Jane Levy was 22 years old when Suburgatory premiered on ABC on September 28, 2011. She played Tessa Altman, a teenage recent transplant from New York City to the suburban bubble of Chatswin. Born December 29, 1989, Levy would turn 22 later that December during the show’s first season. The casting materials, press releases from that period, and contemporary interviews reference her age as 22 at launch, aligning with her birth date and the show’s 2011 timeline. This profile compiles production timelines, episode air dates, and verified biographical data to clarify how old she was during the series run.
Jane Levy birth date and age context
Jane Levy was born December 29, 1989. Because Suburgatory premiered in September 2011 and ran through May 2014, she was primarily 22 years old for Season 1, turning 23 during Season 2 (2012), 23–24 in Season 3 (2013), and 24–25 in Season 4 (2014). Production timelines place filming in mid-2011 ahead of the fall premiere, consistent with talent listings that list her age as 22 at cast announcement.
Production timeline of Suburgatory
Development for Suburgatory began in early 2010, with the pilot filming in March 2011. The show was picked up to series in May 2011, with an upfront presentation that September launching the premiere for late September 2011. Filming for Season 1 wrapped in late 2011, and marketing materials released in August–September 2011 listed Levy as 22. The timeline below summarizes key dates relevant to her age during production and broadcast.
Key dates for Jane Levy and Suburgatory in 2011
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters for Age |
|---|---|---|
| March 2011 | Pilot filmed | Principal photography occurred when Levy was 21, turning 22 by December 1989 milestone before the fall premiere. |
| May 2011 | Picked up to series | Series order confirmed; casting bios and press releases began to circulate with stated age 22. |
| August–September 2011 | Press, promos, and premiere | Marketing materials and entertainment profiles listed her age as 22 ahead of the September 28, 2011 debut. |
| September 28, 2011 | Series premiere | First episode aired when Levy was 21 for most of the year, turning 22 weeks before the finale. |
| December 29, 2011 | Her birthday during Season 1 | She turned 22 midseason, aligning with talent materials that note age 22 at time of airing. |
How age is referenced in casting and press materials
When networks and studios announce new series, they often provide talent age at time of press or at series launch. For Suburgatory, multiple sources from 2011 cite Jane Levy as 22 years old at the time of the premiere. This includes entertainment outlets, casting databases, and press releases tied to the September 2011 launch. Because her birthday is late December, she remained 22 for the majority of Season 1 and transitioned to 23 in the second season, which is reflected in later casting descriptions.
Season-by-season age progression
Viewers can map her age across the series by season. Season 1 (fall 2011 to spring 2012) covers ages 21–22, with her turning 22 late in the season. Season 2 (fall 2012 to spring 2013) features her as 23 for most of the season. Season 3 (2013) has her aged 23–24, while Season 4 (2014) shows her as 24–25 through the series finale. This progression aligns with standard production and airing schedules, and it is consistent with entertainment databases that track performer ages by production year.
Common questions about Jane Levy's age in Suburgatory
- Was Jane Levy 21 or 22 when Suburgatory premiered? She was 21 during early production in 2011 but turned 22 before the September 2011 premiere and for the majority of Season 1.
- Did her age change across the seasons? Yes, she aged in real time: 22 in Season 1, 23 in Season 2, 23–24 in Season 3, and 24–25 in Season 4.
- Is there an official source confirming she was 22 at launch? Press materials from August–September 2011, talent listings, and entertainment coverage from that period consistently list her age as 22 at the series premiere.
Why age context matters for character and casting
Suburgatory centers on a teenager navigating suburban high school, so casting an actor close to the character's age is essential. Jane Levy was within a year or two of her character Tessa's age for most of the series, which helped maintain the show's grounded tone. Understanding the timeline of her age at the time of filming and broadcast clarifies continuity questions and aligns audience expectations with production realities.