Julian Lerner: The Young Actor Taking Hollywood by Storm in 2025
If you’ve been watching Netflix, Disney Channel, or ABC lately, you’ve probly already seen julian lerner without even knowing his name. This young actor from New York City is one of the most exciting talents in Hollywood right now. From Broadway stages to Netflix hits, he’s done it all — and he’s still a teenager.
Let’s take a deep look at who julian lerner is, what he’s been in, and why so many people are starting to follow his career closely.
Who Is Julian Lerner?
Julian Lerner is an American actor based in New York City. He started acting when he was just seven years old and made his film debut at the age of eight in Pottersville. Famous Birthdays That’s incredibly young. Most kids at that age are still figuring out what they want for lunch.
Julian Lerner was born on November 5th, 2007. The Movie Database So yes, he’s a teenager who’s already built a resume that most adult actors would be proud of. His parents are Daniel Lerner and Erin Lerner. He has two dogs named Bean and Ellis. Famous Birthdays
What makes julian lerner stand out is that he’s not just an actor. He sings, he does voice work, he performs on stage, and he’s now even making music. That kind of range is rare — especially at his age.
Early Life and the Start of His Acting Career
Starting at Age Seven
Most kids start their career journey in their twenties. Julian started at seven. That takes serious commitment — not just from him, but from his family too. He toured the country as Gavroche in the National Broadway Tour of Les Misérables and originated roles in NYC for new musicals for Jerry Mitchell, James Lapine, Tom Kitt, Michael Korie, and Michael Mayer. Fandom
That kind of stage experience at a young age builds real acting chops. You can’t fake it on a Broadway stage. The audience is right there in front of you and there’s no second take.
His Film Debut in Pottersville
On the silver screen, Lerner has been seen as Rico in The Many Saints of Newark and Samuel in Netflix’s Pottersville. Broadway World Pottersville was his entry point into film. Julian made his film debut in Pottersville at age 8, starring opposite Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Ron Perlman, and Christina Hendricks. Listal Sharing the screen with veteran actors at age eight? That’s wild.
Julian Lerner’s Biggest Break: Yes Day on Netflix
The Movie That Changed Everything
If there’s one project that really put julian lerner on the map, it’s Yes Day on Netflix. Julian broke out in Netflix’s Yes Day, playing opposite Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez, and Jenna Ortega. The film quickly became one of the platform’s biggest hits in its category, watched in nearly 53 million households worldwide. IMDb
That number is huge. 53 million households is not a small audience. That’s basically the population of a small country watching the same movie. And julian lerner was right there in the middle of it.
His Role as Nando
Lerner plays Nando, one of their children who is a fun, energetic kid who is slightly nerdy and has a love of science. ABC This role felt very natural for him. The character is warm, funny, and relatable — all things that julian lerner brings to his performances naturally.
The movie follows a family where the parents say “yes” to everything their kids ask for one full day. It’s a fun premise and the kids in the film carry a lot of the comedy. Julian handled it really well.
The Wonder Years: Playing Brad Hitman on ABC
A Fan Favorite Character
Fans will also recognize Julian as Brad Hitman, Dean’s best friend, from ABC’s reboot of The Wonder Years. IMDb This show was a reimagining of the classic 80s series, set in 1960s Alabama and focused on a Black middle-class family. It got great reviews and julian lerner’s character Brad was a fan favorite.
Brad is the kind of best friend everyone wants — loyal, funny, and always there when things get tough. Julian played him with a lot of heart.
Why This Role Mattered
Landing a recurring role on a major network show is a big deal for any actor. For a teenager, it’s massive. It showed that julian lerner wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. He could hold his own in a long-running TV series and keep audiences coming back week after week.
Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires
Ray — A Witty and Lovable New Character
He stars as the witty and lovable Ray in Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, the latest installment of the hugely popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchise. IMDb
The Zombies franchise has a huge fanbase. These movies mix music, dance, and supernatural elements in a way that kids and teens absolutely love. Julian joining this universe is a big move. It shows Disney sees real star potential in him.
