Kaitlyn Dever Bio
Kaitlyn Rochelle Dever (born December 21, 1996) is an American actress known for her versatile work across television and film. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, she began acting as a child and rose to prominence with prominent roles in Justified (2011–2015) and Last Man Standing (2011–2021). She has delivered acclaimed performances in Unbelievable (2019), Dopesick (2021), and The Last of Us (2025–present), earning Golden Globe nominations for Unbelievable and Dopesick, as well as Primetime Emmy nominations for Dopesick and The Last of Us. Her film work includes Booksmart (2019), Rosaline (2022), and No One Will Save You (2023). Off screen, she and her sister perform as the musical duo Devers (formerly Beulahbelle). She also starred in Apple Cider Vinegar (2025).
Early Life and Background
Kaitlyn Rochelle Dever was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 21, 1996. Her father briefly ventured into acting, most notably voicing Barney the Dinosaur on the PBS children’s show Barney & Friends for a short time. She has two younger sisters. When she was five years old, she developed an interest in the performing arts and her parents subsequently enrolled her in an acting school. She also participated in ballet, gymnastics, and ice skating, but seeing Toni Collette’s performance in The Sixth Sense (1999) inspired her to focus on acting.
Her family moved to Dallas, where she filmed a number of commercials, then settled in Los Angeles to pursue her acting career more seriously.
Path to Actress
Dever’s first notable acting role was as Gwen Thompson in the 2009 film An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong. In 2011, she garnered an early breakout role as Loretta McCready in the FX series Justified. In the same year, she was cast as a series regular in the ABC (and later Fox) sitcom Last Man Standing, starring with Tim Allen as her father. Starting with the seventh season of the series, Dever transitioned to a recurring role, allowing her to focus on other film and television projects.
Her other television credits during this period include Make It or Break It, Modern Family, Private Practice, Party Down, The Mentalist, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her 2011 film credits include Cinema Verite, Bad Teacher, and the Clint Eastwood-directed film J. Edgar. In 2012, Dever was nominated three times at the 33rd Young Artist Awards for her supporting roles in Bad Teacher and Last Man Standing, and for her recurring role in Justified.
Kaitlyn Dever Career
Early Career (2009–2015)
In 2013, Dever appeared in supporting roles in the films The Spectacular Now and Short Term 12. In 2014, Dever appeared in the dark comedy film Laggies, directed by Lynn Shelton, alongside Chloë Grace Moretz and Keira Knightley. In the same year, she co-starred in the film Men, Women & Children, directed by Jason Reitman. In 2017, she reunited with Shelton for the drama film Outside In as a supporting cast member. That same year, she had supporting roles in the films We Don’t Belong Here, All Summers End, and Detroit.
Breakthrough (2018–2023)
In 2018, Dever performed in minor roles for the political drama The Front Runner and the biographical drama Beautiful Boy, the latter alongside Timothée Chalamet. In early 2019, Dever appeared in the drama-thriller film Them That Follow, directed by Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2019. In mid 2019, Dever starred in the critically acclaimed teen comedy Booksmart, directed by Olivia Wilde, opposite Beanie Feldstein.
She also starred in Unbelievable, a Netflix miniseries that premiered in September 2019. Dever’s performance was praised by critics, earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film. She also received nominations for the Critics’ Choice Television Award, the BAFTA Rising Star Award, and the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama.
Notable Works and Milestones
Dever starred as the title character in the film Rosaline (2022), based on the novel When You Evaporate. She starred in the sci-fi thriller film No One Will Save You (2023) on Hulu, in which there is almost no dialogue, and received praise for her ability to tell the story almost entirely through facial expressions. Her supporting film roles include Dear Evan Hansen (2021) and Ticket to Paradise (2022).
Kaitlyn Dever Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn Dever has received multiple award nominations for her performances in television. She earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her role in Unbelievable (2019). She received another Golden Globe nomination in the same category for Dopesick (2021). Dever also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Dopesick and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Last of Us.
Kaitlyn Dever Awards Won
At this time, Kaitlyn Dever’s verified award recognition consists primarily of nominations. She has been recognized with two Golden Globe Award nominations and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations across her career for her performances in Unbelievable, Dopesick, and The Last of Us.
Kaitlyn Dever Family
Kaitlyn Dever is the daughter of a father who briefly pursued acting, most notably voicing Barney the Dinosaur on Barney & Friends. She has two younger sisters. Her sister Mady Dever collaborates with her in the musical duo Devers. The sisters began performing together in elementary school talent shows under the name Hot Pink.
Personal Life
Dever is in a relationship with actor Ethan Dawes, which she revealed publicly for the first time in April 2025. Outside of acting, she is one half of the musical duo Devers (formerly known as Beulahbelle) with her sister Mady. The duo released their official debut single “Raleigh” on February 15, 2020, and their second single “Being You” on September 10, 2020. In August 2024, they announced they would change their name from Beulahbelle to Devers, releasing their debut single under the new name “Poison” on September 4, 2024. Dever plays guitar and was inspired musically by artists such as ABBA and The Cure.