# Ross Lynch
**Ross Lynch** (Ross Shor Lynch) is an American actor, singer, and musician best known for playing Austin Moon on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) series *Austin & Ally* and for starring as teenage [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeffrey-dahmer) in the 2017 film *[My Friend Dahmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/my-friend-dahmer-film)*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/) • [2](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621233675). Alongside acting, he fronted the family pop-rock band R5 and later formed the duo The Driver Era with his brother Rocky Lynch[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Littleton, Colorado, United States; birth name Ross Shor Lynch[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/) |
| Breakout role | Austin Moon on Disney Channel's *Austin & Ally*, which premiered on December 4, 2011 and ran four seasons[4](https://d23.com/app/uploads/2012/08/azsupp_082712.pdf) |
| Disney Channel films | Brady in *Teen Beach Movie* (2013) and *Teen Beach 2* (2015)[2](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621233675) |
| Awards | Four Kids Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actor (2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016)[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/ross-lynch) |
| Bands | Lead singer of R5 (formed 2009); co-founder of The Driver Era with brother Rocky (announced 2018)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330) • [6](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624) |
| Notable film | *My Friend Dahmer* (2017), playing Jeffrey Dahmer as a high schooler[7](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/ross-lynch-reinvented-career-disney-star-jeffrey-dahmer-r5) |
| Netflix role | Harvey Kinkle in *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina*, 35 episodes (2018 to 2020)[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/74463/ross-lynch) |
## Early life and family
Lynch was born in [Littleton, Colorado](https://www.edgepedia.org/littleton-colorado), in 1995, the second youngest of five siblings: Riker, Rydel, Rocky, and Ryland[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330). He was home-schooled and learned piano, drums, and guitar[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330). His family moved to Los Angeles around 2007 to support his eldest brother Riker's acting ambitions[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330). The siblings are cousins of fellow performers Derek and [Julianne Hough](https://www.edgepedia.org/julianne-hough)[9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ross-lynch/bio/3000703739/).
Before acting, Lynch was already working as a performer. In 2009 he was one of the Kidz Bop Kids, singing on *Kidz Bop, Vol. 15*, and he was a member of the dance troupe Rage Boyz Crew, appearing on *So You Think You Can Dance*[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330).
## Austin & Ally and the Disney Channel years
In early 2011, Lynch was cast as Austin on *Austin & Ally*, a comedy about a teenage boy who becomes a singing star after a video of him performing goes online[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330). His character's musical partner, the shy songwriter Ally Dawson, was played by [Laura Marano](https://www.edgepedia.org/laura-marano); the show ran four seasons and 87 episodes[6](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624). The role earned Lynch four Kids Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actor, in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/ross-lynch). Sources differ on his Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actor: Comedy: the Los Angeles Philharmonic's bio lists two, in 2014 and 2015[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/ross-lynch), while IMDb and [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) list three, adding a 2016 win[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/) • [9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ross-lynch/bio/3000703739/).
The show's soundtrack reached the number 1 spot on iTunes[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/ross-lynch). Lynch released the single "Heard It on the Radio" in 2012 and sang on the show's soundtrack releases[10](https://www.who2.com/bio/ross-lynch/).
**Teen Beach Movie.** In 2013 Lynch starred as Brady in the Disney Channel Original Movie *[Teen Beach Movie](https://www.edgepedia.org/teen-beach-movie)*, a musical comedy in which two young surfers are magically pulled into a 1960s beach film[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/teen_beach_movie). When it debuted, the movie drew 13.5 million viewers, ranking it second among cable television's most-viewed films, with only *High School Musical 2* ahead of it[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/). The sequel, *[Teen Beach 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/teen-beach-2)*, aired in the summer of 2015 to 7.5 million viewers[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/).
He also took smaller television and film parts in this period, including *Girl Meets World* (Disney, 2013 to 2017), *[Muppets Most Wanted](https://www.edgepedia.org/muppets-most-wanted)* (2014), and the animated film *Snowtime!* (2016)[12](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ross-lynch/).
## Music: from R5 to The Driver Era
While acting on Disney Channel, Lynch sang and played guitar in R5, a pop-rock band formed in 2009 with his siblings Riker, Rydel, and Rocky and their friend Ellington Ratliff[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330) • [13](https://www.assignmentx.com/2013/exclusive-interview-with-ross-lynch-and-photos/). The band self-released the *Ready, Set, Rock* EP in 2010, signed to [Hollywood Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-records), and released the album *Louder* in 2013[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330) • [13](https://www.assignmentx.com/2013/exclusive-interview-with-ross-lynch-and-photos/). Its second and final album, *Sometime Last Night*, cracked the US top ten in 2015[6](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624).
