
Quick Facts
Biography
Brett Clifford Gelman (born October 6, 1976) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for the roles of Brett Mobley in the Adult Swim comedy-action series Eagleheart, as Mr. K on the NBC sitcom Go On, as Hamish on the Comedy Central series Another Period, and as A.J. in the FX comedy series Married. He currently co-stars as Martin on the BBC Three comedy Fleabag.
Early life
Gelman was born and raised in Highland Park, Illinois. Gelman's father was a photo salesman. He was raised Jewish and has a younger sister who is a speech pathologist.
Gelman graduated from Highland Park High School. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he received classical training in theater.
Career
After college, Gelman moved to New York City with fellow schoolmate, actor Jon Daly. While in New York, Gelman was a regular performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, as part of the duo Cracked Out, improv group Monkey Dick, and sketch group Mr. A$$.
A popular New York Lottery commercial funded his work for a while. Gelman did a one-man show called 1,000 Cats, which he workshopped at many venues.
Gelman has appeared in the films The Other Guys and 30 Minutes or Less. He has co-starred as Chris Elliott's sidekick Brett Mobley in the live-action Adult Swim series Eagleheart and is a regular sketch performer on HBO's Funny or Die Presents and Comedy Central's Nick Swardson's Pretend Time. He has had recurring roles on The Life & Times of Tim and The Inbetweeners, as well as making guest appearances on comedy programs such as Bored to Death, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Happy Endings, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and The League. Gelman has also written for the MTV sketch series Human Giant and the Scott Aukerman & B. J. Porter created sketch pilot The Right Now! Show.
In 2010, Gelman appeared as a cast member on the Comedy Central sketch comedy special This Show Will Get You High, created by Matt Besser. Gelman co-starred as "Mr. K" on the NBC comedy series Go On starring Matthew Perry, and as A.J. on the FX comedy series Married.
In 2014, Gelman hosted a dinner party special called Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends, that aired on Adult Swim.
In 2015, Gelman was also a consulting writer on season two of the entertainment news parody series Hot Package on Adult Swim and also recurs as Hamish on the Comedy Central series Another Period and as Ronnie on the Starz series Blunt Talk. Also in 2015, Gelman appeared in the last season of Mad Men.
In July 2016, Gelman starred in the special Dinner in America with Brett Gelman, a sequel to Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends, which focused on racism.
In November 2016, Gelman said that he had left Adult Swim due to the network's alleged poor treatment of female employees and the promotion of controversial Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace.
Other work
Gelman and frequent writing partner and collaborator Jon Daly performed for many years as the comedy rap duo "Cracked Out". Their EP The Fleetwood Crack was made available for download on their website in 2007.
Gelman has gained recognition for appearing as the "Little Bit Of Luck" character in the "Take 5" New York Lottery ad campaign that ran from 2008 through 2011.
Gelman makes frequent appearances on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, as well as other podcasts on the Earwolf podcasting network. In 2011, he began his own podcast, Gelmania, also available on the Earwolf network. Gelman has said he wanted his podcast to "reflect a lot of the fears and anger and sadness of the world, but do that through a really stupid lens." In 2014, Gelmania began its second season but is no longer on the Earwolf network.
Personal life
In December 2015, Gelman married his long-time girlfriend, writer and director Janicza Bravo. Gelman and Bravo met in New York City while working on a New York Lotto commercial. They live in Los Angeles.
His company is called Gelmania Inc.
