Biography

Cal Barnes is an award-winning American actor, screenwriter, filmmaker, and novelist. After studying creative writing, journalism, and drama at Portland State University in Portland, OR, Cal moved to Los Angeles in 2009 where he immediately began acting and writing screenplays. Barnes began acting professionally in 2011 when he landed his first agent and began booking theatrical and commercial work. At this time, Cal began producing films as well, enjoying all aspects of the creative process. At just 24 years old, Barnes's first stage play Rise won "Best World Premiere" at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival, and scored a six-figure option/purchase deal for screen development. As of January 2025, Cal has acted in dozens of on-screen projects, including the hit film 'Unfriended' (Blumhouse, Universal Pictures) and 'Krispr' (Orenda Entertainment). Barnes to date has written 21 feature screenplays, and had two of those screenplays produced into films. Between acting jobs, filmmaking, and writing scripts, Cal runs his production company, Nineteen Films, in Los Angeles, CA. He recently wrote, directed, and starred in his feature film directorial debut, 'The Astrid Experience', which released in 2023, opening in seven film festivals, and won the audience award for "Best Feature Film" at the Los Angeles Lift-Off Festival. In 2025 FandomWire Magazine ranked 'The Astrid Experience' as the 5th greatest film of all time shot on an iPhone behind Sean Baker's 'Tangerine'. Cal's current goal in the entertainment industry is to direct and star in his sophomore effort, 'The Influencer House Massacre', slated to be produced in 2026. His current long-term goal is to work towards making the feature film adaptation of 'Son of Neverland' based off his novel, in which he is attached to star as the principal character of Peter Pan.
- IMDb mini biography by: Cal Barnes