Oakes Fegley is an American actor who moved from local theater into major Hollywood movies and television. He became widely known after starring as Pete in Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. His recent work includes Charlie Dessen in Apple TV’s science-fiction series Dark Matter.
Born on November 11, 2004, the Pennsylvania native is 21 years old as of October 2026. His career already includes family films, literary dramas, prestige cinema, and science-fiction television. That range has helped him move beyond the child-actor label attached to his earliest successes.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Oakes Tonne Fegley |
| Date of birth | November 11, 2004 |
| Age in October 2026 | 21 |
| Birthplace | Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Profession | Actor |
| Breakout movie | Pete’s Dragon |
| Notable films | Wonderstruck, The Goldfinch, The War with Grandpa, The Fabelmans |
| Current major TV role | Charlie Dessen in Dark Matter |
| Parents | Michael Fegley and Merce Fegley |
| Siblings | August Fegley and Winslow Fegley |
| Reported height | 5 feet 8 inches |
Direct answer: Oakes Fegley is a 21-year-old American actor from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He gained widespread attention through Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. His later credits include Wonderstruck, The Goldfinch, The Fabelmans, and Dark Matter. His career has developed from child roles into increasingly mature film and television performances.
Key Takeaways
- He was born on November 11, 2004, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Disney’s Pete’s Dragon gave him his major mainstream breakthrough.
- His parents and both siblings have acting backgrounds.
- He played young Theo Decker in The Goldfinch.
- He appeared in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans.
- He plays Charlie Dessen in Apple TV’s Dark Matter.
- Season two of Dark Matter premiered in August 2026.
Oakes Fegley Age, Birthday, and Pennsylvania Background
The actor was born on November 11, 2004, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. That makes him 21 years old on October 13, 2026. He will turn 22 on November 11, 2026.
His Pennsylvania upbringing also directly shaped his early performing experience. He appeared in local theater before receiving major screen opportunities. One early stage role was Tiny Tim in an Allentown production of A Christmas Carol.
Growing Up in an Acting Family
Acting was already familiar territory inside the Fegley household. His father, Michael Fegley, and mother, Merce Fegley, have both worked as actors. His siblings, August and Winslow, have also pursued acting.
That family background gave him early exposure to rehearsals and stage productions. In a 2021 interview, he discussed growing up around relatives involved in performance. His sister August was among the influences that encouraged his own interest.
His younger brother Winslow later established a separate screen career. Winslow’s credits include Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Nightbooks, and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. The brothers therefore represent two distinct acting careers from the same Allentown family.
From Early Roles to Pete’s Dragon
His feature-film career began with Fort Bliss, where he played Paul Swann. He also appeared in This Is Where I Leave You in 2014. Television credits from this early period included Boardwalk Empire and Person of Interest.
The major breakthrough arrived with Disney’s Pete’s Dragon in 2016. He played Pete, the young central character whose closest companion is a mysterious dragon. The role placed him alongside performers including Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford.
That film gave the young performer much greater mainstream visibility. It also established that he could carry a large studio production. He soon followed the Disney project with roles that demanded different dramatic skills.
Readers interested in other current actor profiles can visit Writinglish’s Entertainment section. The site also covers performers through focused career and public-interest explainers. Its recent Matt Smith feature is one example of that entertainment coverage.
Wonderstruck and The Goldfinch Expanded His Range
In 2017, he starred as Ben in Wonderstruck, directed by Todd Haynes. The project followed his Disney breakthrough with a more unusual dramatic story. It showed his career wouldn’t remain limited to conventional family movies.
He later portrayed young Theo Decker in The Goldfinch (2019). The film adapted Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel for the screen. The role required him to portray Theo during a traumatic stage of his life.
During these years, his work bridged childhood roles and older characters. The projects also placed him beside established actors across several genres. That progression became more visible as he entered his late teens.
The War With Grandpa and The Fabelmans
The 2020 comedy The War with Grandpa gave him a lighter project opposite Robert De Niro. He played Peter, a boy fighting to reclaim his bedroom from his grandfather. The movie broadened his résumé with mainstream family comedy.
A major prestige credit followed with Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans in 2022. He appeared in the filmmaker’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama. The film placed him inside one of the most discussed ensemble productions of that awards season.
Career variety can matter more than one isolated blockbuster for a developing actor. His credits now cross fantasy, comedy, literary drama, and prestige filmmaking. Writinglish readers can find another Hollywood career overview in its Lupita Nyong’o profile.