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2004 | Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story | Mayhem Team Member | |
2006 | Gingerbreed | Driller Driver | |
2007 | Watching the Detectives | Glenn | |
2008 | Stick It in Detroit | Hot Rod Johnson | |
2009 | May the Best Man Win | Bachelor Party Host | |
2010 | The Other Guys | Hal | |
2011 | Eat | August | Short |
30 Minutes or Less | Pizza Boss | ||
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | TV Director | ||
2013 | Jobs | Jeff Raskin | |
Awful Nice | Ivan | ||
Gregory Go Boom | Tom | Short, also producer | |
2014 | Someone Marry Barry | Goker | |
Chuck Hank and the San Diego Twins | Clarinet Player | ||
2016 | Joshy | Greg | |
Flock of Dudes | Howie | ||
2017 | Lemon | Isaac | Also writer |
Wilson | Robert |
Television | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2005 | Coke | Gonzales | TV short |
The Colbert Report | Spencer | Episode: "Greg Behrendt" | |
2007 | Fat Guy Stuck in Internet | Co-Worker / Linux / The Oracle | 3 episodes |
Honesty | Mechanic | Episode: "Mechanic" | |
2008 | Human Giant | Kidnapped Soldier / Rapzilla / Billy Crystal | 2 episodes |
2009 | Californication | Annoying Hipster | Episode: "Mia Culpa" |
2010 | Comedy Lab | Ruby (voice) | Episode: "Penelope Princess of Pets" |
This Show Will Get You High | Cast Member | Comedy Central pilot | |
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time | Various | Episode: "Mudslide Junction" | |
2010–2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Nick / Performer | 3 episodes |
The Back Room | Mr. America / James Gandolfini | 4 episodes | |
2010–2012 | The Life & Times of Tim | Co-Worker / Walker Fan / Adam's Friend / Doug the Intruder (voices) | 4 episodes |
2011 | Happy Endings | Carl | Episode: "Your Couples Friends & Neighbors" |
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Pig Parker | Episode: "Vow of Silence" | |
Bored to Death | Faux Jonathan | Episode: "We Could Sing a Duet" | |
2011–2013 | The League | Gavin | 2 episodes |
2011–2014 | Eagleheart | Brett Mobley | Series regular |
2012 | The Office | The Magician | Episode: "Welcome Party" |
Comedy Bang! Bang! | Dog Lawyer | Episode: "Jon Hamm Wears a Light Blue Shirt & Silver Watch" | |
Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Rocket Horse (voice) | Episode: "Rocket Horse & Jet Chicken" | |
The Inbetweeners | Mr. Gilbert | 7 episodes | |
2012–2013 | Go On | Mr. K | Series regular |
2013 | Ghost Ghirls | Rabbit | Episode: "I Believe in Mira-ghouls" |
NTSF:SD:SUV:: | Gabby Hofstein | Episode: "Unfrozen Agent Man" | |
We Are Men | Alimony Steve | Episode: "We Are Franksgiving" | |
2013–2014 | Drunk History | Various | 2 episodes |
2013–2015 | Kroll Show | Various | 3 episodes |
2014 | Surviving Jack | Principal McMullen | Episode: "Rhythm Is a Dancer" |
Adventure Time | Ring Master (voice) | Episode: "Sad Face" | |
Bad Teacher | Doug Pilaf | 5 episodes | |
Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends | Himself | Special | |
2014–2015 | Married | A.J. | Series regular |
2014–2016 | Mr. Pickles | Cheeseman (voice) | 2 episodes |
TripTank | Jeff (voice) | 9 episodes | |
2015 | Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Brett Gelman's Family | Himself | Special |
Fresh Off the Boat | Dusty Nugget | Episode: "Persistent Romeo" | |
Man Seeking Woman | Demon | Episode: "Stain" | |
The Odd Couple | Stuart | Episode: "Jealous Island" | |
Mad Men | Daniel | Episode: "Person to Person" | |
Comedy Bang! Bang! | Mr. Celebrity | Episode: "James Marsden Wears Gray Pants and Black High-Top Sneakers" | |
2015–2016 | Blunt Talk | Ronnie | 4 episodes |
2015–present | Another Period | Hamish | 14 episodes |
2016 | Angel from Hell | Lee | Episodes: "Soulmates", "Rain Check" |
Love | Dr. Greg Colter | 3 episodes | |
Clarence | Mr. Mozer (voice) | Episode: "Field Trippin'" | |
Dinner in America with Brett Gelman | Himself | Special | |
Fleabag | Martin | Series regular | |
High Maintenance | Himself | Episode: "Selfie" | |
2017 | Jeff & Some Aliens | Jeff (voice) | Series regular |
Stranger Things | Murray Bauman | Season 2 |