Long before he became an Oscar-nominated heartthrob and a fashion icon, Timothée Chalamet made his first foray into acting with a brief, grim television appearance. The now 29-year-old award-winning movie star began his screen career as a murder victim on the long-running crime drama Law & Order.
Humble Beginnings on the Small Screen
Chalamet's debut came at just 13 years old in a 2009 episode titled Pledge during the show's nineteenth season. This early role was the starting point for a television journey that saw him later appear in four episodes of USA Network's Royal Pains and an eight-episode arc in the second season of Showtime's Homeland. Like many of his now-famous peers, these modest parts were where the future star honed his craft.
A Meteoric Rise to Film Stardom
Chalamet's breakthrough arrived with the 2017 coming-of-age film Lady Bird, where he played Saoirse Ronan's love interest. However, it was his poignant performance as Elio Perlman in Call Me By Your Name (2018) that catapulted him to international acclaim. The role earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, making him the third-youngest nominee in history. He further demonstrated his range in Beautiful Boy (2018) as a teenage drug addict, solidifying his status as a serious leading man.
His career continued to ascend with major roles in The King (2019) and the blockbuster Dune franchise. His talent was formally recognised with a Golden Globe win last Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2025 for portraying Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
Life Beyond the Silver Screen
Chalamet's influence extends far beyond acting. In 2019, Vogue hailed him as "the most influential man in fashion," and he later became the first man to appear solo on the cover of British Vogue. He has also dabbled in music, collaborating with the masked rapper EsDeeKid.
In his personal life, the actor has been in a relationship with reality TV star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner, 28, since 2023. Known for keeping their romance private, Chalamet made a rare public declaration at the 2026 Critics' Choice Awards, thanking his "partner of three years" in his acceptance speech.
From a teenage victim on Law & Order to a Golden Globe-winning A-list actor and style pioneer, Timothée Chalamet's journey is a testament to how small-screen beginnings can lead to cinematic domination.
