Hilton Pelser

EARLY LIFE

Hilton Pelser was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He attended Bishops Diocesan College. He developed an early interest in acting through his older sister, who worked as a professor of drama at AFDA (the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance). He has described himself as largely self-taught in filmmaking.

CAREER

Pelser made his notable screen debut as Barry in the Netflix teen film The Kissing Booth (2018), which was filmed in Cape Town. He reprised the role in the sequels The Kissing Booth 2 (2020) and The Kissing Booth 3 (2021). He gained critical attention for his performance as the intense Sergeant Brand in Oliver Hermanus’s Moffie (2019), which premiered at the 76th Venice Film Festival and earned BAFTA recognition. The film, based on André Carl van der Merwe’s semi-autobiographical novel, explores compulsory military service during apartheid-era South Africa. Other film credits include Glasshouse (2021, as The Stranger; SAFTA-nominated), the upcoming A Prayer for the Dying (2026, as Chase), and The Smell of Apples (2026, as Johan; also associate producer). On television he appeared in the TV movies Home Affairs: A Christmas Tale (2020, as Justin) and Home Affairs: A Love Story (2021, as Pieter Williams). He joined the main cast of the Starz series Dangerous Liaisons (2022) as Gabriel Carrè and starred as detective Benny Griessel in the M-Net/British-South African crime thriller Devil’s Peak (2023), adapted from Deon Meyer’s novel. As a filmmaker he has written, directed, and produced short films and documentaries, including Dear France (2016), Mountains In The Sky (2018), China Is Not A Town (2019), Benjamin (2020), All We Have Is The Wall (2020), and The Tree (2025).

PERSONAL LIFE

Pelser is based in Cape Town and maintains involvement in the local independent film scene alongside his acting career.

Hilton Pelser is recognized for his range, moving from light teen comedy (The Kissing Booth trilogy) to intense dramatic and antagonistic roles (Moffie, Devil’s Peak). His work in Moffie brought international notice, and he continues to balance acting with independent filmmaking from his Cape Town base. He remains active in both South African and international productions.