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Finn Wolfhard
Finn Wolfhard by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Wolfhard at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (2002-12-23) December 23, 2002 (age 21)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • musician
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active 2013–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • bass
Years active 2017–present
Labels
  • AWAL
  • Royal Mountain
  • paradYse
  • Transgressive

Finn Wolfhard (born December 23, 2002) is a Canadian actor and musician. He is known for playing Mike Wheeler on the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–present). He also played the roles of Richie Tozier in the horror film It (2017) and its sequel It Chapter Two (2019), and has starred in the supernatural film Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). Wolfhard has since made his directorial debut with the comedy short film Night Shifts (2020).

As a musician, Wolfhard was the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Calpurnia, and is a member of The Aubreys since 2020.

Early life

Finn Wolfhard was born on 23 December 2002, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to a family of French, German, and Jewish descent. He attended Catholic school. His father, Eric Wolfhard, is a researcher on aboriginal land claims. He has an older brother, actor Nick Wolfhard.

Career

Wolfhard got his first acting job from Craigslist. In 2014, he made his acting and television debut as Zoran in the second season of the post-apocalyptic science fiction series The 100. The following year, he appeared as Jordie Pinsky in the series Supernatural.

In 2016, Wolfhard began portraying Mike Wheeler in the Netflix series Stranger Things. He auditioned for the role via video after seeing an open casting call. Wolfhard, along with his castmates, won a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He and co-stars Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin competed against one another in a 2017 episode of Spike's Lip Sync Battle.

Goldfinch 18 (48810223972) (cropped)
Wolfhard at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival

In July 2017, Wolfhard co-directed his first music video with Josh Ovalle for the band Spendtime Palace's song "Sonora". Wolfhard made his feature film debut playing Richie Tozier in the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King's It. The casting of Wolfhard in both Stranger Things and It, both set in the '80s, had been a coincidence. According to Wolfhard, he had been initially cast as Richie when Cary Fukunaga was attached as director and co-writer, but when Fukunaga left the project over creative differences, the role fell through which allowed him to pursue Stranger Things. Once Andy Muschietti became attached to It, Wolfhard had to re-audition for the role of Richie. In October 2017, Wolfhard parted ways with his former agency, APA. In January 2018, Wolfhard signed with talent agency, CAA. He played Tyler, an altruistic and thoughtful pizza delivery boy, in the 2018 Ken Marino-directed ensemble comedy film, Dog Days.

In January 2019, Wolfhard starred in the Netflix animated series Carmen Sandiego as "Player", the title character's chief accomplice and friend. In May, he made his modeling debut in Saint Laurent's Fall/Winter '19 campaign. He reprised his role as young Richie in flashbacks for the sequel It Chapter Two (2019), and co-starred in The Goldfinch (2019), the John Crowley-directed adaptation of Donna Tartt's novel, playing Young Boris Pavlikovsky, a Ukrainian student and troublemaker. Wolfhard had not been Crowley's first choice as he wanted to cast an authentic Russian actor for Boris, but Wolfhard's near perfect Russian accent in his audition helped him get the role. Wolfhard also provided the voice of Pugsley Addams in an animated remake of The Addams Family. From 2017 to 2019, he was listed in Variety’s Hollywood Youth Impact Report. In 2018 and 2019, The Hollywood Reporter named him as one of the top 30 stars under age 18.

In January 2020, Wolfhard portrayed Miles in the supernatural horror film The Turning, an adaptation of Henry James' novella The Turn of the Screw, and co-starred in the anthology film Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia (2020). Wolfhard then starred in the Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux–directed short film, Rules for Werewolves (2020), based on playwright and novelist Kirk Lynn's adapted screenplay from his debut novel, which is set to become a feature-length film with Wolfhard attached to star. He lent his voice to two Adult Swim productions: the animated special, Smiling Friends and the animated series JJ Villard's Fairy Tales as Boypunzel, a gender-swapped version of Rapunzel. Wolfhard joined the Jason Reitman–directed comedy miniseries Home Movie: The Princess Bride, which raised money for World Central Kitchen, and performed a live reading of The Princess Bride's script, as the Grandson, for a Democratic Party of Wisconsin charity event in September 2020.

