain trauma. He later said that the accident "'broke most of the right side'" of his face; he underwent reconstructive facial surgery. After months of recovery, he eventually began filming other projects, and his March 2017 return to The Death Cure set marked his complete return to health. The film premiered January 26, 2018.

In 2016, he appeared in the disaster thriller-drama Deepwater Horizon, based on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. He starred in 2017's American Assassin, an action-thriller where he played titular character Mitch Rapp; and voiced the CGI title character in the Transformers spin-off film Bumblebee in 2018.

In 2019, he guest-starred in the comedy sci-fi anthology series Weird City. In 2020, he starred in the mystery thriller Flashback (filmed in 2018), and the post-apocalyptic road trip film Love and Monsters.

In February 2021, he was cast in The Outfit, for which filming finished in April 2021. In August 2021, he was cast in Not Okay, for which filming finished in September 2021. Also in August, he was cast in Caddo Lake, originally reported by Discussing Film and later confirmed by Deadline Hollywood in October 2021. In October 2021, it was announced he would guest star in season 11 of Curb Your Enthusiasm. On November 12, 2021, O'Brien starred opposite Sadie Sink in Taylor Swift's short film All Too Well. He was credited as a drummer on the track "Snow on the Beach" from Swift's tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). He then appeared as Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night and in the psychological black comedy Twinless directed by James Sweeney. Twinless was screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award – U.S. Dramatic.

