Penn Badgley
He transformed from a teen heartthrob into the chillingly relatable stalker who made us question our own online obsessions.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American actor·Birthday: November 1·Millennials
Biography
Penn Badgley's career is a study in subverting expectations. He first captured attention as the earnest, lovelorn Dan Humphrey on the glossy teen drama 'Gossip Girl,' a role that made him a familiar face but also one he found creatively limiting. After the series ended, he deliberately stepped back from the spotlight, taking on smaller film roles and even working as a bartender. This period of recalibration set the stage for his defining turn. In 2018, he emerged as Joe Goldberg in Netflix's 'You,' a character whose murderous pathology is masked by a veneer of intellectual charm and romantic narration. Badgley's unsettlingly calm performance, which he has described as a critique of toxic masculinity and entitlement, turned the series into a global phenomenon. Off-screen, he is a vocal advocate for social causes, hosts a podcast exploring emotional health, and has been openly critical of the darker sides of fame his work depicts.
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.
Penn was born in 1986, 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 Penn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Penn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Joe Goldberg in the hit Netflix psychological thriller series 'You,' which became a worldwide cultural talking point.
- Played the central role of Dan Humphrey for all six seasons of the influential teen drama series 'Gossip Girl.'
- Executive produced the fourth season of 'You,' taking a more active creative role behind the camera.
- Founded a production company, Weird Sisters, to develop new film and television projects.
Did You Know?
He is a skilled musician and was the lead singer and guitarist for the indie rock band MOTHXR.
Badgley has been a vocal supporter of the 'Me Too' movement and has stated he refuses to film sex scenes for 'You.'
He and his 'Gossip Girl' co-star Blake Lively dated for several years during the show's run.
He hosts the podcast 'Podcrushed,' which discusses the awkwardness and anxieties of middle school experiences.
“I don't feel I owe the public anything other than to be decent and to be honest.”
