Gallery
ByAJ Caulfield/Updated: April 26, 2017 9:21 am EST
Netflix's newest television darling is the heartbreaking series 13 Reasons Why. A drama based on the 2007 Jay Asher novel of the same name, 13 Reasons Why features a ton of fresh-faced actors, most notably in the never-before-seen Katherine Langford, whose role as the late Hannah Baker marks her entrance into the mainstream acting world. But among the relative unknowns is an actor we swear we've seen before, one arguably even more important than Langford herself. At the true center of the show is Dylan Minnette, who plays the naive and entirely in-over-his-head high school student Clay Jensen. Whether it's his distinctive set of peepers or his boyish build, there's definitely something about Minnette that's likely left you asking yourself, "Where do I know him from?" Here's why Clay from 13 Reasons Why looks so familiar.
Saving Grace (2007-2010)
Following one-off small-screen appearances in shows like Drake & Josh and Two and a Half Men, and dabbling in direct-to-video movies like Snow Buddies and Clique, Minnette made a splash in the TNT crime drama series Saving Grace, where he played the young and oh-so lovable Clay Norman, the nephew of the strung-out, self-destructive detective Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter). Grace poured genuine love, care, and trust into Clay, and while her life often appears shaken among the crimes she's dedicated to solving (and the ones she commits herself), the baby-faced boy was a much-needed constant. Critics were a huge fan of him as well, nominating him for back-to-back Young Artist Awards in 2008 and 2009 for best performance in a TV series, once for the under-10 category and the a second time for a recurring young actor classification. Though the show ran for just three short seasons though and Minnette only popped up in 28 of the 46 total episodes, his work as Clay in Saving Grace placed him on a track toward bigger, brighter projects.
Lost (2010)
It wasn't long after Minnette departed from Saving Grace at its wrap that he landed a role in what many consider one of the greatest pieces of television in recent memory. Notoriously complex and hotly debated (especially for that ending) even years later, Lost is a staple in the collections of many TV lovers. And Minnette had a part in it, too. Well, at least in the "flash sideways" world of Lost. Minnette took on the role of David Shephard, the could've-been son of Dr. Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) and Juliet Carlson (Elizabeth Mitchell).
A talented pianist but definitely a child scorned, David had trouble connecting to Jack, mostly due to their completely different expectations of how a father-son dynamic should look and how they should behave as individuals. Fans likely remember Minnette from Season 6's "Lighthouse," in which Jack sits David down for a heart-to-heart conversation and reveals that he shouldn't be afraid to fail because, in Jack's eyes, he never could. Cue the waterworks. However, Minnette's character only existed in a post-death metaphysical realm, as it's later revealed Jack never had a son and Juliet surely didn't raise one. Still, Minnette's performance was as real as ever, and helped him snag his next role.
Let Me In (2010)
Here's where things get dark. Minnette entered the horror scene as Kenny in Let Me In, an American-British adaptation of the 2008 Swedish flick, Let the Right One In. The film, which technically draws inspiration from the shared source material, John Ajvide Lindqvist's vampy novel of the same name, follows a 12-year-old schoolboy named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is bullied relentlessly by his classmates, only finding solace with his vampire friend, Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz). But none of the adolescent antagonists are more ruthless than Kenny. Beneath Kenny's shaggy hair and still-boyish visage is an ever-burning furnace of rage, and Minnette proves his acting chops in scenes where he takes every ounce of aggression out on the defenseless Owen, going so far as to attack him in the boys' locker room and scar his cheek with an antenna. Minnette probably never actually harmed anyone this seriously during his own grade school days, but he played a pre-teen tormentor quite well. So much so that he nabbed two Young Artist Award nominations for his fist-swinging skills.
Awake (2012)
Audiences definitely woke up when they saw Minnette in Awake, the short-lived police procedural starring Jason Isaacs as Michael Britten, a Los Angeles Police Department detective who's torn apart (literally) between two different timelines after a car accident involving his wife and teenage son launches him into the inexplicable supernatural. In the series, which garnered rave reviews from critics and amassed quite a fan following during its 13-episode run, Minnette plays Britten's son, Rex, appearing only in what's known as the "green reality," the world in which Rex survives the tragedy and his mother (Laura Allen) doesn't.
