Mason Dye: From Small-Town Star to Hollywood Heartthrob — His Journey, Career, and Secret Love Life Revealed!

Mason Dye is an American actor recognized for his roles in popular television series and films. He is best known for portraying Garrett in Teen Wolf, Jason Carver in Stranger Things, and Tom Galligan in Bosch. Dye has also appeared in several notable television films such as Flowers in the Attic and My Stepdaughter.

In addition to his acting career, Dye received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Movie at the Young Artist Awards for his role in Flowers in the Attic. His role in Stranger Things earned him attention for his portrayal of a complex character, further establishing him in the industry.

Before captivating audiences with his on-screen talent, Mason Dye spent his early years growing up in Oklahoma. Born and raised in a close-knit community, Mason developed a strong bond with his family and pursued sports like baseball during his time at Silo High School. It wasn’t until an unexpected injury during his sophomore year that Mason found himself at a crossroads, ultimately choosing to pursue his passion for acting.

Mason Dye’s personal life has often sparked curiosity, with fans eager to learn more about the man behind the on-screen roles. While Mason keeps much of his private life under wraps, whispers of romantic entanglements have kept followers guessing. Over the years, he’s been linked to Carmen Joiner, adding intrigue to his off-screen story.

Stay tuned as we delve deeper into Mason Dye’s childhood, career journey, and intriguing love life, uncovering the relationships that have shaped his path and the surprising details that might just change everything you thought you knew about the rising star.

Early Life and Background

Mason Dye was born on July 15, 1994, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, alongside his older brother Preston and younger sister Taylor Dye, who is known for being one half of the country music duo Maddie & Tae.

Raised in a close-knit family, Dye has often spoken fondly about his upbringing and the traditions that shaped his early years. One of his most cherished memories involves his mother’s Valentine’s Day traditions. During his childhood, Mason’s mother would prepare heart-shaped cakes and homemade chocolates to mark the occasion. “It was like the best chocolate in the world,” he fondly recalled in a 2014 Noah Chat Live interview, explaining how the chocolate, if cooked longer, would turn into fudge.

Mason also shared a memorable incident from his childhood involving his peanut allergy. During an allergic reaction, Mason, still a young boy, mistakenly exclaimed, “I hate breathe!” as his tongue tingled from the discomfort — a moment he later laughed about when recalling the seriousness of the event. Interestingly, Mason is not allergic to pecans, despite his family owning “like 35 pecan trees,” a detail that added a touch of irony to his allergy experience.

During his school years, Mason had his first kiss in 8th grade at the age of 14. While not a defining memory, Mason recalled it with lightheartedness when reflecting on his early teen experiences, adding with a chuckle,

“That was the first time I ever kissed a girl… I was 14.”

Growing up, Mason’s mother often bought him Valentine’s Day gifts, a gesture that became a cherished family tradition. While Mason didn’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way at the age of 19, during a 2014 interview he mentioned that visiting his sister or parents around the occasion continued to hold meaning for him. He remarked,

“I honestly don’t do anything special for Valentine’s Day… maybe I’ll visit my sister or parents this year.”

From an early age, Dye developed a passion for performing arts. He actively participated in local theater productions and musicals, reflecting an inherent interest in performance and storytelling. Reflecting on those early experiences, Mason explained,

“I had always been in plays whenever I was a kid—like third, fourth, fifth grade. I was in plays, musicals; I used to sing. I used to be good; now I’m god-awful.”

Education and Early Interests

Mason Dye’s path to acting began with a pivotal moment during his high school years. While attending Silo High School in Oklahoma, Mason played baseball for the Silo Rebels and had ambitions of continuing the sport in college. However, those plans were unexpectedly derailed during his sophomore year when he suffered an injury.

“My sophomore year of high school, I was playing baseball, and I got hurt,” he later recalled.

Facing uncertainty about his future, Mason found himself at a crossroads.

Reflecting on his thought process at the time, he explained, “That’s how I kind of planned on going to college and stuff, so I was like, ‘Well, I got to do something else now.'”

Rather than giving in to disappointment, Mason chose to pursue a passion he’d long held but never fully explored.

“And I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll try acting,’ because I’d always loved it—I just never had gone for it and actually tried to do it.” This pivotal decision marked the beginning of his journey toward professional acting.

At the age of 17, he began taking acting classes in Texas, where he dedicated himself to learning the craft. Determined to pursue a professional career, Mason secured representation with the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas, a significant milestone that allowed him to access better opportunities in the industry. This early move set the stage for his growing success.

