Kian Lawley

{{short description|American YouTuber and actor (born 1995)}} {{Infobox youtuber | name = Kian Lawley | image = Kian Lawley by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Lawley in 2014 | birth_name = Kian Robert Lawley | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|09|2}} | birth_place = [[Sioux City, Iowa]], U.S. | occupation = [[YouTube personality]], [[actor]], [[livestreaming|streamer]] | partner = Ayla Woodruff (2019–present) | children = 1 | youtube_handle = superkian13 | youtube_display_name = | youtube_handle2 = KianLawleyVODS | youtube_display_name2 = | youtube_handle3 = KianAndJc | youtube_display_name3 = | youtube_years_active = 2010–present | youtube_genre = | youtube_subscribers = 3.22 million (superkian13) 101 thousand (KianLawleyVODS) 3.82 million (KianAndJc) | youtube_views = 70.5 million (superkian13) 11.6 million (KianLawleyVODS) 847 million (KianAndJc) | stats_update = June 2023{{nu|date=October 2025}} }}

'''Kian Robert Lawley''' (born September 2, 1995) is an American YouTuber, influencer and actor.

Lawley launched his personal YouTube channel, '''superkian13''', in 2010. Lawley has also been a part of collaborative YouTube channels, including ''Our2ndLife''. Lawley shares the YouTube channel "KianAndJc" with fellow YouTuber [[JC Caylen]].

Lawley's first role in a [[feature film]] was in the 2015 film ''[[The Chosen (2015 film)|The Chosen]].'' Lawley went on to feature in the films ''[[Shovel Buddies]]'' (2016), ''[[Boo! A Madea Halloween]]'' (2016), ''[[Boo 2! A Madea Halloween]]'' (2017), ''[[Before I Fall (film)|Before I Fall]]'' (2017) for which he won a [[Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice Award]], and ''[[Monster Party (film)|Monster Party]]'' (2018). In 2017, Lawley worked with Caylen on their show ''H8TERS'' and starred in the [[Daytime Emmy Award]] winning first season of "[[Zac & Mia (web series)|Zac & Mia]]". In 2018, footage of Lawley resurfaced in which he used racial slurs, leading to his role in ''[[The Hate U Give (film)|The Hate U Give]]'' being recast, and to him being dropped by his talent agency, [[Creative Artists Agency|CAA]].

==Early life== Kian Lawley was born on September 2, 1995, in [[Sioux City]], Iowa. He has [[Polish people|Polish]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[Germans|German]] heritage. At a young age, his family moved to [[San Clemente]], California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://slide.ly/buzz/view/8ff7ec52469a967480faa56ce1edced3|title=25 facts about Kian Lawley {{!}} Slidely Buzz|website=[[Promo.com|Slidely]]|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2019}}

==Career==

=== 2010–2015: Early YouTube career === Lawley launched his first channel in 2010, under the name Superkian13.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/superkian13/|title=superkian13|website=[[YouTube]]|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> Lawley also had a collaborative channel with Sam Pottorff in 2011, named KianSam13.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} In 2012, Lawley started a collaborative channel ''Our2ndLife'' (commonly known as O2L) along with [[JC Caylen]], [[Ricky Dillon]], [[Trevi Moran]], [[Connor Franta]], and Sam Pottorff. The channel grew to over 2.8 million subscribers, and in 2014 the group headlined a 19-city tour, but they later separated, in December 2014.<ref name=":3" /> Lawley and Caylen launched their collaborative channel KianAndJc in January 2015.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/o2l-members-form-new-youtube-764692|title=Former O2L Members Form New YouTube Channel KianAndJc|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=19 January 2015|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> At the [[2015 Teen Choice Awards]], Lawley won the award for Choice YouTuber.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/teen-choice-awards-recap-complete-winners-list/story?id=33130596|title=Teen Choice Awards Recap and Complete Winners' List|last1=Costantino|first1=George|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref>

