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Dylan O'Brien
Dylan O'Brien in 2017 by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Born
Dylan Rhodes O'Brien

(1991-08-26) August 26, 1991 (age 33)
Occupation Actor
Years active 2011–present

Dylan Rhodes O'Brien (born August 26, 1991) is an American actor. His first major role was as Stiles Stilinski in the MTV supernatural series Teen Wolf (2011–2017). He achieved further prominence for his lead role in the science fiction Maze Runner trilogy (2014–2018), which led to more film appearances.

O'Brien played Deepwater Horizon explosion survivor Caleb Holloway in the disaster film Deepwater Horizon (2016), fictional counterterrorist Mitch Rapp in the action thriller American Assassin (2017), and voiced the title character in the Transformers installment Bumblebee (2018). He also played the lead role in the adventure film Love and Monsters (2020).

Early life

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. 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.

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).

Filmography

Dylan O'Brien 2014 Comic Con (cropped)
O'Brien at ComicCon, 2014

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge Charlie Brown Short film
High Road Jimmy
2012 The First Time Dave Hodgman
2013 The Internship Stuart Twombly
2014 The Maze Runner Thomas
2015 Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Thomas
2016 Deepwater Horizon Caleb Holloway
2017 American Assassin Mitch Rapp
2018 Bumblebee Bumblebee (voice)
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Thomas
2020 Flashback Fredrick Fitzell
Love and Monsters Joel Dawson
2021 Infinite Heinrich Treadway
All Too Well: The Short Film Him Short film
2022 The Outfit Richie Boyle
Not Okay Colin
2023 Maximum Truth Simon
2024 Ponyboi Vinnie
TBA Caddo Lake TBA
Anniversary TBA Post-production
SNL 1975 Dan Aykroyd Filming
Twinless TBA Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011–2017 Teen Wolf Stiles Stilinski Main role
2013 First Dates with Toby Harris Peter Web series short; episode: "Roommates"
New Girl The Guy Episode: "Virgins"
2019 Weird City Stu Maxsome Episode: "The One"
2020 Amazing Stories Sam Taylor Episode: "The Cellar"
2021 Curb Your Enthusiasm Himself Episode: "Angel Muffin"
2023 The Other Two Himself Episode: "Cary Becomes Somewhat of a Name" '
2024 Fantasmas TBA TBA '

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2013 Young Hollywood Awards Best Ensemble (shared with Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Holland Roden and Tyler Hoechlin) Teen Wolf Won
2014 Giffoni Film Festival Experience Award Honored
NewNowNext Awards Best New Film Actor The Maze Runner Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Villain Teen Wolf Won
Young Hollywood Awards Breakthrough Actor Won
2015 Melty Future Awards Prix International Masculin Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Hero The Maze Runner Won
Best Fight (shared with Will Poulter) The Maze Runner Won
Best Scared-As-S**t Performance The Maze Runner Nominated
Breakthrough Performance The Maze Runner Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure The Maze Runner Nominated
Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Thomas Brodie-Sangster) The Maze Runner Nominated
Choice TV: Scene Stealer Teen Wolf Won
2016 Teen Choice Awards Choice AnTEENcipated Movie Actor Deepwater Horizon Won
Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Won
Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Thomas Brodie-Sangster) Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Won
Choice Summer TV Actor Teen Wolf Won
2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor Teen Wolf Won
Choice TV Ship (shared with Holland Roden) Teen Wolf Nominated
2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Action Movie Actor Maze Runner: The Death Cure Nominated
Choice Movie Ship (shared with Kaya Scodelario) Maze Runner: The Death Cure Nominated
2024 Variety & Golden Globe's Breakthrough Artist Awards Breakthrough Award Ponyboi Honoree

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dylan O'Brien para niños

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