Ellar Coltrane Reflects on Life After ‘Boyhood’ and Ongoing Indie Projects
Ellar Coltrane, now 31, says he lives far from Hollywood, works as a volunteer firefighter, trains as an EMT and appears in occasional independent films.
Ellar Coltrane, who grew up on screen in Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking twelve-year project “Boyhood,” now lives in a secluded location and pursues a mix of community service and modest acting work. At 31, he volunteers as a firefighter, is completing EMT certification, and takes on occasional independent film parts, including a short set in Mexico City and another in El Paso. He explained that the delayed release of “Boyhood” softened the impact of early fame, though the attention was still intense.
His sister, Lorelei Linklater, the director’s daughter, continues to paint and act in indie movies. Coltrane remains involved with the indie scene, especially in El Paso, but says he lacks the training and desire for big-budget productions, preferring collaborative, passion-driven projects.
Why it matters
The story shows how a child actor from a landmark film navigated fame and now contributes to his community while staying connected to indie cinema.
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