=== 2015–2018: Acting career === Lawley's first starring role was in the 2015 film ''[[The Chosen (2015 film)|The Chosen]]'' in which he played a 19 year old who must contend with a demon to save his niece.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web|last1=Jarvey|first1=Natalie|title=Kian Lawley Thriller 'The Chosen' to Premiere During VidCon|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kian-lawley-thriller-chosen-premiere-801398|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=9 June 2015|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, he co-starred with [[Bella Thorne]] in the comedy ''[[Shovel Buddies]]''.<ref name="thehollywoodreporter">{{cite web|last1=Jarvey|first1=Natalie|title=Bella Thorne, Kian Lawley to Star in AwesomenessTV's 'Shovel Buddies'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bella-thorne-kian-lawley-star-799149|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=June 2015|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> In March 2016, the film was selected and premiered at [[SXSW Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sxsw-awesomeness-films-exec-talks-875152 |title=SXSW: Awesomeness Films Exec Talks Aging Up Teen Brand With Drama 'Shovel Buddies' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 14, 2016}}</ref> In an interview about the film Lawley said "I don't plan to ditch to YouTube, I plan to do both [acting and YouTube]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/bella-thorne-kian-lawley-shovel-buddies-sxsw/|title=Bella Thorne, Kian Lawley Talk 'Shovel Buddies' at SXSW|website=TheWrap|date=15 March 2016|language=en-US|access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref> Lawley also played "Bean Boy" in the 2016 [[Tyler Perry]] comedy ''[[Boo! A Madea Halloween]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/tyler-perry-will-wear-the-dress-again-in-boo-a-madea-halloween/|title=Tyler Perry Will Wear Dress Again in 'Boo! A Madea Halloween'|website=TheWrap|date=19 January 2016|language=en-US|access-date=April 7, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, Lawley and [[JC Caylen]] starred in and executive produced their show ''H8TERS'', a comedy about internet celebrities, haters and millennial culture.<ref name=":0" /> That year, Lawley appeared alongside [[Zoey Deutch]], [[Halston Sage]], and [[Logan Miller]] in the film ''[[Before I Fall (film)|Before I Fall]]'',<ref name="eweekly">{{cite web|last1=Coggan|first1=Devan|title=Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley to star in Before I Fall|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/27/halston-sage-logan-miller-before-i-fall|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108102115/https://ew.com/article/2015/10/27/halston-sage-logan-miller-before-i-fall/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley Join Zoey Deutch in 'Before I Fall'|date=27 October 2015|url=https://www.thewrap.com/halston-sage-logan-miller-kian-lawley-join-zoey-deutch-in-before-i-fall/|publisher=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/sundance-2017-premieres-midnight-special-events-robert-redford-rashida-jones-1201864406/|title=Sundance 2017: Robert Redford, New Rashida Jones Netflix Series, 'Rebel In The Rye' & More On Premiere, Docu, Midnight & Kids Slates|last=Patten|first=Dominic|date=2016-12-05|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> for which he won the award for Choice Movie Actor: Drama at the [[2017 Teen Choice Awards]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2017 he also starred in the series ''[[Zac & Mia (web series)|Zac & Mia]]'', a show that follows the lives of two ordinary teenagers undergoing cancer treatment.<ref name="Petski">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/zac-and-mia-ya-series-renewed-season-2-awesomenesstv-1202216733/|title='Zac And Mia' YA Series Renewed For Season 2 By AwesomenessTV|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2017-11-29|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> The show was nominated for six [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s and won two: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series and Outstanding Writing in a Digital Drama Series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/perth-authors-zac-mia-becomes-emmy-winning-tv-series-ng-b88821479z|title=Perth author inspires Emmy-winning series|date=2018-05-01|website=[[The West Australian]]|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2019/01/31/zac-and-mia-season-2-trailer-first-look-video/|title='Zac & Mia' Season 2 Trailer: Zac & Mia Fight & Their Future Is Uncertain — Watch|last=Thompson|first=Avery|date=2019-01-31|website=[[Hollywood Life]]|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> In 2017, AwesomenessTV renewed ''Zac & Mia'' for a second season.<ref name="Petski" /> In 2018, Lawley received a nomination for the Best Actor In A Digital Drama [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for his performance in ''Zac & Mia''.<ref>{{cite web|last1= Montgomery and Sheehan|first1=Daniel and Paul |title=2018 Daytime Emmy nominations: Full list of nominees for 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards|date=21 March 2018 |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/2018-daytime-emmy-nominations-full-list-of-nominees-news/|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|goldderby]]|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