What Fans Are Saying
The Zombies fandom is very active online. Fans have been responding well to Ray as a character, and julian lerner’s natural charisma fits right into the franchise’s fun, energetic vibe. If you look at entertainment coverage sites like our blog covering young Hollywood talent, julian lerner keeps coming up as one to watch.
Monster Summer: The Supernatural Adventure Film
A #1 Hit on Paramount+
He recently starred in Monster Summer, a fantasy-adventure film now streaming as the #1 movie on Paramount+, where he plays a brave teen who teams up with friends and a retired detective (Mel Gibson) to battle a supernatural force. IMDb
Two streaming platform hits in a short period of time is no accident. Julian clearly knows how to pick projects. Monster Summer is the kind of film that families sit down and watch together — and it delivered.
Working With Mel Gibson
Acting alongside a Hollywood veteran like Mel Gibson is a big deal. It shows that the producers and directors trust julian lerner to hold his own in serious scenes with experienced, high-profile actors. That kind of trust doesn’t come easy.
Stage Work: Broadway and National Tours
The Artful Dodger in Oliver!
On stage, Julian wowed New York audiences as The Artful Dodger in Oliver! at New York City Center. IMDb The Artful Dodger is one of the most iconic roles in musical theater. It requires charm, physical comedy, and strong vocals. Julian nailed it.
Les Misérables National Tour
Julian toured the country as Gavroche in the National Broadway Tour of Les Misérables. Fandom Gavroche is a small but powerful role. The character has some of the most emotional moments in the entire show. Performing it night after night on a national tour takes real stamina and talent.
What Stage Work Teaches Young Actors
Here’s why stage experience matters so much:
- You can’t do multiple takes — you have to get it right every time
- You develop real vocal strength and control
- You learn to connect with a live audience
- You build serious discipline and work ethic
- You understand storytelling from the ground up
These are skills that translate directly to film and TV work. julian lerner learned them early, and it shows in every screen performance.
Voice Acting: A Whole Other Talent
Alma’s Way on PBS
For three seasons, he voiced Lucas in PBS’s hit animated series Alma’s Way. IMDb This show is made for young kids and is designed to teach empathy and problem-solving. It’s a show that parents actually feel good about letting their kids watch.
Doing voice work for three full seasons means consistency, professionalism, and the ability to bring a character to life using only your voice. That’s harder than it sounds.
From Now Podcast
He portrays young Brian Cox in the sci-fi podcast From Now (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify). IMDb This is a really unique project. Voicing a young version of a real scientist in a sci-fi story is a cool challenge. It shows that julian lerner is willing to take on creative, non-traditional projects — not just the obvious mainstream stuff.
Other Voice Credits
His additional voice credits include Escape from Virtual Island on Audible and Netflix’s animated Dragon Quest adaptation. Broadway World The Dragon Quest franchise has millions of fans worldwide, so appearing in that animated adaptation is another big deal for his growing profile.
Julian Lerner the Musician
His Music Career
Acting isn’t his only creative outlet. Julian is also a musical artist. He recently released his debut and sophomore singles, “Dead End” and “Velvet,” which has helped him reach an impressive milestone of over two million monthly listeners on Spotify. IMDb
Over two million monthly listeners is impressive for any artist. For a teenager who’s also maintaining a busy acting career, it’s remarkable. His music has a modern, indie-pop feel that resonates with fans his age.
Why Music Matters for His Brand
Musicians who are also actors tend to build stronger fanbases. Think of the biggest young stars in entertainment today — most of them do both. julian lerner is building that kind of multi-dimensional career early, which puts him in a strong position for the future.
