Why did 13 Reasons Why star Dylan Minnette quit acting? Reasons explored 

Dylan Minnette, known for his breakout role as Clay Jensen in Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, has taken a surprising turn in his career. After reaching significant success in acting, Minnette has decided to pause his acting pursuits. In a recent interview on The Zach Sang Show, the 27-year-old actor and musician opened up about this decision and the motivations behind it.

Dylan Minnette's departure from acting, even if temporary, has left fans curious about the reasons. The actor revealed that despite the success and acclaim of his role in 13 Reasons Why, acting started to feel more like a job than a passion. This shift in perception prompted him to redirect his energy towards his long-time passion for music with his band, Wallows.

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Why did Dylan Minnette quit acting? 5 reasons explored

1) Acting started to feel like "just a job"

Dylan Minnette decided to put his acting career on hold based on how he started feeling about it. On The Zach Sang Show, Minnette said,

"I somehow found success in [acting]. I was fortunate enough to be on 13 Reasons Why, and it was really popular and definitely reached a peak of my acting career. But it also started feeling like it was becoming just a job."

Thus, Dylan Minnette's life took a twist, and he learned that though he loved acting, it does not make him feel good now.

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2) Passion for music with Wallows

Music played an integral part in his choice of path. Being part of the Wallows band for many years influenced Dylan Minnette greatly, as did their aspirations as group members.

"I feel like Wallows and music is this passion that we have always had as a group to really take all the way and as far as we can," he stated.

He said going into music felt natural while encouraging him to fall into this passion.

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3) His commitment to music required full attention

When discussing Wallows' achievement, Dylan Minnette claimed he had to be dedicated to the band to be successful. He said during The Zach Sang Show,

"The only way that's gonna happen is if I put my 100 percent time and energy into it and take it very seriously and show the world that we all take this very seriously."

This level of commitment necessitated a temporary departure from acting, allowing him to focus solely on his music career.

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4) Renewed creative inspiration

Dylan Minnette's break has also given him new artistic inspiration. During the same show, he recounted feeling an outpouring of creative energy while exploring music.

"I do feel like I have something to give, and that's probably acting … I feel like I'm starting to feel inspiration for that again," he noted.

Although Dylan Minnette is committed to Wallows, this doesn't mean he has no chances to return to his former career as an actor.

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5) The actors' strike also impacted him

External factors also determined the actor's return to the stage. Although Dylan was ready for a comeback with his acting job, timing did not allow him because of the actors' strike.

This postponement enabled him to continue working on his music while keeping possibilities open for future acting engagements after the end of the strike, and their band duties permit them.

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Dylan's acting career has spanned an extensive period, even before he was a part of 13 Reasons Why. He has been a television regular for years since he appeared for the first time on Drake & Josh in 2005.

During this time, Minnette featured in some of the most popular series, such as Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and Scandal. He was also part of well-known movies like Goosebumps, Don't Breathe, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. However, his role as Clay Jensen brought him widespread recognition.