Kyle Gallner

Kyle Gallner (born October 22, 1986) is an American actor. He began acting in 2000, earning recognition for playing Bart Allen in the superhero series Smallville (2004–2009), Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas in the mystery drama series Veronica Mars (2005–2006), and Reed Garrett in the police drama series CSI: NY (2006–2010).

Gallner was established as a scream king in the 2010s, starring in the horror films The Haunting in Connecticut, Jennifer's Body (both 2009), the Nightmare on Elm Street remake (2010), Red State (2011), Scream, Smile (both 2022) and its sequel Smile 2 (2024). His other films include Dear White People, American Sniper (both 2014), Dinner In America (2020), The Passenger, and Strange Darling (both 2023).

Early life and education Gallner was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to Larry and Mary Jane Gallner. He has three siblings: one older sister, one younger brother, and a younger sister. Gallner attended West Chester East High School. He started his career by following his sister along to one of her auditions. His father's family is composed of Russian Jewish immigrants. At age four, Gallner underwent open-heart surgery.

Career

He proceeded to guest star on popular shows such as Judging Amy and Close to Home. Gallner joined the cast of Veronica Mars as Cassidy Casablancas toward the end of the show's first season, in May 2005, before becoming a season regular during the show's second season. After playing Bart Allen in the Smallville episode "Run", Gallner reprised the role on the January 18, 2007, episode "Justice" and the season eight finale. He also guest starred on Cold Case as a teenaged gunman in the episode "Rampage", and appeared in the independent film Sublime. He also guest starred in an episode of Bones as Jeremy Farrell, the suspected murderer of a child beauty-pageant contestant. In 2007, he guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit titled "Impulsive" as a high school student who accuses his teacher of statutory rape, as well as the only survivor of a family slaughter—which initially rendered him the prime suspect—on "Homewrecker", the season 3 premiere episode of The Closer. He also played the lead role in the horror film The Haunting in Connecticut, playing a cancer patient who is tormented by evil spirits.

He appeared in the independent film Cherry, filmed on the campuses of Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University, along with several locations in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. He plays Aaron, an Ivy-League freshman who falls for an older woman while becoming the object of affection for the woman's young daughter. Gallner played Quentin in the 2010 reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street; his character is the love interest of main character Nancy. Gallner played the brother of Aaron Paul's character in the 2012 film Smashed. Gallner played Zach in one episode in the fourth season of AMC's The Walking Dead. It was initially reported that he would be a recurring character, but his character was killed off instead. In 2013, Gallner co-founded the independent production company Minutehand Pictures along with Oliver Thompson and Bay Dariz. The trio produced the feature film Welcome to Happiness, in which Gallner portrays Woody Ward, a children's book author with a secret door in his closet. In 2014, Gallner played the role of Kurt, the antagonist to lead character Sam, in the independent film Dear White People. That same year, he acted in Clint Eastwood's war film American Sniper.

Gallner had roles in several independent films throughout the 2010s and 2020s. He starred in the critically acclaimed comedy Dinner in America, which premiered at Sundance in 2020 and earned him praise for his performance. The film struggled to find an initial audience but developed a cult following in 2024 after it gained popularity on TikTok. In 2022, he starred as Vince Schneider in the fifth Scream film, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. He also had a significant role in horror film Smile, for which he reprised his part for a sequel in 2024. In 2023, he led the thrillers Mother, May I?, The Passenger, and Strange Darling. For his participation in the horror genre, he has been labeled a scream king. He reunited with Dinner in America director Adam Carter Rehmeier for the film Carolina Caroline.

Personal life Gallner married Tara Ferguson on December 12, 2015. They have two sons.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 Third Watch Raleigh Episode: "Young Men and Fire..." 2002, 2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Marc Lesinski Episode: "Juvenile" Shane Mills Episode: "Impulsive" 2003 Touched by an Angel Josh Episode: "Virtual Reality" 2004 The District Brian Johnson Episode: "Something Borrowed and Something Bruised" 2004, 2007, 2009–2010 Smallville Bart Allen / Impulse Recurring role (seasons 4, 6, 8, & 10) 2005 Jack & Bobby BJ Bongaro Episodes: "Time Out of Life" & "Querida Grace" Judging Amy Zachary Pettit Episode: "The Long Run" Skater Boys Sean Davis Episode: "Sundown" 2005–2006 Veronica Mars Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas Recurring role (season 1); main role (season 2)2006 Bones Jeremy Farrell Episode: "The Girl with the Curl" Close to Home Jacob Towers Episode: "The Good Doctor" Cold Case Cameron Coulter Episode: "Rampage" Four Kings Spencer Episode: "Upper West Side Story" 2006–2007 Big Love Jason Embry Recurring role (seasons 1–2) 2006–2010 CSI: NY Reed Garrett Recurring role (seasons 3–6)2007 The Closer Eric Wallace Episode: "Homewrecker" Medium Young Stephen Episode: "The Boy Next Door" 2008 Life Zak Sutter Episode: "Black Friday" The Shield Lloyd Denton Recurring role (season 7) 2010 Past Life Xander Episode: "Saint Sarah" 2012 Criminal Minds James Heathridge Episode: "Heathridge Manor" Jan Robbie Main role 2013 The Walking Dead Zach Episode: "30 Days Without an Accident" 2014 Play It Again, Dick Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas / Himself Main role 2016–2017 Outsiders Hasil Farrell Main role 2020 Interrogation Eric Fisher Main role

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2011 Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actor Red State 2016 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Best Actor – Feature Welcome to Happiness Excellence in ProducingWelcome to Happiness Producer's Choice AwardWelcome to Happiness 2021 Dublin International Film Festival Jury Prize Dinner in America 2025 Saturn Awards Best Actor Strange Darling