Dylan Minnette: Why He Quit Acting and Where He Is Now

If you’ve been wondering what happened to the actor who played Clay Jensen in 13 Reasons Why, you’re not alone. Dylan Minnette stepped back from the Hollywood spotlight after the show ended, and his 2024 Instagram post — “Hello! I am alive! Making music with Wallows” — confirmed what many suspected: his focus has shifted to music.

Age: 27 (born December 29, 1996) ·
Nationality: American ·
Notable Role: Clay Jensen in 13 Reasons Why ·
Music Band: Wallows

This table summarizes the verified biographical details for Dylan Minnette.

Why did Dylan Minnette quit acting?

What did Dylan Minnette say about his acting hiatus?

• In a 2024 Instagram post, Minnette wrote: “Hello! I am alive! Making music with Wallows” (Instagram (personal account)). That post, along with a 2026 follow-up, made clear that music is his primary focus today.
• He has not used the word “quit” — his statement suggests a voluntary shift in priority rather than a permanent departure from acting (Instagram (personal account)).

Minnette’s departure from Hollywood is a quiet pivot, not a dramatic exit. He simply stopped taking new roles after 13 Reasons Why wrapped in 2020.

Is Dylan Minnette still acting?

• As of mid-2025, Minnette has not been cast in any new film or television project (Instagram (personal account)).
• His last credited acting role remains Clay Jensen, which ended with the series finale in 2020 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

The pattern: He has stopped acting without announcing a formal retirement, leaving the door technically open.

Is Dylan Minnette in a relationship?

Who is Dylan Minnette’s girlfriend?

• Minnette was first seen holding hands with Isabella Elei at Coachella in April 2023 (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet)).
• In June 2023, the couple appeared together in an Instagram post widely described as a “hard launch” (Her Campus (student lifestyle publication)).
• Neither Minnette nor Elei has issued a public statement confirming the relationship, but the pair have been photographed together multiple times since (YouTube (news clip)).

Minnette keeps his private life low-key, letting visual documentation — Coachella sighting, Instagram posts — speak for itself.

What is Isabella Elei’s job and Instagram?

• Us Weekly described Elei as a model (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet)).
• Her Instagram presence includes SKIMS campaign imagery alongside Minnette from December 2023 (Instagram (SKIMS campaign image)).

What is Dylan Minnette’s nationality?

Where was Dylan Minnette born?

• Evansville, Indiana, United States (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

What is Dylan Minnette’s ethnic background?

• Minnette is of American nationality; his ancestry has not been a subject of public documentation.

His identity is rooted in the American Midwest, but his fame is tied to a role that resonated with a global teen audience.

Is Dylan Minnette a millionaire?

What is Dylan Minnette’s net worth in 2024?

• Yahoo Entertainment estimated his net worth at $3 million in 2024 (Yahoo Entertainment (financial news platform)).

How does Dylan Minnette make money?

• His income comes from acting residuals, music revenue from Wallows (touring, streaming, merchandise), and endorsement deals (Yahoo Entertainment (financial news platform)).
• Though Wallows is a band, Minnette is often cited as the lead vocalist — a role that carries a share of the band’s earnings (Reddit (user-generated discussion)).

Where is Dylan Minnette right now?

What is Dylan Minnette doing now?

• Minnette is actively recording and touring with Wallows, with social media posts in 2024 and 2026 confirming new music in progress (Instagram (personal account)).
• He has not taken any new acting roles since 2020 (Instagram (personal account)).

Does Dylan Minnette still act?

• No. His last on-screen appearance was in 13 Reasons Why season 4 (2020) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Is Dylan Minnette still friends with Cole Sprouse?

• The two actors worked together on 13 Reasons Why and were occasionally photographed together in 2018–2020. Since 2022, no public evidence of ongoing contact has surfaced (Instagram (personal account)).

Minnette’s shift from acting to music has likely changed his social circle, making it unclear whether on-set friendships endure.

Timeline of Dylan Minnette’s career

• 1996: Born in Evansville, Indiana (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• 2005–2010: Early acting roles in Lost, Prison Break, Saving Grace (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• 2017–2020: Stars as Clay Jensen in 13 Reasons Why (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• 2017–present: Active with band Wallows (Instagram (personal account)).
• 2024: Instagram post: “Hello! I am alive! Making music with Wallows…” (Instagram (personal account)).
• 2026: Another Instagram post reaffirms music focus with Wallows (Instagram (personal account)).

Minnette’s timeline shows a clear shift — from steady TV work to a full-time music career — without a formal announcement.

Key quotes

“Hello! I am alive! Making music with Wallows.”

Dylan Minnette, Instagram, 2024 (Instagram (personal account))

“Minnette was seen holding hands with Isabella Elei at Coachella.”

Us Weekly, April 2023 (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet))

For fans wondering what happened to Clay Jensen’s actor, the answer is a deliberate career shift. Minnette chose music over Hollywood, building a steady presence with Wallows while keeping his personal life out of the tabloids. For anyone tracking his next move, the concert stage — not the screen — is where to watch. Minnette hasn’t quit acting; he found a different creative lane that fits him better.

Frequently asked questions