Will Peltz
An American actor who carved a niche in genre film and television, moving from horror hits to network drama series.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American actor·Birthday: May 30·Millennials
Biography
Will Peltz stepped into the spotlight not through a traditional acting school route but with a sharp instinct for contemporary roles. The son of billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz, he forged his own path, gaining attention with his performance in the screen-life horror film 'Unfriended,' which became a cultural talking point. He demonstrated range in Jason Reitman's ensemble drama 'Men, Women & Children,' exploring the complexities of digital life. Peltz later found a steady television audience with a recurring role on the mystery drama 'Manifest,' playing a character entangled in the show's central supernatural phenomenon. His career reflects a deliberate choice to engage with stories about technology and modern anxiety.
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.
Will 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 Will Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Will'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 in the commercially successful horror film 'Unfriended,' which grossed over $64 million worldwide.
- Appeared in the ensemble cast of Jason Reitman's critically examined drama 'Men, Women & Children.'
- Played a recurring role as Captain James 'Jim' Strickland in the final two seasons of NBC's 'Manifest.'
Did You Know?
He is one of ten children born to model Claudia Heffner and investor Nelson Peltz.
Peltz attended New York University but did not graduate, leaving to pursue acting.
His sister, Nicola Peltz, is also an actress known for starring in 'Bates Motel' and 'The Last Airbender.'
“I'm not interested in playing a version of myself; I want to find the character's truth.”