Dark Matter Is His Most Important Recent Television Role
Apple TV cast him as Charlie Dessen in Dark Matter, based on Blake Crouch’s novel. Charlie is the son of Jason and Daniela Dessen. Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly play his parents.
The science-fiction drama premiered in 2024 and returned for season two in 2026. Apple scheduled the second season to begin on August 28, 2026. New episodes were then scheduled weekly through October 30.
His role has remained relevant as the show’s story expanded beyond its first season. Apple’s 2026 episode materials include Charlie throughout the ongoing multiverse storyline. The October 9 episode, “The Pyramid,” specifically centers part of its story on Charlie.
That makes Dark Matter an important marker in his transition toward adult television roles. The series puts him inside a continuing ensemble instead of a standalone childhood performance. It also gives current audiences a project directly connected to his career in 2026.
Selected Movies and TV Shows
| Year | Movie or series | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fort Bliss | Paul Swann |
| 2014 | This Is Where I Leave You | Young Judd |
| 2014 | Boardwalk Empire | Young Elias Thompson |
| 2014–2016 era | Person of Interest | Gabriel Hayward |
| 2016 | Pete’s Dragon | Pete |
| 2017 | Wonderstruck | Ben |
| 2019 | The Goldfinch | Young Theo Decker |
| 2020 | The War with Grandpa | Peter |
| 2022 | The Fabelmans | Chad Thomas |
| 2024 | Adam the First | Adam |
| 2024–2026 | Dark Matter | Charlie Dessen |
His filmography shows a fairly clear progression in role type. Early credits largely positioned him as a child or younger version of another character. Later projects have given him more independent parts within adult ensembles.
The path resembles a challenge faced by many actors who start working young. Childhood recognition does not automatically create an adult career. His continued work across film and television suggests that the transition is still underway.
For another example of a long-running screen career, Writinglish covers Peter Dinklage’s acting career and earnings. Comparing career stages can show how performers build recognizable bodies of work over time. Each actor’s path still depends on different roles and opportunities.
How Tall Is He?
IMDb currently lists his height as 5 feet 8 inches (about 1.73 meters). Older celebrity pages sometimes list substantially shorter measurements from his childhood. Those outdated figures should not be treated as current adult measurements.
This discrepancy explains why height searches can return conflicting answers. A profile written when an actor is still growing can remain indexed for years. Current biographical databases provide a more useful reference than old childhood measurements.
Why His Career Is Worth Following
Few performers keep exactly the same screen identity after becoming known as children. His career has instead moved through several distinct stages. Disney fantasy, literary adaptations, comedy, Spielberg drama, and science fiction now appear on the same résumé.
The current Dark Matter role is particularly useful for measuring that change. He is no longer being introduced primarily as the child from Pete’s Dragon. Instead, he is part of an ongoing television ensemble in its second season.
That shift makes his next choices more interesting than another recap of his childhood fame. Future projects could determine which genres become central to his adult career. For now, his record shows steady work across increasingly varied productions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oakes Fegley
How old is Oakes Fegley?
He is 21 years old as of October 13, 2026. His birthday is November 11, 2004. He will turn 22 in November 2026.
Who are his parents?
His parents are Michael Fegley and Merce Fegley. Both have acting backgrounds, which exposed their children to performance early. Their family has longstanding connections with theater and acting.
Is Winslow Fegley his brother?
Yes, Winslow is his younger brother. Winslow is also an actor with several credits in family films and television. Their older sister, August, also has acting experience.
Who does he play in Dark Matter?
He plays Charlie Dessen in Apple TV’s Dark Matter. Charlie is the son of Jason Dessen and Daniela Dessen. The character continues to appear in the show’s 2026 second season.
What movie made him famous?
Pete’s Dragon was his biggest early mainstream breakthrough. Disney released the film in 2016 with him playing Pete. The role introduced him to a much larger international audience.
What is his net worth?
No trustworthy public financial disclosure establishes an exact net worth. Online estimates should therefore be treated as speculation rather than confirmed wealth. His private contracts, assets, expenses, and earnings are not publicly documented in enough detail.
From Child Actor to an Expanding Screen Career
His career now covers more than a decade of screen work. The journey started with theater and childhood parts before reaching major studio productions. More recent projects show a performer building an identity beyond those early roles.
Dark Matter gives American audiences the clearest current example of that progression. Its second season keeps him visible during 2026 alongside an established ensemble. His next film or television choices will show where that transition goes next.