At the age of 17, Wolfhard made his directorial debut with the comedy short film, Night Shifts (2020). He released the film on YouTube the following year. Wolfhard co-starred in the Audible Original, When You Finish Saving the World (2020), written by Jesse Eisenberg. He narrates Ziggy Katz, a 15-year-old boy recording audio sessions to a futuristic bot therapist. The audiobook was adapted by Eisenberg into the comedy-drama film When You Finish Saving the World (2022), with Julianne Moore and Wolfhard starring as mother and son. In July 2020, it was announced that Wolfhard and his brother, Nick Wolfhard, would be headlining the voice cast of sci-fi animated series NEW-GEN, playing twin brothers. Wolfhard was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2020 in the field of Hollywood and entertainment.

Wolfhard co-starred with Carrie Coon in Jason Reitman's Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), playing the son of Coon's single mother. He was cast alongside Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, and Helena Zengel in A24's fantasy epic The Legend of Ochi, directed by Isaiah Saxon. In November 2021, he announced that he is working on directing a feature-length film, Hell of a Summer. Wolfhard also joined Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion animated musical film Pinocchio (2022).

In 2023, Wolfhard and his friend and frequent collaborator Billy Bryk released the theatrical feature film Hell of a Summer, which they co-directed, co-wrote and co-starred in. The film debuted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was named second runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness.

Music

Wolfhard was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for Vancouver-based rock band Calpurnia, until the band dissolved in November 2019. A few weeks later, it was announced that Wolfhard's new band, The Aubreys, with Calpurnia drummer Malcolm Craig, would debut on the soundtrack of his film, The Turning (2020). The Aubreys released their single, "Loved One" on March 10, 2020, and their debut EP, Soda & Pie, through AWAL, on March 13, 2020. Their next single, "Smoke Bomb" was released on August 17, 2020. The Aubreys' first collaboration single with Lunar Vacation, "No Offerings" was released on January 12, 2021. Their second single of 2021, "Sand in My Bed" was released on February 14.

The Aubreys released their single "Karaoke Alone" on September 10, 2021 from the group's debut studio LP, Karaoke Alone, which was released on November 5, 2021.

Advocacy

Wolfhard has been involved in advocacy for autism and indigenous children.

In May 2017, Wolfhard hosted "Strange 80s," a benefit concert to raise funds for Sweet Relief, an organization that helps struggling musicians in need of medical care. He also performed three tracks with his former band Calpurnia at the event. For his work with Sweet Relief, he received an award at the 2017 Television Industry Advocacy Awards.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2017 It Richie Tozier
2018 Dog Days Tyler
Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness Herbert West (voice)
2019 It Chapter Two Young Richie Tozier
The Goldfinch Young Boris Pavlikovsky
The Addams Family Pugsley Addams (voice)
2020 The Turning Miles Fairchild
Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia
Night Shifts N/A Short film; also writer and director
2021 How It Ends Ezra Cameo
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trevor Spengler
2022 When You Finish Saving the World Ziggy
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Candlewick (voice)
2023 Hell of a Summer Chris Co-writer, co-director and producer
2024 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Not yet released Trevor Spengler Filming
TBA The Legend of Ochi Not yet released Post-production
Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 The 100 Zoran Episode: "Many Happy Returns"
2015 Supernatural Jordie Pinsky Episode: "Thin Lizzie"
2016–present Stranger Things Mike Wheeler Main cast
2017 Young Math Legends Young Gauss Animated shorts by Flatland on VHX
Lip Sync Battle Himself Episode: "The Cast of Stranger Things"
2019–2021 Carmen Sandiego Player (voice) Main cast
Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal Player (voice) Interactive TV Special
2020 Smiling Friends Man Living in Wall / Bliblie (voice) Pilot: "Desmond's Big Day Out"
JJ Villard's Fairy Tales Boypunzel / Manpunzel (voice) Episode: "Boypunzel"
Home Movie: The Princess Bride Inigo Montoya Episode: "Chapter Four: Battle Of The Wits"
2021 Duncanville Jeremy/Norman (voice) Episode: "Das Banana Boot"
2023 Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Teen Scott Pilgrim (voice) Episode: "Ramona Rents a Video"
TBA NEW-GEN Not yet released TBA (voice) Main cast
Key
Television series that have not yet been released Denotes television series that have not yet been released

