Finding the right person to play Gilbert Blythe is honestly a terrifying task for any casting director. Think about it. You’re not just casting a "love interest." You are casting the guy who defined the "perfect man" archetype for millions of readers since 1908. He’s the original academic rival-to-lover. He has to be cocky enough to call a girl "Carrots" but soulful enough to spend the next five years repenting for it.
If the actor doesn’t have that specific mix of mischief and utter devotion, the whole story of Anne of Green Gables kind of falls apart.
So, who plays Gilbert Blythe? Depending on when you grew up, that answer changes drastically. For some, there is only Jonathan Crombie. For the younger crowd, Lucas Jade Zumann is the definitive face of the character. But the history of Gilbert on screen actually goes back more than a century, spanning silent films, 1970s BBC dramas, and modern Netflix reimaginings.
The Iconic 1980s Era: Jonathan Crombie’s Legacy
When people ask who plays Gilbert Blythe, the most common answer you'll hear—especially from Gen X and Millennials—is Jonathan Crombie.
Crombie wasn’t even a professional actor when he landed the role for the 1985 Kevin Sullivan miniseries. He was just a 17-year-old kid in a high school production of The Wizard of Oz. Casting director Diane Polley saw him and basically knew immediately. He didn't even have a headshot; he used a photo he’d taken in a kiosk at Toronto’s Union Station.
There was something so grounded about his performance. He wasn’t a "Hollywood" heartthrob. He felt like a real boy you’d actually meet in a small town in Prince Edward Island. He played Gilbert in three movies:
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- Anne of Green Gables (1985)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000)
Crombie’s Gilbert was defined by his eyes. Even when Anne was being "mulish" (her own word!), he looked at her with this quiet, unwavering respect. Sadly, Jonathan Crombie passed away in 2015 at the age of 48. The news actually caused "Gilbert Blythe" to trend on Twitter, proving just how much he’d become the face of that character for a global audience.
The Modern Reimagining: Lucas Jade Zumann in Anne with an E
If you’re a fan of the Netflix/CBC series Anne with an E, your Gilbert is Lucas Jade Zumann.
This version of the character is a bit different from the books. The showrunners gave him a much heavier backstory, including the loss of his father and a stint working on a steamship. Zumann brought a certain "old soul" energy to the part. He was about 15 or 16 when he started filming, which is much closer to the actual age Gilbert is supposed to be when he first meets Anne.
Zumann’s Gilbert is more of a brooding intellectual. He still has that classic smirk, but there’s a layer of grief and ambition that makes him feel very "21st-century prestige TV." He played the role from 2017 to 2019, and honestly, he managed to capture a whole new generation of fans who hadn't seen the 80s version.
The Forgotten Gilberts: From Silent Film to 1970s TV
Before the 80s boom, plenty of other actors stepped into those boots. Most people don’t realize that the first ever Gilbert was Paul Kelly in a 1919 silent film. Sadly, that movie is considered "lost," so we can’t even see how he handled the slate-smashing scene!
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In 1934, Tom Brown took on the role in a black-and-white film. It’s a very "Golden Age of Hollywood" performance—lots of polished hair and dramatic pauses. Then in the 1940 sequel Anne of Windy Poplars, he was replaced by Patric Knowles.
The BBC also took a crack at the story in the 70s. They actually split the role:
- Robin Halstead played the younger Gilbert in the 1972 series.
- Christopher Blake took over as the adult version in the 1975 follow-up, Anne of Avonlea.
These versions are much harder to find today, but they were the standard before Jonathan Crombie came along and basically claimed the character for thirty years.
Why Casting This Role Is So Hard
It’s not just about finding a cute guy with dark curly hair. The actor playing Gilbert has to sell the idea that he is Anne’s intellectual equal.
In the books, Gilbert isn’t just a boy she likes; he’s the person who pushes her to be better. He challenges her for the top of the class. He gives up his teaching post so she can stay close to Marilla. If the actor is too "pretty" or too "jock-ish," that selfless, smart-guy energy gets lost.
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Most fans agree that what made Crombie and Zumann successful was their chemistry with their respective Annes (Megan Follows and Amybeth McNulty). You have to believe that these two people are essentially two halves of the same brain.
Other Notable Portrayals
Beyond the big TV and movie hits, Gilbert lives on in theater and smaller projects.
- Drew Haytaoglu played him in the 2016 TV movie series (starring Martin Sheen as Matthew).
- Dylan Duff appeared in a 2019 stage-to-film adaptation.
- In the world of musical theater—specifically the long-running Charlottetown Festival production—actors like Jeff Hyslop and Alex Furber have played him to thousands of tourists in Prince Edward Island.
What to Watch Next
If you're trying to decide which Gilbert is "your" Gilbert, the best way to do it is to compare the legendary "Slate Scene."
- Watch the 1985 version for the most faithful "romantic" interpretation. Crombie’s reaction after getting hit is legendary—he’s almost impressed.
- Watch the 2017 version for a more realistic, gritty take on the character’s life outside of his crush on Anne.
- Look for the 2016 Drew Haytaoglu version if you want something that feels a bit more like a Hallmark-style cozy drama.
Knowing who plays Gilbert Blythe is basically a rite of passage for any "Anne" fan. Whether you prefer the classic 80s charm or the modern Netflix depth, each actor has contributed a little piece to the legacy of L.M. Montgomery’s favorite hero.
The best way to appreciate the character is to start with the 1985 miniseries to see why the world fell in love with Jonathan Crombie, then transition to Anne with an E to see how the character evolved for a modern audience.