Glen Powell

Glen Powell

Latest News: Glen Powell Stars in Twisters

Glen Powell draws from a harrowing personal experience to prepare for his role in the highly anticipated summer blockbuster, Twisters. In a recent interview with Total Film, the 35-year-old actor recounted a terrifying tornado scare he faced during his childhood in Texas.

“It was an F5—one of the big ones,” Powell described, recalling the storm that hit the small city of Jarrell while he and his family were driving nearby. “I was outrunning it with my aunt Taffy and a car full of cousins. I remember having to take shelter. It didn’t get close enough to cause any damage, but I vividly recall the fear of being on the road as the most powerful tornado imaginable approached.”

In Twisters, Powell will confront these formidable storms directly, portraying fictional storm chaser Tyler Owens. The film, which also stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos, is set to hit theaters on July 19.

Who Is Glen Powell?

Glen Powell is widely recognized for his performances in the action film Top Gun: Maverick and the romantic comedy Anyone But You. Raised in Austin, Texas, Powell began his artistic journey at a young age, performing in theater before landing his first film role as a teenager in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003). After spending a decade in minor supporting roles, he gained significant recognition with his role in the TV horror comedy Scream Queens and his portrayal of astronaut John Glenn in the 2016 biographical drama Hidden Figures. Today, Powell is considered one of Hollywood’s rising stars.

Early Life and Family Background

Glen Thomas Powell Jr. was born on October 21, 1988, in Austin, Texas. He is the son of Glen Powell Sr., a former executive coach, and Cyndy Powell, who dedicated her time to raising Glen and his two siblings, Lauren and Leslie.

From an early age, Powell displayed a keen interest in filmmaking, largely inspired by his parents. At just five years old, his father took him to see Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park. Captivated, Glen watched the film multiple times, eager to understand its special effects. According to Austin Monthly, he began creating his own science fiction films as a child, using a home video camera and enlisting his friends as actors while searching for props in his family’s basement. His parents recognized his passion and encouraged him to pursue acting classes. Glen participated in the Austin Musical Theater program, earning an understudy role in The Music Man in 2000, and appeared in productions of The Sound of Music and Oliver! at the Paramount Theater.

Even today, Glen Sr. and Cyndy remain actively involved in their son’s life and career, making cameos in several of his films. Most recently, they appeared as a beachgoing couple in the 2022 war drama Devotion and as airline passengers in the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You. “Your parents are your wingmen on this journey, and I have the best wingmen alive,” Powell remarked.

Although he was already establishing himself as a screen actor, Powell completed his education at Westwood High School in Texas, where he excelled in football and lacrosse before graduating in 2007. He later pursued studies in radio, TV, and film at the University of Texas at Austin but did not complete his degree.

Movies: Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You

Glen Powell’s journey into the film industry began in his hometown of Austin, where he landed his first on-screen role as the “Long-fingered Boy” in the 2003 children’s adventure sequel Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, filmed and produced locally. Director Robert Rodriguez discovered Powell, then just 14, during a search for “local hires” to complement the predominantly Los Angeles-based cast. Rodriguez remarked, “You’re just trying to find someone locally that won’t get nervous, that’ll give a performance that kind of measures up to the other actors. He walks in with a stature and confidence and just nails it. So now, it’s no surprise to see [he made it as an actor]; he already had that quality at 14 and clarity of vision that that’s what he was supposed to be.”

During the next few years, the young actor, credited at the time as Glen Powell Jr., took on minor roles in lesser-known films such as The Wendell Baker Story (2005), Fast Food Nation (2006), and The Hottest State (2006). While still attending Westwood High School, Powell considered deprioritizing his acting career. However, a pivotal pep talk from Denzel Washington on the set of the 2007 historical drama The Great Debaters reinvigorated his aspirations. Playing Harvard University student Preston Whittington, Powell impressed the two-time Oscar winner, who encouraged him: “You should double down on yourself. You should give [acting] a shot,” Powell recounted on Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist.

