Jaeden Martell Bio
Jaeden Martell (né Lieberher), born January 4, 2003, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American actor known for his work in both independent cinema and major studio productions. He began his career as a child actor in commercials before transitioning to feature films, where his early performances quickly drew critical attention. Martell first gained wide recognition for his role in the 2014 comedy drama St. Vincent, which earned him a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Performer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill Denbrough in the supernatural horror films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), two of the highest-grossing horror films of the modern era.
Early Life and Background
Jaeden Martell was born on January 4, 2003, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Wes Lieberher, a Los Angeles–based executive chef, and Angela Teresa Martell. His maternal grandmother, Chisun Martell, is Korean, giving him a multiracial heritage that has shaped his family identity. Martell spent his earliest years in South Philadelphia before his family relocated to Los Angeles when he was eight years old.
The move to Los Angeles placed Martell in the heart of the entertainment industry, opening the door to professional opportunities at a young age. His parents supported his early interest in performing, and he soon began auditioning for commercials and small screen roles. The combination of his family environment and proximity to Hollywood provided a foundation that would allow his career to develop rapidly during his childhood.
Path to Acting
Martell’s entry into acting began with commercial work. His first role was a commercial for Hot Wheels, which led to additional spots for major brands including Google, Moneysupermarket.com, Liberty Mutual, Hyundai, Verizon Fios, and General Electric. Among these early jobs, his appearance in a Hyundai commercial for the 2013 Super Bowl marked one of his first high-profile gigs and gave him valuable on-camera experience.
His transition to feature films came in 2014 when he was cast in St. Vincent, starring opposite veteran actor Bill Murray. The role introduced him to a wider audience and earned him a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Performer. Murray’s support of Martell continued after the film, and he recommended the young actor to director Cameron Crowe for the 2015 comedy drama Aloha. These early endorsements from established industry figures helped Martell secure roles in the science fiction film Midnight Special and the independent comedy The Confirmation, both released in 2016.
Jaeden Martell Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
During the first six years of his career, Martell was credited almost exclusively under his family name, Lieberher. His first major feature film role in St. Vincent (2014) established him as a promising young talent and resulted in his Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination. He followed this with roles in Cameron Crowe’s Aloha (2015) and two 2016 releases, Midnight Special and The Confirmation.
In Midnight Special, Martell played a boy with special powers who is on the run with his father from both the government and a cult. The performance demonstrated his ability to handle emotionally complex material and genre storytelling. These early roles provided a diverse range of experience that prepared him for larger productions.
Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Martell’s first film of 2017 was the thriller drama The Book of Henry, in which he played the title character. Although the film received negative reviews from critics, Martell earned positive notices for his acting. That same year, he took on the role of Bill Denbrough in the supernatural horror film It, adapted from Stephen King’s novel. The film premiered to positive critical reviews and grossed over $701 million worldwide, marking Martell’s first major commercial success and establishing him as a leading young actor in Hollywood.
He reprised his role as Bill Denbrough in the 2019 sequel It Chapter Two, which also performed strongly at the box office with over $473 million in receipts, despite mixed critical reviews. Beyond the It franchise, 2019 was a remarkably productive year for Martell. He appeared in the horror film The Lodge, the drama Low Tide, the coming-of-age fantasy The True Adventures of Wolfboy, and Rian Johnson’s murder mystery comedy Knives Out, in which he played Jacob Thrombey.
Notable Works and Milestones
Martell’s signature role remains Bill Denbrough in the It films, which together grossed more than $1.17 billion worldwide and made him a recognizable face in mainstream cinema. His performance in Knives Out further broadened his appeal, working alongside an ensemble cast in a critically acclaimed mystery. In 2019, he officially switched his professional credit from his family name, Lieberher, to his mother’s maiden name, Martell.
Jaeden Martell Award Nominations
Jaeden Martell has earned recognition from critics’ organizations for his early work as a young performer. His portrayal of a young neighbor in St. Vincent (2014) earned him a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer, marking one of his first major industry acknowledgments.
Jaeden Martell Family
Jaeden Martell was raised in a blended cultural household. His father, Wes Lieberher, works as a Los Angeles–based executive chef, while his mother is Angela Teresa Martell. His maternal grandmother, Chisun Martell, is Korean, and the family spent Martell’s earliest years in South Philadelphia before relocating to California.
Personal Life
Martell is known professionally by his mother’s maiden name, Martell, a change he made in 2019 after spending the first six years of his career credited as Lieberher. He has largely kept his personal life private, and public details about partners or children are not widely reported.
