actor, musician, star of CBS hit So Help Me Todd, known for Pitch Perfect & NBC’s Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Skylar Astin is a celebrated actor with an exceptional career across stage and screen.
Astin can currently be seen leading CBS’s new dramedy SO HELP ME TODD, opposite Marcia Gay Harden. The series follows razor-sharp, meticulous attorney Margaret Wright (Gay Harden) and her talented but directionless son Todd (Astin) whom she hires at her law firm as an in-house investigator. The series premiered on September 29th on CBS and the show’s themes are rooted in exploring family dynamics and unconditional love – including the funny moments that come along between Marcia’s character Margaret who doesn’t have a ton of faith in her son. The series launch finished first in its time period, attracting 4.69 million viewers, the best series premiere on any network so far in the 2022 Fall season.
This year, Skylar returned to the theater in the Off-Broadway revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS as Seymour, directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer. He was also seen in the HBO documentary SPRING AWAKENING: THOSE YOU’VE KNOWN. He and the rest of the remarkable cast revisited their roles and ultimately re-sparked the cultural phenomenon musical which first put Skylar on the map and went on to win 8 Tony Awards in 2007. Following the release of the documentary, Skylar performed a special rendition of “Touch Me” at this year’s Tony Awards with the original cast, which was a major highlight of the award show.
Astin can most recently be seen starring in two seasons of NBC’s ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST alongside an all-star cast including Jane Levy, Mary Steenburgen, and Peter Gallagher. Written and executive produced by Austin Winsberg, the series follows Zoey, a young woman who discovered she had the ability to hear the innermost thoughts of people around her as songs and musical numbers. The series features exciting renditions of pop songs, as well as Emmy-winning choreography from Mandy Moore.
In 2020, Astin was seen in SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS, an original live action film for Disney+. Directed by Anna Mastro (Marvel's RUNAWAYS and THE BOLD TYPE), the film follows Sam, a teenage royal rebel second-in-line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria, who discovers she has super human abilities and is invited to join a secret society of similar second-born royals charged with keeping the world safe. Astin plays James, the Secret Society instructor to this new class of second-born royals. For his role, Skylar was nominated for a Critics' Choice Super Award in the category of Best Actor in a Superhero Movie.
Astin is perhaps best known for his star turn as ‘Jesse’ in the hit PITCH PERFECT franchise. Additional big screen credits include GHOSTS OF WAR; 21 AND OVER opposite Miles Teller; TAKING WOODSTOCK for director Ang Lee; the Sundance cult-hit HAMLET 2; FLOCK OF DUDES; CAVEMEN; and the beloved Disney animated film WRECK IT RALPH.
In 2018, Astin starred opposite Golden Globe-winner Rachel Bloom in the final season of The CW’s CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND. Other television credits include the Golden Globe-nominated dark comedy GRAVES, Frank Coraci's comedy HOT AIR opposite Steve Coogan, Bill Lawrence's half hour multi-camera comedy GROUND FLOOR and has made guest appearances in GIRLS, HALT AND CATCH FIRE, HOUSE, and LOVE BITES.
A native New Yorker, Astin portrayed the iconic role of 'Tony' in Carnegie Hall's performance of WEST SIDE STORY and received rave reviews in Encore's production of Kurt Vonnegut's GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER. He was also seen in Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck’s play, WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST.
Astin currently resides in Los Angeles.