On March 1, 2018, R5's social media handles were renamed @TheDriverEra and previous posts were deleted; the next day, Ross and Rocky announced the new project as a two-piece[6](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624). Riker and Rydel joined the touring line-up[6](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624). As The Driver Era, the brothers have released the albums *X* (2019), *Girlfriend* (2021), and *Summer Mixtape* (2022), described by AllMusic as a more sophisticated pop/rock direction than R5's teen pop[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330). Singles under the project include "Rumors", "Don't Walk Away", and "Touch"[2](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621233675).
## Acting beyond Disney: My Friend Dahmer and Sabrina
In 2017, Lynch starred as Jeffrey Dahmer in *My Friend Dahmer*, directed by Marc Meyers and adapted from Derf Backderf's graphic memoir about his high school friendship with the future serial killer in late-1970s Ohio[7](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/ross-lynch-reinvented-career-disney-star-jeffrey-dahmer-r5). Lynch said he researched Dahmer through interviews and archival footage to study how he moved and spoke, and described the part as a deliberate move toward darker independent film after his Disney career[7](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/ross-lynch-reinvented-career-disney-star-jeffrey-dahmer-r5). The film was well received at festivals and received a Metascore of 68, with reviewers singling out Lynch's performance; the Village Voice called it "a stellar, mouth-breathing performance of insecurity"[14](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/my-friend-dahmer/critic-reviews/). Critics at the Los Angeles Times and RogerEbert.com also praised the physicality of his portrayal[15](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-my-friend-dahmer-review-20171102-story.html) • [16](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/my-friend-dahmer-2017).
Lynch then played Harvey Kinkle in Netflix's *[Chilling Adventures of Sabrina](https://www.edgepedia.org/chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-tv-series)*, opposite [Kiernan Shipka](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiernan-shipka), appearing in 35 episodes across the show's run from 2018 to 2020[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/74463/ross-lynch). His later film credits include *[Status Update](https://www.edgepedia.org/status-update)* (2018)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/).
## Recognition
Lynch's *Austin & Ally* role anchored his early public profile, and by 2018 reviewers treated *My Friend Dahmer* as the turning point that expanded his audience beyond children's television; the Guardian described him as having moved "from the Disney Channel to playing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer" while continuing to tour with R5[7](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/ross-lynch-reinvented-career-disney-star-jeffrey-dahmer-r5). As of 2023, The Driver Era had teased a fourth album with the single "Rumors"[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330), and the band continued touring internationally, including a 2024 European leg playing venues in Madrid and Barcelona[17](https://los40.com/2024/09/16/the-driver-era-en-madrid-y-barcelona-este-es-el-setlist-de-su-gira-x-gilfriend-tour/).
## References
1. [Ross Lynch Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3515425/bio/)
2. [Ross Lynch – Movies, TV Shows, and Music, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621233675)
3. [Ross Lynch Biography, Discography & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-lynch-mn0002891330)
4. [Disney A to Z supplement: Austin & Ally, D23](https://d23.com/app/uploads/2012/08/azsupp_082712.pdf)
5. [Ross Lynch, LA Phil](https://www.laphil.com/people/ross-lynch)
6. [Ross Lynch: "Courtney Love told me I look like her and Kurt's love child", NME](https://www.nme.com/tv-interviews/ross-lynch-kurt-cobain-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-2667624)
7. [From Disney star to Jeffrey Dahmer: how Ross Lynch reinvented his career, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/ross-lynch-reinvented-career-disney-star-jeffrey-dahmer-r5)
8. [Ross Lynch, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/74463/ross-lynch)
9. [Ross Lynch Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ross-lynch/bio/3000703739/)
10. [Ross Lynch Biography, Who2](https://www.who2.com/bio/ross-lynch/)
11. [Teen Beach Movie, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/teen_beach_movie)
12. [Ross Lynch, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ross-lynch/)
13. [Exclusive Interview: Austin & Ally star Ross Lynch, Assignment X](https://www.assignmentx.com/2013/exclusive-interview-with-ross-lynch-and-photos/)
14. [My Friend Dahmer critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/my-friend-dahmer/critic-reviews/)
15. [Review: 'My Friend Dahmer', Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-my-friend-dahmer-review-20171102-story.html)
16. [My Friend Dahmer movie review, RogerEbert.com](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/my-friend-dahmer-2017)
17. [The Driver Era en Madrid y Barcelona, Los40](https://los40.com/2024/09/16/the-driver-era-en-madrid-y-barcelona-este-es-el-setlist-de-su-gira-x-gilfriend-tour/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Le to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 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