Brandon Sklenar was born Brandon Tyler Feakins on June 26, 1990, in Dover, New Jersey, and grew up in a blue-collar household—his father a carpenter, his mother a former hairdresser. After high school graduation in 2008, he briefly attended community college but soon packed up and drove to Los Angeles to pursue acting, adopting his mother’s surname because his birth name was frequently mispronounced. For years, he worked odd jobs while auditioning until a manager signed him around age 20.
Building Foundations in Indie Films and TV Guest Spots
Sklenar’s on-screen debut came in 2011 with a small role in Cornered. In the years that followed, he steadily landed roles in short films like Chance and Bella Donna, as well as features such as Hunky Dory (2016) and Temple (2017). His early TV appearances included single episodes in Dating Rules from My Future Self (2012), Truth Be Told (2015), Fall into Me (2016), and a memorable turn as a “Loner” on New Girl (2017).
Indie Accolades & Historical Drama
2018 marked a turning point. Sklenar earned praise for his role as Edward Mapplethorpe in the biopic Mapplethorpe. That same year, he appeared in Vice, a satirical biography of Dick Cheney, and worked on indie projects such as Glass Jaw, Magic Lantern, and Indigo Valley. His performance as Junior Lawford in the gritty thriller The Big Ugly (2020) earned praise for capturing menace and charisma equally. In Midway (2019), he portrayed George H. Gay Jr.—the sole survivor of a WWII squadron—which added historical heft to his résumé.
Rising Momentum: Complex Characters & Leading Roles
Sklenar continued expanding his range with roles in Indigo Valley (2020), Karen (2021), Jonesin’ (2021), Emily the Criminal (2022), and Futura Days (2022)—the latter earning him Best Actor at the Vienna Independent Film Festival.
In 2024, he starred in the anticipated adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us, playing Atlas Corrigan alongside Blake Lively. In 2025, audiences saw him in the psychological thriller Drop, where he played a photographer on a dangerous date. He is also set to appear in Green and Gold and the Paul Feig-directed thriller The Housemaid, co-starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.
Television Breakthrough: From Guest Spots to 1923
While growing his film résumé, Sklenar also took on TV roles. These included Westworld (2022), Walker: Independence (2022), and portraying Burt Reynolds in The Offer (2022). His true breakthrough came with the Paramount+ Western prequel 1923 (2022–2025), where he starred as Spencer Dutton—a World War I veteran marked by resilience, complexity, and fierce loyalty. The role transformed his career, earning him recognition and a leading-man presence.
The Daily Drive Behind the Spotlight
Sklenar often speaks about perseverance. “I’ve been pounding away for the last 16 years,” he told People. He credits his blue-collar upbringing for his strong work ethic. Acting, he says, helped him overcome a childhood stutter and depression.
During 1923, he performed many of his own stunts, even cutting his head on set and patching it with superglue. Despite fame and online comparisons, he remains humble. When called “Walmart Glen Powell,” he joked, “Who doesn’t love a bargain?”
Naming choices have also been practical. He adopted “Sklenar” professionally to avoid the mispronunciation issues tied to his birth surname; he says the new name feels meaningful and less burdened.
Looking Ahead
Now in his mid-30s, Sklenar is preparing for more high-profile roles. He may collaborate with Taylor Sheridan on the action project F.A.S.T. Fans also speculate that he could be the next Batman in the DC Universe. He hasn’t confirmed the rumors but admits that playing Batman is a dream role.
In Summary
Brandon Sklenar’s journey from small-town New Jersey to leading roles in film and television shows his relentless perseverance. His versatility spans indie biopics, historical dramas, and Western sagas. Over the years, he has proven himself a compelling and committed actor. With more high-profile projects ahead, his best work may still be coming.
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