Ian Alexander: American Actor Breaking Barriers

Ian Alexander is a 24-year-old American actor born April 20, 2001, known for playing Buck Vu on The OA, Lev in The Last of Us Part II, and Gray Tal on Star Trek: Discovery. They made history as the first transgender actor to play a transgender character in the Star Trek franchise and the first out transgender Asian American person to act on television.

Ian Alexander burst onto the entertainment scene in 2016 with their debut role on Netflix’s The OA. Since then, they’ve built a career that combines compelling performances with meaningful representation. As a Vietnamese-American actor who uses they/them pronouns, Alexander has broken significant barriers in Hollywood.

You’ll find Alexander’s work spans television, film, and video games. Their performances consistently bring authenticity to characters that mirror aspects of their own identity and experiences.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Background and Upbringing

Alexander was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to an American father and a Vietnamese mother. Due to their father’s work with the Department of Defense, their family frequently relocated, living in Hawaii, Japan, and Washington, D.C.

During elementary school, they participated in community theater and chorus, laying the foundation for their acting career. Alexander was raised in a Mormon family but is not a participating member and considers themselves agnostic.

Coming Out and Identity

Alexander came out as transgender in 2014. Through the course of their gender transition, they initially identified as trans masculine while using he/him pronouns exclusively. As of September 2020, Alexander adopted the use of they/them pronouns, shortly thereafter identifying as non-binary and preferring they/them while accepting the alternative use of he/him.

Breaking Into Acting

Alexander’s debut acting role came from an open casting call online that spread through Tumblr for Netflix’s The OA. Out of hundreds of responses, they landed the role that would launch their career.

Major Roles and Career Highlights

The OA (2016-2019)

Alexander played Buck Vu on Netflix’s The OA, a Vietnamese-American transgender youth character that was partially based on Alexander’s real experiences. The role ran for two seasons and established Alexander as a talent to watch.

The show gave Alexander a platform to represent their community authentically. Their performance resonated with audiences and critics alike, demonstrating the power of authentic casting.

The Last of Us Part II (2020)

In October 2017, Naughty Dog announced Alexander had joined the cast for The Last of Us Part II, the sequel to their popular video game. They played Lev, a transgender character in the game.

Alexander provided both voice acting and motion capture for the role. The character’s appearance was modeled on Alexander’s likeness, creating a deeply authentic portrayal of a 13-year-old transgender teen navigating survival in a post-apocalyptic world.

Alexander expressed interest in reprising their role for HBO’s The Last of Us series, stating their “fingers are crossed” to return as Lev when the show covers events from the second game.

Star Trek: Discovery (2020-2024)

In September 2020, it was announced Alexander had joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery, playing the first transgender character played by a transgender actor in the Star Trek canon. They portrayed Gray Tal across seasons 3 and 4.

This casting marked a historic moment for the Star Trek franchise. Alexander appeared alongside non-binary actor Blu del Barrio, who played Adira Tal, bringing meaningful LGBTQ+ representation to the beloved sci-fi series.

Additional Projects

Recent Work and 2025 Projects

Blue Balls (2025)

Alexander is set to star in the vampire horror comedy Blue Balls alongside their Star Trek: Discovery co-star Blu del Barrio. The film is the directorial debut of Léa Fae Caddigan and was announced in May 2024.

In the film, Alexander takes on the role of Callidora. The movie explores themes of consent, coercion, and personal agency through a horror-comedy lens, blending stunt sequences and vampire action with deeper social commentary.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

Alexander voices Tai, one of Lunella’s classmates, in the Disney Channel series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. Tai is revealed to be non-binary in the episode “Check Yourself.”

Awards and Recognition

In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Queerty named them one of their Pride50: “trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people.”

Similarly, Alexander was one of the cover stars for the 2019 Pride issue of them magazine, “spotlighting three rising queer artists whose work and lives are breaking new ground for LGBTQ+ visibility.”

Impact on LGBTQ+ Representation

Authentic Casting Advocate

Alexander’s career demonstrates the importance of authentic casting in television and film. By playing characters that share aspects of their identity, they bring genuine lived experience to their performances.

Alexander is recognized as the first out transgender Asian American person to act on television. This distinction highlights their groundbreaking role in increasing visibility for multiply marginalized communities.

Industry Influence

Through their work on major franchises like Star Trek and The Last of Us, Alexander has helped normalize transgender representation in mainstream entertainment. Their presence in these beloved properties exposes millions of viewers to authentic trans and non-binary storytelling.

Personal Life and Activism

Alexander received viral attention online through their photo response to a transphobic incident perpetrated by four UCLA college students. They’ve consistently used their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and authentic representation in media.

Alexander maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans and advocating for their community. They balance their public activism with their work as a performer, creating space for more diverse voices in entertainment.

What’s Next for Ian Alexander?

Alexander’s career continues to grow with diverse projects across multiple mediums. Their upcoming role in Blue Balls represents another opportunity to work with meaningful collaborators on stories that challenge conventional narratives.

The possibility of reprising their role as Lev in HBO’s The Last of Us remains an exciting prospect for fans. As the show progresses into its later seasons, Alexander could bring their acclaimed video game performance to television audiences.

You can expect Alexander to continue choosing roles that align with their values and provide meaningful representation. Their track record suggests they’ll keep pushing boundaries and opening doors for future transgender and non-binary performers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Ian Alexander?

Ian Alexander was born on April 20, 2001, making them 24 years old as of 2025. They began their professional acting career at age 15 with their role on The OA.

What pronouns does Ian Alexander use?

Alexander prefers they/them pronouns but also accepts he/him. They identify as non-binary and transmasculine, having publicly adopted they/them pronouns in September 2020.

What is Ian Alexander’s most famous role?

Alexander is best known for three major roles: Buck Vu on The OA, Lev in The Last of Us Part II, and Gray Tal on Star Trek: Discovery. Each role brought them recognition within different fandoms and demonstrated their range as a performer.

Will Ian Alexander be in The Last of Us HBO series?

Alexander has expressed interest in reprising their role as Lev for the HBO series, stating their “fingers are crossed” to join the show when it covers the events of The Last of Us Part II. No official casting announcement has been made as of 2025.

Discover more inspiring stories of trailblazing actors and LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment at EarlyMagazine.