Daniel Byrd (born November 20, 1985) is an American actor. His most prominent roles include the 2004 film A Cinderella Story, the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, the 2010 films Easy A and Norman, and the sitcoms Aliens in America, Young Sheldon, and Cougar Town.
Early life Byrd was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Jeff and Rachel Byrd, and was raised in Marietta, Georgia. He has two younger siblings, Ryan and Molly. He attended school until 10th grade, at which point he began homeschooling.
Career Byrd's feature film debut was in the 1999 film The First of May, which starred Julie Harris and Mickey Rooney. He then went on to make a string of appearances in television series such as Judging Amy, Any Day Now, ER, and Touched by an Angel before gaining his first break-out role in the TNT miniseries Salem's Lot, playing schoolboy Mark Petrie.
In 2004, Byrd co-starred in A Cinderella Story, opposite Hilary Duff. He played Carter Farrell, the method acting best friend of Duff's Cinderella character Sam Montgomery. The project was followed by short-lived CBS series Clubhouse.
In 2006, Byrd starred in Alexandre Aja's remake of The Hills Have Eyes, based on Wes Craven's original 1977 cult classic film. Also in 2006, Byrd starred opposite John Travolta in the period crime thriller Lonely Hearts. The story follows real-life killers Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, who develop a twisted infatuation with each other as they travel the country luring unsuspecting victims through personal ads in the newspaper. Travolta played the lead detective on the case and Byrd played his troubled son.
Byrd was set to appear in the 2007 remake of Revenge of the Nerds, but after three weeks of filming, the project was cancelled. He then went on to star in the CW comedy Aliens in America, which follows a Wisconsin homemaker who arranges to host a foreign exchange student, believing the visitor will help her shy son (played by Byrd) become more popular. However, the show only lasted one season.
In October 2008, Entertainment Weekly reported that Byrd had been cast in Heroes in a recurring role as Sylar's (Zachary Quinto) apprentice. He plays Luke Campbell, who has the ability to emit microwave pulses. He appeared in three episodes during "Volume 4: Fugitives". Byrd also appeared in an episode of ABC Family's Greek as Clark Duke's character's high school friend.
In 2009, Byrd began starring in the comedy series Cougar Town, as Travis Cobb the son of Courteney Cox's character. The show ran for three seasons on ABC before transitioning to TBS for the remainder of its run.
In 2010, Byrd co-starred in Easy A opposite Emma Stone. He played Brandon, a gay friend of Stone's character Olive Penderghast, whom she pretends to have sex with at a house party to boost their social standings.
He stars as the title character in the 2010 film Norman, a film which follows the story of a high school senior who perpetuates a lie that he is terminally ill with cancer to gain sympathy from his peers.
Recent television credits include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Good Doctor (American TV series), and Young Sheldon.
Personal life Byrd, his parents, and his then-fiancée (now wife) Lauren Smith opened gastropub Two Birds Taphouse in Marietta, Georgia in 2016. In January 2025, ownership was transferred to the then head chef Briton Nevitt. He and Smith married in Los Olivos, California that same year.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1998 The First of May Cory Wainwright 1999The Price of a Broken Heart Eric Hutlemeyer 2000 28 Days Dan 2001 Judging Amy Todd Episode: "Adoption Day" The Fighting Fitzgeralds Young Patrick Episode: "PilotJust Ask My Children Brian Kniffen Television filmER Russ Episode: "If I Should Fall from Grace"2002 Untitled Eric Gilliland Project Himself CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jake Bradley Episode: "Burden of Proof"Firestarter: Rekindled Paul Any Day Now Young Colliar Sims 61 episodesThe Nightmare Room Drew 2 episodesState of Grace Kenny Moss 2 episodesBoomtown Eddie Colson Episode: "The Squeeze"Touched by an Angel Scott Hardwick Episode: "Jump!"2003 Presidio Med Curtis Altman Episode: "Breathless"The Guardian Jeremy Hetherington 2 episodes2004 Joan of Arcadia Scott Brooks Episode: "State of Grace"Salem's Lot Mark Petrie 2 episodesA Cinderella Story Carter Farrell 2005 Are We There Yet? Himself Checking Out Jason Apple Mortuary Jonathan Doyle 2004–2005 Clubhouse Scott Hardwick 11 episodes2006 The Hills Have Eyes Bobby Carter Jam Josh Pepper Dennis Frat boy Episode: "Frat Boys May Lose Their Manhood"Lonely Hearts Eddie Robinson Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy Jess 2007 Ghost Whisperer Jason Bennett Episode: "The Walk-In"Boston Legal Edward Scanlon Episode: "Trial of the Century"2007–2008 Aliens in America Justin Tolchuck 18 episodes2008 Greek Kirk Episode: "Three's a Crowd"Heroes Luke Campbell 3 episodes2009–2015 Cougar Town Travis Cobb 102 episodes2010 Norman Norman Long Easy A Brandon 2011 Community Greendale Team Member Episode: "For a Few Paintballs More"; uncredited2012 Suburgatory Josh Sherman Episode: "Out in the Burbs"2014 Mad Men Wayne Barnes Episode: "Time Zones"2015 Scandal Virgil Plunkett 2 episodes2015 Sisters Patrick Campbell 2017Doomsday Nate Television film2018 The Good Cop Donovan Demark Episode: "Who Cut Mrs. Ackroyd in Half?"2018–2019 The Good Doctor Tyler Durness 2 episodes2019 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Josh Hoffman Episode: "Kimmy is in a Love Square!"2020 Utopia Ian 8 episodes2021-2023 Young Sheldon Pastor Rob 8 episodes TBD Autobiography Bryce
Awards and nominations Awards Won: 2000: Burbank International Children's Film Festival: Best Child Actor for The First of May 2000: Young Artist Award: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Any Day Now 2010: Rhode Island International Film Festival: Best Actor for Norman
Awards Nominations: 2001: Young Artist Award: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Any Day Now 2005: Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special- Leading Young Actor for Salem's Lot
References
External links
Interview with Dan Byrd about A Cinderella Story