You know that feeling when you're watching a show and a kid actor actually feels like a real human being? Not a polished "Hollywood" kid with perfect hair and snappy one-liners, but someone who captures the genuine, sweaty, awkward terror of being thirteen?
That is basically the Dylan Gage brand.
He has this uncanny ability to make you feel deeply uncomfortable and incredibly protective of him at the same time. If you’ve spent any time on Hulu or Starz lately, you’ve definitely seen him. He’s the guy who somehow balances the supernatural dread of a haunted house with the very real dread of middle school.
The Roles That Put Dylan Gage on the Map
Honestly, most people first clocked him in PEN15.
If you haven't seen it, it's a show where two grown women play their middle-school selves alongside actual teenagers. It's a fever dream. Gage played Gabe, and he was arguably the heart of the second season.
He wasn't just a "love interest" for Maya; he was a kid dealing with some heavy internal stuff. There’s a specific nuance in how he plays a character who is trying so hard to be "one of the guys" while clearly feeling like an outsider. It’s painful to watch because it’s so accurate.
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But Dylan Gage movies and TV shows aren't just limited to cringe-comedy.
Take Shining Vale, for example. He plays Jake Phelps, the son of Courteney Cox and Greg Kinnear. It’s a weird, dark, horror-comedy mashup. While the adults are losing their minds over ghosts and mid-life crises, Gage grounds the family dynamic. He’s the screen-addicted teenager who actually feels like he belongs in that specific, dysfunctional house.
A Quick Rundown of His Major Credits
He’s been working a lot more than you might realize. Here is the reality of his filmography:
- Shining Vale (2022-2023): As Jake Phelps. This is where he really showed he could hold his own against industry veterans.
- Hillbilly Elegy (2020): He played Kameron. Even in a movie that divided critics, his performance felt grounded.
- Mercy Black (2019): He took on the role of Sam. This was a deep dive into psychological horror.
- PEN15 (2019-2021): The breakout role as Gabe Lieb.
- This Is Us (2016): A guest spot as "Little Toby."
- Stranger Things (2016): He appeared as Johnny.
Why Directors Keep Hiring Him
It’s about the eyes.
Seriously. Watch him in Fear the Walking Dead or Creepshow (he was Smitty in the "The Companion" segment). He has this way of looking terrified that doesn't feel performative. In a world of "Disney Channel" acting, Dylan Gage feels like he just walked off a real school bus.
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He’s not the "cool kid." He’s the kid who gets it.
The range is actually pretty wild when you look at it. He can do the "weird kid with a secret" in The House with a Clock in Its Walls and then pivot to the devastatingly relatable struggle of self-discovery in a comedy like PEN15.
The Horror Connection
There is a reason he shows up in so many spooky projects. Horror requires a specific kind of vulnerability. You have to believe the character is truly in danger.
In Fear Street Part Two: 1978, he fits right into that retro, summer-camp-slasher vibe. He has a "classic" look that works for period pieces, which is probably why he keeps getting cast in shows set in the 70s, 80s, or early 2000s.
What’s Next for Dylan Gage?
At this point, Gage is moving out of the "child actor" phase and into more mature territory. Born in 2005, he's growing up alongside his audience.
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His recent work in Summer Gold (2023) shows a shift toward lead roles in indie-style narratives. He’s no longer just the "funny friend" or the "scared son." He’s becoming a lead.
Most fans are waiting to see if he’ll stick with the horror/comedy niche or jump into something completely different—like a heavy-hitting drama. Given his track record for choosing projects with a bit of an "edge," it’s unlikely he’ll end up in a cookie-cutter sitcom.
How to Keep Up With His Career:
If you want to see the best of Dylan Gage movies and TV shows, start with PEN15 for the acting chops and Shining Vale for the vibe.
Check out his work on these platforms:
- Hulu: For the complete run of PEN15.
- Starz/Prime Video: For Shining Vale (note that the show was unfortunately canceled after two seasons, but it's still worth the watch).
- Netflix: For Hillbilly Elegy and Fear Street.
The smartest move for any fan is to keep an eye on indie film festival lineups. Gage seems to thrive in projects that take risks. You can usually find updates on his upcoming projects via trade publications like Deadline or Variety, which often announce casting news months before a trailer even drops.
Keep an eye on his guest appearances too; he has a habit of popping up in high-quality anthology series where he can play a completely different character every week.