If you grew up anywhere near a television in the 2010s, you know the face. Maybe you knew him as the cocky quarterback who broke hearts, or maybe you saw him as the guy struggling with a traumatic brain injury in a hospital bed. For a huge chunk of the internet, Luke Bilyk is, and forever will be, Drew Torres.
But honestly? If you’ve only followed his career through the halls of Degrassi Community School, you’re missing about 80% of the story.
Luke Bilyk has quietly built one of the most resilient careers of any Canadian "teen star" export. While some of his peers drifted into the abyss of "where are they now" listicles, Bilyk moved into gritty indie horror, high-stakes action series like Reacher, and even shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights like Molly Ringwald. It’s a career that’s basically a masterclass in how to transition from a teen idol to a respected character actor without losing your mind—or your fan base.
The Degrassi Shadow: Was Drew Torres Actually a Good Guy?
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Between 2010 and 2015, Bilyk lived and breathed Degrassi: The Next Generation. He didn't just play a character; he played a guy who went through arguably the most chaotic character arc in the show’s history.
Think about it. Drew started as the classic "dumb jock" archetype. By the time Bilyk left the show, he had survived a gang attack, dealt with the death of his brother (Adam, played by Jordan Todosey), navigated a teen pregnancy scare, and somehow became class president. It’s a lot for one teenager.
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What most people get wrong about Bilyk’s time on the show is thinking it was "just a soap opera." Bilyk’s performance during the PTSD and concussion storylines actually won over critics who usually turned their noses up at teen dramas. He brought a physical vulnerability to the role that felt... real. Not "TV real," but uncomfortable real.
Beyond the Hallways: The Best Luke Bilyk Movies and TV Shows You Probably Missed
If you’re looking to see what he’s been up to lately, the list is surprisingly diverse. He didn't just go for the easiest romantic comedy roles he could find. Instead, he leaned into some pretty weird—and pretty cool—territory.
1. Reacher (Season 2)
This was the "Oh, he’s grown up" moment for a lot of fans. In the second season of the massive Amazon Prime hit, Bilyk played Calvin Franz. If you’ve seen the show, you know his character is central to the entire mystery that drives Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher into a vengeful frenzy. He wasn't playing a kid anymore; he was playing a member of an elite military unit. It was a brief but incredibly impactful role that proved he could hold his own in a high-octane, big-budget American production.
2. Kicking Blood (2021)
This one is a hidden gem. It’s a Canadian horror-comedy that’s basically about a vampire trying to quit drinking blood, like an addict trying to go sober. Bilyk plays Robbie, a suicidal alcoholic who forms a bizarre, soul-searching bond with the vampire. It’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s a million miles away from the "pretty boy" image of his early career.
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3. Kiss and Cry (2017)
Based on a true story, this movie features Bilyk as John Servinis, the boyfriend of Carley Allison, a skater diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He starred alongside Sarah Fisher (another Degrassi alum). It’s a total tear-jerker, but it showed his range in dramatic, grounded storytelling.
4. Lost Girl
For the sci-fi nerds, Bilyk joined the cast of Lost Girl in its fifth season as Mark. Playing a shifter—specifically a Garuda-blood offspring—he got to play with supernatural elements that his previous "grounded" roles never allowed. It was a short stint, but it cemented him as a fixture in the "Northern Hollywood" (Toronto) acting scene.
The "Everything" List: A Quick Look at the Filmography
You don't need a spreadsheet to see Bilyk is a workhorse. He’s been acting since he was about five years old, starting with small spots on shows like Little Mosque on the Prairie.
- Raising Expectations (2016): He played Adam Wayney in this sitcom. Getting to work with Molly Ringwald and Jason Priestley is basically a "Canadian Actor" rite of passage.
- *F&% the Prom (2017):** A more traditional teen comedy where he played TJ. It’s a fun, mindless watch if you’re into the Fine Brothers’ style of humor.
- The Marijuana Conspiracy (2020): A fascinating historical drama about a real-life experiment in the 1970s. Bilyk plays Adam, and the film itself is a great look at a weird piece of Canadian history.
- Meet Me at Christmas (2020): Yes, he even did the Hallmark thing. Because why not? It shows he can play the wholesome lead just as well as the gritty survivor.
What’s He Doing Now? (The 2026 Perspective)
As we sit here in 2026, Luke Bilyk is no longer that kid from the lockers. He’s a father now—he and his partner Nicole welcomed their son, Elliot Rae Bilyk, a few years back—and that shift in his personal life seems to have bled into his work. There's a certain gravity to his more recent performances.
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He’s also become a bit of a mentor. He’s been known to head back to the Toronto Academy of Acting to talk to kids who are exactly where he was twenty years ago. It’s pretty cool to see someone who hit it big early actually give back to the local scene instead of just bolting for LA and never looking back.
One thing that keeps his career interesting is his refusal to be pigeonholed. One year he’s in a Christian drama like Adam’s Testament (which actually got him a Best Actor nomination at the International Christian Film Festival), and the next he’s in a bloody vampire flick or a guest spot on Grey's Anatomy.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to actually see the "real" Luke Bilyk—the actor who has evolved past his teen roots—here is exactly how you should binge-watch his work:
- Watch "The Porter": Check out his work as Franklin Edwards in this 1920s-set drama. It’s some of the most sophisticated work he’s ever done, dealing with ambition and race in the railway industry.
- Stream "Reacher" Season 2: Even if you aren't into action, watch the first episode to see how he carries himself now. The physical transformation and the maturity in his voice are wild compared to his early days.
- Track the Indies: Keep an eye on Canadian film festival circuits (TIFF, etc.). Bilyk seems to have a real love for "weird" Canadian cinema, and that’s usually where he does his most experimental work.
- Follow the Charity Work: He’s been a massive supporter of "Free the Children" (now WE Charity, though that has its own complicated history) and has actually traveled to India and Haiti to build schools. Following his social media gives you a better look at his advocacy than any IMDB page ever will.
Luke Bilyk is the rare child actor who stayed "normal" while becoming exceptional. Whether he’s playing a shifter, a soldier, or a struggling alcoholic, he brings a weirdly relatable "guy next door" energy to everything he touches. He isn't just a part of TV history; he’s actively shaping the next chapter of Canadian entertainment.