Sam Rechner is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing Logan Hall in the Steven Spielberg film The Fabelmans (2022).

Sam Rechner
Born
New South Wales, Australia
Education
OccupationActor
Notable workThe Fabelmans

Early life

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Rechner is from Sydney, Australia. He attended Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, New South Wales where he was a keen rugby union player.[1][2]

Career

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Rechner made his feature film debut in the Jane Seymour led Australian drama Ruby's Choice.[3]

Reichner was 21 years old whe he was cast as Logan Hall in Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans' in June 2021. This was the actor's first gig as a professional actor. The character is based on a student who levied anti-Semitic bullying towards Spielberg during his high school years in real life.[4][5][6] Rechner auditioned remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic via a zoom interview with Spielberg. In order to leave Australia at the time he had to apply for special exemption, and this only came through the day before he was flying to the United States to work on the film.[7] It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022 and was released in theaters in November 2022. The scene involving Logan confronting the protagonist Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) over the way the latter portrayed him in the "Ditch Day" film and the two of them ultimately coming to an understanding was selected by Slant Magazine and Polygon as among the best movie scenes of 2022.[8][9]

In July 2023, Rechner was cast on the second season of the Netflix teen drama series Heartbreak High as Rowan Callaghan.[10] It was released on 11 April 2024.[11]

In December 2023, the actor was awarded GQ's Man of the Year award for "Breakthrough Actor of the Year" with the award presented by fellow Heartbreak High co-star Josh Heuston who had won the same award the previous year. [12]

Personal life

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He is the nephew of Australian television presenters Peter Overton and Jessica Rowe.[13][14] He has a twin brother who studies at university in Sydney. Nicole Kidman is a friend of his family.[15] Rechner attended the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 with Kidman and her husband Keith Urban.[16][17]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2021 Ruby's Choice Jack
2022 The Fabelmans Logan
2024 Heartbreak High Rowan Callaghan Season 2; Main role

References

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  1. ^ "Two Knox Students Selected on Australian Schools Rugby Team". Knox Grammar School. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Oakhill College v Knox Grammar". nsw.rugby. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Sam Rechner joins Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans". Cinema Express. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (18 June 2021). "Steven Spielberg Amblin Pic Based On His Childhood Adds Australian Actor Sam Rechner". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. ^ Lang, Brent (18 June 2021). "Steven Spielberg's Semi-Autobiographical Film Casts Sam Rechner in Key Role". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  6. ^ Moran, Jonothan (18 December 2022). "Sydney actor Sam Rechner stars alongside Michelle Williams and Paul Dano in new Spielberg film". DailyTelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  7. ^ Sarkari, Karishma (25 December 2022). "How Aussie newcomer Sam Rechner almost lost his role in Steven Spielberg's new movie: 'I shouldn't have been there'". Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. ^ "The Best Film Scenes of 2022". Slant. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. ^ Volk, Pete (27 December 2022). "The best movie scenes of 2022". Polygon. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. ^ Slatter, Sean (7 July 2023). "Sam Rechner, Kartanya Maynard enter the fray for 'Heartbreak High' season two". IF Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Rebecca (11 April 2024). "Sound The Bells—'Heartbreak High' Season 2 Is Back". ELLE. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ Ward, Genevieve (6 December 2023). "Sam Rechner is GQ's Breakthrough Actor of the Year for 2023". GQ. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  13. ^ Moran, Jonathon (22 December 2022). "Sydney actor Sam Rechner stars alongside Michelle Williams and Paul Dano in new Spielberg film". Dailytelegraph.com.au.
  14. ^ Thomas, Mia (14 March 2023). "Who is Jessica Rowe and Peter Overton's star-studded nephew Sam Rechner?". Nowtolove.com.au. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  15. ^ Hornery, Andrew (18 March 2023). "No help from Kidman required as Hollywood beckons for rising star". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on why they're accompanying Sam Rechner at the Oscars". ctv.ca. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  17. ^ Anil, Abhishek (14 March 2023). "Nicole Kidman shares spotlight with 'friend's son' on Oscars red carpet in heartwarming gesture". Meaww.com. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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