# Colin O'Brien (actor)
**Colin O'Brien** is an American actor from Houston, Texas, known as a child and teenage performer for playing the title role in the Apple TV+ series *Dear Edward* (2023), the young [Willy Wonka](https://www.edgepedia.org/willy-wonka) in *Wonka* (2023), and Petey in the [Stephen King](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-king) adaptation *The Monkey* (2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [2](https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/02/26/colin-obrien/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Houston, Texas; youngest of two boys[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) |
| Breakout role | Edward Adler, the title character of the Apple TV+ drama *Dear Edward* (2023), his first leading role[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) |
| Signature film roles | Young Willy Wonka in *Wonka* (2023) and Petey in *The Monkey* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [2](https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/02/26/colin-obrien/) |
| Early screen work | Young Craig in *Mr. Harrigan's Phone* (2022), opposite Donald Sutherland[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) |
| Theater background | 17 theatrical productions, beginning with *The Wizard of Oz* at the Crighton Theatre in Conroe, Texas[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [3](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien) |
| Guest television credits | *S.W.A.T.* (2022), *Grey's Anatomy* (2023), *Tracker* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) |
| Representation | Signed with Luber Roklin Entertainment for management in April 2025[4](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/monkey-colin-o-brien-signs-175314078.html) |
## Early life and stage beginnings
O'Brien grew up in Houston as the younger of two boys. He has described a childhood story that got him started: at about age four he convinced his preschool class that he had a baby sister named Zoe, inventing details about her until his mother arrived to pick him up and the class asked to meet her.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [3](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien) His mother saw the episode as a sign of creativity and that summer signed both boys up for a mainstage production of *The Wizard of Oz* at the Crighton Theatre in [Conroe, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/conroe-texas), where he played a munchkin and a flying monkey; the theater was also intended to help his brother, who is on the autism spectrum.[3](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien) He went on to appear in 17 theatrical productions before moving into film and television.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [2](https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/02/26/colin-obrien/)
His turn toward screen acting came in 2019, when his mother bought his brother an on-camera acting class as a birthday present and O'Brien came along through the sibling discount. He found he preferred the quieter, more lifelike work in front of a camera, and the class instructor suggested getting headshots and joining Actors Access, after which his first projects began arriving.[3](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien)
## Television and early films
**Screen roles.** O'Brien played the young version of [Jaeden Martell](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaeden-martell)'s character, Young Craig, opposite [Donald Sutherland](https://www.edgepedia.org/donald-sutherland) in the 2022 Netflix film *Mr. Harrigan's Phone*, and made his feature film debut in Netflix's *The Mothership*, which stars [Halle Berry](https://www.edgepedia.org/halle-berry).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [2](https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/02/26/colin-obrien/) His television guest appearances include Matthew on *S.W.A.T.* in 2022, Grayson Friedman in two episodes of *Grey's Anatomy* in 2023, and Spencer Flint in a 2025 episode of *Tracker*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/)
**Dear Edward.** In his first leading role he played Edward Adler, a 12-year-old boy who is the only survivor of a commercial airline crash that kills his parents and brother and who goes to live with his aunt and uncle. The series, created by Jason Katims, premiered on Apple TV+ on February 3, 2023, and also starred [Connie Britton](https://www.edgepedia.org/connie-britton) and [Taylor Schilling](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-schilling).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [5](https://frontrowfeatures.com/news-dvd-film-music-online-streaming/dear-edward-help-colin-obrien-understand-33404.html) O'Brien said he drew on his own experience of loss, including the death of his grandfather during the pandemic, to bring authenticity to the character's grief.[5](https://frontrowfeatures.com/news-dvd-film-music-online-streaming/dear-edward-help-colin-obrien-understand-33404.html)
## Wonka and The Monkey
In *[Wonka](https://www.edgepedia.org/wonka-film)* (2023), Warner Bros.' origin-story musical directed by Paul King, O'Brien played the young Willy Wonka, the child version of [Timothée Chalamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/timothee-chalamet)'s title character.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) He has credited working with [Sally Hawkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/sally-hawkins) on the production with inspiring him to make acting his life's goal.[3](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien)
In *[The Monkey](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-monkey-film)* (2025), a horror comedy written and directed by Osgood Perkins for Neon and based on Stephen King's 1980 short story, O'Brien plays Petey, the teenage son of Hal ([Theo James](https://www.edgepedia.org/theo-james)), an estranged father who sees his son only once a year out of fear that a cursed wind-up monkey toy will kill anyone nearby.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/) • [6](https://www.moviefone.com/news/the-monkey-interview-director-osgood-perkins-and-theo-james/) • [7](https://apnews.com/article/d1f198728482edaf435eca5c4efd1c6c) The film opened in theaters on February 21, 2025, and was added to the Hulu streaming library that August.[6](https://www.moviefone.com/news/the-monkey-interview-director-osgood-perkins-and-theo-james/) • [8](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/weapons-director-namedropped-amazing-stephen-king-deep-cut-discussing-authors-influence-horror-movie-king-beat) After the film's release, O'Brien signed with Luber Roklin Entertainment for management.[4](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/monkey-colin-o-brien-signs-175314078.html)
## Upcoming work
O'Brien is set to appear in *Father Son Time*, an independent drama written and directed by Josh Long, about an autistic father (Landon Ashworth) who takes his son on a spring-break road trip without revealing that its real purpose is to reconnect with the wife and mother who left them fifteen years earlier.[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/news/) He is also credited in the 2026 television series *The Land* as Young Connor.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/)
## References
1. [Colin O'Brien, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/)
2. [Colin O'Brien, Wonderland, 26 February 2025](https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/02/26/colin-obrien/)
3. [Colin O'Brien | The Momentum Continues, Flaunt](https://www.flaunt.com/post/colin-obrien)
4. ['The Monkey's Colin O'Brien Signs With Luber Roklin', Yahoo Entertainment, 8 April 2025](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/monkey-colin-o-brien-signs-175314078.html)
5. ['Dear Edward,' Help Colin O'Brien Understand, Front Row Features, 31 January 2023](https://frontrowfeatures.com/news-dvd-film-music-online-streaming/dear-edward-help-colin-obrien-understand-33404.html)
6. ['The Monkey' Interview: Director Osgood Perkins and Theo James, Moviefone, 19 February 2025](https://www.moviefone.com/news/the-monkey-interview-director-osgood-perkins-and-theo-james/)
7. [Movie Review: 'The Monkey' is a family drama with guts, Associated Press, 20 February 2025](https://apnews.com/article/d1f198728482edaf435eca5c4efd1c6c)
8. [Osgood Perkins' The Monkey Will Make Its Streaming Debut On Hulu, CinemaBlend, 24 July 2025](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/weapons-director-namedropped-amazing-stephen-king-deep-cut-discussing-authors-influence-horror-movie-king-beat)
9. [Jess Weixler, Landon Ashworth & Colin O'Brien Lead Autism Drama 'Father Son Time', IMDb News (Deadline)](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11055907/news/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Child and youth screen performers › Child performers born 2011 and later*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license