Television Appearances and Other Credits
National TV Appearances
In addition to numerous national commercials and voice-overs, guest starring roles on major television shows, appearances on John Oliver, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live, Julian built a strong TV presence. Fandom
Appearing on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show — even briefly — exposes you to a massive national audience. These aren’t small appearances. They’re career builders.
Commercial Work
Before landing big roles, julian lerner was doing national commercials. This is how many young actors start. Commercials teach you how to hit your mark, take direction, and deliver a performance in a short amount of time. It’s good training for the fast pace of TV and film sets.
A Quick Look at Julian Lerner’s Career Timeline
| Year | Project | Platform/Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Pottersville | Netflix | Samuel |
| 2019 | Happy! | Syfy | — |
| 2021 | Yes Day | Netflix | Nando |
| 2021 | The Many Saints of Newark | Film | Rico |
| 2021–Present | The Wonder Years | ABC | Brad Hitman |
| 2021–Present | Alma’s Way | PBS | Lucas (voice) |
| 2023 | Oliver! | NYC Center | Artful Dodger |
| 2024 | Monster Summer | Paramount+ | Eugene |
| 2025 | Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires | Disney | Ray |
What Makes Julian Lerner Stand Out
Here are some things that make julian lerner different from other young actors:
- He started very young — age 7 is rare. Most kids don’t commit that early
- He has real stage experience — Broadway and national tours build skills you can’t learn any other way
- He’s multi-talented — acting, voice work, and music all in one person
- He picks strong projects — from Netflix to Disney to PBS, he’s been on major platforms
- He works with top talent — Jennifer Garner, Jenna Ortega, Mel Gibson, and more
- He has millions of music listeners — proving he’s a complete entertainer
- He’s consistent — not a one-project wonder, he keeps delivering
Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick summary of everything important about julian lerner:
- Born November 5, 2007, in New York City
- Started acting at age 7, film debut at age 8
- Broke out with Netflix’s Yes Day (watched in 53M+ households)
- Plays Brad Hitman in ABC’s The Wonder Years reboot
- Stars as Ray in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney
- Starred in Monster Summer, the #1 movie on Paramount+
- Voiced Lucas on PBS’s Alma’s Way for three seasons
- Played The Artful Dodger in Oliver! at NYC Center
- Released music with 2M+ monthly Spotify listeners
- Based in New York City with a very active career
Conclusion
julian lerner is not just another young actor. He’s building something real and long-lasting. Stage experience, film hits, TV series, voice work, music — he’s covering every corner of the entertainment world. And he’s doing it as a teenager.
What’s impressive is that he’s not chasing fame. He’s building craft. Every role he takes adds something to his skill set. Every platform he works on grows his audience. He’s strategic, talented, and clearly surrounded by people who help guide his career well.
If you’ve not checked out his work yet, Yes Day on Netflix is a great starting point. Then go watch Monster Summer and Zombies 4. By the time you’re done, you’ll fully understand why everyone is talking about this kid.
Keep an eye on julian lerner. He’s just getting started.
FAQ: Julian Lerner
Q: How old is Julian Lerner? Julian Lerner was born on November 5, 2007. That makes him 17 years old as of 2025.
Q: Where is Julian Lerner from? He is from New York City, New York, and is still based there.
Q: What is Julian Lerner best known for? He is best known for Yes Day on Netflix, The Wonder Years on ABC, and Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney Channel.
Q: Does Julian Lerner make music? Yes. He has released singles including “Dead End” and “Velvet” and has over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Q: What stage productions has Julian Lerner been in? He played The Artful Dodger in Oliver! at New York City Center and toured nationally as Gavroche in Les Misérables.
Q: What animated shows has Julian Lerner voiced? He voiced Lucas in PBS’s Alma’s Way for three seasons and appeared in Netflix’s animated Dragon Quest adaptation.
Q: What is Julian Lerner’s most recent major project? As of 2025, his most recent high-profile project is Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney, where he plays Ray.
Q: Has Julian Lerner appeared on any talk shows? Yes. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Saturday Night Live.
