Braeden Lemasters
He transitioned from a recognizable child actor into the driving guitar force behind the indie rock band Wallows.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American actor and musician·Birthday: January 27·Millennials
Biography
Braeden Lemasters grew up on screen but found his true voice in a garage. A native of Ohio who moved to Los Angeles as a child, he landed his first major role at age 12 in the TNT series 'Men of a Certain Age,' earning a Young Artist Award nomination. Throughout his teens, he balanced guest spots on shows like 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Criminal Minds' with a parallel, deepening passion for music. That passion crystallized with his childhood friends Dylan Minnette and Cole Preston. What began as casual jams evolved into Wallows, a band that harnessed the jangly, nostalgic sound of early-2000s indie rock for a new generation. Lemasters, as co-lead singer and lead guitarist, helped craft the band's textured guitar lines and earnest harmonies. Their DIY ethos and viral success on streaming platforms allowed him to pivot fully; the actor known for TV dramas became the musician packing clubs and playing festivals, proving a rare ability to reinvent oneself in the spotlight.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Braeden was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Braeden Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Braeden's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As a founding member and lead guitarist of Wallows, he co-wrote and performed on the platinum-certified hit 'Are You Bored Yet?' featuring Clairo.
- He received a Young Artist Award nomination for his role as Albert Tranelli on the TNT series 'Men of a Certain Age.'
- Wallows' debut album, 'Nothing Happens,' debuted in the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2019.
Did You Know?
He and his Wallows bandmates Dylan Minnette and Cole Preston have been friends since they were about 10 years old.
He taught himself to play guitar by watching videos on YouTube.
He appeared in an episode of 'ER' in its final season when he was 13 years old.
“The music starts in a garage, not a studio.”
