Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive malignant primary brain tumor, marked by rapid growth, extensive invasiveness, and a median survival of only ∼15 months despite current multimodal therapy. To identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities, we investigated the actin-regulatory protein
AVIL
, previously implicated through a
MARS-AVIL
gene fusion in rhabdomyosarcoma. Comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analyses across REMBRANDT, TCGA, and CGGA datasets revealed recurrent
AVIL
amplification and consistently elevated AVIL expression in GBM compared with normal brain tissue.
AVIL
was overexpressed across all GBM molecular subtypes and glioma stem cell (GSC) states but was nearly undetectable in normal astrocytes, neural stem cells, and brain tissues. Functional studies demonstrated that
AVIL
is both necessary and sufficient for glioma genesis:
AVIL
silencing eradicated GBM cells
in vitro
and suppressed xenograft growth
in vivo
, while
AVIL
overexpression enhanced proliferation, migration, and transformation. Mechanistically,
AVIL
drives tumor progression through actin cytoskeleton remodeling and activation of the FOXM1-LIN28B oncogenic pathway. Using a small molecule microarray screen, we identified a selective
AVIL
-binding compound (compound A) that potently inhibited GBM cell growth with minimal toxicity to normal astrocytes. Gene expression changes induced by compound A mirrored those following
AVIL
knockdown, indicating on-target activity. Compound A demonstrated robust antitumor efficacy in multiple preclinical GBM models, including orthotopic xenografts, GSC-derived tumors, patient-derived xenografts, and temozolomide-resistant GBM with favorable pharmacokinetics and blood–brain barrier penetration. The minimal
AVIL
expression in normal tissues and lack of phenotype in
AVIL
-deficient mice underscore its potential as a low-toxicity therapeutic target. Together, these findings establish
AVIL
as a critical oncogenic driver in GBM and introduce a first-in-class
AVIL
inhibitor with strong translational promise for precision neuro-oncology.