Minnette starred in tandem with other noteworthy actors such as Mr. Robot actor BD Wong as Dr. Jonathan Lee, One Tree Hill darling Michaela McManus as Tara, That '70s Show alum Wilmer Valderrama as Detective Efrem Vega, and Tony Award-winning actress Cherry Jones as Dr. Judith Evans. Despite all the established fame surrounding him, Minnette shone in Awake, landing the role only two weeks after auditioning and then grabbing the attention of a ton of critics. One even called the show "hauntingly, daringly original" and "so unconventional it feels like a dream." Too bad it ended so quickly.
Prisoners (2013)
Minnette stepped into the spotlight alongside some well-established actors for the Denis Villeneuve-helmed flick Prisoners, a scintillating thriller that centers around one father's primal reaction to an unthinkable crime. The then-17-year-old Minnette was just a piece of the glimmering ensemble puzzle, which included the likes of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, and Melissa Leo. But he stood out for all the right reasons and likely caught your eye in the process.
As typical teenager Ralph Dover, Minnette performs directly opposite Jackman, who plays his on-screen father, Keller, the not-quite protagonist who abducts and tortures a man (Paul Dano) he suspects has kidnapped his daughter. Viewers first see Minnette shoot a deer with Jackman, and then again in the film's most pivotal scene: when his sister Anna (Erin Gerasimovich) and family friend Eliza (Zoe Borde) are plucked from their friendly neighborhood street. Minnette's performance unravels as the film progresses, and you probably recognize him most from the search party and RV-stalking scenes. Prisoners was a commercial and critical success, raking in $122 million in the global box office and nabbing reviews that stamped it as an "exhilarating and penetrating theater experience." With his fellow cast members, Minnette won the National Board of Review Award for best ensemble in 2013.
Scandal (2014)
In 2014, Minnette booked a six-episode run in the third season of Scandal. On the heart-stopping political drama, Minnette played Fitzgerald "Jerry" Grant IV, the son of President Fitz (Tony Goldwyn). Unfortunately, Minnette's Scandal character met a gruesome fate in the Season 3 finale. Jerry was killed by Secret Service Agent Tom Larsen (Brian Letscher) on request from Rowan (Joe Morton), Olivia Pope's father, who had Jerry murdered as payback for Fitz taking his daughter (Kerry Washington) away from him. "He took my child, so I took his," Rowan explained in a later episode. Talk about cold-blooded.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
The young actor quickly moved from actual scenes of torture to a metaphorically torturous 24 hours. Minnette's next project saw him sit in a leading role in the family comedy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Sandwiched between household names Jennifer Garner (who plays his mother, Kelly) and Steve Carell (who plays his father, Ben), Minnette portrayed the titular character's older and uncaring brother, Anthony Cooper. For the majority of the film's run, Minnette's Anthony is torn between an on-again/off-again relationship with girlfriend Celia (Bella Thorne), struggling to pass his driving test so he can roll up to prom without parental guidance, and prone to multiple accidents, the worst of which causes his academic suspension. By the time Alexander wraps up and the sun finally sets on the infamously awful day, Minnette's Anthony learns the value of family. How sweet!
While the feel-good movie fared well on the financial front, it was wishy-washy with critics. Some called it "irritating." One even proclaimed that the movie's characters "should have to suffer twice as many embarrassments if they want to earn all those adjectives in the title." But others appreciated Alexander's "slight sense of social awkwardness" that ultimately contributed to an overall charm and gave it a total thumbs-up. Regardless, Minnette plays the (literally) fumbling teen Anthony with ease. And if one thing about his performance here connects to what you saw in 13 Reasons Why, it's probably the Clay Jensen-esque forehead bandage. (How uncanny is that?)
