For fans of 13 Reasons Why, Ross Butler is a name that is all too familiar. His role as Zach Dempsey in the Netflix series is a fan favorite of the show with a massive cult following. Among many things, it is one of the major milestones in his young career, having given up on a traditional career path in pursuit of acting.

Since finding fame, interest has grown in Ross Butler’s life, especially about his ethnicity. While he has a ‘White’ name, the actor is far from being one. Here, we discuss details about the actor’s ethnic heritage as well as his rise to fame in Hollywood.

Ross Butler is a Native of Singapore

Ross Butler is a citizen of the United States of America, having lived in the country since he was four years old. He was, however, born in Singapore, on May 17, 1990. Ross’s Asian roots go beyond his place of birth. His mother is a Chinese-Malaysian. His father, on the other, is an English-Dutch, plating Ross’s foot in European heritage.

Following his parents’ relocation to the United States at the age of four, he grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. We can’t say if his father left, but his mother raised him in the suburb just outside of the country’s capital.

Ross Butler had a brief college education at Ohio State University, where he enrolled to study Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering. He stayed only a year before dropping out because he had no interest in the course. After dropping out, Butler started modeling and DJing to support himself financially. A year later, he moved to Los Angeles when he was only 20 years old to try and find more opportunities.

A Friend Helped Kickstart Ross Butler’s Acting Journey

It was after moving to Los Angeles in 2010 that he fell in love with acting. A friend paid for his first acting class as a birthday gift. He joined the industry with a determination to correct what he saw as the misrepresentation of Asian Americans in films. He also thought that the representation was far from adequate, and he made it a goal to work to change the stereotypes that existed and fight for inclusion.

This decision is evident in the acting roles that he took on going forward from 2012. He has acted in Teen Wolf, Disney’s K.C. Undercover, Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, where he has mostly played stereotypically white roles.

The decision brings an exciting side to a career that has blossomed rapidly since his onscreen debut as Allen in the TV movie, The Gateway Life. Since then, Ross Butler has starred in more than 26 films and TV shows, including an appearance in the 2019 DCEU blockbuster, Shazam! where he played the Super Hero Eugene.

He Found Fame in Young Adult Shows

His most prominent roles are in Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why. On Riverdale, he took the part of Reggie, who competes with Archie for the position of football captain and eventually becomes the captain when Archie decides to pursue music. In 13 Reasons Why, he plays Zach Dempsey, who is one of the key characters that had a part to play in the suicide of Hannah Baker through the cruelty that he displays towards her.

These roles follow with his assertion in interviews that he passes on roles where he plays the part of a nerd or a Bruce Lee type character. Ross will continue his crusade in Swimming with Sharks, a young adult show where he will play a character named Alex across six episodes.

Ross Butler is also into music and has shared his skills on the guitar and the piano online. He is also quite the singer. Combined with his acting skills, the Singapore-born star rising fame has helped him to more than 8.4 million followers on Instagram (@rossbutler) and over 670,000 followers on Twitter.

Ross Butler is Still a Single Man

Ross Butler waited a long time before getting into any relationships. He has given his reason for this to be that he wanted to know himself before bringing anyone in to share his life. Even now, the assumption remains that he is single based on the absence of a publicized relationship, on gossip tabloids, or his social media pages.

There are, however, some pointers to the possibility of him dating Katherine Langford, the Aussie actress who stars alongside him on 13 Reasons Why. The rumor of their possible relationship is no doubt exciting to fans who are caught up in the drama on screen. The two have been spending quite some time together off-screen even though filming for the show ended a while back.

Reports have it that their onscreen romance, which unfolded in season 2 of the series, helped fuel the real-life romance. The rumors have also been Ross Butler, who suggested to media that he has a new flame and that he is more than ready to settle down with anyone he feels is right. Katherine Langford shares some of his interests and hobbies like playing the guitar.

While that speculation was never confirmed, it is not the only one. Ross has also been linked to Chantel Jeffries. However, instead of an onscreen drama fueled rumor, this time, it is social media. The two of them were spotted at a party together on an Instagram video shared by Chantel in late 2018. Through the platform, fans also noticed the two of them were together at Coachella in 2019.

He is Looking for Someone Like Himself

Some people want someone different from themselves, to bring diversity to their relationship. Some want a person like them. Ross Butler belongs in the latter category. While his search for a partner continues, Ross admitted he wants someone who enjoys the same things he does. These things include video games, guitar, cooking, and good books. The actor has turned to dating apps in search of the female version of himself. Will he find one? Fans of the 13 Reasons Why actor will just have to wait and see.