Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthOctober 6, 1976
SpouseJanicza Bravo
MarkBushy beard

  • Brett Gelman, known for “Eagleheart,” “Go On,” and “Stranger Things,” has made significant impacts in acting, comedy, and production.
  • Born on 6 October 1976 in Highland Park, Illinois, Gelman’s diverse career has led to a net worth exceeding $1 million.
  • He studied theater at the University of North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of classical training for his artistic growth.
  • Brett’s talents extend to writing, directing, and producing, with involvement in projects like “Lemon” and “The Eric Andre Show.”
  • His personal life includes a marriage to Janicza Bravo (2015-2018) and an engagement to Ari Dayan in 2023, reflecting his journey beyond his professional life.

Who is Brett Gelman?

Born on 6 October 1976, in Highland Park, Illinois, USA, Brett Gelman is a 47-year-old American actor, producer, comedian, writer, and director. He achieved fame by playing Brett Mobley in “Eagleheart”, a hit Adult Swim police comedy show.

Additionally, fans know him for his portrayal of mysterious NASA scientist Mr. K, in the hilarious NBC sitcom “Go On”, alongside Matthew Perry. As for comedy, he is a known friend and collaborator of Jon C. Daly, with whom he worked on “The Fleetwood Crack”, one of the staples of mid-2000s comedy recordings. You can also see him as Murray Bauman, the quirky and eccentric private investigator in “Stranger Things”. Gelman’s bread and butter are mostly smaller, recurring roles, as he is considered to be one of the most reputable and skilled support actors in the industry.

Early Life and Education: Growing Up in Illinois

Brett Gelman was born in Highland Park, which is considered to be a suburb of Chicago by some, but most consider it a separate city. There is not much information about his parents, other than the fact that his father was a photo salesman. Gelman has faced innumerable inquiries about this matter but has stayed insistent on keeping such private matters to himself. This is a clear sign of professionalism and the fact that Brett is focused on furthering his career.

He grew up with one sibling, a sister, whose vocation revolves around speech pathology, a branch of science that focuses on isolating and resolving any cognitive or physical impediments that stand in the way of proper speech. As for education, Gelman matriculated from Highland Park High School in 1995, then pursued his dreams of being an actor by enrolling at the University of North Carolina (UNC), where he majored in Theater.

According to Brett himself, he was always determined to become an actor, but the classical training he received at UNC was ‘the missing piece’ he needed to truly grow as an artist.

CategoryInformation
Full NameBrett Clifford Gelman
Known ForRoles in “Eagleheart”, “Go On”, and “Stranger Things”
Profession/OccupationActor, producer, comedian, writer, director
EducationHighland Park High School; University of North Carolina School of the Arts, majored in Theater
Net Worth (2024)$1 million
SpouseJanicza Bravo (m. 2015–2018)
SiblingsOne sister (a speech pathologist)
ParentsFather was a photo salesman; mother’s details were not disclosed
Date of BirthOctober 6, 1976
Zodiac SignLibra
Place of BirthHighland Park, Illinois, USA
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
Hair ColorBrown, with a signature bald patch
Eye ColorBrown
GenderMale
ReligionJewish
Height6ft 1in (185cm)
WeightApprox. 82 kg (180 lbs)
AwardsBest Actor Award for “Room for Rent” in 2017
Notable Works/Awards“Stranger Things”, “Eagleheart”, “Go On”; Best Actor Award for “Room for Rent”
Associated BrandsNew York Lottery, among others
Social Profile LinksInstagram, Twitter, Facebook

Career Beginnings: Getting to Know The World of Comedy

Before graduating, Brett appeared in several episodes of “Cage Match”, a famous 1990s comedy show that featured celebrities engaging in comedy battles while in a cage. This was a great experience for this up-and-coming college junior and he knew precisely what to do next.

