Cameron Monaghan is an American actor and model best known for his portrayal in the popular television series ‘Shameless.’ Cameron, who was born in California and reared in Florida, began his career at the age of 3. When his mother discovered that he was interested in modeling, she began submitting his photographs to modeling agencies. This caused the young child to begin modeling. After reaching adulthood, he chose to pursue a vocation in the entertainment industry. In 2002, he made his film debut in ‘The Wishing Stone.’ He rose to greater prominence after making his television debut in ‘The Music Man.’ Then, Cameron was chosen for a supporting role in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. In 2011, Cameron was offered a starring role in the television series ‘Shameless,’ which would prove to be career-defining. Cameron continued to play pivotal roles in drama series like ‘Gotham’ and ‘Mercy Street.’ Among the films in which he has appeared are ‘Vampire Academy,’ ‘Another Harvest Moon,’ and ‘Mall.’ He received a ‘Young Artist Award’ for his performance in ‘The Middle’.
Youth and Early Life
Cameron Monaghan was born on August 16, 1993, in Santa Monica, California. Diane Monaghan, a single mother who worked as an insurance claims specialist, was his only parent. Her work took Diane to Florida, and Cameron spent the next few years of his life there. When Cameron was 3 years old, he was an extremely extroverted child, which led his mother to believe he might make a fine model. She compiled a portfolio for him and sent it to modeling agencies.
He appeared in his first magazine catalogue at age 5. Soon after, he became interested in performing in dramas and films. Cameron’s mother ensured he participated in school plays so he could refine his acting skills. At age 7, Cameron appeared in his first television commercial. As a youth, he attended ‘Addison Mizner Elementary School’ and participated in a number of theater productions there. Some of his most popular programs were ‘Stuart Little,’ ‘Winnie-the-Pooh,’ and ‘The Pumpkin King.’
By the time he reached middle school, he had determined his future plans. He desired to become an actor and had already begun to secure real-world employment. Thus, he was homeschooled for the majority of his senior year. He simultaneously learned to play the guitar.
Cameron Monaghan’s Career
In 2002, at the age of nine, he made his acting debut in the low-budget independent film ‘The Wishing Stone.’ Afterwards, he appeared in independent films including ‘Brothers in Arms’ and ‘Desperate Hippies.’
He made his television début in 2003 with the television film ‘The Music Man.’ The director believed that Cameron was an ideal fit for the role. Cameron received his first significant break in his career the following year when he was cast as a child with special needs in the television series Malcolm in the Middle.
His role began as a recurring one but was elevated to a recurring one as the series progressed. Cameron received a ‘Young Artist Award’ for ‘Best Performance in a Television Series – Recurring Young Actor’ for the role he played in the series. In 2005, he had minor roles in the television series ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ and ‘Threshold.’ In the same year, he had a modest recurring role on the television series ‘Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide’ as ‘Palmer Noid.’As he entered adolescence, he began to appear in more television series. These included ‘Criminal Minds,’ ‘The Mentalist,’ ‘Monk,’ and ‘Three Rivers.’ However, he primarily appeared in one-off roles.
When he landed a role in the 2009 television film ‘Safe Harbor,’ he obtained yet another major career break. That year, the ‘Hallmark’ film was a huge success and garnered top ratings. Cameron’s contribution was also appreciated.
Cameron had supporting roles in films like ‘Dream Machine,’ ‘Dog Gone,’ and ‘Disarmed.’ He portrayed ‘Timmy’ in the film ‘Brothers in Arms.’ Cameron had ample opportunity to demonstrate his acting abilities on the big screen in this independent film devoted to spaghetti westerns.
When he was offered one of the leading roles in the film “Click,” he received a second significant break. In the film, he portrayed an immature, spoiled child named ‘Kevin O’Doyle.’ Adam Sandler and Kate Beckinsale also starred. The film was well-received by some critics, while it was severely criticized by others. It was moderately successful at the box office. He appeared in the 2009 drama film ‘Another Harvest Moon.’ In the film, Cameron played a young man named ‘Jack.’ It was regarded well by both critics and audiences.
In 2010, Cameron landed a defining role in the television series ‘Shameless.’ In the comedy-drama series, he portrayed ‘Ian Gallagher,’ a homosexual adolescent from an extremely dysfunctional family. This role brought him national recognition, and his performance was deemed exceptional. Cameron was nominated for several awards for his portrayal of ‘Ian.’ He quickly began receiving proposals for significant roles in numerous films and television series.
In 2011, he portrayed one of the main characters in the adolescent comedy ‘Prom.’ Despite the negative critical and commercial reception of the film, he benefited from it. This was his first major role as an adult. After this, he was considered for more significant assignments. In 2015, he won the role of ‘Jerome Valeska’ in the ‘CW’ series ‘Gotham.’ The series was based on characters from ‘DC Comics,’ and ‘Jerome’ paid homage to the iconic ‘DC’ supervillain ‘The Joker.’
Cameron’s depiction of the character has garnered him numerous accolades. Cameron was offered the principal role in the television series ‘Mercy Street’ due to the series’ commercial and critical success. His film career is expanding consistently with roles in films such as ‘The Year of Spectacular Men,’ ‘Vampire Academy,’ ‘Amityville: The Awakening,’ ‘Giver,’ and ‘The Mall.’
Personal Facts About Cameron
At the age of 10, Cameron relocated to Los Angeles, where he continues to reside. Since 2016, he has been in a relationship with ‘Shameless’ co-star Ruby Modine. It is known that he has dated numerous co-stars in the past. He has been outspoken about his support for homosexual rights.
Estimated Net Worth
American actor Cameron Monaghan has a net worth of $5 million. Cameron Monaghan was born in Santa Monica, California in August 1993. Initially, he was a juvenile actor and model. From 2004 to 2005, Monaghan had a recurring role as Chad on the television series Malcolm in the Middle. He portrayed Corey in the 2011 television series Corey and Lucas for the Win.