Rising Star: The Dark Knight Rises and Hidden Figures

Taking Washington’s advice to heart, Powell gradually transitioned to more prominent roles, starting with an appearance as an unnamed trader in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012). This was followed by a role in the ensemble film The Expendables 3 (2014), alongside iconic action stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In 2016, Powell portrayed astronaut John Glenn in the critically acclaimed historical drama Hidden Figures, which tells the story of NASA’s pioneering Black women, including Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Johnson Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Reflecting on the film’s early screenings, Powell expressed his initial concerns: “I just remember being like, ‘I ruined this beautiful movie, the legacy of these amazing women.’” Fortunately, both critics and audiences disagreed, as the film grossed over $230 million and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Powell then shifted gears to comedy, starring in Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) and the Netflix romantic comedy Set It Up (2018), setting the stage for his emergence as a leading man.

Top Gun: Maverick

After a four-year hiatus from the silver screen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Powell made a remarkable return in 2022 with three films, including the war drama Devotion, the Netflix animated comedy Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood, and Top Gun: Maverick. This sequel to the 1986 classic, featuring Tom Cruise, became a cultural phenomenon, grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and providing Powell with unprecedented visibility.

In the film, Powell portrayed Jake “Hangman” Seresin, a cocky naval aviator trained by Cruise’s titular character. Interestingly, Powell originally auditioned for the role of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, which ultimately went to Miles Teller. However, after receiving personal praise from Cruise regarding his audition, Powell was invited to remain involved in the project.

To prepare for his role, Powell underwent rigorous training, including underwater escape simulations and flying F-18 aircraft to acclimate to the G-forces he would experience during filming. In a generous gesture, Cruise even financed Powell’s completion of flight school, enabling him to obtain his pilot’s license.

Initially, Powell found Seresin’s arrogant character challenging to embrace, likening him to the antagonist Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series. Yet, “Hangman” ultimately emerged as one of the most memorable characters in Top Gun: Maverick. Reflecting on his initial hesitation, Powell noted, “It was a leap of faith. In hindsight, I’m like, God, I can’t imagine if I missed out on this one, but it wasn’t so obvious.”

Anyone But You

In 2023, Powell starred in another major success with the romantic comedy Anyone But You, a modern reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Co-starring Sydney Sweeney from Euphoria, the film showcased their undeniable on-screen chemistry as singles pretending to be a couple at a destination wedding. The movie ultimately became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in the United States in eight years.

Looking ahead to 2024, Powell is poised to sustain his career momentum with the action film Hit Man, set to premiere on Netflix on June 7, where he also serves as a writer and producer. Additionally, he stars as storm chaser Tyler Owens in the disaster film Twisters, which is scheduled for a July 19 theatrical release. Netflix recently acquired the rights to the legal drama Monsanto for over $30 million, with Powell reportedly set to star alongside Anthony Mackie and Laura Dern.

Scream Queens and Other TV Shows

Beyond his film roles, Powell has made significant contributions to television. After a minor role on The WB’s Jack & Bobby in 2004, he appeared in various notable series, including Without a Trace, CSI: Miami, Rizzoli & Isles, and NCIS between 2008 and 2012. His breakout came with a recurring role in the Fox horror comedy Scream Queens (2015-2016), where he played fraternity brother Chad Radwell across 16 episodes. “The amount of people that come up to me about Scream Queens is shocking, probably more than anything else I’ve ever done,” Powell noted in December 2023. “Maybe it ages like a fine wine.”

Additionally, Powell lent his voice to the Netflix animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous from 2020 to 2022, and made a guest appearance in a 2023 episode of Rick and Morty.

Relationship History

Currently single, Powell has never been married. His most recent relationship was with model Gigi Paris, which lasted approximately three years starting in 2020. The couple made several public appearances together, including the 2022 premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. However, reports in April 2023 indicated they had “broken up several times” and decided to end their relationship permanently.

Following the on-screen chemistry displayed in Anyone But You, speculation arose regarding a potential romance between Powell and Sweeney, coinciding with his breakup from Paris. While the actors have denied these rumors, they admitted to playfully engaging with the speculation to promote their film. Powell even made a cameo during Sweeney’s monologue as host of Saturday Night Live in March 2024, humorously addressing the gossip.

“Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit—and it worked wonderfully,” Powell told The New York Times.

Previously, Powell was linked to actress Nina Dobrev in 2017 and Australian TV host Renee Bargh from 2018 to 2019.

Net Worth

While Glen Powell’s exact net worth has not been disclosed, Life & Style magazine reported in May 2024 that his fortune is estimated between $7 million and $10 million. Given the success of Anyone But You, this figure is likely to have increased, with reports indicating Powell received $5 million for his role in the film.