Johnny Link: Age, biography, career and Will Walter in My Life with the Walter Boys

Johnny Link is an American actor, singer and musician known internationally for playing Will Walter in the Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys. He was born on January 24, 1994, in Geneva, Illinois, grew up in Batavia and studied musical theater at Pennsylvania State University before moving to New York to pursue his artistic career.

Beyond his television work, he has built a career on stage and has appeared in productions such as Dear Edward, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and the musical Private Jones. His experience as a performer is also linked to music and to advocating for greater accessibility for people with hearing loss.

Key Facts

Fact	Information
Name	Johnny Link
Date of birth	January 24, 1994
Age	32 years old
Place of birth	Geneva, Illinois, United States
Place raised	Batavia, Illinois
Nationality	American
Profession	Actor, singer and musician
Education	Pennsylvania State University
University major	Musical theater
Best-known character	Will Walter
Best-known series	My Life with the Walter Boys
Instagram	@johnnyvlink

IMDb confirms his profession, his education at Penn State, his move to New York and his career as an actor and musician. The birth date of January 24, 1994, appears consistently across several public biographies.

From Illinois to the New York Stage

His relationship with acting and music began at a young age. After growing up in Illinois, he studied musical theater at Penn State, training that later allowed him to combine theater work with television and film projects.After finishing his studies, he moved to New York, where he built much of his professional experience on stage. His path includes theatrical productions, concerts and work related to musical entertainment.One of the standout projects from this period was Private Jones, a musical inspired by the true story of a deaf soldier during World War I. He also took part in other theatrical productions and staged readings in New York.

Actor, Singer and Musician

Music occupies an important place in his career. In addition to singing, he plays instruments and has posted musical performances on his digital platforms.In 2020, the Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium introduced him as an actor, singer, dancer and musician, highlighting his musical theater training and his experience in professional productions.His artistic profile, therefore, goes beyond television: he combines dramatic performance, singing and stage work.

Will Walter, the Character Who Brought Him to Netflix

His big international breakthrough came with Will Walter, one of the eldest sons of the Walter family in My Life with the Walter Boys.The series is based on the novel of the same name by Ali Novak and follows Jackie Howard, a New York teenager who, after a family tragedy, moves to Colorado to live with Katherine Walter, her mother's best friend, and her large family.Will is the eldest son of Katherine and George Walter. In the story, he is a young adult who has just finished college, is married to Hayley and is trying to build his own future while remaining connected to his family.

The Relationship with Hayley

An important part of his storyline revolves around Hayley Young, played by Zoë Soul.Will and Hayley begin the story as an engaged couple and later become husband and wife. The relationship goes through various difficulties, especially due to the financial and family responsibilities the character takes on.Their story offers a different perspective within the Walter family: while the main plot focuses on the teenage romances of Jackie, Alex and Cole, Will deals with issues related to adult life, marriage and independence.

A Special Connection Between Actor and Character

One of the most distinctive elements of this casting choice is that Will's character has hearing loss, and the performer also has hearing loss himself.IMDb notes that the actor has hearing difficulties and uses his experience to advocate for greater accessibility.A source from the Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium states that he has moderate to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since he was three years old. It also explains that this experience has shaped his interest in creating more inclusive stories.This overlap between performer and character allowed him to bring personal experience to the show's scenes without making the disability the sole defining trait of Will.

A Voice for Accessibility

His personal experience has also had a presence outside of fiction.The actor has spoken publicly about the need to adapt work environments to the specific needs of people with hearing loss. Rather than treating disability as a single defining trait, he has advocated for broader representation of artists with disabilities.

Other Television Work

Before becoming one of the faces of My Life with the Walter Boys, he had already worked in television.One of his credits is Dear Edward, an Apple TV+ series released in 2023. There he played Gary, a character who appears in three episodes. IMDb lists this work as part of his television filmography. He is also associated with Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, an NBC musical production that combined comedy, drama and musical numbers. His musical theater training fit particularly well with the show's format.

Dear Edward

Dear Edward is based on the novel by Ann Napolitano and follows a teenager who becomes the sole survivor of a plane crash.His role as Gary was one of his first significant television jobs before joining the world of My Life with the Walter Boys.

His Music Career

Music is not simply a secondary facet of his work.His university training in musical theater and his stage experience have been present throughout much of his career. He has performed songs and taken part in projects that combine acting and music.One of the musical pieces associated with his career is a performance of “Julia, Julia”, which circulated on his social media platforms and is part of his activity as a musical performer.He has also worked on theatrical projects in which singing and acting are part of the same artistic offering.

