Peyton List
Meta Description: Discover the inspiring journey of American actress Peyton List. From Disney Channel’s Jessie to Netflix’s Cobra Kai and beyond. Explore her biography, movies, personal life, and exciting new projects.
Have you ever watched a movie or a TV show and felt like you grew up right alongside the actors on the screen? That is exactly how many fans feel about Peyton List. If you are in the USA, chances are you have seen her face pop up on your screen for over a decade. Maybe you remember her as the fashionable Emma Ross on Disney Channel, or perhaps you know her as the fierce and troubled Tory Nichols on the hit show Cobra Kai.
Peyton List is not just another actress; she is a hardworking performer who has successfully made the jump from child star to a respected young adult actress. She started as a shy kid in front of the camera and has blossomed into a powerful lead actress and producer.
Her story is one of growth, talent, and determination. She is someone who takes on roles that challenge her and push her beyond her comfort zone. Whether she is playing a popular girl in a teen comedy or a ghost stuck in high school, Peyton List brings a special kind of magic to her characters. Let’s take a deep dive into the life and career of this amazing talent, exploring everything from her early days in New York to her latest projects that everyone is talking about.
We will look at her family, her famous twin brother, the surprising story of another actress with the exact same name, and why she is one of the most exciting young stars in Hollywood right now.
Quick Bio Snapshot: Peyton List
Before we get into the details, here is a quick look at the star herself. This table gives you the need-to-know facts about Peyton List to get us started.
Early Life and Family Roots
Peyton List was born on April 6, 1998, in Florida, but she didn’t stay there for long. Her family moved to New York City when she was very young, and that’s where she spent most of her childhood. Growing up in the Big Apple is very different from growing up in a small town, and it gave her a unique perspective on the world.
Her family is incredibly close. She has two brothers, and both are actors too. Her twin brother, Spencer List, was actually born just minutes before her. It is pretty rare for twins to both go into the same tough business, but the List siblings have always supported each other . She also has a younger brother named Phoenix. Having two brothers meant that Peyton List grew up with a lot of energy around her, which probably helped her develop her confidence and quick wit.
Education was always important to the family. In New York, she attended The Carroll School for elementary school. Later, for middle school, she went to the New Voices School for Academic and Creative Arts. This school was perfect for her because it let her explore her love for performing while still getting a regular education . It was a place where she could be creative and not feel like she had to hide her dreams of being on TV.
When she got older and her career started to take off, the family made a big move across the country to California. Peyton List attended Oak Park High School in Oak Park, California, and graduated in 2016 . Balancing a normal high school life with auditions and filming was hard, but she managed to do it with grace.
The Twin Connection: Peyton and Spencer List
One of the coolest things about Peyton List is her relationship with her twin brother, Spencer. Being a twin is a special bond that most people can’t understand. They have been together since before they were born, so they share a connection that is incredibly deep.
Both Peyton and Spencer started acting when they were kids. They even got to act together a few times when they were younger. They were in the horror film Bereavement together, which must have been a wild experience for two siblings . Can you imagine going to work with your brother and pretending to be in a scary movie together?
Having a twin brother in the same industry is a huge advantage. They have someone who truly understands the pressure of auditions, the nerves of a premiere, and the weird schedule of filming. They can vent to each other and celebrate each other’s wins. While Spencer hasn’t reached the same level of fame as his sister yet, he is a working actor, and they remain incredibly supportive of one another. Seeing them together on social media or at events shows a genuine friendship that goes beyond just being family.
Career Breakthrough: From Modeling to Disney Stardom
Peyton List didn’t just wake up one day as a famous actress. She started working when she was just four years old. Her first job was as a child model. She was a natural in front of the camera and ended up appearing in over 400 advertisements . She was on the covers of magazines and in catalogs for big brands. This early experience taught her how to take direction and be comfortable in front of lights and cameras.
Her first time acting on TV was a tiny, uncredited role on the soap opera As the World Turns in 2002 . She was just a little girl in a diner, but it was her first step into the acting world. She kept working hard, getting small roles in movies you might have seen. She was a background kid in *Spider-Man 2* and played a young Katherine Heigl in the romantic comedy 27 Dresses .
Then, in 2011, everything changed. She was cast as Emma Ross on the Disney Channel show Jessie. This role made her a household name for kids and tweens across America. Emma was the oldest child in a wealthy family living in a New York City penthouse. She was a bit of a fashionista and could be a little snobby, but she had a good heart. Peyton List played her perfectly.
The show was a massive hit. It ran for four seasons and made her an international star . When Jessie ended, she, along with a few of her co-stars, moved the character to a summer camp in a spin-off show called Bunk’d . For a whole generation, Peyton List was Emma Ross. She was the cool big sister everyone wished they had.
Grown-Up Roles: The Transition to Cobra Kai and Drama
For many child actors, the transition to adult roles is the hardest part of their career. But Peyton List managed to do it without missing a beat. She was smart about the roles she picked. While she was still on Disney, she started taking on darker, more serious projects to show the world she could do more than just comedy.
She starred in a thriller called The Thinning with Logan Paul, which was a big hit on YouTube Premium . She also took a lead role in the Hulu horror series Light as a Feather . These roles were edgy and scary, and they proved she had range.
But her biggest role to date came in 2019. She joined the cast of Cobra Kai for its second season. Cobra Kai is the sequel series to the classic Karate Kid movies, and it is one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Peyton List plays Tory Nichols. Tory is not a princess or a fashionista. She is a tough kid from the wrong side of the tracks who has a fiery temper and a difficult home life.
