Alexander Draper Wolff emerged from a distinctly artistic New York City upbringing to become a versatile and compelling force in both music and film. Born on November 1, 1997, in Manhattan to actor and writer Polly Draper and jazz pianist Michael Wolff, he was immersed in the entertainment world from the start. His first major break came as a child when he starred alongside his older brother, Nat Wolff, in the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band, a show created by his mother. The series, which aired from 2007 to 2009, made him a recognizable face and showcased his early musical talents, with soundtrack albums co-produced by his father charting on the Billboard 200.
Following the series, Wolff continued his musical partnership with his brother, forming the duo Nat & Alex Wolff. They released albums including Black Sheep in 2011 and Public Places in 2016, allowing Wolff to hone his skills as a singer-songwriter. However, he began to shift his primary focus toward acting, deliberately seeking challenging roles to distance himself from his child-star persona. This transition was marked by a series of intense dramatic performances. He portrayed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the Boston Marathon bombing drama Patriots Day and delivered a critically acclaimed turn as the friend of a future serial killer in My Friend Dahmer, establishing his serious acting credentials.
Wolff's career demonstrated remarkable range, as he seamlessly moved between high-profile studio films and daring independent projects. He appeared in the blockbuster sequel Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its follow-up, Jumanji: The Next Level, while also delivering a memorably harrowing performance in Ari Aster's horror masterpiece Hereditary. He further showcased his depth in films like Pig, opposite Nicolas Cage, and M. Night Shyamalan's thriller Old. In 2019, Wolff expanded his creative portfolio by writing, directing, composing the score for, and starring in the coming-of-age drama The Cat and the Moon, marking his confident directorial debut.
Continuing to balance music and acting, Wolff and his brother released the album Table for Two in 2023. His acting choices remain ambitious, with a leading role in the 2024 horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One highlighting his ongoing prominence in major studio productions. From his beginnings in a family-crafted Nickelodeon series to his status as a respected actor and filmmaker unafraid of dark, complex material, Alex Wolff has crafted a multifaceted career defined by artistic curiosity and a dedication to his craft.