Colin O'Brien (born October 15 2008) is an American actor. O'Brien's breakout role was as the lead character in the

Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...

television series ''Dear Edward''. His performance as Edward earned him a

Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award (originally known as the Youth in Film Award) is an accolade presented by the Young Artist Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to honor excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young ...

nomination for Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Leading Youth Artist.

Career

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 ''The Mothership'' is an unreleased American science fiction adventure film written and directed by Matthew Charman. The film stars Halle Berry, Molly Parker, and Omari Hardwick. Premise One year after her husband mysteriously vanishes from t ...

'', starring

Halle Berry Halle Maria Berry ( ; born Maria Halle Berry; August 14, 1966) is an American actress. She began her career as a model and entered several beauty contests, finishing as the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant of 1986 and also placing six ...

. O'Brien's career began to accelerate when he was cast as a young

Timothée Chalamet Timothée Hal Chalamet ( ; born December 27, 1995) is an American and French actor. List of awards and nominations received by Timothée Chalamet, His accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to ...

in '' Wonka'', where he played

Willy Wonka Willy Wonka is a fictional character appearing in British author Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' and its 1972 sequel '' Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator''. He is the eccentric founder and proprieto ...

as a child, alongside

Sally Hawkins Sally Cecilia Hawkins (born 27 April 1976) is an English actress of stage and screen. She began her career on stage and then moved into film, for which she has received several accolades including a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominatio ...

as Mrs. Wonka. O'Brien's next big role had him acting with

Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland (17 July 1935 – 20 June 2024) was a Canadian actor. With a career spanning six decades, he received List of awards and nominations received by Donald Sutherland, numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award ...

, in '' Mr. Harrigan's Phone'', where O'Brien played a younger version of

Jaeden Martell Jaeden Martell ( né Lieberher; born January 4, 2003) is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor, with roles in the comedy drama '' St. Vincent'' (2014) and science fiction film '' Midnight Special'' (2016). His performance in ''S ...

's character Craig Poole. O'Brien then landed his first starring role, as Edward Adler in the

series, '' Dear Edward'', also starring

Connie Britton Connie Britton (born Constance Elaine Womack; March 6, 1967) is an American actress. Her accolades include nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. She gained prominence for her roles in the television series ''S ...

and

Taylor Schilling Taylor Schilling (born July 27, 1984) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Piper Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019), for which she received a nomination for the Pr ...

. The series' creator, writer, and executive producer,

Jason Katims Jason Katims (born November 30, 1960) is an American television writer, producer, and playwright. He is best known as the creator of several television series, including '' Relativity'' (1996), '' Roswell'' (1999–2002), '' Friday Night Lights' ...

, said of O'Brien, "Finding Colin was just the key to everything ... It was like when I worked with ...

Claire Danes Claire Catherine Danes (born April 12, 1979) is an American actress. Prolific in film and television since her teens, she is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2012, ''Time (magazine), Time'' named he ...

... cause she had such maturity from a very early age as an actress. I felt similarly with Colin." O'Brien began his work on network TV by guest starring as Matthew Kay, the son of Deacon Kay (played by

Jay Harrington James H. Harrington III, professionally known as Jay Harrington, (born November 15, 1971) is an American actor and director. He is known for his role as the title character in the ABC sitcom '' Better Off Ted'' in 2009–2010, and from 2017 to 2 ...

), in the 2017 series of ''S.W.A.T.'' He also guest starred in a double episode of ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...

'', as Grayson Friedman. His most recent role has him starring alongside

Theo James Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (born 16 December 1984) is an English actor. He gained recognition for playing Tobias Eaton in '' The Divergent Series'' film trilogy (2014–2016). He has starred in the horror films '' Underworld: Awak ...

, playing James' character Hal Shelburn's son Petey Shelburn in the 2025 film ''The Monkey'', written and directed by

Osgood Perkins James Ridley Osgood Perkins (May 16, 1892 – September 21, 1937) was an American actor. Life and career Perkins was born in West Newton, Massachusetts, son of Henry Phelps Perkins Jr., and his wife, Helen Virginia (née Anthony). His maternal ...

Critical reception

O'Brien's performance in ''Dear Edward'' earned him numerous plaudits from critics and a

nomination for Best Performance in a Streaming Series: Leading Youth Artist. ''Time'' magazine described O'Brien as a "luminous newcomer".

Richard Roeper Richard E. Roeper (born October 17, 1959) is an American writer. He is a former columnist and film critic for the '' Chicago Sun-Times'', where he wrote for 39 years dating back to 1986 until his departure in 2025. He co-hosted the television s ...

of Ebert and Roeper stated, "Young Colin O'Brien is tasked with doing some heavy lifting as Edward, and he does fine work." ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' declared, "O'Brien is thoroughly committed to Edward's grief ... making his bursts or even glimpses of emotion radiate." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' magazine noted, "O'Brien renders well the character's humanity, his confusion, his guilt and desire for a moment's break from pain." 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." The ''Boston Globe'' stated, " Edward, young Colin O'Brien is easy to feel for, never working to stir our compassion or pity. He's a natural."

Filmography

Film

Television

Commercials

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:OBrien, Colin American film actors American television actors 2008 births Living people