Jonathan Brandis

Infobox actor
name = Jonathan Brandis


imagesize = 225px
caption =
birthname = Jonathan Gregory Brandis
birthdate = birth date|1976|4|13
birthplace = Danbury, Connecticut
deathdate = death date and age|2003|11|12|1976|4|13
deathplace = Los Angeles, California
othername =
yearsactive = 1982 — 2003

Jonathan Gregory Brandis (April 13, 1976 — November 12, 2003) was an American actor, director, and screenwriter.

Biography

Early life and career

Brandis was born in Danbury, Connecticut, the only child of Mary, a teacher and personal manager, and Gregory Brandis, a food distributor and firefighter. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/53/Jonathan-Brandis.html Jonathan Brandis Biography (1976-)] ] He began his career as a child model and began acting in television commercials. [cite news|title=Actor Jonathan Brandis dies at 27|last=McLellan|first=Dennis|date=2003-11-21|publisher="Los Angeles Times"|accessdate=2008-05-24] cite news|title=Fans Weep For Danbury Star Whose Suicide Ended Career|last=Gould|first=Joe|date=2004-01-18|publisher="Danbury News-Times"|accessdate=2008-05-24] Brandis got his showbiz break at the age of six when he landed a recurring role on "One Life to Live". He moved to Los Angeles with his family at age nine, and made guest appearances on shows such as "L.A. Law", "Who's the Boss?", "Murder, She Wrote", "Full House" and "Kate & Allie". [cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/21/obit.brandis.ap/|title='SeaQuest DSV' actor Brandis dead at 27|date=2003-11-23|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2008-05-24]

He received his first starring role in "" as Bastian Bux, a young boy who returns to a world of wonder on the wings of his imagination, and went on to appear primarily in television roles. Of these, he is most famous for his portrayal of scientific prodigy Lucas Wolenczak in Steven Spielberg's futuristic science fiction series "seaQuest DSV". The role propelled him into teen idol status. [cite news|title=From Heartthrob to Heartache: The Suicide of a Former Teen Idol|last=Benton|first=Nicholas F. |date=2003-12-04|publisher="Falls Church News-Press"|accessdate=2008-05-24] He is also well known for voicing Mozenrath, a young evil sorcerer and necromancer in Disney's television series "Aladdin", and having played Barry Grabrewski in the film "Sidekicks" co-starring Chuck Norris. He also starred in the soccer movie "Ladybugs" with actor/comedian Rodney Dangerfield, and played the young "Stuttering Bill" Denbrough, the main character in the 1990 miniseries "Stephen King's It", based on the epic horror novel by Stephen King. [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-11-21-brandis-obit_x.htm|title=Teen idol Jonathan Brandis dies at 27|last=Ortega|first=Albert|date=2003-11-24|publisher=USAToday.com|accessdate=2008-05-24]

In addition to acting, Brandis also directed several independent films and authored screenplays. During his stint on "seaQuest DSV", he co-wrote an episode of the series entitled "The Siamese Dream". [imdb title|id=0394879|title=The Siamese Dream] He also produced and directed the short film "The Slainville Boys", shortly before his death. [imdb title|id=0423208|title=The Slainville Boys]

Personal life

Brandis dated actress/singer Tatyana Ali from May 1995 [cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141725,00.html|title=Young Love|last=Jewel|first=Dan|date=1996-07-08|publisher="People"|accessdate=2008-05-24] until 2001. [cite web|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800236731/bio|title=Tatyana Ali Biography|publisher=movies.yahoo.com|accessdate=2008-05-24]

Death

On November 12, 2003, Brandis died from injuries he suffered after hanging himself. [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/heath-ledger/ten-actors-who-died-in-their-20s/2008/01/23/1201024961111.html|title=Ten actors who died in their 20s|date=2008-01-23|publisher=smh.com.au|accessdate=2008-05-24] The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement regarding his death:

:"On November 11, 2003, at about 11:40 p.m., a friend of Jonathan Brandis called police to report that the actor had attempted suicide at his apartment, located in the 600 block of Detroit Avenue. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire department responded and transported Brandis to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he eventually died from his injuries. Brandis' death was announced by hospital staff on November 12, 2003, at about 2:45 p.m." [cite web|url=http://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/20868|title=Los Angeles Police Department: News Release|date=2003-11-20|publisher=lapdonline.org]

Brandis did not leave a suicide note, although friends were quoted as saying he was lonely and depressed about his lagging career. One friend admitted that Brandis drank heavily, and had even mentioned that he might kill himself. He was also said to be upset when his appearance in "Hart's War", a role he hoped would be his comeback, was cut from the film. [cite news|title=A Teen Heartthrob Takes His Life|date=2003-12-06|publisher="People"|accessdate=2008-05-24]

Following Brandis' death, Paul Petersen, president of A Minor Consideration, an organization that deals with issues affecting child actors stated, "Speculations as to the underlying cause of this tragedy are exactly that: speculations. It serves no purpose to leap to conclusions for none of us will really know what led Jonathan to his decision to take his life". [cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/print/index.jsp?uuid=5fcb8f5a-ae67-4cec-a835-d01acbd275fd&contentType=newsStory|title=Jonathan Brandis' Death a Suicide|date=2003-11-20|publisher=eonline.com]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Television Commercials

*Buster Brown Shoes
*Voice-over in "The More You Know" PSA
*Honeycombs

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0000970|name=Jonathan Brandis
*amg name|2:8069
*tv.com person|51892|Jonathan Brandis
*Find A Grave|id=8100255

Persondata
NAME= Brandis, Jonathan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Brandis, Jonathan Gregory
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor, director, producer
DATE OF BIRTH= April 13, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH= Danbury, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH= November 12, 2003
PLACE OF DEATH= Los Angeles, California