Timothee Hal Chalamet is an American-French actor who became the youngest Best Actor Oscar nominee in nearly 80 years for his performance in Call Me by Your Name (2017). With a filmography that includes Dune, Little Women, The French Dispatch, and Wonka, Chalamet has established himself as the leading actor of his generation, known for choosing artistically ambitious projects and bringing emotional vulnerability to every role. His critical acclaim, combined with massive commercial appeal, has made him Hollywood's most bankable young star.
Born on December 27, 1995, in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Chalamet comes from a creative family. His father, Marc Chalamet, is a French-American editor for UNICEF, and his mother, Nicole Flender, is a former Broadway dancer and real estate agent. He holds dual American-French citizenship and spent summers in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France, with his paternal grandmother. His older sister, Pauline Chalamet, is also an actress. He attended LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and briefly studied at Columbia University before transferring to NYU, though he ultimately left to pursue acting full-time.
Chalamet's breakthrough came with Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name (2017), in which he played Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old who falls in love during a summer in Italy. The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor at age 22, making him the youngest nominee in the category since 1939. He followed with acclaimed turns in Lady Bird (2017), Beautiful Boy (2018), and Little Women (2019, as Laurie).
His career reached blockbuster status with Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), in which he plays Paul Atreides. Dune: Part Two grossed $711 million worldwide, proving Chalamet could anchor massive franchise films. He also starred in Wonka (2023), a Willy Wonka origin story that grossed $634 million, and A Complete Unknown (2024), his portrayal of a young Bob Dylan, which earned him his second Oscar nomination.
Chalamet is known for his fashion-forward style, frequently appearing at red carpet events in bold, gender-fluid outfits that challenge traditional menswear. He has become a Bleu de Chanel ambassador and a regular at major fashion weeks. His ability to balance indie credibility with mainstream commercial success has drawn comparisons to a young Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.
