Kristian Ventura Biography

Born Karl Flores III, Kristian Ventura later chose to honor his mother’s side of the family by embracing the name Kristian and the surname Ventura, a change that also reflects a personal history marked by his father’s absence and later death by suicide.

A classically trained performer, best known for his breakout turn as Simon Elroy in the Paramount+ teen drama series School Spirits, Kristian is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a BFA in Acting. He built his foundation on stage, earning early notice for a transformational performance as Richard III and work in plays by Tennessee Williams and Russian dramatists.

On screen, Kristian quickly became a rising name, sparking a competitive push among top Hollywood agencies to represent him shortly after completing his conservatory training. Within his first year out of school, he landed multiple roles, including recurring work as Connor in the Hulu comedy Reboot and appearances in projects such as the horror feature Grimcutty (2022), the sci‑fi thriller Gray Matter (2023), and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). His emotionally charged performance in School Spirits, playing a devoted friend determined to solve a mysterious death, has been widely cited as a key step in solidifying his status as one of the most sought‑after young actors of his generation.

Kristian's reputation is grounded in meticulous character work and a willingness to disappear into roles, a quality praised by collaborators such as directors Oran Zegman and Brian Dannelly and producer Oliver Goldstick. To support that approach, he has cultivated a broad skill set — ranging from piano and guitar to ballet, foreign languages, motorcycling, skateboarding, and screen combat — which he deploys as roles demand. Beyond acting, he has begun developing original material as a writer, signaling an ambition to shape stories both in front of and behind the camera.

During his time at USC, Kristian was recognized with the 2018 USC Service Award for outstanding leadership and volunteer work in homeless shelters, food banks, and schools, underscoring a sustained commitment to service alongside his artistic career. 

Filmography:

Gray Matter (2023)
Witchblossom (2023)
Grimcutty (2022)
The Red Tide Massacre (2022)
Me Little Me (2022)
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)