Julian Hilliard Bio
Julian Hilliard is an American actor, born on 1 January 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Best known for his roles in television and film, he first drew attention with The Haunting of Hill House in 2018 and later became a familiar face in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He portrayed Billy Maximoff in the Disney+ series WandaVision in 2021 and reprised the role in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Despite his young age, Hilliard has built a steady on-screen presence across streaming, network, and theatrical projects.
Born into a family with strong ties to the entertainment industry, Hilliard began acting as a child and quickly earned recognition for his work in genre television and film. His performances in horror and superhero projects have introduced him to a wide international audience, and he continues to be associated with several major franchise productions.
Early Life and Background
Julian Hilliard was born on 1 January 2011 in Dallas, Texas, United States. He grew up in a creative household, with his mother, Arianne Martin, working as an actress and his father, Justin D. Hilliard, working as a director, writer, and producer. This environment provided him with early exposure to film sets, performers, and the storytelling process, shaping his interest in acting from a young age.
As a native Texan, Hilliard spent his early childhood in Dallas before eventually taking on projects in the wider American entertainment industry. The combination of family support and proximity to a vibrant regional culture contributed to his comfort in front of the camera, setting the foundation for his future career.
Path to Acting
Hilliard’s entry into professional acting came through auditions for television productions, a path that many young performers in the United States follow. With guidance from his parents, both of whom had direct experience in the entertainment industry, he navigated his earliest roles with the help of family insight into the business.
His first widely recognized project was the 2018 Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House, created by Mike Flanagan. Cast as Young Luke Crain, Hilliard was part of an ensemble that blended family drama with supernatural horror, and the series offered him a platform to demonstrate his range at a young age. The experience introduced him to long-form television production and established a working relationship that would shape his early career trajectory.
Julian Hilliard Career
Early Career (2018)
Hilliard’s screen debut of note came with The Haunting of Hill House in 2018, where he played the younger version of Luke Crain. The Netflix series, created by Mike Flanagan, follows a family haunted by events from their past, and Hilliard’s performance as the young version of one of the central siblings contributed to the show’s emotional depth. The role placed him alongside a notable ensemble cast in a production that received widespread critical attention.
For his work on The Haunting of Hill House, Hilliard earned a 2019 Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a Streaming Series or Film: Young Actor. The series itself was also recognized with an OFTA Television Award nomination for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series that same year, reflecting the strength of its collective cast.
Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In 2021, Hilliard joined the Marvel Studios lineup with a role in the Disney+ miniseries WandaVision. He played Billy Maximoff, the son of Wanda Maximoff, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, and the Vision, portrayed by Paul Bettany. Billy is the twin brother of Tommy Maximoff, played by Jett Klyne. The series was set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and marked a significant step in Hilliard’s career, introducing his work to a global superhero audience.
Hilliard reprised the role of Billy Maximoff in the 2022 theatrical release Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, further embedding his character within the Marvel franchise. The film brought his performance to a wider cinematic audience and underscored his continued involvement in large-scale productions.
That same year, in 2021, Hilliard also appeared in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, the third installment in The Conjuring franchise. In the film, he portrayed David Glatzel, a young boy at the center of a supernatural investigation led by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The role added another major franchise credit to his growing filmography.
Notable Works and Milestones
Across The Haunting of Hill House, WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Hilliard has built a filmography anchored by genre storytelling and large ensemble casts. His Young Artist Award nomination and his inclusion in multiple award-recognized productions highlight his standing among young performers working in American television and film.
Julian Hilliard Award Nominations
Julian Hilliard has received recognition from youth-focused and ensemble award bodies early in his career. His most prominent nomination came from the Young Artist Awards in 2019 for his performance in The Haunting of Hill House, acknowledging his work as a young actor in a streaming production. Additional nominations tied to his projects have come from the Online Film and Television Association, reflecting the broader ensemble work associated with his early television appearances.
Julian Hilliard Awards Won
Julian Hilliard has earned industry recognition through nominations for his work in genre television and film. As of the most recent verified information, no major individual award wins have been recorded; his accolades remain primarily in the form of nominations tied to The Haunting of Hill House and associated ensemble honors.
Julian Hilliard Family
Julian Hilliard is the son of actress Arianne Martin and director, writer, and producer Justin D. Hilliard. His parents’ careers in the entertainment industry have provided him with direct exposure to acting, filmmaking, and production, and they have been a steady presence throughout his work as a young performer. Their combined experience in front of and behind the camera has shaped his early professional life.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Julian Hilliard continues to balance his education and personal life with his acting career. As a young performer, he keeps much of his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional work. His early involvement in major television and film productions suggests a continued commitment to building a long-term career in entertainment.