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Entertainment • Actress

Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly is an American actress and model best known for playing Lyla Garrity on the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Minka Kelly is an American actress and model best known for playing Lyla Garrity on the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights. She has also appeared in films including The Kingdom, 500 Days of Summer, The Roommate, and The Butler, and in television series such as Parenthood, Charlie's Angels, Titans, and Euphoria.

Early life

Minka Kelly was born Minka Dumont Dufay in Los Angeles, California, and is the daughter of former Aerosmith guitarist Rick Dufay and Maureen Kelly. Sources describe her as having been raised partly in New Mexico before later moving into acting.

Acting career

Kelly gained wide recognition for Friday Night Lights and later worked in both television and film. Her screen credits include The Kingdom, 500 Days of Summer, The Roommate, The Butler, Titans, and Euphoria.

Writing

In 2023, Kelly published Tell Me Everything: A Memoir, expanding her career beyond acting.

Public profile

Kelly has remained a recognizable entertainment figure through recurring roles, film appearances, and media coverage of her personal life and memoir.

Key facts

  • Born in Los Angeles on June 24, 1980.
  • Best known for her role as Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights.
  • Has appeared in films including The Kingdom, 500 Days of Summer, The Roommate, and The Butler.
  • Has also had television roles in Parenthood, Charlie's Angels, Almost Human, Titans, and Euphoria.
  • Has written a memoir, Tell Me Everything: A Memoir (2023).
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Canadian context

Kelly's work has been widely distributed in Canada through television and streaming platforms, including Friday Night Lights, Titans, and Euphoria.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Minka Kelly?
Minka Kelly is an American actress and model known for Friday Night Lights and for roles in films and television series including The Roommate, Titans, and Euphoria.
How old is Minka Kelly?
She was born on June 24, 1980, which makes her 46 years old as of 2026.
What is Minka Kelly's net worth?
Reliable public sources in the provided results do not verify a net worth figure, so this is not stated here.
Who has Minka Kelly dated?
Public entertainment coverage has linked her romantically to Donald Faison, Chris Evans, John Mayer, and Derek Jeter.
What movies is Minka Kelly in?
Notable films include The Kingdom, 500 Days of Summer, The Roommate, The Butler, and Champagne Problems.
What is Minka Kelly's height?
Public biography sources list her height as 5 feet 5 inches, or 1.65 metres.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka_Kelly
    Supports: Recent film credit in Champagne Problems (2025).
  2. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka_Kelly
    Supports: Birth name, nationality, occupation, notable films and series, and filmography details.
  3. Wikipedia (Portuguese) — https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka_Kelly
    Supports: Full birth name, birth date, birthplace, occupation, Friday Night Lights, Titans, and memoir.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1310368/bio/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, birth name, and height.
  5. Tribute.ca — https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/minka-kelly/32643/
    Supports: Biography, career overview, and romantic links reported in entertainment coverage.
  6. Bookreporter — https://www.bookreporter.com/authors/minka-kelly
    Supports: Television credits and residence context.
  7. People — https://people.com/tag/minka-kelly/
    Supports: General career summary and notable screen roles.
  8. Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Everything-Minka-Kelly/dp/1250852064
    Supports: Memoir publication and descriptive synopsis.