Stick is the latest Apple TV+ comedy destined to become the talk of the town, featuring Owen Wilson, Marc Maron, and Judy Greer in a dynamic ensemble centered around a round of golf. However, it’s the rising star, Peter Dager, who truly shines as the standout performer of the show.

In this series, former professional golfer Pryce Cahill, played by Wilson, unexpectedly encounters Santiago “Santi” Wheeler, portrayed by Dager, a sharp-witted teenager with a remarkable talent for golf. Sensing untapped potential that he’s been seeking, Pryce offers to mentor Santi, though the teenager shows little interest in the opportunity.

Despite this, a little persuasion and the enticing offer to pay Santi’s mother (played by Mariana Treviño) $100,000 to guide her son to the big leagues — yes, Pryce actually pays her to encourage Santi to embrace the sport — the group embarks on a journey, participating in various invitationals and competitions. Along their travels, they are joined by new acquaintances: Zero, an outspoken server portrayed by Lilli Kay who becomes Santi’s caddy, and Mitts, played by Marc Maron, Pryce’s previous caddy whose RV becomes their mode of travel.

While the entire cast works together to make the show a surprisingly fun and heartfelt series that everyone should be watching, we can’t help but feel like Dager is the standout and may just be — like the character he plays in Stick — the next big thing in his chosen profession.

So where did this kid come from? And has the world seen him in anything before? Here’s everything you need to know about Peter Dager, who is bound to steal your heart in Stick.

Who Is Peter Dager? Meet Santiago “Santi” Wheeler in Stick

While Dager is relatively unknown in Hollywood, Stick certainly isn’t his first project. At just 22, the young actor has appeared in a handful of TV shows and movies, including one of the Insidious films alongside Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson. The 2023 sequel, The Red Door, features Dager as “Nick the Dick,” a friend of Chris (Sinclair Daniel) and Dalton (Ty Simpkins). In the scary movie, Dager’s character even tries to revive Chris after her character is attacked by the demon that haunts the franchise.

Prior to that, Dager, a Miami native, appeared in 13 episodes of Univisión’s Demente Criminal, playing Miguelito Morand, according to IMDB. Dager also worked on Nickelodeon’s Wits Academy, playing Harris, a young wizard in training. The show also starred Outer Banks‘ Julia Antonelli and recent Pulse star Daniela Nieves.

In 2022, the young actor also appeared on the screen with Jordana Brewster, Reid Scott, and Adam Pally in Who Invited Charlie?, a comedy about an NYC family “hiding out in the Hamptons” during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that movie, Dager played Max, the anxiety-ridden son of Brewster and Scott’s characters. The role was larger than his previous projects and may have been the job that helped him land Insidious: The Red Door.

That leads us to today, where Dager is leading the cast alongside Wilson. In the show, the 22-year-old has the wonderful burden of playing someone with a gift for golf, possibly even the next Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. The role may have been worth the wait, but it was anything but easy to obtain. According to an interview Dager did with The Boston Herald, he went through six auditions and two trips from New York to Los Angeles before he booked the gig.

It all paid off in the end, however, as the show, as well as his performance, are now receiving rave reviews. In fact, we’re calling it a summer must-watch! Dreams really do come true with hard work and persistence.

The first two episodes of Stick are currently streaming on Apple TV+.