Keir Gilchrist
A Canadian actor who brought quiet authenticity and emotional depth to roles exploring teenage anxiety and neurodiversity.
Born 1992 (age 34)·Canadian actor·Birthday: September 28·Millennials
Biography
Keir Gilchrist began his career as a child actor in Toronto, but it was his transition into thoughtful, often introspective young adult roles that defined his path. He first caught wider attention as the son of a mother with dissociative identity disorder on 'United States of Tara,' but his defining moment came as Sam Gardner, the autistic teenager at the heart of Netflix's 'Atypical.' For four seasons, Gilchrist's nuanced and respectful portrayal helped shift mainstream conversations about neurodiversity. Off-screen, he deliberately sidesteps Hollywood glamour, channeling intensity into a parallel life as a vocalist for extreme metal bands like Whelm and Phalanx. This duality—the sensitive actor and the grindcore musician—speaks to a performer committed to genuine expression, whether under studio lights or in the gritty underground of the metal scene.
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.
Keir was born in 1992, 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 Keir Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Keir's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as the lead, Sam Gardner, in all four seasons of the Netflix series 'Atypical,' which became a landmark show for autism representation.
- Delivered a critically praised performance as a suicidal teen checking into a psychiatric ward in the film 'It's Kind of a Funny Story.'
- Appeared in the critically acclaimed indie horror film 'It Follows,' which became a cult classic for its atmospheric tension.
- Portrayed Marshall Gregson on the Showtime series 'United States of Tara,' earning early recognition for his dramatic work.
- Served as the lead vocalist for the grindcore band Whelm and the death metal band Phalanx, releasing several EPs.
Did You Know?
He is a trained drummer and has been playing since childhood.
He was born in London, England, but moved to Canada as a young child.
He has cited punk and hardcore music as major influences from a young age.
He has a black belt in Taekwondo.
“I'm drawn to characters who feel real and complicated.”
