Andrew Barth Feldman: Broadway, Harvard, and No Hard Feelings

There are few things more surprising than a teenage Broadway star walking away from Harvard to make a comedy with Jennifer Lawrence, but Andrew Barth Feldman did exactly that — by age 16 he had taken over the title role in Dear Evan Hansen, and by 22 he was the breakout co-lead in No Hard Feelings. Here’s the full story of his career, his Harvard detour, and the friendship that caught everyone’s attention.

Born: May 7, 2002 ·
Age: 22 years old (born 2002) ·
Broadway debut: Dear Evan Hansen (2019) ·
Film debut: No Hard Feelings (2023) ·
Education: Harvard University (withdrew after one year)

Feldman’s career trajectory is captured in this summary of key biographical facts.

Are Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman friends?

How did they meet?

• They co-starred as the two leads in the 2023 Sony Pictures comedy No Hard Feelings, with Feldman playing Percy Becker opposite Jennifer Lawrence’s Maddie Barker (Wikipedia — biographical entry).
• The casting reportedly came from an open audition; Feldman was attending Harvard at the time and took a leave of absence to film (Wikipedia).

The implication: what started as a professional pairing turned into something rarer — a cross-generational Hollywood friendship that both actors have spoken about with genuine warmth.

What has Jennifer Lawrence said about him?

• At the No Hard Feelings premiere in June 2023, Lawrence called Feldman “an incredible young actor” and publicly supported his performance (Hey Alma — Jewish culture and identity publication).
• She has described their on-screen chemistry as natural, noting that his portrayal of the awkward, sheltered Percy made her character’s arc work (Hey Alma).

“He’s an incredible young actor.” — Jennifer Lawrence at the No Hard Feelings premiere, June 2023

The pattern: Lawrence has been a vocal advocate for Feldman’s career, and the two have kept up contact since filming wrapped — a friendship that benefits Feldman’s visibility in the film industry.

Does Andrew Barth Feldman still go to Harvard?

When did he enroll?

• Feldman initially planned to attend Harvard University in fall 2020 after leaving Dear Evan Hansen in January 2020 (Wikipedia).
• His enrollment was deferred by one year to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic (Wikipedia).

Why did he leave Harvard?

• Feldman took a semester off from Harvard in 2022 after booking the co-lead role in No Hard Feelings (Wikipedia — academic leave timeline).
• He has not returned to Harvard and did not graduate (Wikipedia — summary of education).

The trade-off: Feldman chose an active film career over an Ivy League degree — a gamble that, given the breakout nature of No Hard Feelings, has so far paid off in a way few can replicate.

What ethnicity is Andrew Barth Feldman?

What is his family background?

• Feldman is American, born and raised in Manhasset, New York (Wikipedia — birthplace and upbringing).
• He attended Lawrence Woodmere Academy, a private school on Long Island (Hey Alma).

What does the surname Feldman mean?

• The surname Feldman is of German Jewish origin (Hey Alma — Feldman surname etymology).
• No specific ethnicity is publicly confirmed by Feldman in any interview or official biographical source.

What this means: while the name points to Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, Feldman has not publicly identified with any specific ethnicity, and his exact background remains unconfirmed.

Is Andrew Barth Feldman related to Corey Feldman?

Why do people ask this?

• The shared last name “Feldman” prompts online curiosity about a possible family connection between the two actors.
• Corey Feldman is a well-known 1980s actor (The Goonies, Stand By Me), making the surname overlap notable (Hey Alma — addressing the confusion).

Any family connection?

• They are not related. No familial link exists between them (Hey Alma — confirming no relationship).
• The shared surname is coincidental — Feldman is a common German Jewish surname.

The catch: in the age of Google searches, a shared last name with a famous namesake is enough to generate persistent questions, but there is zero evidence of any biological or legal connection.

What movies has Andrew Barth Feldman been in?

No Hard Feelings (2023)

• His feature film debut: Feldman played Percy Becker, a sheltered 19-year-old whose parents hire Jennifer Lawrence’s character to date him before he leaves for college (Wikipedia — filmography).
• The film was released in June 2023 and earned positive reviews for his performance, with critics noting his comedic timing alongside Lawrence (Hey Alma).

Other film and TV roles

• Feldman appeared in the short film Poetic (2018), written and directed by Matthew Freeman (IMDb — filmography).
• He has not yet appeared in any other feature films or television series beyond No Hard Feelings.

Why this matters: with only one feature film credit to his name, Feldman is still in the early stages of a film career — but that single role was a starring one opposite an A-list actress, which is an unusually strong start.

Broadway career and timeline

Feldman’s Broadway milestones are documented in this chronological overview.

Feldman’s gamble on his career paid off, but his next role will determine his long-term trajectory.

Music career

Feldman has released original music, including the singles “Maneater” — a pop track that shares its title with the 2006 Nelly Furtado hit but is an original composition — and “2AM”, which he describes as a personal reflection on late-night thoughts during his transition from theater to film (Instagram — official artist profile).

His music output remains experimental, but the singles show a clear intention to build a parallel identity beyond acting.

For a complete overview of his screen work, including both his early television roles and his feature film appearances, readers can refer to Andrew Barth Feldmans filmography.

Frequently asked questions

For emerging actors in the American market, the Feldman path — Broadway at 16, Harvard admission, then a risky film leap — offers a specific lesson: institutional credentials are valuable only if they beat the opportunity cost of the momentum you already have. Feldman chose momentum. Whether he sustains it depends on his next role, but he has already done what most actors cannot: walk away from prestige and be proved right.