Ty Keegan Simpkins (born August 6, 2001) is an American actor. His notable film credits include ''
Insidious'' (2010), its sequel ''
Insidious: Chapter 2'' (2013), ''
Jurassic World
''Jurassic World'' is a 2015 American science fiction action film directed by Colin Trevorrow, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Derek Connolly from a story by Jaffa and Silver. It is the first installment in the ...
'' (2015), and ''
Insidious: The Red Door '' (2023). He is also known for his appearances in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...
as
Harley Keener in ''
Iron Man 3
''Iron Man 3'' is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to ''Iron Man (2008 film), Iron Man'' (2008) an ...
'' (2013) and ''
Avengers: Endgame'' (2019), as well as the independent film ''
The Whale'' (2022).
Early life
Simpkins was born on August 6, 2001 in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, to Monique and Stephen Simpkins.
His older sibling is actress
Ryan Simpkins.
Acting career
Simpkins first appeared on TV when he was three weeks old. His first role was on ''
One Life to Live
''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...
'' where he shared the recurring role as John "Jack" Cramer Manning. Simpkins then had a recurring role as Jude Cooper Bauer on ''
Guiding Light
''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. ''Guiding Light'' aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio ...
'', in which he went on to be "Jude" for about four years. He guest starred in ''
Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' and a handful of commercials and print ads.
Simpkins made his film debut in
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...
's ''
War of the Worlds'' (2005).
Next was a featured role in ''
All the King's Men
''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U. ...
'' (2006), where he played a young version of Jude Law's character, and he played Aaron in the multiple-award-winning ''
Little Children'' (2006).
Simpkins went on to film ''
Pride and Glory'' (2008), in which he and his sibling, actor
Ryan Simpkins, play the children of
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell (; born 31 May 1976) is an Irish actor. A Leading actor, leading man in blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and independent films since the 2000s, he has received various List of awards and nominations received by Col ...
. Simpkins also completed ''
Gardens of the Night'' (2008) and then ''
Revolutionary Road'' (2008), in which he again starred alongside his real-life sibling Ryan.
Simpkins has guest-starred on ''
CSI'', ''
Private Practice'' and ''Family of Four''. In September 2009, he signed on to play Luke in the 2010 film ''
The Next Three Days
''The Next Three Days'' is a 2010 American crime thriller film written and directed by Paul Haggis, starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks. A remake of the 2008 French film ''Pour elle'' ('' Anything for Her'') by Fred CavayƩ, the plot foll ...
''.
He also played Dalton Lambert in ''
Insidious'' (2011) and ''
Insidious: Chapter 2'' (2013). He reprised the role ten years later for ''
Insidious: The Red Door'' (2023).
In 2013, Simpkins starred alongside
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965), also known as RDJ, is an American actor. One of the highest-grossing actors of all time, his films as a leading actor have grossed over $14 billion worldwide. In 2008, Downey was named by ''Time ...
in the live-action film ''
Iron Man 3
''Iron Man 3'' is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to ''Iron Man (2008 film), Iron Man'' (2008) an ...
'', as
Tony Stark
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
's sidekick Harley Keener (he also reprises the role in ''
Lego Marvel's Avengers''). This was the first time a child character had been featured prominently in the
''Iron Man'' films.
He appeared in ''Iron Man 3'' director
Shane Black
Shane Black (born December 16, 1961) is an American screenwriter, film director, and actor, known for his distinctive style of Action film, action and action comedy films. He is the original creator of the ''Lethal Weapon (franchise), Lethal Wea ...
's 2016 film, ''
The Nice Guys''.
In 2019, he reprised the role of Harley Keener in a cameo during Stark's funeral at the end of the film ''
Avengers: Endgame''. Simpkins later revealed that he had to keep Stark's death, and his own cameo, a secret for two years.
Simpkins starred in the 2015
blockbuster ''
Jurassic World
''Jurassic World'' is a 2015 American science fiction action film directed by Colin Trevorrow, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Derek Connolly from a story by Jaffa and Silver. It is the first installment in the ...
'', and he appeared as Adam in ''
Meadowland''.
Simpkins played a Christian missionary called Thomas in
Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an American Filmmaking, filmmaker. His films are noted for their surreal, dramatic, and often disturbing elements, frequently in the form of psychological realism. His accolades include a Golden Lion ...
's Oscar-winning ''
The Whale'' (2022).
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Theater
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
*
Ty Simpkinsat
Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpkins, Ty
21st-century American male actors
American male child actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
Male actors from New York City
2001 births
Living people
San Diego State University alumni