You probably remember the floppy hair and the "Spacewalker" jacket. Back in 2014, when The 100 first hit the CW, Finn Collins was the ultimate YA heartthrob. He was the guy who defied the Ark’s oxygen laws just to give his girlfriend a moment of freedom. But then things got dark. Like, "massacre an entire village" dark.
If you’ve been rewatching the show on Netflix or just went down a rabbit hole of early 2010s sci-fi nostalgia, you’re likely wondering about the guy behind the character. Thomas McDonell is the actor's name. But honestly? Finding out what he’s been doing since he left the show in Season 2 is way more interesting than just knowing his birth certificate details.
He didn't just fade into the background of Hollywood. He kinda pivoted in a way most CW stars don't.
The Man Behind Finn Collins: Thomas McDonell
Thomas Hunter Campbell McDonell was born in Manhattan back in 1986. He isn't just some random guy who stumbled onto a film set. He’s got a pretty deep creative pedigree. His dad, Terry McDonell, was the editor of Sports Illustrated, and his brother Nick is a fairly famous novelist who wrote Twelve.
🔗 Read more: Brianna LaPaglia Golden Globes Dress: The Real Story Behind the Revenge Look
Before he was dodging Grounder spears, Thomas was actually known as the "next big thing" in teen movies. He played Jesse Richter in Disney’s Prom—basically the resident bad boy with a heart of gold. If you look at his early work, it’s all very "Disney/CW archetype," which makes his departure from The 100 and his subsequent career shift feel even more dramatic.
He’s currently in a long-term relationship with actress Jane Levy (from Suburgatory and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist), and they recently had their first child in late 2024. So, life’s been busy for him off-camera.
Why did Finn leave The 100 anyway?
There’s always been this lingering rumor in the fandom that Thomas McDonell wanted out because he wasn't feeling the "teen drama" vibes. While the show's creator, Jason Rothenberg, has talked about how Finn’s death was a necessary narrative pivot to push Clarke into a darker place, fans have spent years speculating.
✨ Don't miss: Tori Black Behind the Scene: Why the Performer-Turned-Director Still Dominates the Conversation
Here is the reality of Finn's exit:
The show needed a catalyst. In Season 1, The 100 was a bit "Lord of the Flies" meets Dawson's Creek. By Season 2, the writers wanted to prove that no one was safe and that the world was unforgiving. Turning the group's "pacifist" into a war criminal was a bold—if controversial—move.
Whether Thomas asked to leave or the writers just saw the writing on the wall, the result was the same: one of the most polarizing character arcs in TV history. Some people hated what they did to Finn. Others thought it was the most realistic portrayal of PTSD and "breaking" under pressure.
Life after the Grounders: Art, Music, and Twitter
If you follow Thomas McDonell on X (formerly Twitter), you know he has a... unique online presence. For years, he’s been known for tweeting out random snippets of text in various languages—mostly Chinese, Japanese, and Korean—often without context. It turned him into a bit of an international cult figure, especially in South Korea.
But his "real" job these days isn't just acting. He’s a legitimate visual artist.
The Art Scene
McDonell’s art isn't just a hobby. He’s exhibited work in major galleries from Los Angeles to Shanghai. He does these "monochrome" paintings and conceptual pieces that are about as far from a CW set as you can get.
- Exhibitions: He’s had shows at the De Boer Gallery and even curated a video art show inside a Best Buy in New York.
- Style: His work often uses "found objects"—basically stuff people throw away—and turns them into sculptures or paintings.
- Music: He was also the lead singer and guitarist for a band called Moon. They even had a song on the Prom soundtrack.
Recent Acting Roles
He hasn't quit acting entirely, though he’s definitely more selective. You might have spotted him in:
- The Long Road Home (2017) – A gritty National Geographic miniseries about the Iraq War.
- Good Girls (2018) – He played Brian in a guest spot.
- Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2021) – Appearing alongside his partner, Jane Levy.
- Simchas and Sorrows (2022) – An independent film where he played Levi.
Thomas McDonell's Impact on The 100 Legacy
It’s easy to forget how much Finn mattered to the early seasons. Without his death, Clarke never becomes "Wanheda." She never learns that sometimes you have to kill the people you love to save your people.
Thomas brought a certain vulnerability to Finn that made that Season 2 spiral feel gut-wrenching. Even if you hated Finn for what he did to that village, you felt the weight of it because Thomas played him as a kid who was simply way out of his depth. He wasn't a soldier; he was a tracker who liked art and peace. Watching that get crushed was the moment The 100 stopped being a teen show and started being a tragedy.
What you can do next
If you're missing that early 100 energy, checking out Thomas’s art portfolio at the De Boer Gallery website is a trip. It gives you a much better sense of who he is as a person compared to the "peace-loving rebel" character he played a decade ago.
👉 See also: Greensboro’s Idiot Box Comedy Club: Why Local Laughs Are Smarter Than You Think
You can also find his old band, Moon, on Spotify if you want to hear what Finn Collins sounds like as a rock star. Honestly, "Time Stand" is still a banger.
For those still obsessed with the lore, rewatching Season 2, Episode 8 ("Spacewalker") is the best way to appreciate his acting range. It’s his final episode, and regardless of how you feel about the character, the performance is top-tier. Just grab some tissues first.