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Guest Grumps Himself 2 episodes
SuperMega Himself Episode: "Cooking with Finn Wolfhard"
2018 Ten Minute Power Hour Himself Episode: "Yeti in my Spaghetti (ft. Finn Wolfhard & Jacksepticeye)"
2019 Brawl with the Stars Himself Episode: "Brawl with the Stars (feat. Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin)"
2020 HeadGum Himself Episode: "Off Days: Games (w/Finn Wolfhard!)"

Music videos

Year Artist Title Notes
2012 Facts "Retro Oceans"
2013 Hey Ocean! "Change"
2014 PUP "Guilt Trip" as Young Stefan Babcock
2016 "Sleep In the Heat"
2017 Spendtime Palace "Sonora" Also co-director
2019 Weezer "Take On Me" as Young Rivers Cuomo (with Calpurnia)
Mike Tompkins "The Addams Family Snap-Along" as himself (and Pugsley Addams)
2020 The Aubreys "Getting Better (Otherwise)" as Miles Fairchild and himself (with The Aubreys)
"Loved One" as himself (with The Aubreys)
"Smoke Bomb"

Podcasts

Year Title Role Notes Refs
2020 SModcast Himself Episode: "426: The Stranger Thing About Finn"
Review Revue Trampoline Parks (w/ Finn Wolfhard!)
Elara Radio 25_25 Himself (co-host) 25_25 with Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk Ep 001
If I Were You Himself Telling Time (w/Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk!)
Lackluster Video Himself (co-host) 10 Episodes
Review Revue Himself Mall Santas (w/ Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk!)
2021 The Headgum Podcast Bombard Wolfhard (w/ Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk!)
2022 The A24 Podcast Strange Adolescence with Sadie Sink & Finn Wolfhard

Audiobooks

Year Title Role Author Notes Refs
2020 When You Finish Saving the World Ziggy Katz Jesse Eisenberg An Audible Original

Discography

Albums

With the Aubreys

Title Details
Karaoke Alone Release: 5 November 2021
  • Label: AWAL (US/CA/UK/EU)
Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

With the Aubreys

Title Details
Soda & Pie Release: 13 March 2020
  • Label: AWAL (US/CA/UK/EU)
Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

With the Aubreys

  • "Getting Better (Otherwise)" (2020)
  • "Loved One" (2020)
  • "Smoke Bomb" (2020)
  • "No Offerings" (2021) with Lunar Vacation
  • "Sand in My Bed" (2021)
  • "Karoke Alone" (2021)

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Digital TV Series or Film – Teen Actor Stranger Things Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Kiss (with Millie Bobby Brown) Nominated
Best On-Screen Team (with Sophia Lillis, Jaeden Lieberher, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Chosen Jacobs) It Won
Best On-Screen Team (with Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink) Stranger Things Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor Nominated
2019 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Actor Nominated
People's Choice Awards The Male TV Star of 2019 Nominated
2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
Atlanta Shortfest Awards Best Director Night Shifts Won
2021 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male TV Star Stranger Things Nominated
2022 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film Ghostbusters: Afterlife Won
2023 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male TV Star (Family) Stranger Things Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Finn Wolfhard para niños

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