Penn Badgley is an American actor and musician, best known for his roles in popular television series. He gained fame for portraying Dan Humphrey in the teen drama series Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. Badgley has also starred in the psychological thriller series You, where he plays the character Joe Goldberg. In addition to his television work, Badgley has appeared in several films, including Easy A and Margin Call. He was born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, and began his acting career at a young age. Badgley is also a musician and has been involved in various music projects.