After graduation, Brett and his college friend Jon Daly moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy and acting. He joined the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where he regularly performed. First, he was a part of “Cracked Out with Daly”, but then expanded his repertoire and joined the improvisational comedy group “Monkeydick”, with a stint with “Mr A$$”, a popular comedy group associated with his theatre.

Despite being a talented actor, Brett had a hard time making ends meet, but this all changed when he was featured in a New York Lottery commercial, which provided him with a significant amount of funds. After that, Gelman developed his one-man show, “1,000 Cats”, which he promoted in several of New York’s most prominent venues.

Brett Gelman

Establishing Himself: Blackballed, The Colbert Report and Short Films

With initial stage experience, Gelman was ready to move on to different things. In 2004, he made his silver screen debut in a cameo role in “Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story”, centered around a professional paintball player who returns after a decade-long ban, due to false accusations of cheating. While his part was far from significant, it gave Brett important knowledge about the ins and outs of the movie industry.

Afterwards, he got somewhat of a break by landing a part in an episode of “The Colbert Report”, a satirical comedy show spearheaded by Stephen Colbert. This comedic style later became Gelman’s bread and butter, making this appearance a significant one in his early acting career. 2006 saw him appearing in several short videos, which is a sign of his now-apparent urge to constantly experiment and evolve as an artist.

A year later, we saw him in another movie, a comedy entitled “Watching the Detectives”, featuring Lucy Liu and Cillian Murphy, then in “Stick It in Detroit”, “May the Best Man Win” and more short films. 2009 saw him make a cameo in an episode of “Californication”.

An Important Name in the World of Comedy: Go On, Eagleheart and More

In 2011, he joined the crew of “The Back Room” for four episodes, appearing as both James Gandolfini and Mr. America. Gelman slowly became more famous, which resulted in more roles in popular movies and TV shows, including appearances in “Happy Endings”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “30 Minutes or Less”, where he played the role of Pizza Boss.

He then lent his voice to “The Life and Times of Tim”, with several characters having his raspy tone. In a 2012 episode of “The Office”, he played a magician, further expanding his already impressive portfolio. Later on, Brett was in “The Inbetweeners”, “Jobs” and “Go On”, where he captivated audiences with his recurring role of the mysterious scientist Mr. K. Despite the show being cancelled after just one season, Gelman showed that he could comfortably handle a consistent role.

Then came perhaps the crown jewel of his career, the part of Brett Mobley in “Eagleheart”, a hit action comedy.

Recent Works: Bad Teacher, Mad Men, Stranger Things and More

The late 2010s were perhaps the best period for Gelman’s career, as he went on a rampage, taking on more significant roles than ever. He joined the cast of “Bad Teacher” for a few episodes, followed by the critically acclaimed part of Daniel in “Mad Men”, the role that showcased his full talents to the public, proving that he is much more than just a comedian.

He followed this up with “UCB Comedy Originals”, “Married” and “Blunt Talk”, and also lent his voice to Jeff in “TripTalk”.

“Love” and “Camping” were significant credits around this period, but his popularity really went off the charts when he took on the part of Murray Bauman in “Stranger Things”.

He’s still working on “Stranger Things,” but also worked on “Entitled,” “Lady in the Lake,” and “UCB Comedy Originals.”

Murray Bauman: A Role That Perfectly Exemplifies Gelman’s Career

Brett assumed the part of a vigilant, but somewhat quirky private detective. While in character, we can see him quickly switch moods and add tongue-in-cheek humor to almost every situation. This is perhaps the perfect example of Gelman’s skills and his evolution as an actor.

Early in his career, he was focused mainly on making people laugh, but as time went on, he mastered the art of versatility and actually adapting his humor to any role. Critics praised him for his performance, especially because he was an integral character in several plotlines.

Roles like this made Gelman one of the most skilled supporting actors in the last ten years, who knows how to dominate his scenes but doesn’t insist on overdoing it.