Small roles in big shows
Like most actors, Minnette has circled around for guest appearances quite a few times in his career, popping up on some popular series along the way. In his childhood, Minnette played a young Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) on the acclaimed serial drama Prison Break and Danny Carter on 2009 episode of Supernatural. A few years later, from 2010 to 2011, he appeared as Reed in four episodes of the Ray Romano-created comedy-drama Men of a Certain Age. He even won a Young Artists Award for a best guest-starring performance by a young actor in a TV series for his role on the supernatural drama Medium. Minnette portrayed Cameron, a teen accused of murder.
Single-episode stints on Lie to Me, Against the Wall, and R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series came next for Minnette in 2011. (He returned to The Haunting Hour as a different character in 2013.) In 2012, Minnette appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's "Learning Curve" episode, in which he played Luca Gabardelli, a troubled high school student entangled in a sexual assault allegations case. The intensity didn't falter, as Minnette then took on guest roles in the pulpy police procedural Major Crimes and the action-thriller series Nikita before easing up in the sweet sitcom Save Me in 2013. The following year, he played the icy supervillain Blizzard, aka Donnie Gill, on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Goosebumps (2015)
Off that brutal and bloody note, Minnette took a dive into something markedly more lighthearted. After appearing in two episodes of R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series, Minnette jumped back into Stine's world of creep for the spooky comedy Goosebumps. Minnette plays Zach Cooper, the unassuming neighbor of R.L. Stine (Jack Black). The film follows Zach as he settles into his new Maryland home after moving from the Big Apple. Despite the small town's apparent quaintness, danger lurks right outside Zach's window. And when Stine's made-up creations come to life, set free by his demonic dummy named Slappy, Zach teams up with Stine's niece (Odeya Rush) to wrangle the monsters. Minnette joined Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell, Halston Sage, and Ken Marino for the movie, which grossed over $150 million in the box office and landed a Las Vegas Film Critics Society nomination for best family film.
Don't Breathe (2016)
Minnette's most recent appearance on the silver screen was in Don't Breathe, the chilling horror-thriller flick directed and co-written by Fede Alvarez. The flick focuses on a trio of teenagers who all have a penchant for breaking-and-entering. Minnette plays Alex, one of the three friends who gets trapped inside the house of the Blind Man (Stephen Lang) during what appears to be a routine forced entry. In the film, Minnette's character struggles to make it out alive, facing multiple deadly obstacles on his way. Suburgatory actress Jane Levy and It Follows star Daniel Zovatto join Minnette to round out the central characters, but not all of them live to see the end of the movie. Don't Breathe pulled in more than $150 million worldwide against its low production budget of $9.9 million. The Alvarez-backed flick wound up a total late-summer sleeper hit and a favorite among critics. Variety's Dennis Harvey called it "a muscular exercise in brutal, relentless peril." Even Evil Dead creator and well-known director Sam Raimi (who also produced Don't Breathe) mentioned that a sequel film is in the works, one he calls "the greatest idea for a sequel I've ever heard." Looks like we'll be seeing much more of Minnette soon.
FAQs
Why Clay From 13 Reasons Why Looks So Familiar - Looper? ›
By the series finale, Clay comes clean to his classmates about suffering from anxiety and depression — "but mostly anxiety" — in his graduation speech.
What mental disorder does Clay have? ›By the series finale, Clay comes clean to his classmates about suffering from anxiety and depression — "but mostly anxiety" — in his graduation speech.
Was Clay imagining the phone calls? ›At first, Clay turned around and believed that he was seeing Bryce. However, a few seconds later, it's revealed that it is actually Diego. The rest of the football team joined him and they revealed that they have all been calling him by using an app that lets them hide their real number and replace it with another.
Why couldn t Clay remember? ›It isn't revealed until later in the season that it was actually Clay who was behind everything, but he couldn't remember anything due to his anxiety.
Why is Clay having hallucinations? ›Clay became plagued by anxiety attacks and frequently saw hallucinations of Bryce and Monty, later learning he was suffering from what his therapist labeled dissociative episodes. In Episode 8, we learn that Clay manifested a sort of alter ego, one who ran around creating chaos while Clay was in a fugue state.
