| Colin O'Brien | |
| Birth Name: | Colin Delaine O'Brien |
| Birth Date: | 2008 |
| Birth Place: | 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.
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]
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]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Monkey | Petey | Principal Role |
| 2023 | Wonka | Young Willy Wonka | |
| 2021 | The Mothership | Martin | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dear Edward | Edward Adler | Starring Role |
| Grey's Anatomy | Grayson Friedman | 2 episodes | |
| S.W.A.T. | Matthew Kay | 1 episode | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Under the Sun[16] | Antonio | Starring Role |
| 2020 | The Lost Boy | Errol | Starring Role |
| 2019 | Twenty Questions | Lucas | Starring Role |