Walton Goggins was born on November 10, 1971, and he has built a career around characters who are equal parts charming and unpredictable. Whether he is playing a dangerous outlaw, a slippery power player, or a deeply human antihero, he brings a confident edge that makes scenes feel alive. That energy is a big reason viewers remember his work long after the credits roll.
Many fans first met him as Shane Vendrell on The Shield, then watched him level up into a modern TV classic as Boyd Crowder on Justified (a performance that earned him major awards attention). On the film side, he has popped up in projects ranging from Quentin Tarantino films like Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight to studio franchises like Ant-Man and the Wasp. More recently, he has added a fresh wave of buzz for his starring role as Cooper Howard (and his post-apocalyptic alter ego, The Ghoul) in Fallout. Off screen, Goggins is married to filmmaker Nadia Conners, and they have one son.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Walton Sanders Goggins Jr. (often credited as Walton Goggins) |
| Profession: | Actor and producer |
| Born: | November 10, 1971 |
| Age: | 54 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Charismatic, often villainous character roles in film and television |
| Notable Films: | Django Unchained; The Hateful Eight; Tomb Raider; Ant-Man and the Wasp |
| Awards: | Associated with the Academy Award winning short film The Accountant (as co-producer and actor), plus multiple Emmy nominations |
| Zodiac Sign: | Scorpio |
| Relationship: | Married to filmmaker Nadia Conners (married 2011), they have one son |
| Years Active: | 1989 to present |
Early Life & Education
Walton Goggins was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and his family later moved to Lithia Springs, Georgia, near Atlanta. He has described his childhood as a bit unstructured, but it was also full of personality and grit. One of the more surprising details is that his mother enrolled him in clogging, and the two became champion cloggers. They even opened a show for B.B. King at a Georgia prison, which is not the usual “future actor” origin story.
His acting ambition showed up early. At age 12, he walked into an Atlanta casting agent’s office to pursue work. He graduated from Lithia Springs High School and attended Georgia Southern University for about a year before leaving to focus on acting. At 19 he moved to Los Angeles, worked jobs like LA Fitness and valet parking, and took acting classes while reading Shakespeare aloud to soften his Southern accent. Around this time, he connected with actor and director Ray McKinnon, and they later formed Ginny Mule Pictures, a company that helped launch several projects tied closely to his rise.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Goggins put in years of steady work before he became a true TV force. His big breakthrough came as Shane Vendrell on FX’s The Shield (2002 to 2008), where he played a volatile, morally tangled member of the Strike Team. Then came Boyd Crowder on Justified (2010 to 2015), a role that became iconic for fans of modern crime drama. Boyd was originally intended to die early in the story, but audiences reacted so strongly that the character stuck around, and Goggins earned major recognition for the performance.
On film, he has become a reliable weapon for directors who need someone sharp and memorable in the frame. He appeared in Predators (2010), Lincoln (2012), and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained (2012) and The Hateful Eight (2015), along with franchise work like Tomb Raider (2018) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). On television, he has shown wild range, from the dark comedy of Vice Principals to the scene-stealing chaos of Baby Billy Freeman on The Righteous Gemstones. In 2024, he took on a headline role in Fallout, adding a new generation of fans and another wave of awards attention.
Selected film and TV highlights
- The Shield (2002 to 2008)
- Justified (2010 to 2015)
- Predators (2010)
- Django Unchained (2012)
- The Hateful Eight (2015)
- Vice Principals (2016 to 2017)
- The Righteous Gemstones (2019 to present)
- Fallout (2024 to present)
- The White Lotus (Season 3, 2025)
Major recognition
- Academy Award: The Accountant won Best Live Action Short Film (Goggins is credited as co-producer and actor)
- Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Justified
- Critics’ Choice Television Award win: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Vice Principals
- Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Fallout
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Slamdance Film Festival | Spirit of Slamdance Award | The Accountant | Won |
| 2002 | Academy Awards (Oscars) | Best Live Action Short Film | The Accountant (as co-producer and actor) | Won (film won the Oscar) |
| 2009 | South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival | Special Jury Prize – Best Ensemble Cast | That Evening Sun | Won |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Justified | Nominated |
| 2015 | Hollywood Film Awards | Ensemble of the Year | The Hateful Eight | Won |
| 2019 | Critics’ Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Vice Principals | Won |
| 2024 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Fallout | Nominated |
| 2025 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The White Lotus (Season 3) | Nominated |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 to 2008 | The Shield | TV | Breakout role as Shane Vendrell, a volatile member of the Strike Team. |
| 2010 to 2015 | Justified | TV | Fan-favorite as Boyd Crowder, a charismatic outlaw; Emmy nominated. |
| 2012 | Django Unchained | Film | Played Billy Crash, a ruthless overseer in Quentin Tarantino’s western. |
| 2015 | The Hateful Eight | Film | Played Sheriff Chris Mannix, an opportunistic lawman with sharp edges. |
| 2016 to 2017 | Vice Principals | TV | Scene-stealing dark comedy role as Lee Russell; Critics’ Choice winner. |
