20 Fascinating Facts About Finn Wolfhard

20 Fascinating Facts About Finn Wolfhard

I have been following this actor’s unusual rise to stardom from his early forays into the world of acting to his burgeoning career as a musician and beyond. Did you know that he is vegan, has a dog named Milo, and can play several musical instruments such as the guitar and piano?

Finn Wolfhard is a Canadian multi-talented young actor, musician, writer, and model, who is famously known as Mike Wheeler on the superhit Netflix Series Stranger Things. The young actor has successfully made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with other movies like It and The Goldfinch.

Moreover, his surname Wolfhard, means “wolf-heart” in German. Finn is a Gen Z trailblazer both on and off-screen. Let me tell you 20 facts that are a glimpse into the multifaceted persona that defines this guy. 

1. Finn Was Born Into A Creative Family

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Finn Wolfhard was born on 23rd December 2002 in Vancouver, Canada. His parents have Jewish, French, and German ancestry and he was raised catholic. He was homeschooled up to Grade 7, then attended St. Patrick Regional Secondary School, a catholic high school in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant area. He then studied at Vancouver Community College (VCC)-San Francisco. 

He hails from a creative family. His dad is a screenwriter and a researcher on indigenous land claims in Canada while his mother is a lifelong artist. His brother Nick Wolfhard is a voice actor. Wolfhard has become a rising star in the world of entertainment.

2. He Had an Early Start in Acting

Wolfhard talent was obvious from an early age. When he was under ten years old, he got inspired to become an actor after watching the movie Spider-Man. His interest in movies grew and he booked his first acting job at age nine and started by responding to online ads for freelance acting jobs. After doing this regularly for a few years, his dad Eric Wolfhard hired an agent for him. 

In an interview, Wolfhard stated, “I just used to be interested in filmmaking in general. I think growing up in Vancouver is a different lifestyle than growing up in most other places. People make different choices. Finally, I just got into acting. I got my first gig on Craigslist. It can be sketchy. But that’s how I got my first shot.”

3. His First Role Was From Craigslist

GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Finn Wolfhard got his first acting job from an advert on Craigslist. He later moved to television where he appeared in the post-apocalyptic science fiction series The 100 in the second season. The following year he appeared in the series Supernatural as Jodie Pinsky. Wolfhard also gained a massive following for playing Michael Wheeler in the hit TV series Stranger Things.

4. His Break Out Role Was in The Movie It 

Wolfhard’s break-out movie was “It,” which is based on Stephen King’s novel. It is a horror movie where he plays the energetic and witty character of Richie Tozier. Wolfhard’s role was that of the trash-mouth part of the loser’s club. The film premiered to critical acclaim and went on to become the highest-grossing horror movie ever, Wolfhard reprised this role in It Chapter Two (2019). He is also known for playing Mike Wheeler on the Netflix series Stranger Things. Wolfhard did not let anything stop him from landing a role in Stranger Things. He auditioned for Mike’s role in Stranger Things via video, while sick in bed, after seeing an open casting call.

5. He Has a Knack For Music 

Milliebobbybrownnn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wolfhard has always loved music and playing instruments at an early age. By age 12, he had already started to play the guitar. He also plays the piano, the drums, the bass, and the harmonica. He is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band Calpunia. He formed this garage-rock band and recorded their debut EP which was released in June 2018.

The band’s first single hit number one on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 playlist. In its three-year run, Calpurnia toured across North America and Europe. Together with drummer Malcolm Craig, they formed The Aubreys which released Sods and Pie as their first EP. They released their next single Smoke Bomb on August 17, 2020.

The band had their first collaboration single with Lunar Vacation, No Offerings in January 2021, then released their second single Sand in My Bed the following month. The Aubreys also released their single “Karaoke Alone” in February 2021, from the group’s debut studio LP, Karaoke Alone, which was released in November 2021.

6. He loves Fashion and Modeling

Fin Wolfhard is a fashion icon and continues to show his flair with his fashion-forward choices. He has collaborated with fashion brands like Saint Laurent, graced the runway for their fashion shows, and is their official spokesmodel. Wolfhard also became the new face of Yves Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2019 campaign. He has been featured in such fashion magazines as Esquire, Interview, and GQ. Wolfhard was on the cover of GQ Hype Magazine U.S. in February 2023 and on the cover of Esquire Italia in November 2021 among others.

7. He Is Involved in Charitable Initiatives and Advocacy

John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From a young age, Finn has always been a big supporter of meaningful causes. He raises awareness using his platform and has been involved in fundraising for organizations like SickKids Hospital. He sold merchandise and donated the proceeds to spreading awareness and acceptance of autism in 2017. He also helped raise funds for Sweet Relief, an organization that helps struggling musicians who need medical care by participating in the Strange 80s concert.

The Strange 80s concert was introduced by Victoria Williams in 1993. He also performed three tracks with his former band Calpurnia at the Strange 80s concert. He received an award at the 2017 Television Industry Advocacy Awards for his work with Sweet Relief. Wolfhard has also been involved in advocacy for autism and indigenous children.

8. He Has a Passion for Skateboarding

Photo by Soroush Karimi on Unsplash

Wolfhard is a skateboarder at heart. He started skateboarding at 7, and it’s second nature for him. Wolfhard is passionate about it and has fully immersed in years of skate culture. He shares his adventures and tricks on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Tick Tock. He admits he always carries his skateboard whenever he is traveling because he likes to feel free. 

9. He Has an Interest in Photography

 Apart from music, acting, and modeling, Finn Wolfhard has an interest in photography and he shares his captured moments on social media. 

