Jaeden Martell
Born on Sat, January 4, 2003
Jaeden Martell, an American actor born on January 4, 2003, first captured audience's attention with his performance as Bill Denbrough in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's "It." He later reprised this role in the 2019 sequel, "It Chapter Two," further cementing his place in the horror genre. Beyond the "It" franchise, Martell has taken on diverse roles in acclaimed projects like the mystery film "Knives Out" (2019) and the miniseries "Defending Jacob" (2020), highlighting his versatility as a performer.
Martell's background is a blend of cultures. He is the son of Wes Lieberher, an executive chef based in Los Angeles, and Angela Teresa Martell. Notably, he has Korean heritage through his maternal grandmother, Chisun Martell. Initially raised in South Philadelphia, Martell made the move to Los Angeles at the age of eight in 2011, a pivotal decision that undoubtedly influenced his burgeoning acting career. Interestingly, he was initially credited under his father's last name, Lieberher, before switching to his mother's maiden name, Martell, in 2019.
The beginnings of Martell's acting journey can be traced back to commercial work. He appeared in an advertisement for Hot Wheels, which led to opportunities to feature in commercials for well-known brands such as Google, Moneysupermarket.com, Liberty Mutual, Hyundai (for the 2013 Super Bowl), Verizon Fios, and General Electric. His first significant break in film came with the role in "St. Vincent" (2014), where he shared the screen with the legendary Bill Murray.
Murray played a crucial role in furthering Martell's career, recommending him to director Cameron Crowe. This recommendation secured Martell a part in the 2015 film "Aloha." In 2017, he took on the titular role in "The Book of Henry," demonstrating his range and solidifying his position as a rising talent in the industry. These early experiences provided him with invaluable exposure and helped shape his development as an actor.
Expanding his resume, Martell joined the cast of the Apple miniseries "Defending Jacob" (2020), an adaptation of William Landay's novel. He also mentioned his involvement in a film called "Tunnels" as Grayson Mitchell during an interview in 2020. In September 2021, he lent his voice to promotional segments for the season finale of "Rick and Morty," portraying Morty Smith. The following month, he was cast in the Netflix film "Men" (2022), directed by John Lee Hancock and based on the Stephen King novella from "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" (2022).
Most recently, in 2024, Jaeden Martell continued to add to his filmography with appearances in "Y2K" and "Arcadian." These latest projects demonstrate his dedication to portraying complex characters. His consistent work in both independent films and major studio productions has firmly established him as a promising actor for his generation, showcasing his potential to continue making significant contributions to the world of cinema.
Arcadian
as Joseph
St. Vincent
as Oliver Bronstein
Aloha
as Mitchell Woodside
The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends
as Self
Metal Lords
as Kevin Schlieb
Y2K
as Eli
Playing It Cool
as 6 Year Old Me
The Book of Henry
as Henry Carpenter
Midnight Special
as Alton Meyer