Actor Profile: Glen Powell

From Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters to Ram Trucks, Glen Powell has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable modern leading men

(By Carmichael Phillip)

Who Is Glen Powell?

Glen Powell is an American actor, writer and producer who has developed into one of Hollywood’s most prominent modern leading men.

Although many moviegoers first became widely familiar with Powell through Top Gun: Maverick, his career began years earlier with smaller film and television roles.

His rise was gradual rather than overnight.

Powell spent years building credits before finding larger opportunities in films such as Everybody Wants Some!!, Hidden Figures and Netflix’s romantic comedy Set It Up.

Then came Top Gun: Maverick.

Playing confident fighter pilot Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin introduced Powell to a massive global audience and helped establish the screen persona that would later carry into romantic comedies, action films and commercial campaigns.

Acting Magazine traces his early journey in How Did Glen Powell Get Into Acting?, which examines how the Texas-raised actor worked his way from smaller roles into major studio films.

Quick Facts About Glen Powell

Glen Powell in the Ram Commercial

One of Powell’s most memorable advertising appearances came in Ram Trucks’ Super Bowl commercial “Drive Your Own Story.”

The concept takes the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and transforms it into an action movie.

Powell plays an exaggerated version of Goldilocks, complete with long blond hair, but instead of sampling porridge and trying beds, he tests three Ram trucks.

The commercial includes a fire-breathing dragon, erupting volcanoes, off-road driving and other over-the-top action sequences.

Powell narrates the adventure as “Uncle Glen,” telling the story to his real-life niece and nephew.

The result combines action, comedy and family warmth.

Acting Magazine covers the campaign extensively in Who Stars in the New Dodge Ram Commercial?, which identifies Powell as the centerpiece of Ram’s cinematic Big Game campaign.

The campaign is also featured prominently in the Dodge Ram Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) hub.

Acting Breakdown: Why Glen Powell Works in the Commercial

Powell’s Ram performance works because he understands exactly how seriously to take an intentionally ridiculous situation.

He does not play the commercial as though he knows it is a joke.

Instead, he approaches dragons, volcanoes and extreme truck stunts with the confidence of a traditional action hero.

That commitment makes the humor stronger.

His physicality also matters.

Powell looks comfortable driving, running, reacting to explosions and occupying the visual language of a large-scale action movie.

At the same time, his comedic timing prevents the commercial from becoming overly macho.

The blond Goldilocks hair, deadpan narration and bedtime-story framing give him opportunities to poke fun at his own leading-man image.

That combination—confidence without taking himself too seriously—is one of Powell’s strongest tools as a commercial performer.

Why Ram Chose Glen Powell

Powell was an unusually natural fit for Ram.

He grew up in Texas and had already become associated with aviation, action and rugged Americana through films such as Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters.

Ram first brought Powell into the brand’s advertising world through “The Calling.”

He later appeared in “The Convoy,” helping introduce the Ram 1500 RHO and the company’s broader off-road truck lineup.

The relationship then expanded into the Super Bowl campaign.

By that point, Powell was not simply a celebrity appearing briefly in an advertisement.

He had become part of Ram’s brand personality.

Acting Magazine examines that relationship further in Who Is the Actor in the Ram Truck Ad?.

The Goldilocks Concept

The Ram commercial succeeds largely because it gives Powell an actual character to play.

Rather than simply placing a celebrity beside a truck and having him praise its features, the campaign builds an entire story around him.

Powell becomes a modern Goldilocks searching for the truck that is “just right.”

The Ram 1500 Ramcharger, Ram 1500 RHO and Ram 2500 Rebel each become part of the adventure.

Instead of three bowls of porridge, there are three very different trucks.

Instead of bears chasing Goldilocks through a cottage, there are action sequences involving dragons and dangerous terrain.

Acting Magazine explores the character directly in Who Is Goldie Locks on the Ram Commercial?.

The Dragon Commercial

One of the most memorable moments in the Ram campaign involves Powell confronting a fire-breathing dragon.

The sequence immediately separates the spot from a conventional automobile commercial.

It looks more like a scene from a fantasy-action movie.

Powell’s performance helps sell the illusion because he reacts to the exaggerated environment with complete commitment.

There is no sense that he is simply waiting to deliver a product line.

He behaves like the hero of the story.

Acting Magazine breaks down this portion of the campaign in Who Is the Actor in the Ram Commercial With the Dragon?.

Top Gun: Maverick Changes Everything

For many viewers, Top Gun: Maverick was the film that transformed Glen Powell from a familiar working actor into a recognizable movie star.

Powell played Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin, a confident Navy pilot who initially appears arrogant and competitive.

Hangman is essentially designed to irritate the other pilots.

