Dominic Sessa (born October 25, 2002) is an American actor who broke out fast, and with a debut performance that did not play like a debut. He first drew major attention as Angus Tully in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers (2023), a sharply observed holiday-set drama that put him opposite Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
His early momentum has been tied to awards-season recognition and a quick expansion into studio and prestige projects. After The Holdovers, Sessa moved into roles including the drama Tow, the franchise sequel Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and the holiday comedy Oh. What. Fun. He has also been cast to portray a young Anthony Bourdain in the biographical drama Tony, signaling a next chapter built around bigger, more demanding character work.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Dominic Sessa |
| Profession: | Actor |
| Born: | October 25, 2002 |
| Age: | 23 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Angus Tully in The Holdovers (2023) |
| Notable Films: | The Holdovers; Tow; Now You See Me: Now You Don’t; Oh. What. Fun. |
| Major Recognition: | Critics Choice Award (Best Young Performer); Independent Spirit Award (Best Breakthrough Performance); BAFTA nomination (Supporting Actor) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Scorpio |
| Relationship: | Not publicly confirmed |
| Years Active: | 2023 to present |
Early Life & Education
Dominic Sessa was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and grew up in South Jersey communities including Egg Harbor Township and Ocean City. He attended Alder Avenue Middle School and later received a scholarship to attend Deerfield Academy, a college-preparatory boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
He initially arrived focused on hockey, but a broken femur sidelined those plans and pushed him toward theater, where he became active in school productions such as Antigone and Rumors. While filming The Holdovers, he was admitted to the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, later taking time away from school as professional acting opportunities accelerated.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Sessa’s career began with an unusually high-profile launch. While still a Deerfield Academy student, he auditioned when casting searched his school during location scouting, and he was ultimately cast by director Alexander Payne as Angus Tully in The Holdovers (2023). The performance quickly made him a breakout name and earned him major awards-season recognition, including wins for young-performer and breakthrough categories.
After that debut, his next wave of roles expanded across genres and scales. He joined the franchise ensemble of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t and appeared in the holiday comedy Oh. What. Fun. He also starred in Tow, a drama that premiered at the Tribeca Festival. Looking ahead, he has been cast to play a young Anthony Bourdain in the biographical drama Tony, a project widely viewed as a major step into more demanding, real-world character portrayal.
Selected film and TV highlights
- The Holdovers (2023) – Breakout film debut as Angus Tully
- Tow (premiered 2025, release scheduled for 2026) – Drama feature role
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025) – Franchise ensemble role
- Oh. What. Fun. (2025) – Holiday comedy feature
- Tony (announced) – Cast as Anthony Bourdain in a biographical drama
Major recognition
- Independent Spirit Awards: Best Breakthrough Performance for The Holdovers (won)
- Critics Choice Awards: Best Young Performer for The Holdovers (won)
- BAFTA Film Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Holdovers (nominated)
- Variety: Named to “10 Actors to Watch” (class of 2023)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Film Independent Spirit Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | The Holdovers | Won |
| 2024 | Critics Choice Awards | Best Young Performer | The Holdovers | Won |
| 2024 | BAFTA Film Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| 2023 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Breakthrough Performance | The Holdovers | Won |
| 2023 | Heartland International Film Festival | Pioneering Spirit: Rising Star Award | The Holdovers | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Holdovers | Film | Angus Tully, breakout film debut. |
| 2025 (premiere) | Tow | Film | Kevin Eggers, drama feature role (premiered at Tribeca; release scheduling can vary). |
| 2025 | Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | Film | Bosco, franchise ensemble role. |
| 2025 | Oh. What. Fun. | Film | Sammy, holiday comedy feature role. |
| TBA | Tony | Film | Cast as Anthony Bourdain in a biographical drama (announced). |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary widely and are not consistently verifiable. Sessa has not disclosed a confirmed net worth figure, and reliable public documentation is limited. |
| Income Sources | Acting in feature films, potential back-end or bonus compensation tied to projects, and paid promotional work (campaigns and brand collaborations, where applicable). |
| Properties & Assets | He keeps most personal financial details private. Public coverage tends to focus on roles and projects rather than specific assets. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as grounded and work-focused during his early career phase, with public visibility concentrated around releases, press, and awards-season events. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No single, widely cited verified personal account is consistently referenced in major coverage. Multiple accounts exist, so confirm verification before relying on any handle. | |
| X (Twitter) | No widely confirmed personal account is consistently referenced in major coverage. Treat handles cautiously and confirm verification. |
| TikTok | No widely confirmed personal TikTok is consistently referenced in major coverage. Most content is clips, interviews, and fan reposts. |
| Unofficial pages and repost accounts may exist. Confirm authenticity before treating any page as official. | |
| YouTube | No official personal channel is consistently promoted in major coverage. |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
| Official Website | No official personal website is consistently promoted in major coverage. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon, subscribe to follow Dominic Sessa updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Dominic Sessa. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He was discovered through auditions held at Deerfield Academy while the school was being used in the production process for The Holdovers.
