Ellar Coltrane: Facts About The 'Boyhood' Actor

Boyhood has been gathering a lot of attention this award season. The movie which shows the life of a young kid for 12 years as he grows into a teen has been getting rave reviews and winning awards this season.

So who is this little young actor in the movie Boyhood? The young boy who plays Mason Evans Jr. is Ellar Coltrane. The American actor is best known for his role as Mason Evans Jr. in the coming-of-age movie that filmed Coltrane for 12 years. Ellar Coltrane was born in Austin, Texas, United States, the son of Genevieve (Kinney) and Bruce Salmon, a musician.

Ellar recently won the Best Young Actor/Actress Award at the Critics' Choice Awards for his performance as Mason Evans Jr.

Did you know that Ellar was only 6-year-old when he started filming for Boyhood? It is unbelievable to see such a young boy grow up and is captured all the time as he shows his acting skills from a very tender age.

"A year ago I really didn't think anyone was going to care about this movie," he said during his acceptance speech at Critics' Choice Awards 2015 over his win. "And it's been an adjustment to accept all the really nice things people say."

Although his life growing up into a teen has been shown on-screen, there are a few personal things which is not known about the cute actor. Ellar Coltrane who is now 20, has not just acted in Boyhood. Prior to the coming-of-age movie was started, Ellar has acted in a few commercials.

He has also acted in 2001's Lone Star State of Mind and Linklater's 2006 movie Fast Food Nation. Another interesting fact about the actor is, Ellar was only 6 when he started filming. So it is obvious that he won't remember every day of shooting as memories of making the movie are foggy now after 12 years have passed by.

At around age 12, Coltrane explains Hollywood Reporter that he started to become more aware of the significance of what Linklater was doing and got more actively involved in making the movie. "There was definitely a time in the later half of shooting I kind of was like, ‘Oh my God! I had no idea what I was getting myself into.' No regrets all, but this is a bigger deal than I thought," Coltrane tells Mother Jones magazine.

Thus, here are some interesting things to know about Boyhood actor, Ellar Coltrane.

His Full Name Is...

We all know him as the 'Boyhood kid' but Ellar's full name is, Ellar Coltrane Salmon. He was born in Texas.

Started Shooting for Boyhood at The Age of 6

He was only 6 when he started shooting for Boyhood. The coming-of-age movie has shown his growing life and captured it for 12 years.

Artists Family Background

Ellar's parents are artists. His father Bruce Salmon is a musician while his mother is a painter.

Other Movies

Ellar has acted in a few commercials before filming Boyhood. He has also acted in 2001's Lone Star State of Mind and Linklater's 2006 movie, Fast Food Nation.

Same Dressing Style

Comparing his on-screen and off-screen character, Ellar told Mother Jones magazine, "He wears a lot of my clothes, for one thing. I was very into photography and it's definitely still one of my favorite hobbies. The blue Toyota [in the film] was my truck. I was a total flirt in high school, as was Mason."

Home School Until 16

Coltrane told Mother Jones that he was home-schooled until he was 16. He dropped out and got his GED. He also dabbled in photography and painting and did some landscaping work for his stepfather, Coltrane told New York.

Acting

Earlier he showed no interest in acting. In interviews to promote the film sometime back, he said he hopes to continue acting. He even shot an audition tape for a famously innovative director that he won't name, New York reports, and has a manager now. But ultimately, Coltrane wants to be an artist, thanks to his parents profession which comes in him too.