Luke Baines (born 8 June 1990) is an English-Australian actor and author. He is best known for playing the serial killer in The Girl in the Photographs, the last film produced by Wes Craven, which opened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. His major breakout role in TV was playing Jonathan Morgenstern in Shadowhunters.
Early life Born in Hyde, Greater Manchester, England, Baines grew up in the beach-side suburb of Cronulla, Sydney in Australia. He began acting lessons when he was five years old."Young Actor Waiting in the Wings" , St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 28 November 2010, retrieved 30 November 2010
Baines attended The McDonald College of Performing Arts in North Strathfield, New South Wales where he studied drama, music and dance.
Career In 2008, Baines auditioned during a six-month nationwide casting search for the West End production of Spring Awakening the musical. In November of that year, he performed in the workshop at the Lyric Hammersmith in the role of Hanschen.
Notably, he appeared as a serial killer in the Wes Craven-produced film The Girl in the Photographs, which premiered in Midnight Madness at 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The performance received critical praise from outlets such as The Wrap, The Line Up and Press Pass LA, who singled him out as a breakout star."The Girl In The Photographs" , Toronto International Film Festival, retrieved 2 September 2015"‘The Girl in the Photographs’ Star Luke Baines Really Can’t Talk About Playing David Bowie for David Fincher." , The Wrap, posted March 30, 2016
Baines has also appeared in Gold Circle Films' The Possession of Michael King, and Disney's Saving Mr. Banks.
In 2013, Baines starred in Richard Zelniker's As Night Comes (originally titled Mischief Night). The film follows troubled 17-year-old Sean Holloway (Myko Olivier) who falls in with a group of teenage outcasts called 'The Misfits,' whose charismatic and deeply dysfunctional leader, Ricky Gladstone (Baines), takes him under his wing."Mischief Night The Movie Official Website", 31 October 2013, retrieved 4 April 2014
Baines also appears in Mark Webber and Teresa Palmer's The Ever After. The independent feature stars Palmer, Weber, Melissa Leo, Phoebe Tonkin and Tahyna Tozzi. It was filmed in Los Angeles and New York between July and August 2013.
In 2016, Deadline Hollywood announced that Baines would be joining Andrew Garfield and Riley Keogh in David Robert Mitchell's Under the Silver Lake.
Baines has appeared in several TV shows, including Shadowhunters where he portrayed the reincarnated Jonathan Morgenstern, Clary's brother, in Season 3b. In 2020 he appeared as Luke, a Chronicom in one episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and as an Imperial Shuttle Pilot in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
Baines co-wrote and starred in the upcoming horror comedy film Untitled Horror Movie, which was filmed remotely by the actors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His stage highlights include Spring Awakening the Musical, Footloose the Musical and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. As a model, he has appeared in advertisements and editorials for American Eagle, American Rag, Roark Collective and Chapter.
Writing In addition to his acting career, Baines is also a writer. Under the pen name L. J. Baines, he published his debut novel, In Scientia, in 2024 through Not From Here Entertainment. A sequel, titled In Secreta, is scheduled for release in 2026.
Personal life Baines came out as part of the LGBT+ community in June 2022. He said he was currently in a relationship with a man and previously been in a relationship with a woman.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 Saving Mr. Banks Waiter 2014 As Night Comes Ricky Gladstone Originally titled Mischief Night 2014 The Possession of Michael King Elias 2014 The Ever After Himself 2015 The Girl in the Photographs Tom 2017 Fright Fest Mason 2018 Under the Silver Lake Jesus 2018 A Dark Place Alex 2021 Untitled Horror Movie Declan Also co-writer and producer 2022 Bunker Kurt 2025 No Tears in Hell Alex 2025 Crystal Cross TBA
Television Year Title Role Notes2004 The Cooks School kid 2016 Living on Video David Bowie 2017 Truth or Dare Carter Boyle Television film 2019 Shadowhunters Jonathan Morgenstern Recurring (12 episodes)Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain 2020–2021 Nancy Drew John "Mac" McDonald Episodes: "The Girl in the Locket" & "The Reunion of Lost Souls" 2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Luke Episode: "The New Deal" 2020 The Mandalorian Jorad Mainos Episode: "Chapter 16: The Rescue"
Stage 2004: The McDonald College 20th Anniversary concert 2004: Footloose as Ren McCormack 2007: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as the Mad Hatter
Bibliography
References
External links
Luke Baines Official website