Skylar Astin | |
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Born |
Skylar Astin Lipstein September 23, 1987 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor & Singer |
Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse(s) | Anna Camp (m. 2016) |
Skylar Astin Lipstein (born September 23, 1987), known professionally as Skylar Astin, is an American actor and singer. He is best known for playing Jesse Swanson in the musical films Pitch Perfect (2012) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). He was also in the original cast of the award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening and has appeared in films such as Hamlet 2 (2008), (2009), Cavemen (2013), and 21 & Over (2013).
Astin was born in New York City, the son of Meryl and Barry Lipstein, a garment industry executive. He grew up in Rockland County, New York. He has a sister, Brielle, and two brothers, Milan and Jace. Astin is Jewish. Having graduated from Clarkstown High School North, he attended Stagedoor Manor performing arts summer camp. He was also a student at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but he took a leave of absence when cast in Spring Awakening. When he was 15, his agent selected his middle name, Astin, as his stage name.
Astin's first professional role was a minor role in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway casts Spring Awakening as Georg, a male student with a crush on his piano teacher. He had short solos in multiple songs, but the character is most remembered for his belting in the song Touch Me. During his run as Georg, Astin filmed the role Rand Posin in the movie Hamlet 2. He sang "Raped in the Face" on the soundtrack with Phoebe Strole, a Spring Awakening cast mate, and his co-star in the film, and the film's star, Steve Coogan. Screenings of the film at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival led to Astin signing on with United Talent Agency.