At a Glance
- Ansel Elgort, 31, has welcomed his first child
- The actor was photographed carrying the newborn in New York City on January 13
- No further details about the baby’s name or sex have been released
- Why it matters: The intensely private star steps into parenthood after a decade of headline-making film roles
Ansel Elgort is now a father. The 31-year-old actor known for West Side Story and The Fault in Our Stars was spotted cradling his newborn while walking through New York City earlier this week, according to a source who confirmed the arrival to News Of Los Angeles.
First Public Sighting
Photographers captured Elgort on Monday, January 13, carefully holding the infant close to his chest. The pictures mark the first public glimpse of both the Baby Driver star and his child, whose name and sex remain undisclosed.
The sighting ended months of speculation about Elgort’s personal life. Until this week, the actor had offered no indication that he and his partner were expecting, maintaining the same low profile he has kept since early in his career.
From Child Actor to Leading Man
Elgort’s path to stardom began in 2013 when he appeared opposite Chloë Grace Moretz in the horror remake Carrie. Within a year he shot to global fame as Augustus Waters, the charming teen with terminal cancer who wins hearts in The Fault in Our Stars.
Key career milestones:
- 2014 – Breakout role in The Fault in Our Stars
- 2014-2016 – Plays Caleb in the Divergent franchise
- 2017 – Leads Baby Driver, earning a Golden Globe nomination
- 2021 – Stars as Tony in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story
Family Background
Elgort grew up surrounded by the arts. His mother, Grethe Holby, is an opera director, while his father, Arthur Elgort, spent decades as a Vogue photographer. The elder Elgort often included young Ansel in shoots, giving him an early taste of the spotlight.
“My dad would throw me in the picture if they needed an extra,” Elgort told Vogue. “From an early age, I understood the concept that, if you’re not the star, then your job is to not pull attention away from the star.”
That lesson clearly stuck. Despite his fame, Elgort has kept details of his private life largely out of the press-making this week’s confirmation of fatherhood all the more notable.
A Multifaceted Performer
Beyond film, Elgort trained as a dancer from age nine and spent five years at the School of American Ballet before graduating from New York’s prestigious LaGuardia High School. He recently channeled that training into his professional dance debut in Quadrophenia, A Rock Ballet, based on The Who’s 1973 album.
The performance added another layer to an already varied résumé that includes acting, music production, and photography-talents he attributes to his upbringing in a creative household.
What Comes Next
Representatives for Elgort have not commented on how fatherhood might affect his upcoming projects. The actor has several films in various stages of development, though none have confirmed release dates.
For now, fans will have to settle for the candid street photos that show the new dad navigating Manhattan with the same quiet focus he brings to his roles-only this time, the stakes are personal rather than cinematic.
Key Takeaways
- Ansel Elgort, 31, quietly became a father; the news was confirmed after he was seen with the baby in NYC
- The infant’s name and sex have not been revealed, and Elgort has issued no public statement
- The actor rose to fame through The Fault in Our Stars and Baby Driver, later earning a Golden Globe nomination
- Elgort’s parents-an opera director and a Vogue photographer-immersed him in the arts from childhood