| 2017 to present | The Righteous Gemstones | TV | Plays Baby Billy Freeman, a washed-up televangelist with endless swagger. |
| 2018 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | Film | Played Sonny Burch, a slick arms dealer and troublemaker. |
| 2018 | Tomb Raider | Film | Played villain Mathias Vogel. |
| 2024 to present | Fallout | TV | Lead role as Cooper Howard and The Ghoul; Emmy nominated. |
| 2025 | The White Lotus (Season 3) | TV | Ensemble role; awards-season attention and Emmy nomination. |
Net Worth, Income & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2025) | Public estimates vary. Some outlets place Walton Goggins around $12 million as of 2025, but these figures are not independently verified and should be treated as rough estimates. |
| Income Sources | Primarily acting (TV and film), plus producing credits, voice work, and occasional brand collaborations. He has also been involved in business ventures such as a craft spirits brand and an eyewear line. |
| Properties & Assets | No consistently reliable public reporting on specific properties or major assets. He tends to keep personal details private. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as focused on craft, family, and work. In interviews, he has talked about wanting to slow down and travel more as his son gets older. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Widely reported as his public account: @waltongogginsbonafide (link). | |
| X (Twitter) | No verified personal X/Twitter account found. Fan-run accounts exist but are not official. |
| TikTok | No official account found. Mostly fan-edited clips and hashtags. |
| No official personal page found. Fan pages and business-related pages exist. | |
| YouTube | No personal channel. Interviews and trailers appear via studios and media outlets. |
| IMDb | Filmography: IMDb search results. |
| Official Website | No official personal website found. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon – Subscribe to follow Walton Goggins updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: The accounts listed above (where marked unofficial) are fan-run and are not confirmed to be affiliated with Walton Goggins. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- As a kid, Walton Goggins lost his front teeth in a baseball accident, a detail he has mentioned in interviews.
- His mother enrolled him in clogging, and they became champion cloggers. They once opened a show for B.B. King at a Georgia prison.
- At age 12, he walked into an Atlanta casting agent’s office to pursue acting, long before he ever moved to Los Angeles.
- When he moved to Los Angeles at 19, he worked jobs like LA Fitness and valet parking while taking acting classes.
- He read Shakespeare aloud to soften his Southern accent, a practical trick he used while building his early career.
- The character Boyd Crowder on Justified was originally meant to be a short-lived role, but strong audience response helped turn it into one of the show’s defining performances.
Quotes
In a 2025 conversation with Interview Magazine, Goggins talked about wanting to slow down and travel more once his son is grown.
— Walton Goggins, Interview Magazine (2025)
He has also described his process less as “method acting” and more as serving the story, focusing on character truth instead of a single rigid technique.
— Walton Goggins, Interview Magazine (2025)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Walton Goggins’ age?
A: Walton Goggins is 54 years old (born November 10, 1971).
Q: Where is Walton Goggins from?
A: He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and he was raised in Lithia Springs, Georgia.
Q: Has Walton Goggins won an Oscar?
A: The short film The Accountant won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (2002). Goggins is credited as a co-producer and actor on the project.
Q: Is Walton Goggins married?
A: Yes. He married filmmaker Nadia Conners in 2011, and they have one son. He was previously married to Leanne Kaun (she died in 2004).
Q: What are Walton Goggins’ most famous roles?
A: Many fans know him best as Shane Vendrell (The Shield), Boyd Crowder (Justified), Baby Billy Freeman (The Righteous Gemstones), and Cooper Howard / The Ghoul (Fallout).
Upcoming Projects
- Painter (TBA) – Action film directed by Garrett Warren and written by Derek Kolstad. Filming began in Oct 2025 in Serbia and wrapped in Dec 2025. The project is slated for release on Hulu (timing TBD).
- Fallout (Season 2, TBA) – Following Season 1’s success, the series has been renewed, and Goggins is expected to continue as Cooper Howard / The Ghoul.
- The Uninvited (U.S. release April 11, 2025) – Comedy-drama directed by Nadia Conners. Goggins plays Hollywood agent Sammy.
- The Luckiest Man in America (U.S. release April 4, 2025) – Dramatization of the Michael Larson story, featuring Goggins as game-show host Peter Tomarken.
- Queen of the Ring (wide release March 7, 2025) – Biopic about wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke. Goggins portrays promoter Jack Pfefer.
- The White Lotus (Season 3, 2025) – Ensemble season set in Thailand, with Goggins as part of the cast.
Interviews & Features
- Goggins has been featured in major entertainment press around Fallout and other recent projects, including a wide-circulation Interview Magazine conversation with Danny McBride (2025).
Public Appearances & Festivals
- He frequently appears at press events and panels tied to his current projects, especially for television releases and festival premieres.
Awards & Nominations
- Primetime Emmy nomination (2011): Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Justified.
- Primetime Emmy nomination (2024): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Fallout.
- Primetime Emmy nomination (2025): Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The White Lotus (Season 3).
- Critics’ Choice Television Award win (2019): Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Vice Principals.