Writing, Productional and Directorial Work

Like many talented actors, Brett didn’t want to be a participant in movies and shows – he actually wanted to create. Thus, he honed his directorial skills before creating “This is Our City”, and “The Cracktion Movie”, both of which were considered quality short films.

As for his work as a producer, Brett lent his talents to “Lemon”, “Jeff and Some Aliens”, as well as “Pauline Alone” and “Gregory Go Boom”. He also worked as a writer, mainly for “The Eric Andre Show” and “Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz”, both of which achieved critical acclaim. In the last few years, Gelman has mainly focused on acting, but his directorial and writing credits stand as a testament to his many talents.

Personal Life: Is Brett Gelman Married?

In December 2015, Gelman and his long-time partner, Janicza Bravo entered holy matrimony, in a private ceremony involving only their closest friends and family members. Bravo is a photographer, director and writer, much like her beau. The two met while Brett was filming a New York Lotto commercial, and immediately went on a date after the shooting was over.

Unfortunately, the couple got divorced in 2018. It’s unclear why the couple decided to call it quits. In 2023. he got engaged to Ari Dayan. She is a performance artist and singer from California. Their romance is somewhat secretive as details about how they met are currently unknown.

Net Worth: How Rich is Brett Gelman?

Have you ever wondered how affluent Brett Gelman really is? According to several credible sources, he has a net worth of over $1 million, amassed by working incessantly for 20 years, constantly expanding his repertoire and evolving as an actor. Given the fact that his roles have only got bigger as time went on, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his net worth drastically increase in the near future.

Body Measurements: How Tall is Brett Gelman?

Brett Gelman is 6ft 1in (185cm) tall – his weight and other measurements are unknown. He has brown eyes, a signature bald patch and a bushy beard.

Social Media Presence

Brett isn’t too bothered with social media but is still quite active. He has a Twitter account with nearly 200,000 followers, and his Facebook following is quite small at just over 1,000. His Instagram account is his most impressive social media presence. With a staggering 896,000 followers on Instagram, it’s clear he’s finding joy in entertaining fans with glimpses of his life.

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General Info

Full NameBrett Gelman
Date Of BirthOctober 6, 1976
ProfessionScreenwriter, Television producer, Comedian, Film producer, Film director, Actor
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts, Highland Park High School
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseJanicza Bravo

Accomplishments

MoviesJoshy, The Other Guys, Flock of Dudes, 30 Minutes or Less, Awful Nice, Gregory Go Boom, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, Someone Marry Barry, Be Here Nowish, Dinner With Family With Brett Gelman And Brett Gelman's Family, At Home with Hal and Christinith: TV Time, The Inn Keeper, Dear Woman, Lemo...
TV ShowsMarried, Eagleheart, Go On, The New Yorker Presents

