Skylar Astin
Born: September 23, 1987
Age: 37
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Skylar Astin Lipstein (born September 23, 1987), known professionally as Skylar Astin, is an American actor and singer. He is best known for playing Jesse Swanson in the musical films Pitch Perfect (2012) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). He was also in the original cast of the award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening and has appeared in films such as Hamlet 2 (2008), Taking Woodstock (2009), Cavemen (2013), and 21 & Over (2013).
Early life
Astin was born in New York City, to Meryl and Barry Lipstein. His father is a garment industry executive. He grew up in Rockland County, New York. He has a sister, Brielle, and two brothers, Milan and Jace. Astin is Jewish. Having graduated from Clarkstown High School North, he attended Stagedoor Manor performing arts summer camp. He was also a student at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but he took a leave of absence when cast in Spring Awakening. When he was 15, his agent selected his middle name, Astin, as his stage name.
Career
Astin's first professional role was a minor role in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway casts Spring Awakening as Georg, a male student with a crush on his piano teacher. He had short solos in multiple songs, but the character is most remembered for his belting in the song Touch Me. During his run as Georg, Astin filmed the role Rand Posin in the movie Hamlet 2. He sang "Raped in the Face" on the soundtrack with Phoebe Strole, a Spring Awakening cast mate, and his co-star in the film, and the film's star, Steve Coogan. Screenings of the film at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival led to Astin signing on with United Talent Agency.
Astin joined the cast of the 2009 Adam Carolla sitcom Ace in the Hole on CBS. However, the show was not picked up by the network.
In 2010, Astin took on the role of Mark Cohen in a production of Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris, at the Hollywood Bowl. The cast included Aaron Tveit and Vanessa Hudgens. Also in 2010, he joined the cast of the Jere Burns sitcom Strange Brew on Fox, which like Ace in the Hole was not picked up.
Astin guest-starred as Ben in the July 2011 episode of Love Bites titled "Boys to Men" and, as Matt Kornstein, in the May 2012 episode of Girls entitled "Hannah's Diary". He also played a patient on House, Season 8, Episode 21, May 2012.
In 2012, Astin found his breakthrough starring in the comedy film Pitch Perfect (2012), as Jesse Swanson, and reprised the role in the 2015 sequel Pitch Perfect 2. Astin also started in the comedy film 21 and Over (2013) as Casey.
Astin also starred in the TBS sitcom Ground Floor as Brody Moyer, a young ambitious money manager who falls for a girl on the ground floor. He will also lead an upcoming NBA comedy on ABC.
Personal life
As of January 2016, Astin is engaged to his Pitch Perfect co-star Anna Camp, whom he started dating in July 2013.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Hamlet 2 | Rand Posin | |
2009 | Taking Woodstock | John P. Roberts | |
2012 | Love Written in Blood | Henderson | |
2012 | Pitch Perfect | Jesse Swanson | Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor Comedy Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock |
2012 | Wreck-It Ralph | Roy | Voice; BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film |
2013 | 21 & Over | Casey | |
2014 | Cavemen | Dean | |
2014 | The Oven | Owen Miller | Short film |
2015 | Pitch Perfect 2 | Jesse Swanson | Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor Comedy |
2016 | Monkey Up | Monty | Voice; Completed |
2016 | Flock of Dudes | David | Completed |
2016 | Speech & Debate | Walter Healy | Post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Ace in the Hole | Tod Morella | Unsold pilot |
2010 | Strange Brew | Kyle | Unsold pilot |
2011 | Love Bites | Ben | Episode: "Boys to Men" |
2012 | Girls | Matt Kornstein | Episode: "Hannah's Diary" |
2012 | House | Derrick | Episode: "Holding On" |
2013-2015 | Ground Floor | Brody Moyer | Lead Role; 20 episodes |
2014 | Glee | Jean Baptiste | Episode: "City of Angels" |
2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Himself | Episode: "Skylar Astin Wears Blue Jeans and Weathered Brown Desert Boots" |
2016 | Graves | Isaiah Miller | Series Regular; Filming |
Web
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | The Online Gamer | Mikey | 3 episodes |
Theater
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006-2008 | Spring Awakening | Georg | Broadway |
2010 | Rent | Mark Cohen | Hollywood Bowl |
2016 | West Side Story | Tony | Carnegie Hall |