This role was a game-changer. As Tory, Peyton List got to show incredible emotional depth. She made the audience understand why Tory was so angry and sad. She also had to do almost all of her own karate stunts, training for hours to make the fight scenes look real. She went toe-to-toe with the show’s stars, and she completely held her own. For the USA audience that grew up with her on Disney, seeing her as a fierce karate fighter was mind-blowing. It showed that Peyton List was a serious actress who was here to stay.
Current Projects: School Spirits and Beyond
Just when you think Peyton List can’t get any busier, she takes on a project that raises the bar even higher. Right now, she is starring in and producing a hit show on Paramount+ called School Spirits . This show is clever, scary, and very emotional.
In School Spirits, she plays a teenager named Maddie Nears who is stuck in the afterlife. She is a ghost in her own high school, trying to figure out what happened to her and how to solve the mystery of her own disappearance. It is a unique concept that mixes a crime investigation with the classic high school experience.
The show has been a huge success. The second season, which came out in early 2026, doubled its audience from the first season . That is a massive win for any TV show. Not only does Peyton List star in it, but she is also a producer. This means she helps make big decisions about the show, from the script to the casting. It shows that she wants to have more control over her career and the stories she tells.
Fans in the USA are loving School Spirits because it is smart and different. It proves that Peyton List can carry a show on her shoulders. She is no longer just part of an ensemble; she is the star, and the show’s success rests on her performance.
The Other Peyton List: A Fun Hollywood Confusion
Here is a fun fact that always confuses people: there are actually two actresses named Peyton List working in Hollywood right now. It’s true! The Peyton List we are talking about was born in 1998. The other one was born in 1986.
The older Peyton List has also been in a ton of famous shows. She was in Mad Men, The Flash, and Gotham . Can you imagine the confusion at casting calls? Both of them are talented, blonde, and have the exact same name. It has caused mix-ups for years.
The younger Peyton List once told a story about how they were both staying at the same hotel once. The hotel staff got them mixed up and gave them each other’s messages and filming schedules . How weird would that be? They even ended up in the same movie, Batman: Hush, without even seeing each other. The younger one voiced Batgirl, and the older one voiced Poison Ivy . So, if you are reading articles or looking up movies, always double-check if you are reading about the Peyton from Cobra Kai or the one from Gotham.
Personal Life: Relationships and Hobbies
Fans are always curious about what their favorite stars do when the cameras stop rolling. For Peyton List, her personal life is pretty steady and happy. For a while, there were rumors about her dating her Jessie co-star, the late Cameron Boyce, which she later confirmed they had dated when they were younger . Their friendship was very special to her.
Currently, she is in a relationship with actor Jacob Bertrand. This is a classic Hollywood love story. They met years ago on the set of a Disney Channel movie called The Swap . They were friends for a long time. Then, they ended up working together again on Cobra Kai. Jacob plays Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz, another major character in the karate universe. They confirmed their relationship in 2022, and fans absolutely love them together . They are private about their relationship, but they occasionally post cute pictures on social media.
When she is not working, Peyton List loves to stay active. She grew up dancing—ballet, jazz, tap, you name it . She also loves hanging out with her family and her friends. She is very close to her Cobra Kai cast mates and often talks about how they are like a family.
Peyton List’s Net Worth and Success
With a career that started in childhood and has only gotten bigger, you might wonder how successful Peyton List really is. According to various reports, her net worth is estimated to be around $7 million . This money comes from her decades of work in TV and film.
But her income isn’t just from acting. Because she was such a famous child model, she did hundreds of commercials, which paid well. Today, she is also a massive influencer. With over 21 million followers on Instagram, brands pay her a lot of money to promote their products to her fans . This combination of steady acting work and social media power makes her a very valuable star in Hollywood. Her reported annual salary is often estimated to be over $1 million, showing that she is one of the busiest young actresses in the business .
Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
We have covered a lot, but here are some quick, fun facts about Peyton List to round out her story:
- She almost wasn’t Emma Ross: She originally auditioned for a different role on Jessie (the role of the younger girl, Zuri) but the creators saw something special in her and created the character of Emma just for her.
- She sings too: In 2018, she released a single called “Liar Liar” . While acting is her main focus, she has a great voice and has shown it off in a few projects.
- She loves food: She and her Jessie co-star Karan Brar used to host a Disney Channel segment called Pass the Plate all about healthy eating .
- Her full name: Her middle name, Roi, is French for “King.” It is a unique and beautiful name that sets her apart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peyton List
1. How old is Peyton List?
Peyton List was born on April 6, 1998. She is currently 27 years old.
2. Who is Peyton List dating?
She is in a relationship with her Cobra Kai co-star, Jacob Bertrand. They have been together since 2022 .
3. What is Peyton List most famous for?
She is famous for two major roles: Emma Ross on the Disney Channel shows Jessie and Bunk’d, and Tory Nichols on the Netflix hit series Cobra Kai .
4. Does Peyton List have a twin brother?
Yes, she has a twin brother named Spencer List. He is also an actor .
5. What is the new show with Peyton List?
She currently stars in and produces the Paramount+ series School Spirits. The second season premiered in early 2026 .
6. Is there another actress named Peyton List?
Yes! There is an older actress named Peyton List (born in 1986) who has starred in shows like Mad Men and Gotham .
7. What is Peyton List’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is around $7 million .
8. Did Peyton List do her own stunts in Cobra Kai?
Yes, she trained extensively in karate for the role and performed most of her own stunts, which impressed the show’s creators and fans alike.
Conclusion: A Star Who Keeps Growing
Looking back at the journey of Peyton List, it is clear that she is much more than just a former Disney kid. She is a talented and dedicated actress who has worked hard to build an impressive career. She started as a little girl in New York City, posing for catalogs, and has grown into a powerful woman producing her own TV shows and leading a major Netflix series.
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