Keiynan Lonsdale (/ˈkiːnən/;[3] born 19 December 1991) is an Australian actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter. He is known for roles such as Oliver Lloyd on the ABC series Dance Academy (2012–2013), and Wally West/Kid Flash on The CW series The Flash (2015–2020) and Legends of Tomorrow (2017–2018), Abraham "Bram" Greenfeld on the movie Love, Simon (2018). He is also known for his film roles in The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015) and The Finest Hours (2016). Lonsdale has also worked as an MTV VJ and released original music recordings, including a studio album in 2020.
Keiynan Lonsdale | |
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![]() Lonsdale at CLEO Bachelors in 2012 | |
Born | (1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 30) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Nationality | Australian |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Musical artist |
Lonsdale was born in Sydney to a Nigerian father of Edo descent and an Australian mother of Irish and Danish descent.[4][5] He has eleven siblings.[6][non-primary source needed]
Lonsdale's first acting job was in 2007, with a dancing part in the film Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance. The following year, he appeared in an episode of the Australian television medical drama All Saints. Lonsdale became a recurring member of the cast of the Australian teen drama series Dance Academy in the 2012 second season as the character Oliver Lloyd, who became a regular in the third and final season.
Lonsdale was a VJ on MTV for two and a half years.[7] He released a single on iTunes titled "One and Only" in 2014. He then played a supporting role as Uriah Pedrad in The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015), the second film in the series,[8] later briefly reprising said role in The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016). In 2016, his single "Higher" was included on Connor Franta's curated album Common Culture, volume 5.[9] Lonsdale next appeared in the historical drama The Finest Hours (2016) as Eldon Hanon, the youngest sailor involved in a rescue at sea.
In 2015, Lonsdale auditioned for the role of Jefferson Jackson, but the role was given to Franz Drameh.[10] Instead, he was cast as Wally West (the previously unknown son of Joe West) on CW's The Flash and became a regular supporting character in season two and as Kid Flash in season three.[11] In 2017, the character left The Flash and debuted on season three of Legends of Tomorrow.[12] That year, Lonsdale also appeared in an episode of Supergirl.[13]
In 2018, Lonsdale starred as Bram in the film Love, Simon, based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli about a teenage boy who struggles to come out. Lonsdale later said the role helped in coming to terms with his own sexuality.[14] Upon release, the film received positive reviews from critics,[15] and was dubbed historically significant, as it is the first film ever released by a major studio to focus on a gay teenage romance.[16][17]
In 2019, Lonsdale starred in Camila Cabello's music video for "Liar".[18] He has also released musical recordings, including "Higher" in 2015, "Good Life" in 2017, "Kiss the Boy" in 2018, and "Preach" in 2018. Lonsdale also released a single "Rainbow Dragon" in 2019.[19]
In 2017, Lonsdale came out on Instagram saying "I like girls, & I like guys".[20] Lonsdale previously did not self-identify with a specific sexuality label, but described himself as gay in a 2022 interview for BuzzFeed.[21][22]
Title | Album details |
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Rainbow Boy |
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Title | EP details |
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Higher Vol. 1 |
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Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"One and Only"[25] | 2014 | Non-album single |
"Higher"[26] | 2015 | Higher Vol. 1 |
"Good Life"[26] | 2017 | Non-album singles |
"Kiss the Boy"[27] | 2018 | |
"Preach"[28] | ||
"Rainbow Dragon"[29] | 2019 | Rainbow Boy |
"Gay Street Fighter"[30] | 2020 | |
"See You There" (with Castelle)[31] |
Non-album single | |
"Rhythm & Music"[32] | 2021 | Rainbow Boy |
"Gods of the Disco" | 2021 | Non-album single |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance | Miss Elizabeth's Dance Troupe | |
2015 | The Divergent Series: Insurgent | Uriah Pedrad | |
2016 | The Finest Hours | Eldon Hanon | |
The Divergent Series: Allegiant | Uriah Pedrad | ||
2017 | Dance Academy: The Movie | Oliver Lloyd | |
Like. Share. Follow. | Garrett | ||
2018 | Love, Simon | Bram Greenfeld | |
2020 | Work It | Julliard Pembroke | [33] |
2022 | My Fake Boyfriend | Drew | |
TBA | Weetzie Bat | Duck |
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | All Saints | Corey | Seven Network | Episode: "Sons and Lovers" |
2012–2013 | Dance Academy | Oliver Lloyd | ABC1 | Recurring role (season 2); main role (season 3) |
2015–2018, 2020 | The Flash | Wally West / Kid Flash | The CW | Main role (seasons 2–4), special guest star (season 5–6) |
2017–2018 | Legends of Tomorrow | Main role (season 3);[34][12] special guest star (2 episodes) | ||
2017 | Supergirl | Episode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1" | ||
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 4 | Self | VH1 | Guest Judge; episode: "Snatch Game of Love"[35] |
2020 | Love, Victor | Bram Greenfeld | Hulu | Guest star[36] |
Equal | Bayard Rustin | HBO Max | Docuseries | |
2021 | Eden | Cam | Stan | Main Role[37] |
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
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2018 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Kiss (shared with Nick Robinson) | Love, Simon | Won | [38] |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Ship (shared with Nick Robinson) | Nominated | [39] | ||
2021 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist | Rainbow Boy | Pending | [40] |
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