Adam Driver, best known to many audiences for playing Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, has built one of the strongest careers of his generation through film, television, and stage work. After first gaining wider attention on HBO’s Girls, Driver became a household name with The Force Awakens in 2015, then returned in The Last Jedi in 2017 and The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. His performance in the franchise helped establish him as a major leading man, even as the character’s storyline appeared to end with Ben Solo’s death.
Before his acting breakthrough, Driver’s path was far from traditional. Born in San Diego in November 1983 and raised in Indiana, he graduated high school in 2001, briefly worked selling vacuum cleaners, and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after the September 11 attacks. He served for three years, but a sternum injury ended his military career before his unit deployed to Iraq. He later studied drama at Juilliard, graduating in 2009, and began building his acting résumé in New York with stage roles and smaller screen and film parts.
His early credits included appearances in J. Edgar and The Unusuals before he landed the role of Adam Sackler on Girls, which earned him three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor. That success led to roles in major films such as Lincoln, Inside Llewyn Davis, Hungry Hearts, Silence, and Paterson, showing his range in both independent cinema and prestige studio projects.
Driver’s career reached another peak with his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story. He has since remained in demand across film, television, and theater, with several new projects in development. These include Paper Tiger, which premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, as well as reported upcoming work on Heat 2, Tomorrow Is a Drag, Rabbit, Rabbit, The Dealer, and Alone at Dawn. He is also expected to serve as an executive producer on Rabbit, Rabbit, a Netflix series directed by Philip Barantini.
Financially, Driver’s success has also placed him among the wealthiest actors from the Star Wars sequel era. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at $23 million, ahead of co-stars Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Mark Hamill, though still far below Harrison Ford’s estimated $350 million.
Interest remains high in whether Driver could ever return to Star Wars in some form, especially as a Force Ghost or in another timeline. While Disney reportedly rejected an earlier pitch involving Ben Solo, fans continue to speculate about his possible comeback as Lucasfilm moves toward new stories, including Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for release on May 28, 2027.
