Taj Cross is an American actor who became widely recognised after playing Sam in the comedy series PEN15. Since making his screen debut as a teenager, he has continued building an acting résumé through television and film projects. His credits include Young Rock, Big Boys, and The Rookie, while IMDb also lists his appearance in the 2026 film The Wrong Girls.
Born on February 11, 2004, Cross entered professional acting at a young age. His early experience in theatre helped him develop an interest in performing before he moved into screen acting. This article covers his age, early life, career, notable roles, family information, and what is publicly known about his work today.
Who Is Taj Cross?
Taj Cross is a young American actor known primarily for his television work. His breakthrough came with PEN15, where he played Sam, a recurring character connected to the show’s central teenage story.
His career began when he became interested in musical theatre and stage performance. In a 2021 interview with BELLO Mag, Cross explained that he did not initially plan on making acting his career. After joining a musical theatre group and enjoying performing, he decided to explore film and television.
That transition happened relatively quickly. After auditions and a screen test, he booked PEN15, giving him his first major professional screen opportunity.
Taj Cross Age and Birthday
Taj Cross was born on February 11, 2004. As of September 2026, he is 22 years old.
His birth date is reported consistently by several public biography sources, although some other biographical details about his childhood and personal life are less consistently documented.
Taj Cross Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Taj Cross |
| Date of birth | February 11, 2004 |
| Age | 22 years old in 2026 |
| Profession | Actor |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | PEN15 |
| Breakthrough role | Sam |
| Other notable work | Young Rock, Big Boys, The Rookie |
Early Life and Interest in Acting
Cross developed an interest in performance before becoming a professional screen actor. His background included musical theatre and other performing activities, giving him an opportunity to learn about acting in front of a live audience.
In his BELLO interview, he described joining a musical theatre group as an important turning point. After spending about a year performing on stage, he became interested in moving into film and television. A family friend helped him get an agent meeting, after which he began auditioning professionally.
He also participated in sports while growing up. Cross has spoken about enjoying activities such as football, basketball and baseball, showing that acting was not the only interest he had during his younger years.
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Taj Cross and PEN15
The role that introduced Taj Cross to a much wider audience was Sam in PEN15.
The Hulu comedy series, created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle and Sam Zvibleman, looks back at adolescence through a deliberately awkward and humorous perspective. Cross’s character is part of the middle-school environment surrounding the main characters.
Cross discussed the character in a 2019 interview and explained that Sam was based on writer and executive producer Sam Zvibleman.
The series originally ran from 2019 through 2021. TVMaze lists Cross as appearing as Sam in 17 episodes, while IMDb also identifies PEN15 among his best-known credits.
The role was significant because it gave Cross the opportunity to work alongside established performers while also introducing him to an audience beyond traditional theatre.
Taj Cross in Young Rock
After PEN15, Cross appeared in NBC’s Young Rock as Gabe, a friend of the young Dwayne Johnson character.
The series explores different periods of Dwayne Johnson’s life and features fictionalised versions of people connected to his childhood and teenage years. Cross’s Gabe was presented as Dwayne’s friend and partner in various adventures.
Contemporary coverage from the show’s first season confirms that Cross played Gabe and that the character appeared in multiple episodes. TVMaze records five episodes for the role.
His work on Young Rock also allowed him to take on a character quite different from Sam in PEN15, giving him additional television experience.
Taj Cross Movies and TV Shows
Although Cross is still early in his career, his publicly listed screen credits cover several television and film projects.
Notable Taj Cross Credits
- PEN15 — Sam
- Young Rock — Gabe
- Big Boys — Will
- The Rookie — Abel
- The Wrong Girls — listed among his 2026 credits
IMDb currently lists Big Boys, PEN15, and The Wrong Girls among his notable work, while TVMaze records his appearances in PEN15, Young Rock, and The Rookie.