Powell, however, makes the character entertaining rather than simply unpleasant.

He uses charm, timing and physical confidence to give Hangman a larger-than-life quality.

The performance was especially important because Powell was surrounded by an ensemble of younger actors while also sharing the film with Tom Cruise.

He needed to make an impression without disrupting the balance of the story.

He succeeded.

The role established the confident, playful leading-man quality that would become central to Powell’s next phase of work.

Glen Powell and the Original Top Gun

Powell’s connection to Top Gun extends beyond his role in the sequel.

The original film helped inspire him to become an actor.

He has described seeing Top Gun as a child with his father and becoming fascinated with the world presented on screen.

Years later, he would become part of that same franchise.

That full-circle story adds another layer to his career.

It also demonstrates how early exposure to a memorable performance or film can influence an aspiring actor long before a professional career begins.

Anyone But You and Romantic Comedy Stardom

Powell demonstrated another side of his screen appeal in Anyone But You.

Starring opposite Sydney Sweeney, he played Ben in the modern romantic comedy.

The role depended less on action and more on chemistry.

Romantic comedy requires actors to move smoothly between sarcasm, attraction, vulnerability and humor.

Powell’s natural confidence could easily have made the character feel smug.

Instead, he allows insecurity and vulnerability to appear underneath the surface.

That balance helped turn the film into another major step in his rise as a leading man.

Hit Man Shows His Range

Hit Man gave Powell one of his most substantial opportunities to demonstrate range.

He stars as Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered professor who works with police by pretending to be a professional hit man during sting operations.

The premise requires Powell to perform multiple identities.

Gary changes clothing, voice, mannerisms and personality depending on the person he is trying to convince.

In other words, Powell plays an actor who is constantly acting.

That makes the film a particularly interesting showcase of technique.

He also co-wrote the screenplay with director Richard Linklater, giving him significant creative involvement beyond his performance.

Twisters and the Modern Movie-Star Persona

In Twisters, Powell plays Tyler Owens, a charismatic storm chaser whose online personality initially makes him seem reckless and attention-seeking.

As the story develops, the audience discovers more depth beneath that surface image.

The role plays directly into Powell’s strongest screen qualities.

Tyler is confident.

He is funny.

He is physically capable.

But he also needs enough emotional warmth for viewers to care about him.

That combination closely mirrors the personality Ram later used in its advertising.

The commercial version of Powell feels almost like an extension of the adventurous persona audiences already recognize from his movies.

FAQ: Glen Powell and the Ram Commercial

Who is the actor in the Ram commercial?
The actor is Glen Powell, known for Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, Anyone But You and Hit Man.

Is Glen Powell Goldilocks in the Ram commercial?
Yes. Powell plays an action-oriented, humorous version of Goldilocks in Ram’s “Drive Your Own Story” Super Bowl campaign.

Who are the children in the Glen Powell Ram commercial?
The children appearing in the bedtime-story scenes are Powell’s real-life niece and nephew.

Who directed the Glen Powell Ram commercial?
Action filmmaker David Leitch directed the commercial.

What Ram trucks appear in the commercial?
The campaign showcases the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, Ram 1500 RHO and Ram 2500 Rebel.

Was Glen Powell already working with Ram before the Super Bowl commercial?
Yes. His earlier work with Ram included “The Calling” and “The Convoy.”

A Long Road to Stardom

Powell’s career is sometimes described as a rapid rise, but that description overlooks how long he worked before becoming a major star.

He began acting while young and accumulated numerous smaller roles.

Like many performers, he spent years appearing in supporting parts while waiting for opportunities that allowed him to show more personality.

Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! became one of those opportunities.

His role as Finnegan allowed Powell to use his natural confidence and comic rhythm.

Netflix’s Set It Up later demonstrated his romantic-comedy potential.

Top Gun: Maverick expanded his international visibility.

The important lesson is that each role built upon the previous one.

Powell did not suddenly become charismatic when he reached major studio movies. He spent years learning how to use that charisma effectively on camera.

Why Glen Powell Feels Like a Classic Movie Star

Powell is frequently described as having an old-fashioned movie-star quality.

Part of that comes from confidence.

He appears comfortable occupying the center of the frame.

But confidence alone is not enough.

Powell also understands humor.

He can play a character who appears extremely self-assured while simultaneously letting the audience see the absurdity of that confidence.

That makes him easier to root for.

It is the same quality that makes his Ram commercial work.

He can leap over volcanoes and face dragons like an action hero while wearing Goldilocks hair.

The joke works precisely because he commits to both sides of the image.

What Actors Can Learn From Glen Powell

Powell’s career offers several lessons for aspiring performers.