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Bushy beard

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story2004Mayhem Team Member
Twin Peaks2017TV Series post-production
DRIB2017post-productionBrady Thompson
Chuck Hank and the San Diego Twins2017completedClarinet Player
Room for Rent2017post-productionCarl Lemay
Untitled Emily Dickinson Project2017post-productionHigginson
Gingerbreedpost-productionDriller Driver
Love2016-2017TV SeriesDr. Greg Colter
Making History2017TV SeriesPaul Revere
Jeff & Some Aliens2017TV SeriesJeff
Lemon2017Isaac
Wilson2017Robert
Blunt Talk2015-2016TV SeriesRonnie
High Maintenance2016TV SeriesBrett Gelman
Fleabag2016TV SeriesMartin
Another Period2015-2016TV SeriesHamish Crassus
TripTank2014-2016TV SeriesJeff
Flock of Dudes2016Howie
Mr. Pickles2014-2016TV SeriesCheeseman
Angel from Hell2016TV SeriesLee
Clarence2016TV SeriesMr. Mozer
Joshy2016Greg
Shaman2015ShortShaman
The Night Is Young2015/IRick Ramsey
Married2014-2015TV SeriesAJ
Comedy Bang! Bang!2012-2015TV SeriesMr. Celebrity / Dog Lawyer
UCB Comedy Originals2012-2015TV SeriesBrett
Mad Men2015TV SeriesDaniel
Scheer-RL2015TV Mini-SeriesMarilyn Manson
The Odd Couple2015TV SeriesStuart
Man Seeking Woman2015TV SeriesDemon
Fresh Off the Boat2015TV SeriesDusty Nugget
Kroll Show2013-2015TV SeriesNameless Leader / Various Characters
Bad Teacher2014TV SeriesMr. Pilaf
Drunk History2013-2014TV SeriesJoseph Pulitzer / Art Thief
Pauline Alone2014ShortWatch
Adventure Time2014TV SeriesRingmaster
Surviving Jack2014TV SeriesPrincipal McMullen
Someone Marry Barry2014Goker
Eagleheart2011-2014TV SeriesBrett Mobley
Be Here Nowish2014TV SeriesJacques
The League2011-2013TV SeriesGavin
We Are Men2013TV SeriesAlimony Steve
NTSF:SD:SUV2013TV SeriesGabby Hofstein
Ghost Ghirls2013TV SeriesRabbit
Gregory Go Boom2013ShortTom
Go On2012-2013TV SeriesMr. K
Awful Nice2013Ivan
Jobs2013Jeff Raskin
The Inbetweeners2012TV SeriesMr. Gilbert
Aqua Teen Hunger Force2012TV SeriesRocket Horse
First Look: Ultimate Teaser Trailer2012Video shortTrailer Actor
The Office2012TV SeriesThe Magician
The Life & Times of Tim2010-2012TV SeriesCo-Worker / Walker Fan / Adam's Friend / ...
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas2011T.V. Director
Bored to Death2011TV SeriesFaux Jonathan
30 Minutes or Less2011Pizza Boss
Curb Your Enthusiasm2011TV SeriesPig Parker
Happy Endings2011TV SeriesCarl
The Back Room2010-2011TV Series shortMr. America James Gandolfini
Eat2011/IShortAugust
Funny or Die Presents...2010-2011TV SeriesNick (segment "Paco Dances") / Performer
Jewish Santa Is Coming2010ShortJewish Santa
The Inn Keeper2010ShortJoseph
Pretend Time2010TV SeriesVarious
This Show Will Get You High2010TV MovieVarious
The Other Guys2010Hal
At Home with Hal and Christinith: TV Time2010ShortHal
Mr. Celebrity with Elizabeth Banks2010Video shortMr. Celebrity
Comedy Lab2010TV SeriesRuby
Mr. Celebrity with Ed Helms2010Video shortMr. Celebrity
Death Bed Subtext2010ShortDirector
Californication2009TV SeriesAnnoying Hipster
May the Best Man Win2009Bachelor Party Host
Dow Jones2009Video shortThe Man
CollegeHumor Originals2008TV SeriesRapzilla
Human Giant2007-2008TV SeriesKidnapped Soldier / Rapzilla / Billy Crystal
Stick It in Detroit2008Hot Rod Johnson
Honesty2007TV SeriesMechanic
Fat Guy Stuck in Internet2007TV SeriesCo-Worker / The Oracle / Linux
Watching the Detectives2007Glenn
Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass2006ShortRapzilla
CHI Enforcement Unit2006ShortClive 'Ratso' Blatch
The Cracktion Movie2006ShortRapzilla
This Is Our City2006ShortRapzilla
The Colbert Report2005TV SeriesSpencer
Coke2005TV ShortGonzales

