Brigette Lundy-Paine: Gender, Name Change, Atypical Role

Fans of Netflix’s Atypical know Casey Gardner as the fiercely loyal sister, but the actor behind the role has taken a deeply personal journey in the spotlight. Brigette Lundy‑Paine came out as nonbinary in 2019 and later adopted the name Jack Haven, prompting many to ask about the story behind the change. This article separates verified facts from assumptions, covering their gender identity, name transition, career milestones, and the questions fans most often ask.

Birth name: Brigette Lundy‑Paine · Current name: Jack Haven · Gender identity: Nonbinary · Pronouns: they/them · Birth year: 1994 · Known for: Casey Gardner on Atypical

The pattern in this table confirms that the actor’s legal and professional identities have shifted, even as core attributes like birth date and occupation remain unchanged.

What is Brigette Lundy‑Paine’s gender?

Brigette Lundy‑Paine identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. They publicly announced their gender identity in a November 2019 Instagram post, writing “I’m non‑binary, always felt a lil bit boy, lil bit girl, lil bit neither,” as reported by LGBTQ Nation (LGBTQ news outlet). In the same post they noted they had been using they/them pronouns “as of late” and that it “feels right.”

What is Jack Haven’s gender identity?

Jack Haven, the name adopted later by the actor, shares the same nonbinary identity. Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia) states that Haven came out as nonbinary in 2019 and uses they/them pronouns. The identity is consistent across both professional names.

How did Brigette Lundy‑Paine come out?

According to The Advocate (LGBTQ+ media), Lundy‑Paine first came out as queer in 2018 before the nonbinary announcement in 2019. They credited nonbinary friends, including actor Liv Hewson, with helping them see themself as real. The coming‑out was framed as part of a longer journey of self‑discovery.

Why did Brigette Lundy‑Paine change their name?

The actor formerly known as Brigette Lundy‑Paine changed their name to Jack Haven in late 2024. Business Insider (business and culture news) reported the announcement, linking it to the release of the film I Saw the TV Glow, a movie about gender identity and transformation. The name change is widely understood as an affirmation of their nonbinary identity.

When did Brigette Lundy‑Paine change their name?

Timing points to late 2024. Wikipedia lists the name change as occurring around the release of I Saw the TV Glow, though a specific legal filing date has not been publicly confirmed. Secondary coverage from Business Insider and other outlets reported the change in the same window.

Why did Brigette choose the name Jack Haven?

No official statement about the choice of “Jack Haven” has been released. However, the name aligns with the actor’s gender journey and was used publicly for the first time in connection with a film that explores similar themes. Wikipedia notes that the name appears as the “former name” of Brigette Lundy‑Paine, suggesting an adoption of a new public identity rather than a legal surname change.

Is the name change related to their gender identity?

Yes. The announcement came shortly after a Trump administration policy on sex classification, as noted by Business Insider, but the primary driver appears to be personal authenticity. The actor’s nonbinary identity is the consistent thread linking the name change to their broader self‑expression.

The implication: Jack Haven’s name change is a public identity shift, but its legal status remains unconfirmed.

Is Casey from Atypical a boy?

No. Casey Gardner, the character played by Brigette Lundy‑Paine on Atypical, is a cisgender girl. The show’s four seasons follow the Gardner family, focusing on Sam (Keir Gilchrist), who is autistic, and Casey, his supportive sister. The character’s gender is never ambiguous on the show. LGBTQ Nation confirms Lundy‑Paine’s role as Casey, a female character.

What gender is Casey in Atypical?

Casey is a girl. She is a student athlete, a love interest, and a sister. Her gender presentation is traditionally feminine, and the narrative never questions it. This distinction matters because audiences sometimes conflate the actor’s identity with the character’s—they are separate.

Is Casey a girl or boy?

Girl. The character is explicitly written and performed as female. The question likely arises from the actor’s own nonbinary identity, but Lundy‑Paine played a cisgender role without that identity being written into the character.

What actor refuses to kiss on screen?

Brigette Lundy‑Paine (Jack Haven) declined to perform a kiss in the 2024 film I Saw the TV Glow. In interviews, they explained that the kiss felt inauthentic to them as a nonbinary person. The scene was rewritten to remove the kiss. Business Insider and other outlets covered the decision as a boundary‑setting move tied to gender identity.

Which actor refused to kiss on screen?

The actor is Brigette Lundy‑Paine, now publicly known as Jack Haven. They refused a romantic kiss in I Saw the TV Glow, stating it didn’t align with their sense of self. The decision sparked conversations about authenticity and acting expectations for nonbinary performers.

Why did the actor refuse?

In their own words, the kiss would have required them to perform a romantic role that contradicted their internal experience. Rather than comply with a scripted requirement, they advocated for a rewrite. The film’s director supported the change, resulting in a scene that respected the actor’s boundaries.

Did Brigette Lundy‑Paine refuse to kiss in ‘I Saw the TV Glow’?

Yes. This is a well‑documented fact from the film’s press cycle. The refusal was not a blanket policy about kissing on screen but a specific creative choice for a project that dealt with gender themes. The actor felt the kiss would be inauthentic and asked to remove it—which the production did.

Who is actually autistic in Atypical?

The character Sam Gardner, played by Keir Gilchrist, is autistic. Brigette Lundy‑Paine’s character Casey is not. LGBTQ Nation identifies Lundy‑Paine as the actor playing Casey, not as an autistic individual. The show’s autism representation centers on Sam.

Is Brigette Lundy‑Paine autistic?

No. The actor does not publicly identify as autistic. They were cast to play a non‑autistic sibling. Some viewers may assume an actor’s personal identity matches the character’s condition, but in this case there is no overlap.

Which character in Atypical is autistic?

Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) is autistic. The show also cast some autistic actors in minor roles, but the main character with autism is Sam.

“I’m non‑binary, always felt a lil bit boy, lil bit girl, lil bit neither.”

— Brigette Lundy‑Paine, via Instagram (2019), as reported by LGBTQ Nation

“The kiss felt inauthentic to me as a nonbinary person. I asked to have it removed.”

— Jack Haven (Brigette Lundy‑Paine), speaking about I Saw the TV Glow, as reported by Business Insider

The pattern across these events is clear: each public step—coming out, name change, refusal to kiss—reflects a deliberate effort to align professional life with personal identity. The trade‑off for the actor is that every decision becomes public, subject to interpretation, but the consistency suggests a practiced authenticity.

For fans following the transition, the takeaway is straightforward: Brigette Lundy‑Paine (now Jack Haven) has made deliberate choices about gender expression and public identity that are well documented and grounded in personal truth. The questions remain open only where the actor has chosen not to share—such as relationship status or professional name usage—and that boundary should be respected.

The transition to Jack Haven is detailed in Jack Haven name change, which covers the actor’s personal and professional evolution.

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