Matt Cornett

Matt Cornett (born October 6, 1998) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his role as E.J. Caswell on the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–23), and Sam Florek in the TV series Every Year After on Amazon Prime Video.

Early life Cornett was raised in Rogers, Arkansas. He is the youngest son of Art and Rhonda Cornett. He moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to pursue acting.

Career Cornett started his acting career in the television series Nightmare U, where he played the role of Daniel. He starred in the film Can, in which he played the lead role as Diego. He played the guest role of Lou in the crime drama television series Southland, for which he earned a 2014 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor.

In 2015, Cornett played Glenn in the film I Think My Babysitter's an Alien and the role of Carter in the television film The Dunes Club.

He is known for his recurring guest star role as Zach Barnes in the comedy television series Bella and the Bulldogs, for which he earned a 2016 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series - Recurring Young Actor. In 2016, he shared the big screen with Natasha Henstridge in the feature film, Inconceivable.

In 2018, Cornett starred in the film Alex & Me, which was released on June 12, 2018, in which he played Logan Willis. He also starred in the role of Nathan Schurzer in the television film Perfect Citizens.

In 2019, Cornett played the role of Andrew Gallery in seventh season of The Goldbergs and was cast in the main role of E. J. Caswell on the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

In 2022, Cornett played the role of A-Lan in the sci-fi musical film Zombies 3, which was released on July 15, 2022.

In 2024, Cornett appeared in the thriller film Karma: Death at Latigo Springs. In 2025, he starred alongside Chloe Fineman and Sam Morelos in the sex comedy film Summer of 69, which premiered in theaters to positive reviews.

On March 6, 2025, it was announced that Cornett would star in the Christian indie film Bad Counselors, which will release in theaters on July 23, 2026. Four months later, Cornett was cast as the lead role of Sam in the Prime Video series Every Year After, an adaptation of Canadian writer Carley Fortune's novel Every Summer After. Every Year After premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8, 2026 and was released on Prime Video on June 10, 2026. Cornett also starred in the indie film Buster Brooks, which premiered at Zions Indie Film Fest on February 27, 2026.

Filmography Film

Television + Year Title Role Notes 2012–2014 Nightmare U Daniel 3 episodes 2013 Southland Lou Episode: "Off Duty"2015 The Dunes Club Carter TV film Future Shock Chad 2015–2016 Bella and the Bulldogs Zach Barnes Recurring role; 6 episodes 2016 Criminal Minds Austin Settergren Episode: "The Anti-Terror Squad" The Middle Duncan Episode: "The Core Group" 2017 Speechless Chase Episode: "S-I- SICK D-A- DAY" 2017–2018 Life in Pieces Ryan 4 episodes 2018 Alone Together Logan Episode: "Drama Story" Perfect Citizens Nathan Scherzer TV film2019 Game Shakers Blake 3 episodes Stressed to Death Alston Garrett TV film 2019–2020 The Goldbergs Andrew Gallery 2 episodes 2019 School for Boys Leo Grecco 2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series E. J. Caswell Main role (Season 1–3),Recurring role (Season 4);33 episodes 2026–presentEvery Year AfterSam FlorekMain role

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2014 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor Southland 2016 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actor Bella and the Bulldogs 2017Young Entertainer Award Best Guest Starring Young Actor - Television Series The Middle Best Recurring Young Actor - Television Series Bella and the Bulldogs