Matt Lanter

From the Baseball Diamond to the Los Angeles Spotlight

Matt Lanter was born in Ohio in 1983, and for years his only real concern was baseball. He played center field at the University of Georgia, but acting crossed his path by accident. He worked as a model before stepping onto a professional film set for the first time.

In 2004, he landed his first credit in the film Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius. It was a tiny role as a caddie. But that shoot taught him he didn't want to return to college training fields.

He moved to California with little money and plenty of ambition.

In 2005, he took part in the reality show Manhunt: The Search for America’s Most Gorgeous Male Model. He didn't win the competition (he finished among the top ten), but the exposure got casting directors to start remembering his face. In Hollywood, looks open doors, but only stamina keeps them open.

He landed episodic roles in major series such as Big Love and Heroes. Soon he realized his look fit perfectly with The CW's productions.

The Voice of a Galaxy and the Fan Phenomenon

In 2008, his career split into two parallel paths. On one hand, he agreed to voice Anakin Skywalker in the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Many assumed it was a minor gig to fill out his résumé.

And they were completely wrong.

Lanter played the Jedi for seven seasons and in several video games. His performance brought a sense of humanity and humor that the live-action prequel trilogy had not fully explored. Fans of the franchise eventually embraced his voice as the definitive one for the character of Anakin.

While recording voice sessions in the studio, he became a familiar face on school folders. In 2009, he joined the cast of 90210 to play Liam Court. What was meant to be a few-episode appearance ended up lasting ninety-eight episodes until the series finale in 2013.

It was a period of grueling shoots and plenty of tabloid attention.

But Lanter didn't want to be just the handsome guy from the hit series. In 2008, he starred in Disaster Movie, and in 2010 he returned to parody with Vampires Suck. Both projects were panned by critics. But the box office numbers worked, paying the bills while he looked for projects with more dramatic weight.

A Refuge in Science Fiction

After leaving his teen years behind, he sought out more complex characters. In 2016, he joined the cast of Timeless on NBC. He played Wyatt Logan (a soldier tormented by the loss of his wife) in a time-travel plot that sparked a very aggressive fan movement on social media.

The series was canceled and then revived thanks to public pressure.

That experience taught him how the new digital market works. Traditional audience ratings were no longer the only thing that mattered for keeping a job. In 2018, production wrapped for good with a TV special that tied up every loose end in the storyline.

In 2021, he played George Hutchence in the superhero series Jupiter's Legacy. It was a risky bet by Netflix that ended in cancellation after a single season.

And the industry once again showed how tough it can be.

Lanter married Angela Stacy in 2013 and has a daughter born in 2017. In 2024, the actor balances his voice work for major franchises with managing his personal wealth in Los Angeles. His contract with the luxury underwear brand he promoted for years remains one of his most stable financial assets off camera.