Private Jones and Musical Theater

Among his theatrical work, Private Jones stands out, a musical based on the story of a deaf soldier who served in World War I.The project was especially meaningful given its connection to the performer's personal experience. The production allowed him to combine his musical training with a story centered on the experience of a deaf person in the military.This theatrical background helps explain why his television career is accompanied by solid experience in musicals and live performances.

Age and Place of Birth

He was born on January 24, 1994, making him 32 years old as of September 2026.His place of birth is Geneva, Illinois, though he grew up mainly in the Batavia area, also in Illinois. He later moved to New York to continue developing his artistic career.Some biographical sources list an approximate height of 1.78-1.80 meters (about 5'10"-5'11"), but there is no sufficiently solid official record to establish an exact figure as definitive data.

Personal Life

Public information about his personal life comes mainly from interviews, professional profiles and publications related to his career.His sexual orientation has been discussed publicly in biographical profiles and interviews, but there is no need to make this the central focus of his biography. His professional career is much more closely tied to musical theater, acting, music and the representation of people with hearing loss.Regarding his relationship status, various media outlets have reported on his relationship with Matthew Davies. However, details of his private life should be distinguished from strictly professional information and should not be presented as fact without current confirmation from a primary source.

What Is He Doing Now?

His best-known work remains My Life with the Walter Boys, a Netflix production in which he plays Will Walter.The second season expanded the character's presence within the family story. In its coverage of the season, Entertainment Weekly described Will as the eldest son of Katherine and George, a recent college graduate, an aspiring entrepreneur and Hayley's husband. The production has become the project that has given him the most international visibility, especially among Netflix audiences.

Notable Filmography

His audiovisual career mainly includes the following works:

• My Life with the Walter Boys — Will Walter.
• Dear Edward — Gary.
• Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist — television appearance.
• Private Jones — lead role in the stage musical.

Alongside these audiovisual credits, he has also built a stage career in New York and in various musical theater projects.

The Role That Defines His Career

Will Walter represents the role that turned the performer into a recognizable face for an international audience.The popularity of My Life with the Walter Boys brought his work to viewers in numerous countries and allowed audiences to also discover his talents as a musician and stage performer.His personal experience with hearing loss adds another dimension to his portrayal of the character, but his career is not limited to that trait: he also has professional training in musical theater and prior experience in television, film and on stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Johnny Link?

He is an American actor, singer and musician known for playing Will Walter in My Life with the Walter Boys. He has also appeared in Dear Edward and in various theatrical and musical productions.

How old is he?

He is 32 years old as of September 2026. He was born on January 24, 1994.

Where was he born?

He was born in Geneva, Illinois, United States, and grew up in Batavia, Illinois.

What character does he play in My Life with the Walter Boys?

He plays Will Walter, the eldest son of Katherine and George Walter and husband of Hayley Young.

Does Will Walter have hearing loss?

Yes. The character wears hearing aids and has hearing loss. The performer also has hearing loss in real life and has worn hearing aids since he was three years old.

What other series has he appeared in?

His television work includes Dear Edward, where he played Gary, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and My Life with the Walter Boys.

Did he study acting?

Yes. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University, where he trained in musical theater. He later moved to New York to pursue his professional career.

Is he also a singer?

Yes. He trained in musical theater and has worked as a singer and musician in addition to his acting career.

Does he have Instagram?

Yes. His public Instagram account is @johnnyvlink: Johnny Link's Instagram (@johnnyvlink). Public information about his musical and professional activity is also available on other platforms.

Who is Will Walter’s partner?

In My Life with the Walter Boys, Will is married to Hayley Young, played by Zoë Soul. Their relationship is part of the show's storyline.

Do Johnny Link and Will Walter share hearing loss?

Yes. It is one of the most notable aspects of the casting: both the character and the performer have hearing loss and wear hearing aids.

What films or series has he worked on?

His main audiovisual credits include My Life with the Walter Boys and Dear Edward, along with an appearance in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. His career also includes numerous theatrical and musical projects.

Sources Consulted

• IMDb — Johnny Link
• Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium — professional profile
• Lincoln Center — Death Bites
• Entertainment Weekly — Season 2 cast
• Netflix — My Life with the Walter Boys

Updated: September 2026.