Dylan Minnette began his acting career as a child actor, most notably in Prison Break, where he played the younger version of Wentworth Miller‘s Michael Scofield. He went on to appear in several smaller television roles before landing a major role in Netflix’s teen drama, 13 Reasons Why, as Clay Jensen. The actor is also known for his appearances in the horror and thriller genres on the big screen, including Let Me In, Don’t Breathe, The Open House, and the fifth installment of the Scream franchise. From that point forward, Minnette has dedicated much of his time to being the co-lead singer for the indie rock band Wallows. With no new acting projects announced yet, the actor, 28, recently weighed in on whether he has completely left acting behind for good.
Over the past three years, Minnette has shifted his focus to his band Wallows, with the 2022 series The Dropout and the film Scream marking his most recent acting roles to date. However, Minnette hasn’t ruled out a return to acting, though it may not happen anytime soon. During an appearance on the Therapuss podcast alongside his bandmates Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston, Minnette was asked if he still wanted to act. He was quick to confirm that he still does. He said: “I think there’s a weird narrative that’s gone around that I quit acting, but I never felt that or said that. I feel like I have a desire to do it again in some regard — and if the right thing comes along, then the right thing comes along.”
Minnette was on several television shows as a child, including his cameo appearance in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. He then scored a regular role in the crime drama series Saving Grace and in the police procedural Awake. His big screen acting credits include Labor Day, the critically acclaimed crime thriller Prisoners, and the R. L. Stine horror comedy Goosebumps.
Dylan Minnette Took a Break from Acting Because It “Started To Feel Like a Bit of a Job”
In an appearance on the Zach Sang Show last year, Minnette reflected on how fortunate he was to find success as an actor. However, once acting started to feel more like a job than a passion, he began shifting his focus to music. He shared how grateful he is to be in a position where he can explore other creative pursuits, thanks to the opportunities his acting career afforded him.
“I was very fortunate to find success in [acting],” said Minnette. “I was on 13 Reasons Why and it was really popular and definitely reached a peak in what I had in acting. But it also started to feel like a bit of a job. I was in a very fortunate position, it was always fun for me, always really inspiring, but then it was just starting to feel like just a job.”
Wallows released their latest EP, More, in March of this year, following the 2024 drop of their third studio album, Model. The band is known for tracks like “Are You Bored Yet?,” “Remember When,” “These Days,” “Scrawny,” “Calling After Me,” and more.