- He initially arrived at Deerfield focused on hockey, but a broken femur helped redirect him toward theater and acting.
- He later received admission to the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama while his acting career was beginning to take off.
- Variety included him in its “10 Actors to Watch” class of 2023.
- His early career has included both prestige drama work and franchise-scale studio filmmaking.
Quotes
“I’ve still got to figure out what I’m really doing.”
Source: The New Yorker profile (2023)
“The only thing I could do was hysterical.”
Source: VMAN / V Magazine interview (2024)
“I still don’t really totally know what I’m doing. I’m just having fun.”
Source: VMAN / V Magazine interview (2024)
“If it had ended with that, I would’ve been as happy as I am now.”
Source: The Guardian interview (2024)
“For me to try to input any of my personal experiences felt disingenuous.”
Source: The Guardian interview (2024)
“I want to be the Christmas king.”
Source: People (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How old is Dominic Sessa?
A: He was born on October 25, 2002, and is 23 years old as of 2026.
Q: What is Dominic Sessa best known for?
A: He is best known for his breakout film debut as Angus Tully in The Holdovers (2023).
Q: Where is Dominic Sessa from?
A: He was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and grew up in South Jersey.
Q: Did Dominic Sessa win any major awards?
A: Yes. His performance in The Holdovers won major early-career recognition, including a Film Independent Spirit Award (Breakthrough) and a Critics Choice Award (young performer category).
Q: What are Dominic Sessa’s next notable projects?
A: His announced slate includes Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, Oh. What. Fun., Tow, and the Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony (announced).
Upcoming Projects
- Tow (US release scheduled for March 20, 2026) – Drama feature in which Sessa plays Kevin Eggers (release timing can vary by market).
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025) – Franchise sequel role as Bosco, joining a mix of returning cast and new ensemble members.
- Oh. What. Fun. (2025) – Holiday comedy feature role (distribution and release format can vary over time).
- Tony (announced) – Cast to portray a young Anthony Bourdain in a biographical drama.
Interviews & Features
- The New Yorker, “A Prep-School Movie Star” (Dec 2023) , a long-form profile on his Deerfield-to-film-debut leap, early ambitions, and how he was navigating drama school decisions as momentum built.
- The Guardian, “The Holdovers’ Dominic Sessa: Everyone’s like, don’t become a celebrity” (Jan 15, 2024) , an interview focused on the unlikely audition path, the pressure of awards season, and how he approached a character with emotional overlap to his own life.
- VMAN / V Magazine, “Taking the Stage With Dominic Sessa” (Aug 24, 2024) , a fashion-and-career conversation covering his fast start, what it felt like to go from student to film lead, and what he wanted next.
- Variety, “Dominic Sessa to Star as Anthony Bourdain in Biopic ‘Tony’” (Aug 12, 2024) , announcement coverage of his casting as Bourdain and what the project is aiming to portray.
- People, “The Holdovers Changed Dominic Sessa’s Life” (2026) , a career update tying his breakout to his expanding slate, including franchise work and the Bourdain biopic.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Tribeca Festival (June 7, 2025): Appeared at the Tow premiere during Tribeca Festival 2025 (as documented by the event photo set on Wikimedia Commons).
- BAFTA Film Awards weekend (Feb 2024): Awards-season appearance and press tied to The Holdovers and his supporting-actor nomination.
- Awards-season press (late 2023 to early 2024): Participated in interviews and events tied to The Holdovers, including New York press during the breakout phase.
