Last Updated on May 8, 2025
Hold onto your baseball bats and Shameless binge-watch playlists—Ethan Cutkosky, the guy who turned troublemaker Carl Gallagher into a TV icon, isn’t just “that kid from the show.” With March 2025 marking his 25th year (but trust me, he’s still got that baby-face magic), Ethan’s story is half skateboard grit, half Hollywood gold. From black belts to breaking into acting at 7, let’s crack open the file on TV’s favorite reformed delinquent.
| Name | Ethan Cutkosky |
| DOB | August 19, 1999 |
| Birthplace | St. Charles, IL |
| Age (2025) | 25 |
Ethan Cutkosky Age
Born August 19, 1999, Ethan’s a classic Leo—loyal, fiery, and born to steal scenes. As of March 2025, he’s rockin’ 25 years like a vintage leather jacket and prepping for his mid-20s glow-up. Who knew a Shameless jailbird could age this gracefully?
Ethan Cutkosky Bio
This kid’s résumé reads like a Hollywood roulette wheel. Started with a tiny role in 2007’s Fred Claus (yes, baby Ethan shared screen time with Vince Vaughn), then snagged the creepy-but-cute role of Barto in The Unborn at 9. But the game-changer? Playing Carl Gallagher for 11 seasons on Shameless—smuggling drugs, joining the military, and somehow making us root for a kid who fed raccoons to alligators.
Off-screen? He’s not lounging. Dropped a rap track (“Falling Deep”), dabbles in action-thriller films (Going Places in 2023), and balances those Hollywood paychecks with a chill Midwest vibe. Oh, and let’s not forget his 2nd-degree Taekwondo black belt—talk about badassery.
Ethan Cutkosky Family
Behind the Gallagher chaos lies a solid Midwestern foundation. Parents Yvonne (Mexican heritage) and David (Polish-Irish roots) kept him grounded despite Hollywood’s glitter. Fun fact? They almost nixed The Unborn due to its horror themes, but Ethan’s “I’m doing this!” won them over. Relationship alert: He’s been steady with School of Rock actress Brielle Barbusca since 2015. No kids yet—unless you count his rescue pets (including a cat named Bear).
Before the Spotlight: Ethan Cutkosky
Long before Carl’s drug-dealing days, Ethan was just a skateboarding Illinois kid jumping off ramps and practicing high kicks. At 4, he started Taekwondo; by 7, he was hustling print ads. His big break? A cattle-call audition for Fred Claus that landed him on set with Vaughn. Turns out, chaos on-screen meant focus off-screen: “Acting felt natural,” he’s said. Like, obviously—he turned a throwaway role into a $1M net worth.
Connected To
- Emmy Rossum & William H. Macy (Shameless co-stars who literally raised him on-screen)
- Gary Oldman (his creepy co-star in The Unborn—you know, Sir Gary freakin’ Oldman)
- Olivia Scott Welch (shared the screen in 2021’s Fear Street Trilogy)
And hey, shoutout to Brielle Barbusca for keeping him sane through fame’s wildfire.
So next time you stream Shameless, remember: Carl’s antics are fake, but Ethan’s hustle? As real as his Midwestern humility. Stay gold, kid 🔥