In 2026, he starred in Sam Raimi's survival horror film Send Help, released in January. Also in 2026, he was scheduled to star in Sian Heder's biographical drama Being Heumann.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (April 14, 2021). "Dylan O'Brien Fact Checks His Google Search Results".
2. Rose, Mike. (August 26, 2022). "Today's famous birthdays list for August 26, 2022 includes celebrities Melissa McCarthy, Chris Pine".
3. Stuzin, Anne Chorske. "Skidmore Scope Fall 2009".
4. Barker, Lynn. (July 27, 2011). "Teen Wolf's Dylan O'Brien 'In real life, I'm the werewolf.'".
5. "Biography". Dylan O'Brien Online.
6. Hixon, Michael. (April 22, 2014). "Former Hermosa Beach resident stars in potential blockbuster: Dylan O'Brien got his break on MTV's ''Teen Wolf'' but will star in the feature film ''The Maze Runner''". [[The Beach Reporter]].
7. Jacobs, Jay S.. (October 19, 2012). "Dylan O'Brien interview about 'The First Time' and 'Teen Wolf.'".
8. Johnson, Jason. (June 4, 2012). "Sidekick supreme".
9. Mathews, Dana. (2013). "Up Close and Personal with Dylan O'Brien: The 'Maze Runner' Star Talks Movies, Making It, and More". [[Teen Vogue]].
10. Stark, Stephanie. (July 6, 2011). "One to Watch: ''Teen Wolf''{{'}}s Dylan O'Brien". [[Gotham (magazine).
11. Callaway, Tyler. (October 10, 2015). "Dylan O'Brien Is on the Rise in Hollywood. Here's Why He Will Be the Next Big Star". [[Moviepilot]].
12. O'Brien, Dylan. "Dis Be My Channel".
13. Hixon, Michael. (October 15, 2013). "Back at 'Play': Local band Slow Kids at Play gets new members and outlook. They will perform at Saint Rocke on Saturday". The Beach Reporter.
14. Radish, Christina. (July 8, 2011). "Dylan O'Brien Interview TEEN WOLF".
15. (August 6, 2010). "Breaking News – MTV Builds Slate of Scripted Programming with 2011 Premieres of Original Series 'Teen Wolf' and 'Skins'". [[The Futon Critic]].
16. O'Brien, Dylan. (April 19, 2013). "SO excited to join the cast of #MazeRunner @wesball @jamesdashner thank you for including me in this insanely awesome project. Can't wait!!".
17. Warner, Kara. (January 3, 2014). "15 Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2014".
18. Wieselman, Jarett. (September 4, 2014). "A "Maze Runner" Sequel Is Already in Pre-Production". [[BuzzFeed]].
19. Buchanan, Kyle. (September 7, 2017). "Dylan O'Brien Is Ready to Talk About That Accident".
20. (April 29, 2016). "'Maze Runner: Death Cure' Production Shut Down After Dylan O'Brien Injured On Set".
21. "After on-set accident left him with a severe head injury, heartthrob Dylan O'Brien bounces back in 'American Assassin'".
22. Busch, Anita. (August 29, 2016). "'The Maze Runner: The Death Cure' Will Restart Production In February".
23. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (April 22, 2017). "'Deadpool 2', 'New Mutants' & 'Dark Phoenix' Find 2018 Dates Among Fox's Slew Of Release Changes & Additions".
24. Dave, McNary. (August 25, 2017). "Steven Spielberg's Pentagon Papers Movie Re-Titled 'The Post'". [[Variety (magazine).
25. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (May 10, 2016). "'Maze Runner's Dylan O'Brien In Talks To Play Mitch Rapp In Vince Flynn Spy Novel Adaptation 'American Assassin'".
26. Wein, Dick. (July 29, 2016). "CBS Continues to Chart the Future". [[CBS Corporation]].
27. Vejvoda, Jim. (December 3, 2018). "Bumblebee Voice Actor Revealed".
28. Petski, Denise. (July 27, 2018). "'Weird City': Sara Gilbert, Dylan O'Brien, Laverne Cox Among Guest Stars Set For Jordan Peele Sci-Fi Anthology On YouTube".
29. Wiseman, Andreas. (May 4, 2018). "Dylan O'Brien & Maika Monroe To Star In Thriller 'The Education Of Fredrick Fitzell'".
30. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (March 22, 2019). "Ariana Greenblatt Joins Dylan O'Brien In Paramount Players' 'Monster Problems'".
31. (February 23, 2021). "Mark Rylance, Dylan O'Brien, Zoey Deutch & Johnny Flynn To Star In ''Imitation Game'' Scribe Graham Moore's ''The Outfit''; Focus Pre-Buys World Rights From FilmNation". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
32. (April 9, 2021). "Simon Russell Beale & Nikki Amuka-Bird Join Mark Rylance Crime-Drama ''The Outfit''". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
33. (August 2, 2021). "Dylan O'Brien Joins Zoey Deutch in Searchlight Satire 'Not Okay' (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
34. (August 18, 2021). "Dylan O'Brien & Eliza Scanlen In Talks To Star In 'Vanishings' from Producer M. Night Shyamalan (EXCLUSIVE)". Discussing Film.
35. Kroll, Justin. (October 4, 2021). "M. Night Shyamalan's Blinding Edge Pictures To Produce 'Vanishings At Caddo Lake' From Directing Duo Celine Held And Logan George".
36. (October 13, 2021). "Larry David Returns to Hating People in ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' Season 11 Trailer". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
37. (November 12, 2021). "Taylor Swift - All Too Well: The Short Film".
38. Huff, Lauren. (October 21, 2022). "Dylan O'Brien, Zoë Kravitz, and more make surprise appearances on Taylor Swift's 'Midnights'".
39. Perine, Aaron. (January 22, 2026). "Send Help's World Premiere Lights Up Los Angeles with Stars".
40. Perine, Aaron. (January 22, 2026). "Send Help's World Premiere Lights Up Los Angeles with Stars".
41. (October 27, 2011). "Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge". Funny or Die.
42. (February 23, 2023). "Ike Barinholtz, Dylan O'Brien Political Mockumentary 'Maximum Truth' Lands at Momentum Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
43. (December 1, 2022). "''Ponyboi'' First Look: Dylan O'Brien and Victoria Pedretti Lead Queer Sex Worker Drama". [[IndieWire]].
44. (January 30, 2024). "''SNL 1975'' Finds Its Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase And John Belushi".
45. Shyamalan, M. Night. (October 4, 2021). "Today, the shooting begins on "The Vanishings at Caddo Lake".".
46. Kroll, Justin. (October 4, 2021). "M. Night Shyamalan's Blinding Edge Pictures To Produce ''Vanishings At Caddo Lake'' From Directing Duo Celine Held And Logan George".
47. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (February 15, 2024). "Dylan O'Brien Sets ''Twinless'' With James Sweeney Directing & Starring; Republic Pictures Takes Global On Three Point Capital & David Permut Production".
48. Grobar, Matt. (2025-06-12). "Dylan O’Brien Latest To Join Apple’s ‘Being Heumann’".
49. "First Dates with Toby Harris". Vimeo Pro.
50. (January 19, 2020). "'Amazing Stories': Apple Unveils First Look Photo & Premiere Date For Steven Spielberg's Anthology Series – TCA". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
51. (March 16, 2023). "''The Other Two'' Is Taking 'Big Swings' in Season 3". [[Vanity Fair (magazine).
52. (May 23, 2024). "Fantasmas Official Trailer". [[YouTube]].
53. (July 21, 2014). "Dylan O'Brien Brings 'The Maze Runner' to the Giffoni Film Festival". Shine on Media.
54. (April 29, 2025). "'The Pitt,' 'The Studio' and 'Adolescence' Lead Gotham TV Awards Nominations". [[Variety (magazine).
55. "Prix Internacional Masculin".
56. "MTV Movie Awards". [[MTV]].
57. "Best New Film Actor 2014". [[Logo TV]].
58. Chitwood, Adam. (January 31, 2025). "Sundance 2025 Awards: 'Atropia' and 'Seeds' Take Jury Prizes, Dylan O'Brien-Led 'Twinless' Wins Audience Award".
59. "Teen Choice 2014". [[Fox Broadcasting Company]].
60. "Teen Choice 2015 Wave 1 Nominees". Fox Broadcasting Network.
61. "Teen Choice 2015 Wave 2 Nominees". Fox Broadcasting Network.
62. "Teen Choice 2016 Wave 3 Nominees". Fox Broadcasting Network.
63. "Teen Choice 2016 Wave 1 Nominees". Fox Broadcasting Network.
64. "Teen Choice 2016 Wave 2 Nominees". Fox Broadcasting Network.
65. "Teen Choice Awards 2017 winners list".
66. "Teen Choice Awards 2018: See the full list of winners".
67. Earl, William. (2024-01-11). "Variety and the Golden Globe Awards Announce Party at Sundance Film Festival".
68. (August 2, 2013). "'Teen Wolf' Cast Wins Best Ensemble at 2013 Young Hollywood Awards". Shine on Media.
69. Thompson, Avery. (July 28, 2014). "Young Hollywood Awards Winners 2014 – Full List: Justin Bieber & More".