Grant Holmquist made his first film appearance before he could understand the jokes. Now, years after playing baby Carlos in The Hangover, he is reportedly beginning a very different chapter: university life.

Recent entertainment reports describe Holmquist as 18 and attending the University of California, Los Angeles. For viewers who remember him alongside Zach Galifianakis in the 2009 comedy, the update puts the film’s age into perspective.

The role was a shared effort.

Although Holmquist became closely associated with the character, eight babies portrayed Carlos, whose name in the film is Tyler. Among them was Grant’s twin sister, Avery.

Grant later returned for The Hangover Part III, released in 2013, giving him another opportunity to appear in the franchise—this time as a young child rather than an infant.

His mother, Carrie Holmquist, has shared memories of the family’s unusual introduction to filmmaking. In a 2019 interview with TooFab, she recalled that their first scene involved the characters sitting beside the pool at Caesars Palace. Focused on her baby’s comfort and safety, she said she had not fully registered the adult humor being filmed and wished the content had been discussed with her beforehand.

A childhood appearance with a lasting benefit

The films also contributed to Grant’s future beyond acting. Speaking in 2019, Carrie said he received quarterly residual payments from the third installment, helping build his college fund despite working on that production for only two days. Those comments describe his earnings at the time, not what he receives today.

Carrie also said then that the twins had watched their own scenes but had not seen the complete movie. That was a childhood viewing decision—not evidence that Grant still hasn’t watched it as an adult.

For audiences, Carlos remains the baby carried through one of cinema’s most chaotic Las Vegas adventures. For Grant, that early appearance is now part of a childhood story that began long before university.

Grant's clearly a young man of many talents (Instagram/GrantHolmquist)