Early Career (2013)

Mason’s first professional acting role was in a Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial. Although brief, this role introduced him to the on-camera experience and prepared him for larger opportunities. Soon after, Mason landed a role in the film Pictures of Daily Adventures, a lighthearted project featuring talking dogs. While the film wasn’t a major Hollywood release, Mason described it as a fun experience that played a meaningful role in his early career.

As Mason’s experience grew, he transitioned to larger markets, eventually securing representation with both a Los Angeles agent and a manager. This move allowed him to expand his career in television and film, where he continued to build his reputation.

In 2013, Dye relocated to Los Angeles, marking the beginning of his professional acting career.

Breakthrough Role: Flowers in the Attic (2014)

Mason Dye achieved his breakthrough role with his portrayal of Christopher Dollanganger in the Lifetime television film Flowers in the Attic, which premiered on January 18, 2014. Reflecting on his audition, Dye admitted that he initially doubted his performance but was surprised to receive a callback. After a successful audition alongside Kiernan Shipka, Dye secured the role and traveled to Canada to begin filming just three days later.

To prepare for the role, Dye researched the original novel by V.C. Andrews and watched the 1987 film adaptation to better understand the character and story.

To build the sibling bond depicted in the film, Dye and his younger castmates — Kiernan Shipka, Max Kovach, and Ava Telek — participated in organized playdates before filming began. The group engaged in activities like Marco Polo and limbo. Reflecting on these moments, Dye recalled how the younger cast members quickly became comfortable with him and Kiernan Shipka.

“Within the first 10 minutes of the first play date that we had, they loved Kiernan and I,” he shared. “Every time we were on set, they would just sit on our laps.”

Filming took place over two months in Vancouver, Canada, where Dye built strong relationships with his co-stars, including Kiernan Shipka, Heather Graham, and Ellen Burstyn. During his stay, Dye explored the city by biking and tried sushi for the first time.

Following the film’s success, Dye experienced a rapid increase in his public profile and social media following. 

Stranger Things Career (2022)

Mason Dye joined the cast of Stranger Things in Season 4, portraying Jason Carver, the captain of the Hawkins High School basketball team and Chrissy Cunningham’s boyfriend. His character plays a significant role in the season’s “Satanic Panic” subplot, where he becomes an antagonist following Chrissy’s death. Driven by grief and anger, Jason leads a witch-hunt against Eddie Munson, believing him to be responsible and the leader of a Satanic cult.

Season 4 of Stranger Things premiered in two volumes on Netflix, with the first set of seven episodes released on May 27, 2022, and the second set of two episodes following on July 1, 2022.

Jason appears in a total of eight episodes, from Episode 1: “The Hellfire Club” to Episode 7: “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab,” returning in Episode 9: “The Piggyback.” His storyline concludes in the final episode, where during a confrontation with Lucas Sinclair at the Creel House, a massive fissure opens as a gate to the Upside Down tears through Hawkins. Jason is caught in the rift and is gruesomely killed when his body is bisected by the opening gate.

Audition and Casting

Mason auditioned specifically for Jason Carver’s role, undergoing a process lasting about three to three and a half months. At the Monopoly Events For The Love Of Sci-Fi Q&A in December 2022, he shared that initially, the audition was labeled as an “Untitled 80s Netflix show,” making him suspect it was Stranger Things. He humorously noted,

“I didn’t think there was any chance that I would be able to be on it… and when I got it, I was freaking out.”

Mason received confirmation of his casting roughly four months after auditioning, recalling his initial excitement quickly turned into anxiety.

Preparing for Jason Carver

Interestingly, Mason revealed during the MTL Comic-Con 2022 Q&A that he didn’t initially know about the real-life “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s. He learned about this from the Duffer Brothers, who shaped his understanding and approach to Jason. For character inspiration, Mason was guided by the Duffers and Shawn Levy to emulate Tom Cruise’s 1980s roles and intense preacher videos. He described Jason humorously as “Tom Cruise if he went to church six times a week.”

Overcoming Anxiety

After being cast, Mason felt considerable anxiety about joining such a popular show. In his June 25, 2022, exclusive interview with Showbiz CheatSheet, Mason openly shared,

“I don’t even like raise my voice in real life… so it’s definitely the hardest type of character to play for me.”

The cast’s welcoming atmosphere greatly helped him overcome initial nerves and feel more comfortable on set.

Friendships and Bonds

Mason quickly bonded with co-stars Grace Van Dien (Chrissy Cunningham) and Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson). At MTL Comic-Con 2022, he fondly recalled their off-screen moments:

“We would just go out and eat, Joe would make us dinner… we would just like hang out all the time.”

At the Bahrain Comic-Con 2022 Q&A, Mason expressed his affection for Grace:

“Grace is the best person ever… I love her so much, she’s incredible.” Additionally, Mason formed a strong friendship with Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), describing Caleb as “like a brother” during his Showbiz CheatSheet interview.