What drug did Clay do? ›During Clay's testimony, he's asked about a night he and Hannah Baker spend together. No, the two don't have sex. However, they do embark on something that's just as shocking - they take the drug molly. The whole scenario is Jeff's idea.
Did Clay have an alter ego? ›Meet Carrie Dragshaw, Dan Clay's alter ego who has taken 'Sex and the City' fandom to a new level. As Carrie Dragshaw, Dan Clay has become a viral sensation for his send-up of the “Sex and the City” character made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker.
Did Clay know he had a son? ›Clay finally remembers Logan is his son and that he blocked him out after Sara died. After Clay reveals the truth to Logan and asks to be in his life, Logan says no and walks out of the room. But Clay goes to his parents-in-law (Logan's grandparents) and finally Logan forgives him and accepts him in his life.
Why does Clay sleepwalk? ›Season 9. After sleepwalking throughout the whole town and not remembering where and why he went there, Clay checks into a rehab where he meets Logan. Clay's doctor tells him that he is blocking out a memory which is causing him to sleep walk.
Does Clay listen to his tape? ›Clay and Hannah grow closer. While Clay spends a heartbreaking night listening to his tape with Tony, tensions boil over at Bryce's house.
Why does Clay have a scar? ›
But alas: Clay goes hiking with Tony and BOOM. Tony dislodges a rando rock and it falls and hits Clay smack-dab on his scar. Now Clay's scar looks positively gory.
Why was Clay so angry? ›He gets mad at Hannah for losing her virginity to Zach.
After Clay learns about Hannah and Zach's summer relationship, he starts to question everything he knows about Hannah.
Early on in the series, he hits his head while riding his bike, and sports a bandage for the rest of the season. He then knocks his head on a boulder during a therapeutic rock climbing session, adding a fun bruise to his forehead.
Who keeps calling Clay? ›Who kept calling Clay? At first, Clay turned around and believed that he was seeing Bryce. However, a few seconds later, it's revealed that it is actually Diego.
Does Clay suffer from schizophrenia? ›In actual fact, however, her lack of answers lent itself even more to Clay being schizophrenic.
What is the rare hallucination? ›Gustatory Hallucinations
Gustatory (taste) hallucinations are rare. Like olfactory hallucinations, they sometimes happen in conjunction with brain damage and seizures. Like olfactory hallucinations, they can pose particular distress when coupled with delusions.
Clay's tape reveals the first half of the party where Jessica was attacked, which Hannah confirms she only went to for Clay. The pair flirt throughout the house, give each other meaningful looks, and have even more meaningful conversations.
What was Justin smoking in Clay's room? ›Tony and Clay track down Justin, Jessica's old boyfriend, who's doing drugs and living on the streets. Despite the fact that Clay promised his parents he'd never keep anything from them again, he smuggles Justin up to his room, where Justin does heroin while Clay sleeps.
Who put the drugs in Clay's bag? ›In season 1, Clay gets suspended for 3 days after weed is found in his backpack during a search. The weed was planted by Marcus in a bid to make Clay keep quiet about the tape crew's involvement in Hannah's suicide.
Are Clay and Jax related? ›In 1993, he became the President of the club's Mother Charter, based in Charming (which also means that he was International President), after the death of John Teller. He went on to marry John Teller's widow Gemma Teller Morrow in the mid-1990s and made their son, Jax Teller, Vice-President.
Who did Clay love? ›
Clay's main love interest in season 1 is Hannah Baker. He has a crush on her and they even kiss at a party.
Why does Jax hate Clay? ›Jax saw what Clay Morrow was doing. He knew it was costing the lives of his friends and threatened the lives of his family. He realized that Morrow was capable of causing too much destruction to ever repair. Nonetheless, Jax waited for his final days to end the reign of Clay in a way he could never return from.
Was Clay in love with Hannah? ›Clay, who was in love with Hannah, reminisces about the time he spent with her.
