Dylan Minnette

Dylan Minnette – Life, Career & Memorable Quotes

Explore the life and career of Dylan Minnette (born December 29, 1996) — American actor and musician, best known for 13 Reasons Why and his band Wallows. Learn about his journey, roles, music, and notable quotes.

Introduction

Dylan Christopher Minnette is an American actor and musician who began his career as a child actor and later gained international recognition for his starring role as Clay Jensen on Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. Alongside acting, he is also the co-lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Wallows. His dual path in screen and music reflects a creative restlessness and desire to explore different forms of expression.

Early Life & Family

• Born: December 29, 1996

• Birthplace: Evansville, Indiana, U.S.

• Parents: Robyn (Maker-Minnette) and Craig Minnette

• Sometime early in his life, his family moved from Indiana to Champaign, Illinois, and later to Los Angeles to support his acting career.

• He is an only child.

His father, Craig, had musical inclinations (he performed under the name “Eddie Minnette”) which likely influenced Dylan’s own musical path.

Acting Career

Beginnings as a Child Actor

Minnette was discovered when he was about 7 years old, working in commercials and modeling. 2005, appearing in shows like Drake & Josh and Two and a Half Men.

One of his first significant recurring roles was as a young version of Michael Scofield on Prison Break (2005–2006). Saving Grace (2007–2010) playing Clay Norman, which gave him steady work during his early years.

Over the years, he took on guest or supporting roles in various series and films, building versatility.

Breakthrough: 13 Reasons Why and Beyond

Minnette’s most recognized and career-defining role came in 2017, when he starred as Clay Jensen in 13 Reasons Why, a Netflix teen drama based on Jay Asher’s novel.

He has also starred in or participated in films and series such as:

• Let Me In (2010) – a horror role early in his film career

• Prisoners (2013)

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

• Goosebumps (2015) – as Zach Cooper

• Don’t Breathe (2016)

• The Open House (2018)

• Scream (2022) – he appeared in this revival of the horror franchise

• The Dropout (2022) – he took on the role of Tyler Shultz, the real-life whistleblower in the Theranos scandal.

His acting range spans teen drama, horror, thriller, and crossover genres, showing willingness to take both commercially appealing and darker, more challenging roles.

Musical Career: Wallows

Parallel to his acting, Dylan is a musician and part of the indie rock band Wallows (he is co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist).

Some highlights in his music career:

• The band’s debut studio album Nothing Happens was released on March 22, 2019.

• Before adopting the name Wallows, the band had earlier incarnations (e.g. The Feaver, The Narwhals) and started performing together in their youth.

• Their single “Are You Bored Yet?” (featuring Clairo) helped the album gain wider attention.

His dual identities as actor and musician reflect his desire to explore creative expression across mediums.

Recent Choices & Focus Shift

In 2024, Dylan Minnette announced he would step back from acting to focus more intensely on his music. He described acting as beginning to feel like “just a job” and emphasized a desire to commit full energy to Wallows.

However, he has not ruled out a return to acting when the inspiration and timing feel right.

Personality & Artistic Approach

Minnette’s work suggests a few consistent traits:

• Authenticity & emotional depth: His roles often grapple with guilt, trauma, adolescence, and moral tension (e.g. in 13 Reasons Why)

• Genre flexibility: He embraces horror and thriller elements, often in roles meant to unsettle or provoke. As he said:

  “I love being in anything that's scary to people.”

• Selective about roles: He has mentioned turning down many teen roles he felt lacked depth.

• Balance between work and mental distance: He claims he can “cut off” from set life when off-duty, preserving boundary between performance and self.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few quotes by Dylan Minnette that reflect his mindset and artistic priorities:

“’Goosebumps,’ actually, was a very big part of my childhood, growing up, and it inspired me to get into horror and all that good stuff.”

“I love being in anything that's scary to people.”

“I was always a really big fan of R. L. Stine and the ‘Goosebumps’ TV series and the ‘Goosebumps’ books.”

“I pass on a lot of teen roles that get sent to me because a lot of the time it doesn't feel real. It’s sugar-coated. There's no depth to it.”

These statements show his respect for storytelling integrity and desire to engage material that resonates emotionally.

Lessons & Takeaways

1. Diversify creative outlets
   Dylan’s career demonstrates that one can pursue multiple artistic passions (acting & music) rather than being limited to one path.

2. Prioritize meaningful roles
   He’s consciously avoided superficial parts, favoring roles that challenge or provoke deeper emotion.

3. Know when to pivot
   Recognizing when a passion becomes a routine allowed him to shift focus back to music in pursuit of renewed inspiration.

4. Maintain boundaries
   His ability to separate on-set life from personal life helps preserve mental health and artistic freedom.

5. Be patient with your voice
   Transitioning from child actor to mature roles, and from screen to stage to music, shows it's okay to evolve at your own pace.

Conclusion

Dylan Minnette is more than the face of 13 Reasons Why. He is an evolving artist, sometimes actor, sometimes musician, always seeking authenticity. His journey from child roles to leading man to musical frontman is a portrait of someone chasing meaning over comfort.