Memorable Filming Experiences

One of Mason’s most memorable experiences was filming the intense town hall speech, featured in Episode 6, “The Dive.” Mason admitted during MTL Comic-Con 2022,

“I think the biggest challenge for me was probably the speeches in front of large groups… it’s just like terrifying.”

Despite initial nerves, he described the experience as exhilarating, highlighting Officer Callahan’s humorous reaction to his passionate delivery.

On-Screen Rivalries and Humorous Moments

Despite intense rivalries on-screen, Mason revealed at Monopoly Events For The Love Of Sci-Fi that filming confrontational scenes was sometimes humorous. He recalled repeatedly breaking character during the cafeteria confrontation scene with Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) because he found Quinn’s performance hilarious. Similarly, Mason humorously shared during the same event that filming the finale’s attic fight scene with Caleb McLaughlin was one of the funniest days, often causing laughter during intense takes.

Reflections on Character

Throughout various interviews, Mason consistently reflected on Jason Carver’s complexity. At Bahrain Comic-Con 2022, he humorously acknowledged, “I hate to say it guys, but I do not like Jason,” yet praised the Duffers for creating relatable antagonists. He believed Jason had potential for redemption, noting at MTL Comic-Con 2022,

“If he had the right information… eventually he could have fought for good.”

Jason’s Fate and Fan Interactions

Discussing Jason’s dramatic demise, Mason joked at Bahrain Comic-Con 2022, “I know I’m not in Season 5 because if my bottom… if I have two parts — my legs are walking and my arms are walking — I don’t know how there’s a way I can come back.” Regarding fan interactions, Mason humorously recalled at Monopoly Events For The Love Of Sci-Fi, “People would stop me and be like, ‘Wait, you’re that… jerk.’ No one ever knows my name either.”

Additional Trivia

• Mason underwent extensive basketball training for the role, despite not playing basketball since third grade. He humorously admitted during auditions he falsely claimed to have played basketball in high school to secure the part.
• Fans often noticed Mason’s Tom Cruise-inspired portrayal without realizing the intentional reference.
• Mason’s favorite episodes from season four were Episode 4: “Dear Billy” and Episode 7: “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab,” praised for their intensity and storytelling.
• During Bahrain Comic-Con 2022, Mason jokingly stated that if Jason had a “hypnosis escape song,” it would probably be a Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber track, expressing he’s a “huge Justin Bieber fan.”
• Mason’s all-time favorite TV show is Breaking Bad, and at the Bahrain Comic-Con 2022, he mentioned currently enjoying House of the Dragon.
• Mason expressed interest in playing a villainous role like Vecna due to the complexity and depth of the character’s motivations.

Mason Dye’s Career Beyond Stranger Things

After portraying Jason Carver in the fourth season of Stranger Things in 2022, Mason Dye continued to expand his acting career with notable roles in television.

Casting in The Boys

On October 16, 2024, Dye was cast as Bombsight in the fifth and final season of Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys. Bombsight, previously mentioned as an active supe in the 1950s within the show’s universe, is expected to be a significant character. Filming for Season 5 began on November 25, 2024, with a release anticipated in 2026.

Anticipated Role in Vought Rising

Following his appearance in The Boys, Dye is expected to become a series regular in the upcoming prequel Vought Rising, which explores the origins of Vought International in the 1950s. This prequel series will delve into the early exploits of Soldier Boy and the maneuvers of a supe known as Stormfront, with Dye’s character Bombsight playing a recurring role. As of March 2025, a premiere date for Vought Rising has not yet been set.

Mason Dye’s Filmography

Year	Project	Role	Type
2013	Adventures of Bailey: A Night in Cowtown	Marc	Film
2013	Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader 2: The Fierce One	Brandon	Web Series
2014	Flowers in the Attic	Christopher Dollanganger	TV Movie
2014	Teen Wolf	Garrett	TV Series (Season 4)
2014	Review	Guest Role	TV Series
2014-2015	Finding Carter	Damon	TV Series
2015	My Stepdaughter	Victor	TV Movie
2016	Natural Selection	Tyler Evans	Film
2016	Vanished – Left Behind: Next Generation	Josh Jackson	Film
2017	Stalker’s Prey	Bruce Kane	TV Movie
2017	Truth or Dare	Tyler Pemhardt	Film (Syfy)
2022	Stranger Things	Jason Carver	TV Series (Season 4)
2024 (Cast)	The Boys (Season 5)	Bombsight	TV Series
TBD	Vought Rising	Bombsight (Recurring Role)	TV Series (Prequel)

Personal Life

Mason Dye and Carmen Joiner: A Love Story of Romance, Commitment, and Shared Adventures

Mason Dye has shared a journey of love, laughter, and heartfelt moments with his now-fiancée, Carmen Joiner. Their relationship has blossomed into a touching love story marked by memorable milestones and deep commitment. While the couple is engaged, they are yet to get married and do not have children.

