Who Is Ty Simpkins
Ty Simpkins is an American actor born on August 6, 2001, in New York City. He began acting as a baby and has worked in movies, television, and theater. He is best known for his roles as Harley Keener in Iron Man 3 (2013) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), Dalton Lambert in the Insidious film series, and Gray Mitchell in Jurassic World (2015). In 2022, he played Thomas in The Whale alongside Brendan Fraser.
Simpkins’s career includes both big-budget films and smaller dramas. He has worked with well-known directors such as Shane Black, James Wan, and Darren Aronofsky. Reviewers have noted his natural acting and steady growth from child to adult roles.
Early Life and Family
Ty Keegan Simpkins was born to Monique and Stephen Simpkins. His sister, Ryan Simpkins, is also an actor who has appeared in A Single Man (2009) and Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021). The Simpkins family lived in New York City, where both children started acting as infants.
Simpkins later attended San Diego State University in California. He has mentioned in interviews that his parents supported his acting from the start and helped him manage both school and film work.
Start of Acting Career
Simpkins began acting at three weeks old in the television show One Life to Live, where he played baby Jack Manning. Soon after, he joined the cast of Guiding Light as Jude Cooper Bauer and appeared in over 40 episodes from 2001 to 2005.
He later appeared in several other television shows, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Private Practice. These early parts helped him gain experience and confidence before moving into feature films.
Breakthrough with Ty Simpkins Movies
Early Film Roles (2005 – 2008)
War of the Worlds (2005)
Ty Simpkins made his first movie appearance in War of the Worlds, a science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is based on the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells. It stars Tom Cruise as a father trying to protect his children during an alien attack. Dakota Fanning played his daughter, and Simpkins appeared as a small child in a supporting role. This was his first time working on a large Hollywood set.
Little Children (2006)
In Little Children, Simpkins played Aaron Adamson, the son of the main characters played by Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson. The movie is a drama about suburban families dealing with personal struggles. Critics praised the film for its story and acting. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Winslet. Simpkins’ part was small but helped him gain more experience in serious roles.
All the King’s Men (2006)
Simpkins played the young version of Jude Law’s character, Jack Burden, in All the King’s Men. The movie is based on the 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren about a politician’s rise to power in the American South. The film also starred Sean Penn and Anthony Hopkins. Even though the movie received mixed reviews, it gave Simpkins a chance to work with well-known actors early in his career.
Gardens of the Night (2008)
In Gardens of the Night, Simpkins played Dylan Whitehead, a child who faces life on the streets after being kidnapped. The film was directed by Damian Harris and stars Gillian Jacobs and John Malkovich. It tells a dark and emotional story about survival and friendship. The movie was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival and praised for its realistic tone. This was one of Simpkins’ first serious dramatic performances.
Pride and Glory (2008)
Simpkins appeared as Matthew Egan in Pride and Glory, a crime drama about a family of New York City police officers. The movie stars Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight. Simpkins played the son of Norton’s character. The film explores loyalty and corruption inside a police family. His role was small, but it put him in scenes with major Hollywood names.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
In Revolutionary Road, Simpkins played Michael Wheeler, the son of Frank and April Wheeler, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film is based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates and directed by Sam Mendes. It tells the story of a young couple living in the suburbs during the 1950s, struggling with their dreams and marriage. Simpkins acted alongside his sister, Ryan Simpkins, who played his on-screen sister, Jennifer. The movie received strong reviews and several award nominations.
Rising Popularity (2009 – 2012)
Family of Four (2009)
Ty Simpkins played Tommy Baker in Family of Four, a small family drama that tells the story of parents trying to reconnect with their children. The film showed his ability to handle emotional roles at a young age. Though not a major release, it gave him experience in a quiet, character-driven story.
The Next Three Days (2010)
In The Next Three Days, Simpkins played Luke Brennan, the son of John and Lara Brennan, played by Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks. The movie follows a man trying to free his wife after she is accused of a crime. Directed by Paul Haggis, the film was a mix of action and drama. Simpkins appeared in several emotional scenes that helped show his early skill in acting with well-known stars.
Insidious (2010)
Simpkins gained major attention for his role as Dalton Lambert in Insidious, a horror movie directed by James Wan. The story follows a family haunted by dark forces after their son falls into a mysterious coma. Simpkins played Dalton, the child at the center of the haunting. The movie became a big hit and started one of the most popular horror series of the decade. His performance was praised for feeling natural and real, even in intense scenes.
