Colin O'Brien (actor)

Last updated

Colin O'Brien
Colin O'Brien Profile Vancouver Island.jpeg
O'Brien in 2024
Born
Colin Delaine O'Brien

2008
OccupationActor
Years active2019–present

Colin O'Brien (born 2008) is an American actor. O'Brien's breakout role was as the lead character, Edward Adler, in the Jason Katims 2023 series, Dear Edward, on Apple TV+. His performance as Edward earned him a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Leading Youth Artist.

Contents

Career

O'Brien started performing at the age of five in musical theater. In 2021, he landed his first role in a major production, The Mothership, starring Halle Berry. [1] Colin's career began to accelerate when he was cast as a young Timothee Chalamet in Wonka, [2] where he played Willy Wonka as a child, alongside "Mamma," played by Sally Hawkins. Colin's next big role had him acting with Donald Sutherland, in Mr. Harrigan's Phone, where O'Brien played the young Jaeden Martell. [3]

O'Brien then landed his first starring role, as Edward Adler in the Apple TV+ series, Dear Edward, also starring Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling. [4] The series' creator, writer, and executive producer, Jason Katims, said of Colin, "Finding Colin was just the key to everything ... It was like when I worked with ... Claire Danes ...[b]ecause she had such maturity from a very early age as an actress. I felt similarly with Colin." [5]

O'Brien began his work on network TV by guest starring as Matthew Kay, the son of Deacon Kay (played by Jay Harrington), in the 2017 series of S.W.A.T. [6] He also guest starred in a double episode of Grey's Anatomy, as Grayson Friedman. [7] His next role has him starring alongside Theo James, playing Theo's son Petey in the 2025 film The Monkey, written and directed by Osgood Perkins. [8]

Critical reception

O'Brien's performance in Dear Edward earned him numerous plaudits from critics and a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Leading Youth Artist. [9]

Time magazine described O'Brien as a "luminous newcomer". [10] Richard Roeper of Ebert and Roeper stated, "Young Colin O’Brien is tasked with doing some heavy lifting as Edward, and he does fine work." [11] The Hollywood Reporter declared, "O’Brien is thoroughly committed to Edward’s grief ... making his bursts or even glimpses of emotion radiate." [12] Variety magazine noted, "O’Brien renders well the character’s humanity, his confusion, his guilt and desire for a moment’s break from pain." [13] Roger Ebert.com added its praise, "O’Brien’s wounded, withdrawn performance offers the most complete, multifaceted journey among the sprawling ensemble that surrounds him." [14] The Boston Globe stated it simply, "[A]s Edward, young Colin O’Brien is easy to feel for, never working to stir our compassion or pity. He’s a natural." [15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2025 The Monkey PeteyPrincipal Role
2023 Wonka Young Willy Wonka
2021 The Mothership Martin

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023 Dear Edward Edward AdlerStarring Role
Grey's Anatomy Grayson Friedman2 episodes
S.W.A.T. Matthew Kay1 episode

Short Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021Under the Sun [16] AntonioStarring Role
2020The Lost BoyErrolStarring Role
2019Twenty QuestionsLucasStarring Role

Commercials

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020Sambucol:For Centuries [17] Egyptian Fanbearer/Renaissance Boy/Market Hawker/Butterfly CatcherPrincipal Role

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References

  1. "Rising Stars: Colin O'Brien". themediaeye.com. November 14, 2022.
  2. D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 29, 2021). "'Wonka': Warner Bros Movie Adds Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman & Jim Carter". Deadline Hollywood .
  3. Grobar, Matt (November 23, 2021). "'Mr. Harrigan's Phone': Colin O'Brien & Cyrus Arnold Join John Lee Hancock's Netflix Film". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (February 1, 2022). "Jason Katims Series 'Dear Edward' Starring Connie Britton, Taylor Schilling & Colin O'Brien Gets Apple TV+ Order, Sets 'Friday Night Lights' Reunion". Deadline Hollywood .
  5. Campione, Katie (March 24, 2023). "'Dear Edward' Creator Jason Katims Talks Finale Episode & Plans For Potential Season 2". Deadline Hollywood .
  6. Dowling, Amber (December 10, 2022). "Jay Harrington Reveals Storyline He Fought For on 'S.W.A.T.,' Promises More Family Drama to Come". Metacritic .
  7. Eckerling, Debra (April 19, 2023). "Todd Shotz: Jewish Representation and 'Grey's Anatomy'". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles .
  8. Wiseman, Andreas (March 28, 2024). "'The Monkey': Stephen King Adaptation With Theo James Also Stars Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O'Brien, Rohan Campbell & Sarah Levy; Filming Wraps". Deadline Hollywood .
  9. "44th-45th Young Artist Awards Online Program". Young Artist Award .
  10. Berman, Judy (February 2, 2023). "Dear Edward Is TV's Weepiest Show Since This Is Us". Time .
  11. Roeper, Richard (February 3, 2023). "'Dear Edward' shows tears, laughter of those reeling from a plane crash — including the boy who survived it". Chicago Sun-Times .
  12. Fienberg, Daniel (February 2023). "Dear Edward Apple TV Series Starring Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling an Overstuffed Wallow in Misery". The Hollywood Reporter .
  13. D'Addario, Daniel (January 30, 2023). "'Dear Edward,' Adapting a Hit Novel, Can't Find Its Way Out of Grief: TV Review". Variety .
  14. Worthington, Clint (February 3, 2023). "Apple TV+'s New Weeper Dear Edward Is Hardly Good Grief". RogerEbert.com .
  15. Gilbert, Matthew (February 1, 2023). "Dear Edward Isn't Just Another Sob Story". The Boston Globe .
  16. Pope, Jessica (February 20, 2023). "A Conversation With Lucas Hicks: VSU Alumnus, Filmmaker Introduces "Under The Sun" to South Georgia Film Festival Audiences". Valdosta State University (Interview).
  17. "Humanaut Launches 'Historic' Ads for Sambucol Black Elderberry". brands.net. December 12, 2020.