Early Adventures and Growing Romance

Their romance first became public on July 5, 2021, when Carmen shared a photo from a lakeside getaway, calling it “the best lake weekend yet.” Just days later, on July 18, 2021, the couple visited Universal Studios Florida, where they explored The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Carmen shared their magical adventure with the caption: “Drinking our way through Harry Potter world one butter beer at a time.” This fun-filled outing showcased their shared love for travel and creating lasting memories.

In August 2021, they were seen together at The James Room, where Carmen shared a warm post captioned: “Cheers to lots of smiles & espresso martinis.” Their intimate yet lively evening captured their connection and joy in simple moments.

The couple’s love for music brought them to Music Midtown at Piedmont Park in Atlanta in September 2021. Carmen shared a photo of the pair enjoying the festival.

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A post shared by Mason Dye (@masondye)

Carmen has been Mason’s strongest supporter throughout his acting career. On May 16, 2022, as excitement built around Stranger Things Season 4, Carmen expressed her pride in Mason’s hard work, writing:

“Proud is an understatement. Mason, you are incredible & your hard work is inspiring. Thank you for letting me be your plus one to the party of a lifetime! Can’t wait for everyone to meet Jason on May 27th.”

When the season premiered, Carmen followed with another tribute:

“Might be a little biased but Stranger Things Season 4 is my fav season yet. So proud of you @masondye!!!”

On July 6, 2022, Carmen gave a glimpse into their playful side, sharing moments from a night out with Mason captioned: “Love in the club.” The photos captured their infectious energy and love for carefree moments together.

In another memorable adventure, the couple spent December 30, 2022, in Paris, France. The romantic escape reflected their shared love for travel, adding a magical chapter to their relationship.

A Romantic Proposal by the Lake

On February 15, 2025, Carmen announced their engagement on Instagram. While the exact date of the proposal remains unclear, the timing — just one day after Valentine’s Day — suggests it may have been a romantic gesture close to the holiday. The post featured a lakeside proposal where Mason knelt with a diamond ring in hand as Carmen, visibly overwhelmed, stood with her hand over her mouth. The serene lake and wooded backdrop created a picturesque setting for the unforgettable moment. In her caption, Carmen wrote: “Here’s to forever.” Another photo captured the couple’s embrace, with Carmen proudly showing off her engagement ring.

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A post shared by Carmen Joiner (@carmcat2)

Carmen’s love extends beyond Mason to her cherished cat, Willow, whom she affectionately calls her child. Their relationship reflects a blend of adventure, heartfelt moments, and strong support — from celebrating Mason’s acting achievements to enjoying life’s special milestones together.

With their engagement marking a new chapter, Mason and Carmen’s story continues to captivate those who have followed their journey — a tale of love, dedication, and countless cherished memories.

Interests

Mason Dye has often spoken about his love for sweets, with Twix, Reese’s Pieces, and extreme sour candy ranking among his favorites. Reflecting on his candy habits, Mason humorously remembered his mother’s playful warning: “You’re gonna get diabetes from eating all those things!”

In a light-hearted trivia quiz during a 2014 Valentine’s Day special, Mason displayed his playful side. While he correctly answered that 85% of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women, he mistakenly guessed that children receive the most cards — later learning that teachers are the primary recipients. Despite losing the trivia contest, Mason maintained his upbeat attitude, graciously accepting a consolation prize with good humor.

Dye enjoys a variety of leisure activities, including bowling, movie-going, beach visits, and dining with friends. He maintains close friendships and lives with three roommates in Los Angeles, underscoring the importance of personal relationships and a balanced social life.

Personal Values and Philosophy

Dye credits his humility and grounded perspective to his upbringing in Oklahoma. “I grew up in the South like you guys—I grew up in Oklahoma,” he said in 2014 interview. “You just always got to remember where you came from.”

References:

https://youtu.be/-qMWyQlAz1Q https://youtu.be/2mn7vivtSDM https://collider.com/mason-dye-flowers-in-the-attic-interview/ https://youtu.be/D6-GjNGmVWY https://youtu.be/vhxL9WEZlBw https://youtu.be/UuH62Ij2Weo https://youtu.be/Mm9i9qLqnag https://ew.com/mason-dye-cast-the-boys-final-season-prequel-vought-rising-8728008 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5323995/