Iowa City 9-year-old to appear in latest season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’

A 9-year-old boy from Iowa City is set to appear in the latest season of “Only Murders in the Building,” the comedic true crime series starring Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin.

Matthew Lamb will appear in the second episode of season 2 of the show, which premieres on June 28 on Hulu. Lamb plays a young Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) in a flashback.

Although Lamb has been acting for most of his young life, he said his role in “Only Murders in the Building” is his favorite part he’s played so far.

“It was so fun. Since we were filming right on the streets of New York, there were these big trailers lined up on the streets of New York and I would get to go in there and get my costume on … There was a big, black van that would take you from one place to another,” he said. “Since we were filming on the streets, there would be people walking by so it would be hard because if they were to catch someone in normal clothes, since it’s a flashback, they would have to cut and redo.”

This was Lamb’s first live-action television role, but he previously has played parts in two films that currently are in post production, and he has done voice acting for animated shows on Netflix and Disney Jr.

Lamb’s first film role was as Jackson in the movie “Smile,” written and directed by Parker Finn, which is scheduled to hit theaters on Sept. 30. He also has a role in Manodrome, written and directed by John Trengrove, which does not yet have a release date.

The 9-year-old got his start in acting when he was very young.

“I did my first show when I was two months old, and I was baby Jesus, and I slept the entire time,” he said.

He did multiple plays with his family at the Iowa City Community Theatre, and in 2020 he participated virtually in a summer acting program put on by Broadway Artists Alliance. At the end of the program, the participants performed in front of a group of talent scouts and agents, which is how Lamb connected with Bercy Talent Management, Carson-Kolker Organization and Stewart Talent, who now represent him professionally.

Recently, Lamb has spent very little time in Iowa City, as he often is traveling to perform in various productions. Currently he is in Kansas City working on two stage productions with the Music Theatre Kansas City theater company. Lamb’s mom, Meredith Lamb, travels with him for his work and supports him with his home schooling, while his dad, Greg Lamb, stays in Iowa City to work.

“We’ve had to learn a lot as a family about the whole process,” Greg Lamb said. “We’ve made a fun commitment as a family and we’ve had to make some sacrifices and live in a couple different places at the same time, but we’re making it work. We’re having a lot of fun.”

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