When Penn Badgley returned to the small screen in You, fans were astounded to see him branch out of his usual boy-next-door image into the mysterious Joe Goldberg, a bookshop manager who seems too good to be true, because he is. Joe Goldberg is obsessive, manipulative, and deadly; the opposite of any character portrayed by Penn Badgley prior, and a clear marker of the actor’s impressive acting skills. With a fourth season of You on the way, Penn Badgley has become synonymous with the antihero character, Joe Goldberg. Nevertheless, the actor has dabbled in several other character-types before his work on the hit Netflix series. Here are nine Penn Badgley performances before Netflix’s You.
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9 The Paper Store (2016)
Actium Pictures
Bagley portrays Sigurd Rossdale in this 2016 romance-drama. Sigurd is in a tumultous affair with Annalee Monegan (Stef Dawson), an academic genius who exploits her own writing skills in order to profit off her fellow college students. Sigurd embodies many of the qualities of Joe Goldberg; intellectual, eloquent, and charming in his own right. Unlike Goldberg, though, Rossadale is actually a decent guy, simply trying to break the emotional barrier between him and Annalee.
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8 Easy-A (2010)
Sony Pictures Releasing
This romantic comedy stars Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast, a high schooler who falls victim to a vicious rumor that turns her into an overnight sensation among her peers. Olive makes the predicament worse by going along with the rumor in order to help her classmates keep their own secrets, and ultimately ends up a social pariah. Nevertheless, Todd (portrayed by Badgley) remains her one and only confidante and supports Olive through her entire ordeal, winning over Olive’s heart in the process. Todd is one of Penn Badgley’s most endearing portrayals, and a demonstration of Badgley’s vast acting range by portraying a character entirely opposite of Joe Goldberg.
7 John Tucker Must Die (2006)
20th Century Studios
Penn Badgley portrays Scott Tucker in his first motion picture role. He is the kind, intelligent, and overall honest brother of the film’s deceitful heartthrob, John Tucker. A foil to John Tucker in every imaginable way, Scott befriends the protagonist, Kate, and often serves as her moral compass as she plots to destroy John Tucker. Scott Tucker is the nerdy guy with a heart of gold often seen in romantic comedies, and Badgley delivers flawlessly through his performance.
6 Do Over (2002)
Warner Bros.
This teen comedy aired on the WB back in 2002. The plot follows Joel Larson, a man transported back to the early ’80s from 2002 to relive his adolescence. Equipped with the knowledge of a thirty-five-year old man trapped in a teenage body, Joel is able to help his friends and family rewrite the decisions that lead them to become their miserable future selves. Despite its intriguing plot and a hilarious performance by Badgley, this show was canceled after one season.
5 Adam Green’s Aladdin (2016)
Revolver Distribution Services
Adam Green’s Aladdin has Penn Badgley portraying The Prince of Monaco in this campy retelling of the Disney classic. Though not one of Badgley’s memorable works given his short screen time, the film manages to properly showcase Badgley’s innate comedic wit.
4 The Young and the Restless
CBS
Penn Badgley’s first screen role was in the daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless, where he portrays the son of Nina Webster and Phillip Chancellor III, Phillip Chancellor. While the character himself has been portrayed by several actors, Badgley’s performance garnered widespread acclaim and earned him a nomination for a Young Artist Award.
3 The Stepfather (2009)
In this remake of the 1987 horror film, The Stepfather, Penn Badgley portrays Michael Harding, the eldest son of a family caught amidst the murderous plot of a serial killer, David Harris. When Michael tries to warn his mother, Susan, of his soon-to-be stepfather’s murderous history, she dismisses his claims as a call for attention. Armed with only his wits and the need to protect his family, Michael sets out to stop David, leading to a climatic rooftop battle that almost costs him his life. While clearly the good guy in this scenario, Michael’s stalking to expose David serves as character preparation for Badgley’s future work in You.
2 Margin Call (2011)
Lionsgate
Margin Call has Penn Badgley portraying Seth Bregman, a businessman pulled into the works of a financial crisis by his colleague, Peter Sullivan. Bregman is one of Badgley’s most relatable characters; someone who works strenuously to achieve success within his company, but is one bad move away from losing it all. Seth Bregman represents working class citizens that spend their entire lives trying to establish themselves in capitalist America, only to find their every effort thwarted by those born into power.
1 Gossip Girl
Warner Bros
Penn Badgley’s most iconic role next to Joe Goldberg, Dan Humphrey, is the heartthrob that maintains an on and off relationship with Gossip Girl’s Serena van der Woodsen. Dashing, poetic, and a skilled blogger holding an infectious view on life, Dan has a way with words that makes Serena learn to see people beyond their looks; Dan is a perfect balance to her extroverted and sometimes shallow demeanor. Dan Humphrey is what Joe Goldberg has the potential to be…minus the psychopathic tendencies. Of course, Dan is flawed, but his romantic spirit ultimately shines and proves him to be the ideal partner for Serena compared to her other dating prospects during Gossip Girls’ six-season run.