On February 5, 2018, it was announced that Lawley had been fired from ''[[The Hate U Give (film)|The Hate U Give]]'' due to a resurfaced video showing Lawley using racially offensive slurs. His scenes as Chris, the main character's boyfriend, were reshot with ''[[Riverdale (2017 TV series)|Riverdale]]'' star [[KJ Apa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/kian-lawley-fired-the-hate-u-give-racist-video-youtube-1202279001/|title=Fox Axes YouTube Star Kian Lawley From 'The Hate U Give' Over Racially Offensive Video|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=February 5, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref> Lawley released an apology on [[Twitter]], stating, "I am deeply sorry to those that were effected [''sic''] by my choice of language. I respect Fox's decision to recast this role for ''The Hate U Give'' as it is an important story, and it would not be appropriate for me to be involved considering the actions of my past. I understand the impact and I have grown a lot and learned since then." He was subsequently dropped by his talent agency [[Creative Artists Agency|CAA]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fired-hate-u-give-actor-kian-lawley-dropped-by-caa-1082555|title=CAA Drops YouTuber Kian Lawley After He Gets Fired From Fox Movie (Exclusive)|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=2018-02-07|language=en}}</ref>

=== 2019–present: ''The Reality House'' === Lawley and Caylen have taken a shift on their channel with more significant productions. In July 2019, they premiered their new [[Big Brother (American TV series)|''Big Brother'']]-style series ''The Reality House'' which features a group of YouTubers in a house competing to win $25,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=2019-07-12 |title=Kian And JC To Launch $25,000 'Big Brother'-Style Series With 13 YouTuber Contestants |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/07/12/kian-and-jc-25000-contest-series/ |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=[[Tubefilter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The series did extremely well, gaining over 25 million views collectively across all ten episodes and a second season began filming in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=2019-11-07 |title=With 25 Million Views On Season 1, Kian And JC Are Readying Another 'Reality House' |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/11/07/kian-and-jc-season-two-reality-house/ |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=[[Tubefilter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The second season premiered in January 2020 and included more elaborate challenges and an increased prize of $50,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perelli |first=Amanda |date=2020-01-29 |title=YouTube duo Kian and JC explain their big ambitions for 'The Reality House,' their show where influencers compete in challenges for $50,000 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reality-house-show-influencer-business-kian-and-jc-2020-1 |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The second season was also a success online, with the first two seasons gaining nearly a million views per episode. A fourth season is pending.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |date=2020-07-09 |title=It Looks Like a Reality Show. Why Not Just Make It One? |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/style/tik-tok-drama-taylor-lorenz.html |access-date=2021-10-27 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Film === {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role |- | 2015 | ''[[The Chosen (2015 film)|The Chosen]]'' | Cameron |- | rowspan="2"| 2016 | ''[[Shovel Buddies]]'' | Dan |- | ''[[Boo! A Madea Halloween]]'' | Bean Boy |- | 2017 | ''[[Before I Fall (film)|Before I Fall]]'' | Rob Cockran |- | rowspan="1"| 2018 | ''[[Monster Party (film)|Monster Party]]'' | Elliot Dawson |- |}

