Glen Powell Bio
Glen Thomas Powell Jr. (born October 21, 1988) is an American actor. He began his career with small roles on television and in films including Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and Fast Food Nation (2006). Powell gained popularity with his role in the action film Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and the romantic comedy Anyone but You (2023). He has also appeared in various other films and television shows throughout his career, establishing himself as a rising star in Hollywood.
Early Life and Background
Glen Thomas Powell Jr. was raised in Austin, Texas, along with two sisters. He is the son of Glen Powell Sr., an executive coach, and Cyndy Powell, a homemaker. His father’s surname is originally Chutsky; he has Polish and Lipka Tatar ancestry. Powell graduated from Westwood High School in Austin, Texas in 2007, where he played football and lacrosse. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for one year, calling it “the greatest year of [his] entire life,” but dropped out and did not finish his degree. As of November 2025, he is enrolled in UT’s Radio-Television-Film program, taking classes over Zoom.
Path to Hollywood
Glen Powell’s acting career began while working with Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. In 2007, before his first year of college, Powell landed a role in The Great Debaters, directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Washington introduced him to agent Ed Limato, who encouraged Powell to move to Los Angeles. After moving to the city, Powell stayed with a family friend and struggled to get roles, including failed auditions for Friday Night Lights, Cowboys & Aliens, and The Longest Ride. However, he found some success with small credits in television series, including Into the West, Jack & Bobby, CSI: Miami, NCIS, Without a Trace, Rizzoli & Isles, and The Lying Game.
Glen Powell Career
Early Career (2003–2017)
Powell began receiving larger roles in feature films around 2014. He played a hacker in The Expendables 3, an action movie that starred several well-known actors and reunited Powell with Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas. He later had a main role in the first season of the television show Scream Queens and a recurring role in the second season. In March 2016, he co-starred as Finnegan in Everybody Wants Some!!, Richard Linklater’s spiritual sequel to Dazed & Confused. Later that year, Powell played astronaut John Glenn in the biographical drama Hidden Figures. In 2017, he had a minor role as Sergeant Dylan Chutsky in the Netflix film Sand Castle.
Breakthrough (2018–present)
In 2018, Powell starred opposite Zoey Deutch in the romantic comedy Set It Up, released on Netflix. After its release, Powell started receiving more calls from contacts in the film industry. Later that year, he joined the cast of Top Gun: Maverick. Initially auditioning for the role of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, he was offered the role of Jake “Hangman” Seresin instead. The film was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it became a breakout role for Powell upon its release in May 2022. Powell next worked as a voice actor in the animated film Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood, which premiered in March 2022. He then played naval officer Tom Hudner in the biographical war film, Devotion, which he executive produced. The film received positive reviews but was a box-office bomb. He starred opposite Sydney Sweeney in the romantic comedy Anyone but You, which emerged as a sleeper hit, grossing $220 million worldwide. Powell produced and co-wrote the script of the romantic black comedy Hit Man with director Richard Linklater. His performance in it earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Notable Works and Milestones
Glen Powell’s signature work includes Top Gun: Maverick, which solidified his status as a leading man in Hollywood. His performance in Hit Man has been critically acclaimed, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Glen Powell Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Glen Powell has received notable nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his role in Hit Man.
Glen Powell Awards Won
Glen Powell has not yet won any major awards but continues to build his reputation in the industry with each project.
Glen Powell Family
Glen Powell is the son of Glen Powell Sr. and Cyndy Powell. He has two sisters and was raised in a supportive family environment that encouraged his artistic pursuits.
Personal Life
Glen Powell is a licensed pilot, and his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Tom Cruise paid for him to attend flight school. He has declared himself a superfan of the Texas Longhorns. In 2024, he relocated from Los Angeles back to his hometown of Austin, Texas. He was in a relationship with Gigi Paris from 2020 to 2023, which ended due to differences in priorities, with Powell focusing on his career.
