Who is Johnny Link? Meet the 'My Life with the Walter Boys' star

Who is Johnny Link? Meet the 'My Life with the Walter Boys' star

Johnny Link is quickly becoming a household name thanks to his standout role as Will Walter in the Netflix coming-of-age drama My Life with the Walter Boys. Besides being an actor, Johnny is a talented singer and dancer with several critically acclaimed Off-Broadway performances.

Johnny Link attends the premiere of Apple's 'Dear Edward' at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, California
Johnny Link attends the premiere of Apple's 'Dear Edward' at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, California (L and R). Photo: Araya Doheny (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Johnny Link is an Illinois native who relocated to New York to further his on-screen and stage career.
  • The actor was born on 24 January 1994.
  • He is an alumnus of Penn State University.
  • Johnny is openly gay and married to his longtime boyfriend, Matthew Davies.

Profile summary

Full name

Johnny Link

Gender

Male

Date of birth

24 January 1994

Age

32 years (as of 2026)

Place of birth

Geneva, Illinois, United States

Current residence

New York, United States

Nationality

American

Zodiac sign

Aquarius

Ethnicity

White

Sexuality

Gay

Height

5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)

Hair colour

Brown

Eye colour

Blue

Relationship status

Engaged

Fiancé

Matthew Davies

Education

Penn State University (Musical Theatre)

Profession

Actor, dancer, singer, and performer

Instagram

@johnnyvlink

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He is an actor, dancer, singer, and performer. Johnny is mainly known for his role in My Life with the Walter Boys. He immersed himself in acting and music from a young age.

Johnny Link's age is 32 years old as of 2026. The Netflix star was born on 24 January 1994, and his Zodiac sign is Aquarius.

Top 5 facts about Johnny Link
Top 5 facts about Johnny Link. Photo: @johnnyvlink (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The actor is from the United States of America. He was born in Geneva, Illinois, and was mainly raised in the Batavia area of Illinois. He relocated to New York because of his career.

The My Life with the Walter Boys star is openly gay. He is married to actor and singer Matthew Davies, who is known for being a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate through his music and social media platforms.

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Educational background

Johnny discovered his passion for acting and music from a young age. He went to Penn State University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre.

Yes, the actor is hard-of-hearing in real life. He has moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss in both his ears and has been wearing hearing aids since he was around three years old.

Johnny Link's hearing aid use was adopted as part of his character Will in My Life With the Walter Boys. The actor's role as Gomer Jones in the Private Jones musical was also that of a deaf soldier trying to fit in during World War 1.

The musical is based on a true story. While talking to Goodspeed Musicals in October 2023, the American actor shared that being in the production felt relatable. Johnny said:

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Private Jones, to me, is very personal – This experience of being somewhere in the middle; of someone who was raised hearing but also has this deaf identity and feeling torn between these two worlds. It feels extremely relatable, and I have never done something that uses all different parts of my life.

Johnny has been using his growing influence as an actor to advocate for the accessibility and inclusivity of people with hearing problems on set. In a March 2023 interview with American Theatre, he noted that productions should focus on customisation because needs vary. He also added that he wants his other side to be seen.

(I hope) to be embraced as a whole person. I want to spend more time talking about the other sides of me. I have this hard-of-hearing experience, but that's not my whole story.
Johnny Link during his visit to Salt Lake City, Utah, and he poses in New York in a black tee
Johnny Link during his visit to Salt Lake City, Utah (L), and he poses in New York in a black tee (R) . Photo: @johnnyvlink (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Johnny has a musical background and can play the guitar. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre at Penn State University before relocating to New York in search of better opportunities.

Link has been in several Off-Broadway productions like The Last Five Years, Baby (2023) as Danny, and Private Jones (2024) as Gomer Jones. He was also part of the National Tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.

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In 2020, the actor appeared in an episode of the NBC musical series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist through the Deaf West Theatre Group. Later, in 2023, he was in three episodes of the Apple TV+ series Dear Edward as Gary.

Johnny got his big break in late 2023 when he appeared in the Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys as Will Walter alongside stars like Sarah Rafferty. Will is the eldest of the Walter siblings and one of the most welcoming when Jackie arrives. The character is a college graduate and engaged to fiancée Haley.

While many people are curious about Johnny Link's movies, the actor is yet to get acting credits in a movie. He has been featured in two TV series: Dear Edward and My Life with the Walter Boys.

Who is the actor who plays Will Walter?

Actor and performer Johnny Link portrays Will Walter. The Netflix series is one of his biggest on-screen works, in addition to his appearance in Off-Broadway productions. In Johnny Link's TV shows, sensitisation about hearing impairment is done.

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Johnny Link was 29 years old when he filmed the first season of My Life with the Walter Boys in 2023. The actor was born on 24 January 24 1994.

Johnny Link enjoys the outdoors
Johnny Link enjoys the outdoors (L and R). Photo: @johnnyvlink (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Actor Johnny Link is not in Stranger Things. He is best known for his role as Will Walter in My Life with the Walter Boys and Dear Edward.

Johnny's notable songs include:

  • I Chose Right
  • Two People in Love
  • Fatherhood Blues
  • At Night She Comes Home to Me
  • Baby, Baby, Baby
  • What Could Be Better?

Johnny Link's What Could Be Better? is a song from the 2023 New Off-Broadway Cast Recording of the musical Baby.

Matthew Davies, a New York-based singer, dancer, actor, and performer, is Johnny Link's husband. The two started dating in late 2017 after meeting in New York. They shared news of their engagement in a December 2022 Instagram post.

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The couple occasionally appreciate each other with Instagram posts. While celebrating their third dating anniversary in October 2020, Matthew had nothing but praise for Link, writing the caption:

3 years today with this man bringing me happiness, love, growth, support, laughs and a list longer than you can read. In short, I'm very thankful for him.

Johnny Link and Matthew Davies got married on 31 July 2025 in a private ceremony in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Johnny Link and husband Matthew Davies enjoying each other's company
Johnny Link and husband Matthew Davies enjoying each other's company (L and R). Photo: @matthewddavies (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Johnny Link's height is 5 feet 10 inches or 178 cm. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

Trivia

  • Nikki Rodriguez is Johnny Link's friend.
  • Johnny is an animal lover.
  • The actor encourages people to never stop expressing themselves.
  • He is a fan of the Bulldogs.
  • Johnny and Matthew Davies' wedding was featured in Vogue Weddings.

Johnny Link received worldwide praise for his stellar work in movies. In addition to his unique acting talents, he continues to be an important advocate for the deaf community.

Briefly.co.za recently published Tracy Grimshaw's biography. Tracy Grimshaw is a leading Australian journalist and TV host. She became a household name as the long-time presenter of A Current Affair.

Grimshaw stepped away in 2022 to take a break from nightly television and explore new projects. She is known for her direct interviewing style and her influence on Australian media.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
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Alice Wabwile (Lifestyle writer) Alice Wabwile is a multifaceted content creator and Project Assistant at AfDAN, boasting over four years of experience. Holding a BCom degree from the University of Nairobi School of Business, she has cultivated a dynamic skill set through roles such as her tenure at Strathmore University's Data Science Department, where she contributed significantly to research. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she clinched the Writer of the Year Award. Beyond her professional endeavours, Alice is an engaged member of the Rotaract Club of Kabete. For inquiries, reach out to her at alicenjoro01@gmail.com

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Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the Writer of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com

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