Brandon DeShazer
Brandon Makkole DeShazer (born January 2 1984) in Racine, Wisconsin is an American actor and former model.
Biography
Early life
DeShazer was born in Racine, Wisconsin to singer Bruce DeShazer and mother Brenda Buchanan. He is of Creole, American Indian, and French descent. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended Marquette University, where he founded Hyperformance Dance Company INC.
Career
Acting career
At the age of 7, DeShazer was offered his first television role on a developing kids show on PBS called Get Real. DeShazer remained on the show for two seasons before working as a catalogue model for department stores like Target, Mervyns, and Kohls. DeShazer took to stage acting in high school where he attended Wauwatosa West High School in Wisconsin. Landing leading roles such as the controversial Emcee in Cabaret, Brandon was recognized for his abilities at the 2000-2001 Ilium Awards in which he was awarded Best Actor and Best Dancer. Around the same time Brandon was offered his first feature film role in Virginia Jack (Sundance), where he played a pompous car technician named Rich. As the roles kept presenting themselves, Brandon found himself working with “A” class actors such a Bernie Mac and Angela Bassett in Mr. 3000 (Touchstone/Disney) in which he plays a reporter turned #1 fan. Since then, he also has found himself working with Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen in DERAILED, and Queen Latifah and Will Ferrell in the comedy Stranger than Fiction. DeShazer's next project will be in the independent dramas, Double Pleasure, Double Pain, The Apartment and Producing the Hood.
Career in modeling
DeShazer began modeling at a young age, appearing first in catalogues as a child. In 2002, the then 17 year old signed with Arlene Wilson's Modeling Agency. DeShazer has since worked with the top modeling agencies Ford Models Management, AW Management, Wehmann Modeling Agency and is currently signed with Osbrink Talent Agency in Los Angeles. He has appeared in numerous advertisements, including McDonald's, Zegna, Deisel, and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as gracing the pages of top magazines Sports Illustrated,People,Entertainment Weekly, andIn Touch Weekly''.
DeShazer now resides in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography
- Surfer, Dude (2008)
- Producing The Hood (2007) - Derek
- Double Pleasure, Double Pain (2006) - Doug
- BloodBound (2006) - Hugh
- Stranger than Fiction (2006)
- Mr. 3000 (2003) – Press Box Reporter
- Virginia Jack (2002) – Rich
Television
- Prison Break (2005)
- 1/4life (2004)
- Get Real (1994) - Host
Music videos
- Eve’s "Tambourine"
- Jennifer Lopez's "Doin it Well"
Trivia
- His father, Bruce DeShazer (a.k.a Tony Christian) scored several BillBoard top 10 music hits in the late 80s, and scored a number 1 duet hit with Paula Abdul on her 3rd single, "Opposites Attract". He was also featured in the blockbuster hit "Purple Rain."
- Got his start in the early 90s on the popular kids show, Get Real, as a reporter/host on PBS
- Co-founded midwest urban dance group, HyPErformance Dance INC, at the age of 19.
- He has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, People and Entertainment Weekly.
- Comes from French, German, Irish, Creole, African and Native American ancestry.
- Attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before dropping out in 2003 to develop his career.
- Is the son of MC Skat Kat, voiced by Bruce DeShazer, from the popular Paula Abdul video, "Opposites Attract".
- Grew up in the music industry around famed Minneapolis performers like Janet Jackson, Prince, Vanity 6, Paula Abdul, Morris Day, and Jimmy Jam.
- Shares a birthday with Taye Diggs, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kate Bosworth, and Dax Shepard.
- His stepfather is record-breaking, former NBA star Jay Humphries who spent most of his career playing for the Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks.
- Favorite actors are Meryl Streep, Alan Cummings, Robert De Niro, Will Smith and Loretta Devine.