You know that feeling when you're watching a show and a kid actor pops up who actually feels like a real person? Not a polished "Hollywood" kid with a forced smile, but someone who carries the weight of the scene. That's basically the vibe with Simon Webster. If you’ve spent any time on MGM+ or scrolled through the depths of horror and family drama lately, you’ve definitely seen his face.
Most people recognize him as Ethan Matthews from the sci-fi horror hit From, but his filmography is surprisingly deep for someone who only recently hit his teens. Honestly, the sheer range is kind of wild. One minute he’s escaping monsters in a nightmarish town, and the next, he’s the voice of an adorable spider or a puppy on Disney Junior.
The Horror Breakout: Ethan Matthews and Beyond
If we’re talking about simon webster movies and tv shows, we have to start with From. This is the show that put him on the map for adult audiences. Playing Ethan Matthews isn't exactly a "walk in the park" role. He’s the kid trapped in a town that literally won’t let you leave, where monsters come out at night to rip people apart.
What makes his performance there work is that he doesn't play it too "cute." He has this quiet, observant quality. His scenes with Scott McCord (who plays Victor) are often the emotional anchor of the series. Fans on Reddit and various forums have spent years dissecting Ethan’s connection to the "Boy in White," and Webster carries that mystery well. It’s hard enough for adult actors to handle that kind of "chosen one" trope without it feeling cheesy, but he makes it feel grounded.
But From isn't his only brush with the macabre. He also showed up in the Chucky TV series (Season 2) as Gary. If you’ve seen that episode, you know it doesn't end well for his character—classic Chucky style. He’s also slated for The Black Phone 2, which is a massive win for a young actor looking to cement their place in the "Scream King" hall of fame.
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From Orphanages to Animated Spiders
Before he was dealing with the supernatural, Webster was doing the Hallmark rounds. He played Fred in When Hope Calls, which is the spin-off of When Calls the Heart. It was a much gentler start to his career, playing a curious orphan in the early 1900s. It's funny to look back at those clips now and see how much he's grown, both physically and as an actor.
The Voice Behind the Favorites
You might not even realize you’ve heard his voice more than you’ve seen his face. He has a massive career in animation:
- Lucas the Spider: He took over the title role of Lucas for the TV series. If you have kids (or just a soul), you know how iconic that little jumping spider is.
- PAW Patrol: He voiced Alex Porter for several seasons. Replacing a voice actor in a show as big as PAW Patrol is a high-pressure gig for a kid, but he stepped into those shoes (or paws) seamlessly.
- SuperKitties: He voices Pickles on this Disney Junior hit.
It’s a strange juxtaposition. You have this kid who is effectively a horror icon for the 18+ crowd while simultaneously being a hero to the preschool set.
Recent Hits and Upcoming Projects
As of early 2026, Simon Webster isn’t slowing down. He recently appeared in Brilliant Minds (2024-2025) as a younger version of Zachary Quinto’s character. Playing a younger version of a powerhouse actor like Quinto requires a specific type of mimicry and emotional intelligence that most kid actors just haven't developed yet.
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There is also a lot of buzz around Splitsville, a film where he plays a character named Russ. This project seems to be a bit of a departure from the heavy genre stuff, showing he can handle traditional drama and comedy just as well as he handles jump scares.
Not Just a "Child Actor"
One thing that stands out about Webster’s career is the lack of "fluff." He seems to pick projects—or his team does—that have a bit of teeth to them. Even his role in the Quibi series Most Dangerous Game (starring Liam Hemsworth) showed him in a high-stakes, gritty environment early on.
He’s also popped up in:
- The Invisibles (as Oskar)
- Maps and Mistletoe (as Matthew)
- Falling in Love at Christmas (as Ryan Dennis)
- Murdoch Mysteries (as Buster)
The Evolution of a Career
It’s interesting to watch how child actors navigate the transition into teen roles. Webster was born in August 2012, so he’s right in the middle of that shift. Usually, this is where kids either fade away or start taking on more "adult" indie roles. Given his attachment to the Black Phone sequel and the continued success of From, it looks like he’s leaning into the prestige horror and drama space.
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He’s often compared to actors who started young in the genre, like Jacob Tremblay. There’s a specific kind of "soulfulness" he brings to his roles. It’s not just about hitting marks and saying lines; there’s a sense of internal life. In From, when Ethan talks about "The Cromenockle," it could sound ridiculous, but Webster plays it with such sincerity that you actually buy into the kid's coping mechanism.
Navigating the Simon Webster Filmography
If you’re looking to catch up on his work, here is the best way to do it without getting overwhelmed:
- Watch From first. It’s his best work. It’s available on MGM+ (formerly Epix). You get to see him grow across three seasons.
- Check out Lucas the Spider. It shows his range. It’s purely wholesome and a complete 180 from his live-action stuff.
- Keep an eye out for The Black Phone 2. This is likely going to be his biggest "theatrical" moment yet.
The kid has a lot of "craft" for someone so young. He’s gone from a birthday audition at Wonderland to being a series regular on a global hit. It’s a classic "rising star" trajectory, but without the annoying "stage kid" energy that usually comes with it.
Next Steps for Fans
If you want to keep up with Simon's career, the best move is to track the production of From Season 4, as his character Ethan is expected to face some major emotional shifts following the events of the Season 3 finale. Additionally, you can look for his guest appearances in Brilliant Minds on NBC/Peacock to see how he handles more traditional medical drama roles. Watching his transition from voice work to big-budget horror like The Black Phone 2 will give you a clear picture of where his career is headed in the next few years.