Keep working before the breakthrough. Powell spent years in smaller roles before audiences knew his name.

Know your strengths. His confidence, humor and physical presence became increasingly central to the roles he selected.

Do not confuse charisma with showing off. Powell’s strongest performances also involve listening and reacting.

Learn comedy. Even his action-oriented roles frequently benefit from comic timing.

Be willing to play against your image. A star willing to wear a Goldilocks wig in a Super Bowl commercial demonstrates a useful lack of preciousness.

Expand creatively. Powell’s work as a co-writer and producer on Hit Man shows the value of developing opportunities rather than only waiting for roles.

Authoritative External Resource

For official information about Glen Powell’s relationship with Ram Trucks, visit the official Stellantis/Ram announcement for “Goldilocks and the Three Trucks.” The company details Powell’s starring role, the commercial’s production, its vehicles and director David Leitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Glen Powell?

Glen Powell is an American actor, writer and producer known for Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, Hit Man, Twisters and other major films.

When was Glen Powell born?

Powell was born on October 21, 1988.

Where is Glen Powell from?

He grew up in Austin, Texas.

Who did Glen Powell play in Top Gun: Maverick?

He played Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin.

Who did Glen Powell play in Twisters?

Powell played storm chaser Tyler Owens.

Was Glen Powell in Anyone But You?

Yes. He starred opposite Sydney Sweeney as Ben.

Was Glen Powell in Hit Man?

Yes. Powell starred as Gary Johnson and also co-wrote the screenplay with director Richard Linklater.

Is Glen Powell in a Ram commercial?

Yes. He stars in Ram Trucks’ “Drive Your Own Story” Super Bowl campaign.

Is Glen Powell the man with blond hair in the Ram commercial?

Yes. Powell wears long blond hair while portraying a rugged version of Goldilocks.

Who directed Glen Powell’s Ram commercial?

David Leitch directed the spot.

Does Glen Powell really have family members in the commercial?

Yes. His real-life niece and nephew appear during the bedtime-story framing scenes.

What was Glen Powell’s first Ram campaign?

Before “Drive Your Own Story,” Powell worked with the brand on campaigns including “The Calling” and “The Convoy.”

Final Thoughts

Glen Powell’s career demonstrates how persistence and preparation can eventually meet the right opportunity.

Long before Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters or Super Bowl commercials, Powell was building experience through smaller roles.

When larger opportunities finally arrived, he had already developed the timing, confidence and technical skill necessary to take advantage of them.

His Ram campaign captures many of the qualities that now define his screen persona.

He is adventurous without seeming overly serious.

He is confident while remaining willing to make himself the joke.

And he can move between action and comedy without the transition feeling forced.

Whether he is flying fighter jets, chasing tornadoes, pretending to be a hit man or battling dragons in a truck commercial while dressed as Goldilocks, Powell understands one essential part of screen acting: audiences respond to performers who appear to be enjoying the story as much as they are.

Carmichael Phillip is a managing editor of Acting Magazine. In addition to editing, Mr. Phillip is a writer, coordinator and creative director.

Related Links

How Did Glen Powell Get Into Acting? – A detailed look at Powell’s early years, career development and eventual rise to major Hollywood roles.

Who Stars in the New Dodge Ram Commercial? – Explores Powell’s starring role in Ram’s “Drive Your Own Story” Big Game campaign.

Who Is Goldie Locks on the Ram Commercial? – Explains why Glen Powell appears with long blond hair in Ram’s playful Goldilocks-inspired campaign.

Who Is the Actor in the Ram Truck Ad? – A closer look at Powell’s connection to Ram and why his action-star persona fits the brand.

Who Is in the New Dodge Ram Commercial? – Breaks down Powell’s role, the supporting family members and the trucks featured in the campaign.

Who Is the Actor in the Dodge Ram 2025 Commercial? – Identifies Glen Powell as the celebrity star of Ram’s cinematic Super Bowl campaign.

Who Is the Actor in the Ram Commercial With the Dragon? – Examines Powell’s fantasy action sequence featuring a fire-breathing dragon.

Who Is in the Ram Charger Commercial? – Explores Powell’s role and the Ramcharger, RHO and Rebel trucks featured in the commercial.

Dodge Ram Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) – Acting Magazine’s complete guide to the actors, spokespeople and performers who have appeared in Ram advertising.

Actors in Commercials (The Complete Guide 2026) – Explore how celebrities and professional performers are cast in major advertising campaigns.

How to Get Cast in Commercials – A practical guide for actors interested in pursuing commercial work and understanding what casting directors look for.

Acting Magazine Commercial Index – Browse Acting Magazine’s expanding collection of commercial actors, celebrity endorsements and brand campaigns.

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