You’ve probably seen his face pop up on your Netflix dashboard or caught him in a heavy drama on Freeform and wondered where exactly you know him from. Kalama Epstein has that specific kind of screen presence—versatile, a bit intense, but also capable of being the funniest person in a room. Born and raised in Hawaii, he didn't just stumble into Hollywood by accident. It’s been a steady climb from local commercials to major streaming hits.
Honestly, if you're asking what has Kalama Epstein been in, the list is way longer than just that one show you're thinking of. Most people pin him down as "the guy from No Good Nick" or "Noah from The Fosters," but his resume actually spans everything from gritty crime procedurals like Ray Donovan to Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated The Fabelmans.
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The Breakthrough: From Hawaii to The Fosters
Growing up in Hawaii, Kalama was surrounded by a "cultural melting pot," as he’s described it in past interviews. He started with the basics: middle school musicals, extra work, and a small co-starring role on Hawaii Five-0. But his big break—the one that really put him on the map for a lot of people—was playing Noah Walker on The Fosters.
It wasn't just a background role. Noah was a pivotal character, the love interest for Jude Adams Foster. What made it interesting (and what a lot of fans still talk about) was that Noah was a gay teen who was also the son of a pastor. That kind of nuance was relatively rare on TV back then. Kalama has mentioned in the past that he felt a huge responsibility to get that right because he was getting DMs from kids in similar religious situations who felt seen for the first time.
After The Fosters, he didn't just stay in the drama lane. He pivoted.
No Good Nick and the Netflix Era
If you’re a fan of multicam sitcoms, you definitely know him as Jeremy Thompson in the Netflix series No Good Nick. This was a massive shift. He went from a serious Freeform drama to playing the suspicious, high-achieving older brother in a comedy starring Sean Astin and Melissa Joan Hart.
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Jeremy was a character who was constantly trying to "expose" the show's protagonist, Nick. It allowed Kalama to show off a different side of his acting—sharper, more comedic, and high-energy. Working with Sean Astin was apparently a trip for him; he’s told stories about sitting in Astin's trailer during lunch and just listening to stories from the set of Lord of the Rings.
A Quick Rundown of Other TV Appearances
Aside from the big ones, Kalama has a habit of showing up in shows you probably already watch. It’s kinda fun to play "spot the actor" with his filmography:
- Magnum P.I.: He appeared in the reboot as Will, a guest role that brought him back to his Hawaii roots.
- American Sports Story: A more recent project (2024) where he got involved in the Aaron Hernandez narrative.
- The Rookie: He had a guest spot here, playing into that classic procedural vibe.
- Bella and the Bulldogs: Back in his Nickelodeon days, he played Kyle Webber.
- Liberty Crossing: He played David Adelman in this series.
Moving Into Film: The Fabelmans and Beyond
Most people don't realize that Kalama was in The Fabelmans. Yeah, the Steven Spielberg movie. He played Barry, a small but notable role in a film that was basically a love letter to cinema. Being on a Spielberg set is the ultimate "I've made it" moment for most actors, and it showed that he can hold his own in a prestige film environment, not just teen TV.
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Before that, he was in Under the Blood-Red Sun, a film set during World War II in Hawaii. He played Billy Davis, the best friend of the main character, Tomikazu Nakaji. It’s a heavy, historical piece about the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and the tension faced by Japanese-American families. If you only know him from comedies, this one is a must-watch to see his range.
Behind the Scenes: Writing and Directing
Here’s the thing about Kalama: he doesn't just want to be in front of the camera. He’s been vocal about his passion for directing and writing since he was about six or seven years old. He’s actually a bit of a horror buff—he’s mentioned he loves dark stuff, black jeans, and metal t-shirts, which is a total 180 from the "bright, happy" characters he often plays.
He has worked on his own short films, including one titled John & The Wolf, which hit the festival circuit. He’s also been developing other scripts. He’s basically a creative workhorse who uses his acting gigs to fund and learn about the technical side of filmmaking.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
As of early 2026, Kalama remains a fixture in the "young Hollywood" scene, specifically for fans of character-driven streaming shows. His name often pops up in casting discussions for series that need someone who can handle both emotional weight and dry wit. Whether he’s doing a guest spot on a hit show like The Rookie or working on his own indie projects, he’s stayed consistently busy.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to deep-dive into his work, don't just stick to the Netflix homepage.
- Watch Under the Blood-Red Sun: It’s arguably his most grounded, historical performance and shows his roots in Hawaii.
- Revisit The Fosters: Specifically season 4 and 5, to see why his character Noah became such a fan favorite.
- Check out his shorts: If you can find his directorial work at festivals or online, it gives you a much better idea of his actual personality than a sitcom ever will.
- Follow his recent work: Keep an eye out for his name in credits for American Sports Story—it’s a great example of his transition into more adult, prestige television.
Basically, Kalama Epstein is more than just a "teen star." He's a filmmaker in the making who happens to be really good at acting in your favorite shows.