Darren Barnet

Darren Charles Barnet is a renowned American actor, who gained popularity for his role as Paxton Hall-Yoshida in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever. Born on April 27, 1991, in Los Angeles, Barnet comes from a lineage of mixed Swedish, Japanese, German, and Cherokee heritage. His grandfather, Charlie Barnet, was a renowned swing musician. Raised by his mother, he moved to the suburbs of Orlando, Florida at the age of 12. Barnet is not only a talented actor but also a linguist, speaking English, Japanese, and conversational Spanish, with some knowledge of French.

Barnet always aspired to be an actor but did not seriously pursue the path until his years at Berry College. Upon graduating in 2013, he moved back to Los Angeles to start his acting career. He initially worked as a bike attendant and front desk associate at SoulCycle on Sunset Boulevard while studying to get his California real estate license, which he received in May 2015. His acting journey began with episodic roles in popular television series which led to a starring role in Never Have I Ever in 2020. Despite the controversy about the large age difference between him and the lead actress, Barnet's performance was critically acclaimed. In addition to his acting career, he made an impact in the fashion world becoming the first male brand ambassador for Victoria's Secret PINK in 2022.