Spencer List
A character actor who has steadily built a resume of intense and often haunting roles across acclaimed television dramas.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American actor·Birthday: April 6·Generation Z
Biography
Spencer List has carved a distinct niche in television by often portraying characters who exist in emotional or literal shadows. Best known to sci-fi fans as the enigmatic young Observer from 'Fringe,' List demonstrated an early ability to convey profound stillness and otherworldliness. He transitioned seamlessly into more grounded, but no less complex, roles in series like 'The Fosters' and its spinoff 'Good Trouble,' where he played Carter, a young man navigating a difficult past. His recurring appearances on procedurals like 'Law & Order: SVU' often see him tackling challenging subject matter, showcasing a preference for depth over flash and a skill for embodying vulnerability and resilience.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Spencer was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Spencer Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Spencer's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
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
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the recurring role of the mysterious young Observer in the acclaimed sci-fi series 'Fringe.'
- Portrayed Carter in the family drama 'The Fosters' and continued the role in its spinoff series 'Good Trouble.'
- Appeared in multiple episodes of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' tackling a variety of dramatic guest roles.
Did You Know?
He is the twin brother of actress Peyton List.
List made his film debut at a very young age in the 2004 drama 'The Notebook.'
He is an avid photographer and often shares his work on social media.
“I'm drawn to characters that are a bit off, that live in the gray areas.”