Arcadia (2012)
In Arcadia, Simpkins played Nat, one of the children in a story about a father moving his family across the country after a separation. The movie starred John Hawkes and explored family changes and growing up. It was an independent film that appeared at film festivals and showed Simpkins’ range in smaller, thoughtful stories.
Extracted (2012)
Simpkins appeared as Young Anthony in Extracted, a science fiction drama about a scientist who can enter people’s memories. His part was short but important for showing the lead character’s childhood. The film had a small release but later gained attention from fans of indie science fiction movies.
Major Success (2013 – 2016)
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Simpkins played Harley Keener in Iron Man 3, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His character was a young boy who helps Tony Stark fix his suit after it breaks down in Tennessee. The film was directed by Shane Black and starred Robert Downey Jr. It became one of the highest-grossing movies of 2013. The role introduced Simpkins to a global audience and made him part of one of the biggest movie franchises in the world.
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
Simpkins returned as Dalton Lambert in Insidious: Chapter 2, again directed by James Wan. The story continued the events of the first film, showing what happened to Dalton and his family after they escaped the dark realm. The movie kept its mix of family drama and horror. His return helped connect the sequel to the first film’s story.
Hangman (2015)
In Hangman, Simpkins played Max Miller. The film is a family drama about a father and son dealing with loss and trying to rebuild their relationship. It was a small independent production that showed Simpkins’ continued interest in character-driven projects.
Meadowland (2015)
Simpkins played Adam, a child with special needs, in Meadowland. The movie starred Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson. It tells the story of a couple coping with the disappearance of their son. Simpkins’ performance was quiet and emotional. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival and received praise for its realistic acting and tone.
Jurassic World (2015)
Simpkins played Gray Mitchell in Jurassic World, the fourth film in the Jurassic Park series. His character visits the new dinosaur theme park with his brother, played by Nick Robinson. The movie was directed by Colin Trevorrow and starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. It became one of the highest-grossing films ever made. Simpkins’ role introduced him to another major movie franchise and reached a worldwide audience.
Barbados (2015)
Simpkins appeared as Gary in Barbados, a short film about friendship and finding connection. The film was part of a small project meant to explore simple human stories. Though it did not have a wide release, it added to his growing list of independent works.
The Nice Guys (2016)
In The Nice Guys, Simpkins played Bobby, a young boy caught up in a case investigated by two private detectives. The movie was directed by Shane Black and starred Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. It mixed action, comedy, and mystery and was praised for its humor and sharp writing. Simpkins’ role was brief but showed his continuing connection with director Shane Black after their work on Iron Man 3.
Continued Work and Mature Roles (2018 – 2023)
Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
Ty Simpkins appeared in Insidious: The Last Key through archive footage from earlier films. The movie continued the story of paranormal events linked to the Lambert family. Even though Simpkins did not film new scenes, his earlier role as Dalton remained an important part of the story’s background.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Simpkins returned briefly as Harley Keener in Avengers: Endgame. He appeared in a short scene during Tony Stark’s funeral. This connected his character from Iron Man 3 to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans noticed his cameo because it tied back to his earlier bond with Tony Stark.
Summer Lightning (2019)
In Summer Lightning, Simpkins played Philip Olson, a young man dealing with change and family relationships. It was a short independent film that focused on emotional storytelling. The project allowed Simpkins to continue exploring smaller and more personal film work outside of major studio projects.
Where’s Rose (2021)
Simpkins starred as Eric Daniels in Where’s Rose, a folk horror film directed by John Mathis. The story follows a man whose sister disappears and returns acting differently. The movie mixes family drama with dark supernatural themes. It was shown at several film festivals and received attention for its eerie tone and psychological story.
The Whale (2022)
In The Whale, Simpkins played Thomas, a young missionary who visits Charlie, played by Brendan Fraser. The movie tells the story of a teacher trying to reconnect with his daughter while dealing with health problems. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, it won several major awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor. Critics praised the cast for their emotional performances. Simpkins’ role helped him show a more mature side of his acting as an adult.
Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Simpkins returned to one of his most famous roles as Dalton Lambert in Insidious: The Red Door. The movie follows Dalton as a college student who begins to remember the events from his childhood. It was directed by Patrick Wilson, who also stars in the film. This marked Simpkins’ full return to the series that helped start his career, now playing the same character as an adult.
