Darren Barnet

Darren Barnet (born April 27, 1991, in Los Angeles, California) is an American screen actor recognized for charismatic, genre-spanning performances across streaming series and studio films. Though Los Angeles-born, he spent much of his upbringing in Orlando, Florida, bringing a broad, all-American ease to roles that often balance humor, heart, and intensity.

Barnet comes from a mixed heritage: his mother has Swedish and Japanese roots, while his father is of German and Cherokee descent. He began building his on-screen résumé in 2017 with an appearance on NBC’s This Is Us, a first step that quickly led to bigger opportunities.

He broke through internationally as Paxton Hall-Yoshida on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, becoming a standout presence in the coming-of-age hit. He followed with a memorable turn as Tag in the romantic comedy Love Hard, and expanded into high-profile features including Gran Turismo (as Matty Davis) and Road House (as Sam).

Additional credits include Anyone but You (Jonathan), American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules (Grant), Untitled Horror Movie (Max), Instakiller (Joey), and Apophenia (Peter), underscoring his versatility across comedy, thriller, and action.