Kristian Ventura

Kristian Ventura is a classically trained actor and graduate from the University of Southern California with a B.F.A. in Acting. In a Deadline exclusive, after completing his program, Ventura sparked a signing war amongst some of the biggest agencies in the industry, competing to sign the star on the rise. Kristian's leading role as Simon Elroy in School Spirits (2023) on Netflix positioned him as one of the industry's most sought-out young actors today.

Ventura excelled in his conservatory. His theatre credits include transforming as Richard III and various plays by Tennessee Williams and Russian playwrights. Within one year of graduating, Ventura landed five roles. He recurred in Reboot (2022) (Hulu) as Connor in the series created by Steven Levitan. Kristian's scene with Nicolas Cage was cut from The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), but he still made critics laugh with his part on The Rookie: Feds (2022). Darkening his trajectory, Ventura accepted a supporting part in the Hulu's horror Grimcutty (2022) and played a British deviant in HBO Max's science-fiction thriller Gray Matter (2023). While he had yet to prove himself as a leading actor, it was evident to Hollywood that Ventura was quickly climbing the ranks. After a competitive signing, Innovative Artists eventually inked the actor. He then had his breakout role in School Spirits (2023) on Paramount+. Ventura's intensely emotional performance as Simon Elroy had endeared the hearts of audiences worldwide, as he grieves and investigates the death of his best friend, portrayed by Peyton List.

Kristian's skill for character work makes him nearly unrecognizable in the roles he takes. Director/AFI Alum Oran Zegman says, "He is a dream for any director," and EP/Showrunner Oliver Goldstick said: "His first audition blew us away. He inspired us." Director Brian Dannelly wrote: "He's such an exciting actor. Ventura's choices are bold and thoughtful and he has that rare ability to access emotions in the moment while interacting with another actor. I mean, it's just a gift that a lot of actors don't have."

Kristian's skillset continues to advance with each role that demands it, so far: piano, guitar, foreign languages, ballet, motorcycling, skateboarding, and fight combat. His father named him 'Karl Flores III,' but Ventura never knew his father. After his dad committed suicide later in life, the actor embraced the middle name that his mother gave him, Kristian, and her family's last name, Ventura.

He is represented by John Alcaraz at Arise Artists Agency and managed by Untitled Entertainment.