The Re-Education of Molly Singer (2023)
In The Re-Education of Molly Singer, Simpkins played Elliot. The film is a comedy about a lawyer who goes back to college to help a young client. It starred Britt Robertson and Jamie Pressly. Simpkins’ role added a mix of humor and energy to the movie, showing another side of his acting range.
Television Roles
One Life to Live (2001 – 2002)
Ty Simpkins played Jack Manning in four episodes of One Life to Live. The show was a popular daytime drama that aired on ABC. His part came early in his career when he was a young child. The series focused on family life and emotional conflicts in the town of Llanview.
Guiding Light (2001 – 2005)
Simpkins appeared as Jude Cooper Bauer in 47 episodes of Guiding Light. This long-running soap opera aired on CBS and is known as one of the oldest shows in American television history. His role helped him gain steady experience working on a major TV production. During this time, he acted alongside many veteran soap opera performers.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2005)
He appeared as Jake Nikos in one episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The series followed detectives solving complex crimes in New York City. Simpkins’ episode was part of the show’s fourth season, giving him a chance to appear in a high-profile network drama early in his career.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2008)
Simpkins played Tyler Waldrip in one episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The show centered on forensic investigators solving murder cases in Las Vegas. His episode focused on a case involving young people, which allowed him to work with a large cast of experienced TV actors.
Private Practice (2008)
In Private Practice, Simpkins played Braden Tisch. The show followed a group of doctors working in Los Angeles. His character appeared in an emotional story about a boy facing serious personal challenges. The episode showed Simpkins’ ability to handle dramatic scenes even at a young age.
Family Guy (2016)
Simpkins voiced the Little Drummer Boy in an episode of Family Guy. The series is a well-known animated comedy created by Seth MacFarlane. His short voice role appeared in a Christmas-themed episode, marking one of his few ventures into animation voice work.
Chimerica (2019)
He played Young Lee Berger in Chimerica, a British drama series based on the award-winning stage play by Lucy Kirkwood. The show aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It explored the story of a photographer searching for the identity of a protester from the 1989 Tiananmen Square photo known as “Tank Man.” Simpkins appeared in flashback scenes showing the character’s younger years.
Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (2021)
Simpkins appeared as Anthony in one episode of Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. The Disney+ show is a modern version of the classic 1990s series Doogie Howser, M.D. It follows a teenage doctor working in Hawaii. Simpkins’ role was small but showed his continued work across both film and streaming television.
Video Game Roles
Lego Jurassic World (2015)
Simpkins voiced Gray Mitchell in Lego Jurassic World, a video game based on the Jurassic World film. The game allowed players to explore events from the movie in a light, family-friendly style. His voice role matched his character from the 2015 film, helping connect the game directly to the movie’s story.
Lego Dimensions (2015)
He again voiced Gray Mitchell in Lego Dimensions, a crossover video game that brought together characters from different franchises like Batman, Doctor Who, and Jurassic World. His work in the game linked his film role to a wider audience of younger players through the Lego universe.
Theater Work
Cabaret (2018)
Simpkins played Ernst in a Cabaret production by Debatable Productions. The play is set in 1930s Berlin and follows the lives of performers during political unrest. His part showed his interest in live theater performance.
Annie (2019)
He appeared as Rooster in a stage production of Annie. The musical tells the story of a young orphan searching for her parents. Playing Rooster, one of the villains, gave Simpkins a chance to perform in a lively and classic stage role.
Awards and Recognition
- Nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Iron Man 3, 2014).
- Won a Jurassic World recognition award (2016).
- Nominated for Young Artist Awards and Young Entertainer Awards in 2016.
- Nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Cabaret at the Broadway World Los Angeles Awards (2018).
Recent Work and Future Plans
Ty Simpkins continues to work in both films and television. His recent appearances in The Whale and Insidious: The Red Door show his growth from a child star to a mature actor. He remains active in the industry and has been linked with upcoming independent projects.
Why Ty Simpkins Movies Stand Out
Ty Simpkins’ movies span across many genres: science fiction, horror, action, and drama. From War of the Worlds to Jurassic World and The Whale, his career shows steady growth and a wide range. His roles often show young characters facing fear, change, or responsibility, making him one of the most familiar faces among actors who began working as children.