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Lemon2017written by
The Eric Andre Show2016TV Series additional writer - 10 episodes
Brett Gelman's Dinner in America2016TV Short creator / written by
Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Brett Gelman's Family2015TV Short co-writer
Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends2014TV Short
Tim and Gelman Have Lunch (Again)2013Short writer
Tim & Gelman Have Lunch2011Short writer
The Therapist2010Short
Brett Gelman is Zoe Saldana for Calvin Klein2010Short writer
Mr. Celebrity with Elizabeth Banks2010Video short
2010 MTV Movie Awards2010TV Special consultant writer
Shutterbugs2010TV Series short consultant writer - 1 episode
Mr. Celebrity with Ed Helms2010Video short written by
Funny or Die Presents...2010TV Series written by - 1 episode
Death Bed Subtext2010Short written by
Human Giant2008TV Series consultant writer - 1 episode
The Right Now! Show2007TV Movie
Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz2007TV Series consultant writer - 8 episodes
Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass2006Short writer
The Cracktion Movie2006Short writer
This Is Our City2006Short writer
Coke2005TV Short creator / writer

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Jeff & Some Aliens2017TV Series consulting producer - 7 episodes
Lemon2017executive producer
Brett Gelman's Dinner in America2016TV Short executive producer
Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Brett Gelman's Family2015TV Short executive producer
Pauline Alone2014Short producer
Gregory Go Boom2013Short producer
Funny or Die Presents...2010TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
The Scariest Show on Television2008TV Movie executive producer
Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass2006Short producer
The Cracktion Movie2006Short producer
This Is Our City2006Short producer
Coke2005TV Short producer

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
2010 MTV Movie Awards2010TV Special consultant
Human Giant2008TV Series consultant - 1 episode
Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz2007TV Series consultant - 9 episodes

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Funny or Die Presents...TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
Human GiantTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2007 writer - 1 episode, 2007
Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass2006Short performer: "Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass" / writer: "Fukkin' Ya Momz in Da Ass"

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Brett Gelman is Zoe Saldana for Calvin Klein2010Short
The Cracktion Movie2006Short
This Is Our City2006Short
Coke2005TV Short

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
In Our Nature2012thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail2015-2016TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Brett Gelman's Dinner in America2016TV ShortHimself
@midnight2014-2016TV SeriesHimself
The New Yorker Presents2015-2016TV Series documentaryDinner Guest / Prophet
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore2015TV SeriesHimself - Panelist
The Soup2015TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Special Look2015TV SeriesHimself
Comedy Bang! Bang!2015TV SeriesHimself
Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Brett Gelman's Family2015TV ShortHimself
Rubberhead2014TV MovieHerself
Conan2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
TakePart Live2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends2014TV ShortHimself
Last Call with Carson Daly2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!2013TV SeriesHimself
17th Annual PRISM Showcase2013TV MovieHimself
Comedy Central Roast of James Franco2013TV MovieHimself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Tim and Gelman Have Lunch (Again)2013ShortHimself
The Jeselnik Offensive2013TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Matthew Perry's Testimony (Pt.2)2012ShortHimself
Weird Al's Broadway Style Cabaret Review2012ShortHimself
Earwolf Presents: The Perfect Drop2011ShortHimself
Tim & Gelman Have Lunch2011ShortHimself
The Back Room2011TV Series shortHimself
Writing Movies for Fun and Profit2011ShortHimself
Dear Woman2011ShortHimself
Christmas Lady Marmalade2010ShortHimself
Underwear for the Underprivileged: A Brett Gelman Charity2010ShortHimself
We Are the World 25.752010Video shortHimself
The Therapist2010ShortHimself
Brett Gelman is Zoe Saldana for Calvin Klein2010ShortHimself
A Night of 140 Tweets: A Celebrity Tweet-A-Thon for Haiti2010VideoHimself - @Brettgelman
UCB Comedy Originals2007TV SeriesHimself
The Right Now! Show2007TV MovieHimself

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
Author

Benjy is currently a reporter for BiographyPedia based in Adelaide, Australia. Prior to joining BiographyPedia in July 2019, he was a Bizarre TV reporter and theatre critic at TheSun. Benjy has also written for DailyMail and TMZ. Benjy studied journalism at Goldsmiths University of London, graduating in 2009. You can contact him at [email protected].

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