Jonathan Brandis Biography

(Actor)

Birthday: April 13, 1976 (Aries)

Born In: Danbury, Connecticut

Jonathan Brandis was an American actor and a very popular face on television owing to his appearances in several television shows and commercials. He was best known for his famous portrayal of ‘Bill Denbrough’ in ‘It’, an American supernatural horror drama based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. He began his career as a child model working in several commercials and soon ventured into acting as well. After making his debut in the show business playing the character of ‘Kevin Buchanan’ in ABC’s soap opera ‘One Life to Live’, he went on to play other important roles like ‘Bastian Bux’ in the German-American fantasy film ‘The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter’. In the ensuing years he acted in several television shows, telefilms, and movies. However, his career started failing in the late 1990s following which he became depressed and killed himself. He was just 27 at the time of his untimely death.
37
Quick Facts

Girlfriend: Tatyana Ali

Also Known As: Jonathan Gregory Brandis

Died At Age: 27

Family:

father: Gregory Brandis

mother: Mary Brandis

Actors American Men

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

Died on: November 12, 2003

U.S. State: Connecticut

Cause of Death: Suicide

More Facts

education: Valley Professional School

  • 1

    What were some of Jonathan Brandis' notable film and TV roles?

    Jonathan Brandis was best known for his roles in the TV series "seaQuest DSV" and the film "Ladybugs."
  • 2

    What was Jonathan Brandis' last film before his passing?

    Jonathan Brandis' last film was "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze," released in 2004.
  • 3

    Did Jonathan Brandis have any involvement in voice acting?

    Yes, Jonathan Brandis provided the voice for Mozenrath in the animated series "Aladdin."
  • 4

    Was Jonathan Brandis involved in any charity work or causes?

    Jonathan Brandis was a supporter of environmental causes and was involved in raising awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans.
  • 5

    What impact did Jonathan Brandis' passing have on his fans and the entertainment industry?

    Jonathan Brandis' passing in 2003 had a profound impact on his fans, who remembered him for his talent and contributions to film and television.
Career
Jonathan Brandis started his career at a very young age working in several commercials of top brands. After becoming a familiar face, he bagged the role of ‘Young Kevin Riley Buchanan’ in ‘One Life to Live’, an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network. After the successful launch of his acting career, he moved to Los Angeles with his family at the age of nine. Thereafter, he made several guest appearances in shows like ‘Kate & Allie’, ‘Buck James’, ‘L.A. Law’, ‘Webster’, and ‘Who's the Boss?’
He appeared in the 1990 American supernatural horror drama ‘It’, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Brandis portrayed the character of 12-year-old ‘Bill Denbrough’ in that miniseries that also featured popular artists like Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Dennis Christopher, Annette O'Toole, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid and Richard Masur. The same year, he was picked for the role of ‘Bastian Bux’ in the German-American fantasy film ‘The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter’ (the sequel to ‘The NeverEnding Story’). Later in 1992, he appeared in films like ‘Ladybugs’ and ‘Sidekicks’, acting alongside iconic actors like Rodney Dangerfield and Chuck Norris respectively.
It was at the age of seventeen that Brandis got his biggest break and played the most important role of his acting career. He was chosen for the role of ‘Lucas Wolenczak’ in ‘SeaQuest DSV’. The American science fiction television series was created by Rockne S. O'Bannon and was co-produced by Steven Spielberg for the first two seasons. Brandis was part of the show for its entire duration, playing the scientific prodigy ‘Lucas Wolenczak’ in 57 episodes and winning many hearts among the audiences.
In the next decade Brandis appeared in several films and televisions shows, including ‘Her Last Chance’ as ‘Preston Atherton’, ‘Born Free: A New Adventure’ as ‘Randolph "Rand" Thompson’, ‘Outside Providence’ as ‘Mousy’, ‘Ride with the Devil’ as ‘’ Cave Wyatt’, and ‘Puerto Vallarta Squeeze’ as ‘Neil Weatherford’ (released posthumously). He was also known for writing scripts and directing several independent films during his career.
Continue Reading Below
Personal Life
Jonathan Gregory Brandis was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 13, 1976 to Mary Brandis, a school teacher by profession, and Gregory Brandis, a food distributor and firefighter. Brandis went to Valley Professional School, from where he graduated in 1993 and started working on television. He dated actress and singer Tatyana Ali for a period of three years between 1995 and 1998. The couple was also featured in an article in ‘People’ magazine.
Death
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Brandis’ career started to decline and despite his best efforts, he was unable to bring it back on track. This resulted in his descent into chronic depression and on November 11, 2003, he hanged himself in the hallway of his Los Angeles apartment. The police did not find any suicide note when they discovered him hanging. The paramedics took him to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he died in the early hours of November 12.
Facts About Jonathan Brandis
Jonathan Brandis was an accomplished magician, known for his impressive card tricks and sleight of hand skills.
He had a passion for collecting vintage comic books and was particularly fond of rare editions from the 1960s and 1970s.
Brandis was an avid animal lover and supported several wildlife conservation organizations during his lifetime.
He had a talent for imitating various accents and dialects, often entertaining friends and colleagues with his spot-on impressions.
Brandis was a skilled chess player and enjoyed competing in local tournaments whenever he had the chance.

Jonathan Brandis Movies

1. Ride with the Devil (1999)

  (Western, Romance, War, Drama)

2. Outside Providence (1999)

  (Romance, Comedy, Drama)

3. Hart's War (2002)

  (Drama, War)

4. Stepfather II (1989)

  (Horror, Thriller)

5. Ladybugs (1992)

  (Sport, Comedy)

6. The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)

  (Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Family)

7. Sidekicks (1992)

  (Action, Comedy, Drama, Adventure)

8. Ghost Dad (1990)

  (Family, Comedy, Fantasy)

9. Bad Girls from Valley High (2005)

  (Comedy)

How To Cite

Article Title
- Jonathan Brandis Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/jonathan-brandis-40712.php

People Also Viewed

Ryan Reynolds Biography
Ryan Reynolds
(American)
 
Adam Brody Biography
Adam Brody
(American)
 
Channing Tatum Biography
Channing Tatum
(American)
 
Timothée Chalamet Biography
Timothée Chalamet
(American)
 
Jake Gyllenhaal Biography
Jake Gyllenhaal
(American)
 
Josh Hartnett Biography
Josh Hartnett
(American)
 
Jason Momoa Biography
Jason Momoa
(American)
 
Shia LaBeouf Biography
Shia LaBeouf
(American)