In an interview with the traveler, Wolfhard stated “My computer so that I can write; I write music and scripts. I also love photography and always bring a point-and-shoot. I had a 35-mm Contax G2, but that got stolen recently, so now I’m using a Pentax I bought for $30, which is great. What do I shoot? Whatever is around me.”

He was also part of a mesmerizing portfolio of award-winning portraits by American photographer, Celeste Sloman in 2022. Wolfhard’s coming-of-age portrait is set to be hung up on a gallery wall.

10. His Directorial Debut Was at Age 17

Video Courtesy of YouTube.

Wolfhard successfully embarked on his role as a director for the Night Shifts (2020) showing that he can do well behind the camera. He released the film on YouTube in 2021. He also filmed yet another directorial debut in Hell of A Summer in 2023, a slasher comedy that he has co-written, co-directed, and co-starred with his friend and fellow Ghostbusters: Afterlife actor Billy Bryk. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was a finalist for the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness. He also won best director for” Night Shifts” at the Atlanta ShortsFest.

11.  He Was An Influential Teen

In recognition of his talent and rising influence, in 2017 he was listed as one of Time magazine’s 30 most influential teens. Wolfhard was also included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2020 in the field of Hollywood and entertainment.

12. He Has Made Appearances in Music Videos 

Video Courtesy of YouTube. 

Finn Wolfhard has made appearances in music videos for artists like Spendtime Palace and Post Malone showcasing his other creative side. He co-directed his first music video with Josh Ovalle for the song “Sonora” by the band Spendtime Palace. He has credited his 2014 appearance in the music video for PUP’s song “Guilt Trip” as a major moment in his career. He successfully auditioned at an open casting call and this encouraged him to do more, this appearance in the music video was later included in his audition tape for Stranger Things. He appeared in several other music videos, such as one for the Weezer’s cover of a-ha’s 1984 hit “Take on Me.”

13. He Is Also a Voice Actor in Animated Films

He has time and again lent his voice to various films, one such is the animated series DC Super Hero Girls where he lent his voice to the character Zan. Other such projects include the animated series Young Justice and Supernatural.  

His versatility was well demonstrated when he voiced Pugsley Adams in the animated adaptation of The Addams Family. Wolfhard’s voice acting also includes 32 episodes of the animated feature series Carmen San (2019-2021) and Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion animated musical film Pinocchio in 2022. His voice can also be heard in Netflix’s animated series Carmen Sandiego, in 2019.

14. His favorite Genre is Comedy

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Whether it’s a horror movie or comedy, Wolfhard can easily adapt to different roles in the entertainment industry.  He prefers comedy over other genres. In 2018 he starred in the romantic comedy film Dog Days together with actors Eva Longoria, Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Lauren Lapkus, Thomas Lennon, Adam Pally, Ryan Hansen, Rob Corddry, Tone Bell, and Jon Bass. The movie received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike.

15. He has a Strong Presence On Social Media

 As a way of connecting with his numerous fans, Finn uses social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to share updates about his projects, vlogs, and music covers. He also uses social media to record skateboarding videos and to interact with other skaters from all over the globe.

16. He Is An Award-winning Actor

Finn Wolfhard’s talent has been acknowledged through nominations and wins at prestigious awards shows, further cementing his place in the industry. These awards include and are not limited to; the Young Artist Award, Teen Choice Award MTV Movie and TV Award, and Screen Actors Guild (SAG). 

Other awards and nominations include Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in Drama Series (Stranger Things), Best Young Ensemble cast-TV Series (Stranger Things), Young Entertainer Awards (2017), Breakthrough Star (It), Odyssey Awards (2017), Best On-Screen Team (It)MTV Movie and TV Awards (2018), and much more.

17. He Never Finished Reading Stephen King’s Novel It

Wolfhard might have starred in Stephan King’s novel-based movie It, but he never finished reading the book. This is understandable as the novel is 1000 pages long, and he has a tight work schedule. He stated  “We all tried [to read the book] and I got two chapters in and thought, ‘Yeah it’s long and I don’t know if I have time to finish this,’” Wolfhard was only able to read about two chapters of the 1986 novel but, he says he will try and read it all one day.

18. Horror Movies Made an Impact On Him When He Was Young

John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Even though Wolfhard is into comedy more than horror movies, he narrated a funny incident from when he was young about how horror movies and characters left an imprint on his mind from a young age. He stated “One time when I was young, my dad and brother were watching Team America, the Trey Parker, and Matt Stone movie. I walked in, and they didn’t know I was there, but I got freaked out by the marionettes, just the look of them, their mouths those grins. That cemented in my brain.”

19. He Has His Frog Apparel With A Company Called Represent

Wolfhard is a self-proclaimed “frog enthusiast” according to his Twitter bio. He has his frog apparel under the umbrella company “Represent”. He used the proceeds to help flood victims in Houston.

20. He Is Best Known For His Role In Stranger Things

Video Courtesy of YouTube. 

Playing Mike Wheeler on the Netflix series Stranger Things made Finn Wolfhard a household name. He was able to show that he is a wholehearted, highly talented young actor. In the series,  he plays an intelligent and conscientious student who is committed to his friends. Stranger Things is all about a group of friends that try to find their other friend, Will, only to find out that he is trapped in another world. 

Those are the facts about Finn Wolfhard. With his acting prowess, musical talent, and charming personality, Fin Wolfhard has become a fan favorite and a creative force. When he’s not acting or making music, Wolfhard enjoys immersing himself in the world of video games.