It is kind of a weird phenomenon when you watch a child actor grow up on screen. You feel like you know them, but your brain gets stuck in whatever era you first saw them. For a lot of us, that was 2017. We remember the stuttering, brave Bill Denbrough leading the Losers' Club through the sewers of Derry. Or maybe you remember the kid from St. Vincent holding his own against a cranky Bill Murray. Because he’s been so prolific in playing "the kid" or "the teenager," people are constantly doing a double-take when they see him in 2026.
So, let's just get the main question out of the way immediately. Jaeden Martell is 23 years old. He was born on January 4, 2003. If you’re reading this in early 2026, he just had a birthday. It feels a bit surreal, doesn't it? He’s officially entered that mid-20s bracket where the "child star" label doesn't just feel outdated—it feels plain wrong.
The Timeline of a Career That Started Early
Jaeden (who was born Jaeden Lieberher before changing his name to Martell to honor his mother) didn't take the traditional route. No fancy acting coaches or stage-parent drilling. He moved from Philly to LA when he was about eight. By ten, he was already filming St. Vincent.
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Think about that for a second.
Most ten-year-olds are struggling with long division. Jaeden was earning a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Young Actor.
Why the Confusion About His Age?
The reason everyone keeps asking how old is Jaeden Martell is largely due to his filmography. He has a "young" face—what casting directors call "perennial youth."
- In It (2017), he was playing a 13-year-old while he was actually 14.
- In Knives Out (2019), he played the alt-right troll teenager Jacob Thrombey. He was 16 during filming, playing a character roughly that same age.
- In Defending Jacob (2020), he was 17, again playing a high schooler.
Because he stayed in that high school age bracket for so many high-profile projects, the public consciousness sort of froze him there. But the math doesn't lie. Moving from 2017 to 2026 is a nine-year jump. That's a huge gap in "actor years."
Breaking the "Kid Actor" Mold
Honestly, 2024 and 2025 were the years where the shift really happened. If you saw him in Y2K (the 2024 disaster comedy), you saw him playing a lead role that felt much more grounded in late-adolescence/early-adulthood.
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Then there's his work in Arcadian with Nicolas Cage. He isn't the "vulnerable kid" anymore. He’s playing characters with a level of grit and autonomy that you only see from actors who have matured.
It’s interesting to look at his peers from the It cast. Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer—they’re all in their early 20s now. They’ve become the new guard of Hollywood. But Jaeden has always had this quiet, old-soul vibe that makes him feel older than his castmates, even when he was the youngest on set.
Real Talk: The Name Change
People often get confused by the "Lieberher" vs. "Martell" thing. He made the switch around 2019. It wasn't for branding or because one sounded "more Hollywood." He just wanted to use his mom's last name. It’s a small detail, but it speaks to the kind of person he is—loyal and a bit more thoughtful than your average celebrity.
What's Next for the 23-Year-Old?
As of 2026, Jaeden is neck-deep in more "grown-up" territory. He’s currently involved in The Boy in the Iron Box, a Netflix adaptation of a Guillermo del Toro story. This isn't a "kids on bikes" movie. This is David Prior directing a dark, atmospheric piece.
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There have also been long-standing rumors and fan-casting for him to jump into the superhero world, but he seems more interested in the indie-prestige route. He’s worked with Rian Johnson, Jeff Nichols, and now David Prior. That’s a curated resume.
The Stats (Because People Love Facts)
If you're looking for the quick-hit details to settle an argument:
- Current Age: 23
- Birth Date: January 4, 2003
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Height: Around 5'7" (though this is always debated online)
- First Big Hit: St. Vincent (2014)
How to Keep Up With Jaeden in 2026
If you’re trying to track his transition into more adult roles, stop looking at the horror movies of the late 2010s.
Instead, look for his work in limited series and A24-style productions. He has a knack for playing characters who are slightly "off" or incredibly internal. That's a skill that only gets better as an actor gets older and gains more life experience.
The best way to see how much he's changed isn't just looking at a photo—it's watching his performances back-to-back. Compare the stuttering Bill Denbrough to the Joseph he played in Arcadian. The voice is deeper, the movement is more confident, and the "child" is definitely gone.
Next Step: Check out his latest performance in The Boy in the Iron Box on Netflix to see how his acting style has evolved since his It days. It’s the clearest evidence of how much he’s grown as a performer.