So, you’ve probably seen the face before. Maybe it was a quick guest spot on a procedural drama that your parents always have on in the background, or perhaps you remember the moody teen from that one ABC Family show everyone was obsessed with back in 2012. We’re talking about Michael Grant.
Honestly, trying to track down a definitive list of Michael Grant actor movies is a bit of a rabbit hole. Why? Because Hollywood has a weird habit of having about five different people with the same name, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up reading the bio of a famous sci-fi novelist or a technical director from New York instead of the guy who actually stood in front of the camera.
Let’s set the record straight. Michael Grant—the actor born in 1995 in Kingsport, Tennessee—isn't just another face in the "teen heartthrob" machine. He’s a guy who actually managed to transition from the glossy world of teen dramas into some pretty gritty, heavy-hitting independent cinema.
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If you only know him from The Secret Life of the American Teenager, you’re missing the best part of the story. While he played Ethan—the foster brother with a bit of a troubled streak—his real work started happening once the multi-camera sitcom lights dimmed.
Take the movie Fair Haven (2016). This wasn't some blockbuster with a massive marketing budget. It was a quiet, almost painful look at a young man returning home after conversion therapy. Grant played James, a piano prodigy struggling between his father's expectations and his own identity. Most actors his age would’ve played that role with a lot of "theatrical" crying. Grant didn't. He played it with this sort of internal, vibrating tension that felt way more real.
Then there’s Where Hope Grows.
He actually won a Young Artist Award for this one. He played Calvin Campbell’s son, but the movie is really about the relationship between a washed-up baseball player and a young man with Down syndrome. It’s the kind of "feel-good" movie that usually feels cheesy, but Grant’s performance kept it grounded.
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Wait, have you seen Summer of 8?
It’s basically a love letter to that specific, bittersweet feeling of the last day of summer before everyone goes off to college. Grant plays one of the core friends. It’s conversational, it’s messy, and it feels like a home movie in the best way possible.
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What's interesting about the Michael Grant actor movies list is that he doesn't seem interested in the "Marvel" path. He’s done the big TV shows—Chicago Fire, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Criminal Minds—but his film choices are almost always these smaller, character-driven pieces.
- Pitching Tents (2017): A 1980s-set comedy where he plays a high school senior at a crossroads.
- The 11th Order (2019): A short film, but one that showed he could handle heavy military themes.
- Zoe Gone: One of those Lifetime thrillers that everyone watches on a rainy Sunday but forgets to credit the acting.
Why He Isn't Just "That Kid From Secret Life"
People love to pigeonhole actors. If you start on ABC Family (now Freeform), the industry usually decides you’re "TV meat" for the rest of your life.
Grant fought that.
He’s a trained pianist in real life. Like, actually good. You can see that discipline in his acting. There’s a specific focus he brings to roles that usually require a lot of silence. In Fair Haven, the way he sits at the piano isn't just "acting like a musician"—he is the musician.
It's also worth noting that he comes from a creative family. His sister, Stephanie Katherine Grant, is also an actress (you’d know her from The Goldbergs). Growing up in that environment in Kingsport and then moving to LA gives a person a weirdly pragmatic view of the industry. It’s probably why he doesn’t pop up in the tabloids. He’s just... working.
The Problem With Searching For Him
Here is a pro-tip for when you're looking up his filmography: do not confuse him with Michael Grant Terry.
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Michael Grant Terry is the guy from Bones (he played Wendell Bray). Total different guy.
Also, don't confuse him with the Michael Grant who wrote the Gone book series.
And definitely don't confuse him with the Michael Grant who was a heavyweight boxer.
Our Michael Grant is the one with the Tennessee roots and the knack for playing characters who have a lot going on beneath the surface.
What's Next?
As we move through 2026, the industry is shifting. We’re seeing a lot more demand for actors who can handle "elevated" genre films. Grant has already dipped his toes into that with some of his more recent guest spots on shows like Chicago Fire (Season 12).
He’s at that age now where he’s no longer the "teenager." He’s moving into leading-man territory, but the indie kind. The Jeremy Allen White kind of trajectory, if he plays his cards right.
If you're looking to actually dive into his work, start with Fair Haven. It’s on most streaming platforms (usually Peacock or Tubi depending on the month). It’s the best evidence that he’s more than just a face from a 2010s teen drama.
To get the most out of his filmography, watch these three in order:
- Where Hope Grows (to see his early range).
- Summer of 8 (for the vibe).
- Fair Haven (for the actual acting chops).
Basically, Michael Grant is the actor you know but don't know you know. His filmography is a weirdly consistent run of solid, thoughtful performances that deserve a bit more than just being a footnote on a Fandom wiki page.
Keep an eye on the smaller festival circuits. That’s usually where his best stuff ends up landing. Check the credits next time you see a familiar face in a gritty drama; there's a high chance it's him, quietly out-acting everyone else in the room.