Why do kids like Clay? ›Many toys are developed for imaginary play, but not many let children dream up and create something entirely new. Clay stimulates curiosity, motivates them to problem-solve as they work on their project, and ultimately leads them to craft unique three-dimensional art.
Why does Clay always see Hannah? ›Hannah is not actually a ghost, she's a figment of Clay's imagination which means every time we see her, that's how Clay's seeing her. And apparently Clay paid enough attention to her clothes to be able to conjure up a different Hannah for every day of the week.
Why does Clay forget his son? ›Logan was born to Clayton and his wife Sara Kay Evans. He lived with his parents until his mom died, just before Clay signed with NBA player Nathan Scott. His father, unable to cope with his wife's death, erased his son from his mind.
What episode does Clay realize Logan is his son? ›"One Tree Hill" The Space in Between (TV Episode 2010) - IMDb.
Who does Clay sleep with? ›Clay Has Sex With Sheriff Diaz's Daughter, Then Beats Up Her Boyfriend. Not only did Clay randomly lose his virginity to Sheriff Diaz's daughter in Episode 5, but he celebrated by beating the crap out of her boyfriend in front of an entire house full of people.
How many days did it take Clay to listen to the tapes? ›In the novel, Clay listens to Hannah's tapes in 24 hours.
Do Hannah's parents hear the tapes? ›In the last episode Tony copies the tapes onto a USB stick and gives this to Hannah's parents. The end of the season shows Mr and Mrs Baker listening to the tapes.
Does Clay find love? ›
Clay and Quinn's relationship was made official after Quinn helped Clay get Nathan back as a client, forcing Clay to exclaim to Nathan and Haley that he planned on falling "completely and insanely in love with her". They then moved in and their relationship continued to grow closer and did fall in love.
Why is clay's face yellow? ›This type of clay is packed with fine mineral particles such as iron oxide, which gives the clay its yellow colour. The concentration of the iron oxide determines the depth of its yellow hues.
Why does Hannah not kiss clay? ›Both wry young outsiders, they talk all the time, and Hannah even affectionately calls him “Helmet.” There's a mutual attraction, but neither of them act on it until the party. Hannah and Clay finally kiss, but similar to the book, she pushes him away because she is too afraid that her darkness will ruin him.
Why did clay get that tattoo? ›Getting a tattoo is no small thing, but Clay gets a semicolon (or at least tries) in the first episode of 13 Reasons Why. The idea is to show the impact of suicide, and it's linked to mental health awareness. While Clay's is a fictional tattoo, the actual idea is a very real, and very important one.
Was Clay jealous of Justin? ›Also important to note is that Clay seems kind of jealous of Justin's connection with his parents, whereas a season ago he loved having a brother.
Did Clay sleep with Hannah? ›Hannah (Katherine Langford) and Clay (Dylan Minnette) were co-workers at the Cresmont, but Clay always harbored a crush on his now tragically deceased friend. At a party thrown by Jessica (Alisha Boe), the summer before the pair's junior year, Hannah and Clay finally hook up, but it ends with Hannah pushing Clay away.
What did Clay do to hurt Hannah? ›Unlike his peers, however, Clay doesn't actually do any harm to Hannah. Instead, Hannah chooses to include him in the tapes because she feels he needs to hear her side of the story.
What was Hannah Baker's mental illness? ›Hannah has symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder; she may also have antisocial personality disorder or borderline personality disorder. There is more here diagnostically than a mood or anxiety disorder.
Was Hannah in Clay's head? ›Throughout the first season, Hannah is in Clay's head. With the tapes, she is able to penetrate his psyche, telling her everything she wants him to know about her story. In the second season, Hannah is still in Clay's head, but as a semi-corporeal entity that helps him work through some of his complicated issues.
Why is clay healing? ›1 – CLAY DETOXIFIES
Thanks to its of ABsorption and ADsorption properties (read more about those two properties here), clay mechanically neutralizes toxins, impurities, chemicals, dead cells, etc, which are then carried out of the body. It is traditionally used for liver detox, colon, blood and skin cleanse.