=== Television === {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes !{{Abbr|Refs|References}} |- | 2017 | ''H8TERS'' | Himself / Frank | 10 episodes |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/kian-lawley-jc-caylens-h8ters-fullscreen-astronauts-wanted-1201887849/|title=YouTubers Kian Lawley & Jc Caylen's 'H8TERS' Gets Greenlight From Fullscreen & Astronauts Wanted|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=2017-01-17|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2017 | ''Apologies in Advance'' | Himself | Season 1 Finale |{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}} |- | 2017 | ''Guilty Party'' | Jake | 8 episodes |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/att-hello-lab-guilty-party-cyberbullying-drama-1202529719/|title=AT&T Hello Lab Casts Digital Influencers for Cyberbullying Social-Media Drama Series 'Guilty Party'|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2017-08-16|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2017–2019 | ''[[Zac & Mia (web series)|Zac & Mia]]'' | Zac Meier | Web series; main role |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/youtube-kian-lawley-anne-winters-star-zac-and-mia-series-based-on-ya-novel-go90-1202047115/|title=YouTube Star Kian Lawley & Anne Winters To Topline 'Zac And Mia' YA Series On Go90|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2017-03-20|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2020–present | ''[[Perfect Commando]]'' | Vantaa "Van" Hamilton | Main role |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/kian-lawley-katherine-c-hughes-finnish-comedy-perfect-commando-1203271585/|title=Kian Lawley, Katherine C. Hughes Starring in Finnish Comedy 'Perfect Commando'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=April 13, 2020}}</ref> |}

==Awards and nominations== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Nominated !Award !Result !{{Abbr|Refs|References}} |- | 2014 | [[Teen Choice Awards]] | [[2014 Teen Choice Awards#Choice Web|Choice Web Star: Comedy]] (as part of Our 2nd Life) | {{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2014/08/10/teen-choice-awards-winners-web-youtube-vine/|title=YouTube and Vine Stars Win Big for #TeamInternet at Teen Choice Awards|last=Hernandez|first=Brian Anthony|website=Mashable|date=11 August 2014|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2015 | [[Teen Choice Awards]] | [[2015 Teen Choice Awards#Choice Web|Choice YouTuber]] | {{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/teen-choice-awards-winners-2015-full-list-1201571268/|title=Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List|date=2015-08-17|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 2016 | [[Teen Choice Awards]] | [[2016 Teen Choice Awards#Choice Web|Choice YouTuber]] | {{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/teen-choice-awards-2016-nominees-915639/item/tca-muser-915731|title=Choice Muser - Teen Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=29 July 2016|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | [[Streamy Awards]] || Entertainer of the Year || {{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/streamy-awards-2016-winners-list-1201878399/|title=Streamy Awards 2016: Full Winners List|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2016-10-05|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2017 | [[Teen Choice Awards]] | [[2017 Teen Choice Awards#Choice Drama Movie Actor|Choice Drama Movie Actor]] | {{won}} |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/teen-choice-awards-2017-tcas-fox-winners-list-riverdale-fifth-harmony-1202526197/|title=Teen Choice Awards 2017: 'Riverdale,' Fifth Harmony Shut Out Competition|last1=Rubin|first1=Rebecca|last2=Knapp|first2=J. D.|date=2017-08-14|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2018 | [[Daytime Emmys]] | Best Actor In A Digital Drama | {{nom}} |<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/930770/daytime-emmy-awards-2018-winners-the-complete-list|title=Daytime Emmy Awards 2018 Winners: The Complete List|date=2018-04-29|website=E! News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |- | 2020 | [[12th Shorty Awards|Shorty Awards]] | Best YouTube Ensemble (shared with [[JC Caylen|Jc Caylen]]) | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |title=The 12th Annual Shorty Awards Winners |url=https://shortyawards.com/12th/winners |website=shortyawards.com}}</ref> |}

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == * {{IMDb name|6329504}} *{{Instagram |kianlawley}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawley, Kian}} [[Category:21st-century American male actors]] [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actors from San Clemente, California]] [[Category:Male actors from Orange County, California]] [[Category:Male actors from Iowa]] [[Category:Shorty Award winners]] [[Category:American Twitch (service) streamers]] [[Category:YouTubers from Iowa]] [[Category:YouTubers from California]]