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The Daily Insight

Colton Haynes’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Author

Lily Fisher

Published Mar 02, 2026

IntroAmerican actor and model
A.K.A.Colton Lee Haynes
IsActor 
Model 
Television actor 
Musician 
FromUnited States of America 
TypeFashion 
Film, TV, Stage & Radio 
Music 
Gendermale
Birth13 July 1988, Andale
Age:32 years

Colton Lee Haynes (born July 13, 1988) is an American actor and model. He is best known for his role as Jackson Whittemore in MTV’s supernatural drama series Teen Wolf and as Roy Harper/Arsenal in the superhero television series Arrow.

Early life

Colton Lee Haynes was born on July 13, 1988, in Andale, Kansas, the son of Dana Denise (Mitchell) and William Clayton Haynes. He has described his parents as “free-spirited hippies.” Haynes has five siblings, including brothers Clinton and Joshua, and a sister, Willow. Haynes grew up on a farm in Andale, and has also lived in Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. He attended Navarre High School (Florida), Andale High School (Kansas) and graduated from Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas.

Career

Haynes began his career as a model at the age of fifteen in New York City, New York. Haynes first began his success after appearing in a Bruce Weber photoshoot for Abercrombie & Fitch. Afterward, Haynes began modeling in campaigns for Kira Plastinina, J. C. Penney, and Ralph Lauren. In 2008, Haynes continued modeling in campaigns such as Verizon and also appeared in numerous magazine editorials such as Teen Vogue and Arena.

He made an uncredited appearance in the 2007 blockbuster Transformers. He also appeared on CSI: Miami and The Hills. In addition to guest roles, in April 2007 Haynes acted in My Chemical Romance’s music video for their single “I Don’t Love You,” directed by Marc Webb. Later that year, Haynes auditioned for the role of Edward Cullen in the film version of Stephenie Meyer’s young adult novel, Twilight. Robert Pattinson was cast instead.

In 2008, he appeared on the television series, Privileged and Pushing Daisies. He played Scott Holland in the Hallmark Channel film, Always and Forever. Filming began in December 2008, and the film was released to television on October 24, 2009.

It was announced in 2009 that Haynes had won the role of Shane in the Showtime series Look, based on the 2007 film of the same name. “I play a 17-year-old asshole. The show is very racy with lots of nudity, sex, drugs and real life experiences that will shock audiences,” Haynes said in an interview. The show premiered in 2010 and was cancelled after its first season. In March 2010, filming began for the ABC television series, The Gates, in which Haynes portrays Brett Crezski, a jock who begins to turn into a werewolf. The series premiered on June 20, 2010. The show was short-lived and was cancelled after its first season. Afterwards he landed the role of Jackson Whittemore in the MTV series, Teen Wolf, based on the 1985 film of the same name.

On October 11, 2012, Haynes tweeted, “These past few years have been the best of my life. I’m sad that this chapter has ended, but excited for a new one to begin. Thx for the love,” leaving fans of Teen Wolf confused. The next day it was announced that he would be leaving the show. He was a recurring member on the hit CW show Arrow, playing Roy Harper, a street thug who idolizes the Arrow and later becomes his protegé, Arsenal. Haynes was upgraded to series regular status on Arrow for season two. Haynes left the series at the end of season three.

In September 2012, he was the lead in Leona Lewis’s music video “Trouble,” where he played the part of her boyfriend.

In July 2013, he starred in Victoria Justice’s music video “Gold.” In December 2014, he also made a cameo appearance in Andy Grammer’s music video, Honey, I’m Good. That same year, he released some snippets to various covers of songs he had done. Colton started to further his career by singing, something he has loved to do since he was little. In November, he covered a song called “19 You+Me” with New Heights. In December 2013, he released a single with fellow singer Travis-Atreo called “Baby It’s Christmas.”

In 2014, Haynes made a return to his roots by participating in Abercrombie & Fitch’s “Making of a Star” campaign. As a result, photography of Haynes shot by iconic photographer Bruce Weber was featured in A&F stores worldwide.

Haynes’ first credited feature film role was in the 2015 film San Andreas.

Personal life

Haynes has struggled with anxiety all his life; in January 2016, after years of public speculation concerning his “secret gay past,” an off-the-cuff response he made on Tumblr regarding a comment on photos that appeared in gay lifestyle magazine XY a decade before was taken by many media outlets as confirmation of his coming out. Not yet ready to speak openly about his sexual orientation, the renewed attention led Haynes to seek treatment for his anxiety for the next 3 months. He later publicly came out as gay in an interview in Entertainment Weekly in May 2016.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007TransformersCafe kidUncredited
2011Charlie Brown: Blockhead’s RevengeLinus van PeltShort film
2015San AndreasJoby O’Leary
2016TriumphJeffIn post-production
2017Rock That BodyFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007CSI: MiamiBrandon FoxEpisode: “Bang, Bang, Your Debt”
2008PrivilegedAlexanderEpisode: “All About Friends and Family”
2008Pushing DaisiesAres KostopolousEpisode: “Frescorts”
2009Always and ForeverScott HollandTelevision film
2009Melrose PlaceJessie RobertsEpisode: “Gower”
2010Gates, TheThe GatesBrett CrezskiMain cast; 11 episodes
2010Look: The SeriesShaneMain cast; 11 episodes
2011–12Teen WolfJackson WhittemoreMain cast; 24 episodes
2011Nine Lives of Chloe King, TheThe Nine Lives of Chloe KingKaiEpisode: “Dogs of War”
2013–2016ArrowRoy Harper / Arsenal46 Episodes;
Recurring cast (Season 1)
Main cast (Seasons 2–3)
Special Guest Star (Season 4)
2016The GrinderLuke GrinderEpisode: “The Retooling of Dean Sanderson”
Episode: “Divergence”
2016Scream QueensTylerSpecial Guest Star (Season 2)

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016Marvel Avengers AcademyThor (voice)

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRoleNotes
2007“I Don’t Love You”My Chemical RomanceGuest Star
2012“Trouble”Leona LewisLove Interest
2013“Gold”Victoria JusticeGuest Star
2014“Honey, I’m Good.”Andy GrammerGuest Star