Early Life and Education

Born in New York City, Ansel Elgort is the son of renowned fashion photographer Arthur Elgort and opera director Grethe Holby. His father is of Russian-Jewish descent, and his mother traces her ancestry to Norway and the British Isles. Elgort began exploring the performing arts at an early age, enrolling at the School of American Ballet. He later attended the prestigious Stagedoor Manor summer theater camp and graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Stage and Film Debut

Elgort launched his professional acting career on stage with a role in Matt Charman's off-Broadway play Regrets in 2012. He transitioned to film in 2013 with his debut in the remake of the horror classic Carrie.

Breakthrough Roles: Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars

In 2014, Elgort gained widespread attention through two major films. He played Caleb Prior, brother to Shailene Woodley's character, in the dystopian science fiction film Divergent. That same year, he starred opposite Woodley again in The Fault in Our Stars, portraying Augustus Waters—a charismatic teenager battling cancer. The film, based on the best-selling novel by John Green, was both a critical and commercial success.

Continued Film Work and Collaborations

Following this success, Elgort appeared in several other notable films. In 2014, he took on a supporting role in Jason Reitman's drama Men, Women & Children. He reprised his role as Caleb Prior in the Divergent sequels—Insurgent (2015) and Allegiant (2016). Though uncredited in some listings, Elgort made a cameo appearance in the 2015 adaptation of John Green's Paper Towns, further cementing his association with the author’s film adaptations.