Will Clay go to jail? ›
By the end of season three, Clay Jensen is free from prison and in a new relationship.
Who sent Clay the Polaroids? ›After his sentencing, Bryce tells Zach Dempsey (Ross Butler), who has distanced himself from his former friends and was the one who gave Clay the individual Polaroids, he's transferring to a private school.
What does Hannah call Clay? ›It's during this time that Hannah gives Clay the moniker "Helmet," a nickname that comes up again during season two.
What personality type is clay? ›Clay Jensen is an INFP personality type. It's important to him that he stays true to his values. With his sensitive nature and need for authenticity, self-expression is important to Clay Jensen.
What did Zach do to Hannah? ›In Episode 6 ("The Smile at the End of the Dock"), it's revealed that Zach and Hannah hooked up — multiple times — the summer before junior year. (The summer after Zach stole Hannah's compliments from class; Hannah never mentions his apology or the fling in his tape.) They even lost their virginities to each other.
Can schizophrenia be cured? ›Currently, there is no cure for schizophrenia, but the illness can be successfully treated and managed. The key is to have a strong support system in place and get the right treatment and self-help for your needs. You can enjoy a fulfilling, meaningful life.
What causes schizophrenia? ›The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
What do schizophrenics see when they hallucinate? ›Visual hallucinations in those with schizophrenia tend to involve vivid scenes with family members, religious figures, and animals. Reactions to these visions can vary and include fear, pleasure, or indifference.
What mental disorders are in thirteen? ›Dr. David Allen suggested this film as an illustration of Borderline Personality Disorder.
What personality type is Clay? ›Clay Jensen is an INFP personality type. It's important to him that he stays true to his values. With his sensitive nature and need for authenticity, self-expression is important to Clay Jensen.
Why does clay hallucinating Hannah? ›
Early on in the series, we learn that our main protagonist Clay is not coping well with Hannah's death as he begins to see her as a ghostly apparition. Based on years of excessive television watching, it's clear this is the ol' ghostly manifestation as a result of unresolved issues trope.
What does living with schizophrenia look like? ›Individuals with schizophrenia usually have difficulty keeping a job and caring for themselves. They must rely on family and friends for help. The disease is often misunderstood, but it is treatable, and in many cases, the individual can go on to lead a productive and normal life.
What can schizophrenia turn into? ›Left untreated, schizophrenia can result in severe problems that affect every area of life. Complications that schizophrenia may cause or be associated with include: Suicide, suicide attempts and thoughts of suicide. Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
What was the worst mental disorder? ›The HRQoL 15D was again used to evaluate the quality of life in those found to have one of these disorders. Among those with one of these three disorders, those with schizoaffective disorder were found to have the worst quality of life, followed by those with schizophrenia, and then by those with bipolar disorder.
What is the deadliest mental disorders? ›If you think depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder are the mental illnesses most commonly linked to an early death, you're wrong. Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating— are the most lethal mental health conditions, according to research in Current Psychiatry Reports.
What are 3 characteristics of clay? ›The small size of the particles and their unique crystal structures give clay materials special properties. These properties include: cation exchange capabilities, plastic behaviour when wet, catalytic abilities, swelling behaviour, and low permeability.
What is the hardest personality to type? ›The short answer: INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judgment) is the most complex Myers-Briggs Personality Type.
How does clay behave? ›Physical and Chemical Properties of Clays
Clay minerals all have a great affinity for water. Some swell easily and may double in thickness when wet. Most have the ability to soak up ions (electrically charged atoms and molecules) from a solution and release the ions later when conditions change.
Clay Has Sex With Sheriff Diaz's Daughter, Then Beats Up Her Boyfriend. Not only did Clay randomly lose his virginity to Sheriff Diaz's daughter in Episode 5, but he celebrated by beating the crap out of her boyfriend in front of an entire house full of people.
Does clay listen to his tape? ›Clay and Hannah grow closer. While Clay spends a heartbreaking night listening to his tape with Tony, tensions boil over at Bryce's house.