Colton Lee Haynes, born on July 13, 1988, in Andale, Kansas, is an American actor, model, and singer who rose to prominence through his roles in popular television series.
Growing up on a farm in a small town, Haynes was raised by parents he described as “free-spirited hippies,” alongside his five siblings.
His early life was marked by frequent relocations across states like Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, shaping a diverse upbringing.
Haynes came out as gay at age 14, a pivotal moment that influenced his personal and professional journey.
Siblings
Colton has five siblings, brothers Clinton, Joshua, and William Haynes Jr., and sisters Julie Held, Summer Benedict, and Willow Haynes.
Clinton Haynes, a younger brother, has dabbled in acting but pursued a career as a sales manager at Crazy Shirts in Vail, Colorado, after graduating from Haskell Indian Nations University.
Joshua Haynes, another brother, is also an actor, with credits in projects like The Film-Maker’s Son (2013), Molly and Mack (2018), and CBeebies Christmas Show: Hansel & Gretel (2019).
He is married to Scott Culley, and they have a daughter, Wren, whom Colton has affectionately featured on social media.
William Haynes Jr. is an older half-brother from his father’s side, though less is known about his public life.
Julie Held, an older half-sister from his father’s side, was very close to Colton despite a 20-year age gap.
She passed away in April 2020 at age 51 after a long battle with cancer, a loss Colton mourned publicly, sharing nostalgic family photos from trips to Paris and New York.
Also Read: Colin Farrell Siblings: Meet the Siblings Squad Behind the Irish Actor
Summer Benedict, a half-sister from his mother’s side, works as a multimedia sales executive in Benton, Arkansas, and studied at Henderson State University.
Willow Haynes, an older half-sister from his mother’s side, holds a special place in Colton’s life, having supported him after high school when he lived with her.
Career
Haynes began his career as a model in New York City at age 15, appearing in campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and Verizon, as well as editorials in Teen Vogue and Arena.
His transition to acting started with small roles, including an uncredited part in Transformers (2007) and guest appearances on CSI: Miami and The Hills.
In 2008, he appeared in Privileged and Pushing Daisies, followed by a role in the Hallmark film Always and Forever (2009).
His first significant role came in 2010 as Brett Crezski, a jock-turned-werewolf, in ABC’s The Gates, though the series was short-lived.
That same year, he played Shane in Showtime’s Look, a provocative series that was also canceled after one season.
Haynes’ breakthrough came in 2011 when he landed the role of Jackson Whittemore in MTV’s Teen Wolf, a supernatural drama based on the 1985 film.
He left the show after two seasons but returned for a 2023 reunion film.
In 2012, he joined The CW’s Arrow as Roy Harper, a street thug who becomes the vigilante Arsenal, earning a series regular spot in seasons two and seven, with guest appearances in later seasons.
Haynes also starred in films like San Andreas (2015) alongside Dwayne Johnson, Rough Night (2017) with Scarlett Johansson, and Bigger (2018) as Jack LaLanne.
His television work includes a stint on American Horror Story: Cult (2017) and appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2024).
Beyond acting, Haynes has pursued music, releasing singles like “Baby It’s Christmas” with Travis-Atreo in 2013 and covering “19 You+Me” with New Heights.
In 2022, he published a memoir, Miss Memory Lane, praised by Elton John for its candid exploration of his life’s challenges, including his struggles with anxiety and coming out in Hollywood.
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