One useful distinction is that PEN15, Young Rock, and The Rookie are television projects, while Big Boys is a film. Calling all of them “movies” would therefore be inaccurate.
Taj Cross in Big Boys
Cross played Will in the 2023 film Big Boys.
The film added another type of performance to his growing résumé and gave him experience outside the television comedy format in which many viewers first encountered him. IMDb identifies Big Boys as one of his best-known credits.
For an actor who started professional screen work at a young age, moving between television and film provides valuable experience with different production styles and character demands.
Taj Cross on The Rookie
Cross also appeared in ABC’s The Rookie as Abel.
TVMaze lists the appearance in the seventh season, specifically in episode 14, “Mad About Murder,” which aired in April 2025.
This role is another example of Cross expanding beyond the comedy projects that initially made him recognisable.
Taj Cross Family and Parents
Publicly available information about Cross’s family is relatively limited compared with information about his acting career.
IMDb’s biography page lists Jake Cross and Christina Karras under his parents. Some public profiles also report that he has an older sister named Camille.
However, many detailed claims about celebrities’ families are repeated online without strong primary confirmation. For that reason, it is better to separate basic publicly listed family information from unverified stories about private family life.
Cross’s own interviews have focused much more on acting, auditions, theatre and his experiences working on television than on giving extensive details about his family.
Taj Cross Personal Life
Cross has generally kept his personal life less prominent than his professional work.
There are online pages that make claims about his relationship status, religion, ethnicity, finances and other personal details. However, these claims are not consistently supported by strong primary sources.
For a reliable biography, the most useful information is therefore his documented acting work rather than speculation about private matters. His public career record clearly establishes his roles in PEN15, Young Rock, Big Boys, and The Rookie.
What Made Taj Cross Stand Out?
One interesting part of Cross’s early career is how quickly he moved from theatre into professional screen acting.
His own account suggests that musical theatre helped him discover his interest in acting. He then pursued representation, auditioned for roles and eventually landed PEN15.
His early roles also show a willingness to work across different types of productions. PEN15 gave him a memorable comedy role, Young Rock placed him in another coming-of-age comedy, Big Boys expanded his film experience, and The Rookie brought him into a different television genre.
What Is Taj Cross Doing Now?
As of 2026, Cross’s IMDb profile continues to list acting work, including The Wrong Girls.
Because young actors’ projects can change during production, not every future role is necessarily publicly announced or confirmed. The most reliable approach is to follow established credit databases and official production announcements rather than relying on rumours.
His career remains relatively young, leaving considerable room for additional film and television work in the future.
FAQ’s
Q1. How old is Taj Cross?
Taj Cross was born on February 11, 2004, making him 22 years old in September 2026.
Q2. What is Taj Cross famous for?
He is best known for playing Sam in the comedy series PEN15. He has also appeared in Young Rock, Big Boys, and The Rookie.
Q3. Who did Taj Cross play in Young Rock?
Taj Cross played Gabe, a friend of the young Dwayne Johnson character. TVMaze lists him in five episodes.
Q4. What character did Taj Cross play in PEN15?
He played Sam, a character based on writer and executive producer Sam Zvibleman.
Q5. Is Taj Cross in The Rookie?
Yes. TVMaze lists Taj Cross as Abel in season 7, episode 14 of The Rookie.
Q6. What movies has Taj Cross appeared in?
One of his notable film credits is Big Boys (2023), in which he played Will. IMDb also currently lists The Wrong Girls among his credits.
Conclusion
Taj Cross has built his early acting career through a combination of television and film roles. His breakthrough as Sam in PEN15 introduced him to a broad audience, while roles in Young Rock, Big Boys, and The Rookie helped him expand his experience across different productions.
At 22, Cross is still in the early stages of his professional career. Rather than focusing on unverified claims about his private life, his documented acting credits provide the clearest picture of his development as a performer. If you follow his work, keeping an eye on his confirmed film and television credits is the best way to discover what comes next.
