Grant Gustin

Thomas Grant Gustin was born on January 14, 1990, in Norfolk, Virginia. His mother, Tina Lynne (Sweeney) Haney, was a pediatric nurse, and his father, Thomas Avery Gustin, was a college professor. During his high school years, he attended the Governor’s School for the Arts program in Norfolk, Virginia, specializing in Musical Theatre. He also participated in Hurrah Players Incorporated, a local theatre organization. In 2008, he completed his studies at Granby High School before enrolling in the BFA Music Theatre Program at Elon University in North Carolina, where he studied for two years.

In 2010, Gustin departed from university to accept the role of Baby John in the Broadway Revival Tour of “West Side Story,” performing with the tour from its commencement on September 30, 2010, until September 23, 2011. His television career began with a recurring role as Sebastian Smythe on the Fox series “Glee,” appearing from 2011 to 2013. He secured this role after a comprehensive casting search, having initially auditioned for a different part. Following this, he took on roles in films like “A Mother’s Nightmare” (2012) for Lifetime and the independent film “Affluenza” (2014).

A significant career turning point occurred in September 2013 when Gustin was cast as Barry Allen in the second season of The CW’s “Arrow.” His character was well-received, leading to a standalone pilot for “The Flash” series. The series premiered on October 7, 2014, drawing 4.8 million viewers, marking the highest debut for The CW in five years. “The Flash” ran for nine seasons, concluding on May 24, 2023, with 184 episodes. Gustin also reprised his role as Barry Allen across various Arrowverse shows, including “Supergirl,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” “Batwoman,” and the web series “Vixen.” In 2022, he starred in the Netflix film “Rescued by Ruby.” His Broadway return happened in “Water for Elephants,” originating the role of Jacob Jankowski.