The ‘Adults’ and ‘Overcompensating’ star also opened up to PEOPLE about his upcoming projects

NEED TO KNOW

• Owen Thiele says his mom keeps him grounded by sending him unflattering photos of himself
• Thiele is in the midst of developing a semi-autobiographical comedy series titled Off Color with Ilana Glazer and Amazon
• He will also appear in the 13 Going on 30 reboot alongside Jessica Alba and Logan Lerman

Owen Thiele is sharing his mom’s “humbling” but hilarious trick to keep him grounded as his career continues to blossom. 

While attending Teen Vogue Fest in Brooklyn, New York, on July 25, the 29-year-old actor and podcaster exclusively told PEOPLE that his mom, Amy Kanter, frequently sends him photos of himself to keep him from developing an ego. 

“I’m not grounded,” he jokingly said, adding, “But my mom humbles me. She texts me really ugly pictures of myself. I’ll be sitting on the couch, and she’ll send me a picture of me looking absolutely hideous. It humbles me.”

After briefly attending NYU’s School of the Arts, Thiele dove head-first into his acting career. He started with minor roles in shows like Hacks and Dollface, but he is now starring in viral shows like Adults and Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating.

In 2024, he expanded into the podcast world, leveraging his entertaining personality and quick wit to land his own series, In Your Dreams, with Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network. On the pod, Thiele has chatted with big names like Kendall Jenner, Connor Storrie and Hailey Bieber. 

“It’s all a whirlwind,” Thiele told PEOPLE about his rapid career growth. “I feel very grateful and very lucky.”

The Adults star is currently developing Off Color, a semi-autobiographical comedy series produced by and featuring Ilana Glazer. 

“Well, attached is Susie Essman, the brilliant comedian,” Thiele said on casting the upcoming project. “She’s playing my mother. And I knock on wood that she is available. She’s booked and busy. We are developing. We’re working with Amazon very closely and hopefully we’ll be making something soon.”

“It’s really scary to write about your life. It’s like therapy. It’s journaling every day. It’s dark. I’m learning things about myself that I did not want to figure out,” he added.

It was also recently announced that the actor will join the likes of Jessica Alba and Logan Lerman for the 13 Going on 30 reboot. Production for the film is set to wrap by the end of the summer.

“The film is one of my favorites,” Thiele told PEOPLE about the reboot. “I’m so lucky to be a part of it. Emily Bader is magic. Logan Lerman is delightful. Them on screen together, you guys will freak out. The director is named Brett Haley, and he is wonderful to work with. I wish I could work with him for my whole entire life.”

“What can I spoil? Nothing. You guys have to watch it. Sorry. I can’t tell you about my role yet. Just think hard. Think very hard and you still won’t be able to figure it out. Love you,” he added cheekily.

Coming up, season two of Adults premieres on August 27 on Hulu.

Source link