Austin O’Brien Biography: Net Worth, Movies, Career, Height, Wife

Austin Taylor O’Brien, better known as Austin O’Brien, is an American actor and photographer best known for his work as a child star in the 1990s.

He rose to fame playing the co-lead role of Danny Madigan opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action film Last Action Hero (1993).

O’Brien further solidified his place in pop culture with notable performances in My Girl 2 (1994) and as Josh Greene on the CBS drama series Promised Land.

Since transitioning away from acting, he has built a successful career as a professional photographer.

Austin O'Brien
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Austin Taylor O'Brien
Stage Name:	Austin O'Brien
Born:	May 11 1981 (age 45 years old)
Place of Birth:	Eugene, Oregon, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.83 m
Parents:	Dan O'Brien, Valerie O'Brien
Siblings:	Trever O'Brien, Amanda O'Brien
Spouse:	Kristin Wurgler (m. 2006)
Relationship:	Married
Children:	1
Occupation:	Actor, Photographer
Net Worth:	$500,000

Early Life and Education

Austin Taylor O’Brien was born on May 11, 1981, in Eugene, Oregon, to parents Valerie and Dan O’Brien.

He grew up alongside his elder sister, actress Amanda O’Brien, and his younger brother, actor Trever O’Brien.

Details regarding his formal education remain private, as he largely focused on his acting career from a young age. His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religious affiliation is not publicly documented.

Career

O’Brien began his acting career at just three years old, appearing in over 40 television commercials and magazine advertisements throughout his childhood.

His early fame came from a memorable Circuit City commercial in which he delivered the simple, iconic line “Cool,” which resonated with audiences and showcased his natural charisma.

He made his feature-film debut in the sci-fi thriller The Lawnmower Man (1992), playing the young Michael Angelo, a developmentally disabled boy who becomes the subject of a virtual-reality experiment. The film’s success opened doors for the young actor and set the stage for his breakthrough role the following year.

His career skyrocketed in 1993 when he was cast as Danny Madigan, the young boy transported into a movie universe, in Last Action Hero opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film, directed by John McTiernan, was a meta-action comedy that, while receiving mixed reviews upon release, has since gained a cult following and cemented O’Brien as one of the most recognizable child actors of the decade.

He followed this success with the romantic lead of Nick Zsigmond in My Girl 2 (1994), starring alongside Anna Chlumsky and Dan Aykroyd, and then took on the role of Logan Bruno in the beloved adaptation The Baby-Sitters Club (1995). That same year, he appeared in the blockbuster Apollo 13 (1995) as the son of astronaut Jim Lovell, further proving his versatility.

Throughout the late 1990s, O’Brien maintained a steady presence on both the big and small screens. He reprised his role in Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996) and became a familiar face on television.

From 1996 to 1999, he played the recurring role of Joshua “Josh” Greene on the CBS drama Promised Land, a spin-off of Touched by an Angel, and he also portrayed the same character in a crossover episode. After Promised Land concluded, O’Brien took a step back from the spotlight to pursue higher education and explore his interests outside of Hollywood.

He made occasional returns to acting, including a guest appearance on Bones in 2008 and roles in independent films such as A Christmas Too Many (2007) and Defining Moments (2011). Still, his focus had shifted permanently toward a new creative passion.

Social Media

• Twitter/X Handle: @austinobrien85

Personal Life

O’Brien married Kristin Wurgler on September 3, 2006, and the couple has one child together.

After stepping back from acting, he pursued his passion for photography professionally, launching his own business and working in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.

His transition from child actor to photographer was described as a natural evolution, driven by a deep-seated love for visual storytelling.

Filmography

• The Lawnmower Man (1992)
• Last Action Hero (1993)
• Prehysteria! (1993)
• My Girl 2 (1994)
• Apollo 13 (1995)
• The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
• Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996)
• Only Once (1998)
• Spirit (2001)
• Runaways (2004)
• A Christmas Too Many (2007)
• Helix (2009)
• Bounty (2009)
• This Is the Place (2009)
• Rain from Stars (2010)
• Defining Moments (2011)

Net Worth

O’Brien’s estimated net worth is approximately $500,000.

This wealth was accumulated primarily through his acting roles as a prominent child star in the 1990s, including major motion pictures and the television series Promised Land.