Colin O'Brien | |
|---|---|
 O'Brien in 2024 | |
| Born | Colin Delaine O'Brien 2008[ citation needed ] The Woodlands, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019–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.
Colin 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] O'Brien's career began to accelerate when he was cast as a young Timothée Chalamet in Wonka , [2] where he played Willy Wonka as a child, alongside Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Wonka. O'Brien's next big role had him acting with Donald Sutherland, in Mr. Harrigan's Phone , where O'Brien played a younger version of Jaeden Martell's character Craig Poole. [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 O'Brien, "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 James' character Hal Shelburn's son Petey Shelburn in the 2025 film The Monkey, written and directed by Osgood Perkins. [8]
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, "[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]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Mothership | Martin | |
| Under the Sun | Antonio | Short film [16] | |
| 2022 | Mr. Harrigan's Phone | Young Craig Poole | |
| 2023 | Wonka | Young Willy Wonka | |
| 2025 | The Monkey | Petey Shelburn | Principal role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dear Edward | Edward Adler | Main role (10 episodes) |
| Grey's Anatomy | Grayson Friedman | 2 episodes | |
| S.W.A.T. | Matthew Kay | 1 episode | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sambucol:For Centuries | Egyptian Fanbearer / Renaissance Boy / Market Hawker / Butterfly Catcher | Principal role [17] |