How much do you love Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl? Find out more about Penn Badgley, the actor who plays Dan, in his Kidzworld Bio.
If you’ve watched The CW’s hit show Gossip Girl we bet you fell in love with Dan Humphrey. But, actor Penn Badgley got his start way before this teen series premiered. Penn moved to California when he was 11 years old to pursue a career in entertainment. He was interested in both singing and acting, and even did some voice work for the video games Mario Golf 64 and Mario Tennis 64. Around this time he also started making one-time appearances on popular TV shows like Will & Grace. In 2000 Penn earned his first recurring role as Phillip on The Young and the Restless. From 2000 – 2006 he appeared as a regular on TV shows like Do Over, The Mountain and The Bedford Diaries.
Making Movies
Penn Badgley broke out into the mainstream market with his role in the popular movie John Tucker Must Die, starring Brittany Snow and Jesse Metcalfe. Penn played Jesse’s younger, somewhat dorky brother who falls into a love triangle with Brittany. The movie was a huge success and brought Penn up to heartthrob status. He continued to find big screen success with the 2010 movie Easy A, starring Emma Stone and Amanda Bynes.
Gossip Guy
Since 2007 Penn has been the star of his own show, Gossip Girl. The series focuses on the lives of rich and privileged Upper East Side teens as they deal with love and life. Penn plays Dan, the son of a 1990s rock star. He lives in Brooklyn but commutes to private school in Manhattan. The show documents his up and down relationship with debutante Serena, as well as his slow transition into the rich lifestyle of the other teens. Dan is an aspiring writer who loves old films and perogies!
Blake Lively & Penn Badgley Interview
Did You Know
- Penn dated his Gossip Girl costar Blake Lively for three years, and has known her since he was 11.
- He plays the guitar.
- He loves to surf and go snowboarding.
- Penn was named after the Pilot Penn tennis ball.
Have Your Say ...
Who is your favorite Gossip Girl character? What would you like to see Penn do in the future? Leave a comment and let us know!
