Brandon Tyler Feakins (born June 26, 1990), known professionally as Brandon Sklenar, is an American actor best known for his roles in the films Mapplethorpe, Vice (both 2018), Midway (2019), It Ends with Us (2024), Drop, and The Housemaid (both 2025). On television, he is known for his role as Spencer Dutton in 1923 (2022–25).
Early life and education Brandon Sklenar was born Brandon Feakins in Dover, New Jersey, and was raised in Northern New Jersey.Multiple sources: Wohlgemuth, Joe. "From Lake Life to Screen Life: The Acting Journey of Brandon Sklenar", Lake Hopatcong News, Midsummer 2024. Accessed February 23, 2025. "Born Brandon Feakins, he took his mother's maiden name when he moved out to California because he was tired of people mispronouncing his name.... He graduated from Hackettestown High School in 2008 and enrolled at County College of Morris as an Exercise Science major." Kuperinsky, Amy. "Meet N.J. actor Brandon Sklenar, starring in ‘'It Ends With Us’' with Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 8, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2025. "Sklenar was born in Dover to a hairdresser mother and carpenter father. He grew up between Sussex and Warren counties after his parents separated, attending Hopatcong Middle School and Hackettstown High School." His parents are Francine Sklenar, daughter of a former stage grip for the Metropolitan Opera House, and Bruce Feakins. Sklenar graduated in 2008 from Hackettstown High School and enrolled briefly at County College of Morris. After two months, he moved to California, adopting his mother's surname for acting purposes.His mother comes from Czechoslovakia, her surname is of Czech origin (Sklenář) meaning 'glazier'. He moved to Los Angeles and worked odd jobs; at age 20, he was signed by a manager.
Career Sklenar made his professional film debut in the 2011 film Cornered. The following year, he appeared in the television series Dating Rules from My Future Self. He then appeared in the film Chance, in 2014, the NBC comedy series Truth Be Told, in 2015, the films Hunky Dory and Bella Donna, and the television series Fall into Me, in 2016, a lead role in the American-Japanese horror film Temple and the Fox sitcom series, New Girl, in 2017.
He was then cast as Edward Mapplethorpe in the 2018 biographical drama film Mapplethorpe, which follows the life of New York photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. It screened at Tribeca Film Festival, in 2018, where it was named a runner-up in the U.S. Narrative Competition section. Sklenar received critical acclaim from multiple media outlets for his performance in Mapplethorpe, including from Boy Culture, who praised him for "[having] maximum impact in [his] psychologically charged scenes with [Matt] Smith" He appeared in the 2018 biographical drama film, Vice, opposite Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Christian Bale and Sam Rockwell. The film explores the life of politician Dick Cheney and is directed by Academy Award-winner Adam McKay. Sklenar then appeared in Amir Naderi's film Magic Lantern, in addition to films The Last Room and Glass Jaw. In June 2018, Sklenar was also cast in the independent drama film Indigo Valley, which is based on director Jaclyn Bethany's short film of the same name. That same year, Sklenar was cast as the lead antagonist in The Big Ugly, a noir crime thriller that weaves the British gangster genre with the American Western, opposite Ron Perlman, Malcolm McDowell, Nicholas Braun and Leven Rambin. For his work in the film as Junior Lawford, Sklenar received wide critical praise. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun Times stated, "Brandon Sklenar gives a screen-popping performance as Junior; he's fantastic as a monster cloaked in a James Dean persona."
Sklenar then went on to appear in Roland Emmerich's Midway for Lionsgate with Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans, and Patrick Wilson. Sklenar portrayed George H. Gay Jr., who was the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8). He then starred in the independent film Jonesin – a crime comedy about a moonshiner who, after a case of mistaken identity, gets abducted and finds himself stuck in the city between two rival gangs.
In early 2020, he was cast in the lead role of the independent film Futra Days opposite Tania Raymonde and Rosanna Arquette. The film is about a man traveling to the future and exploring the nature of control. For his role, he received the Best Actor award at Vienna Independent Film Festival, in 2022. In March 2021, he joined the cast of the film Karen opposite Taryn Manning and Cory Hardrict. In 2022, he was cast in the role of Spencer Dutton in the Yellowstone prequel television series 1923. In 2025, he played Andrew Winchester in The Housemaid, co-starring with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2017 Temple James2018 Mapplethorpe Edward Mapplethorpe Vice Bobby Prentace 2019 Midway George H. Gay Jr. 2020 The Big Ugly Junior Lawdord 2021 Karen Officer Hill 2022 Emily the Criminal Brent 2024 It Ends with Us Atlas Corrigan2025 Green and Gold Billy Drop Henry Campbell The Housemaid Andrew Winchester2027 Post-production Post-production Freddy Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 Dating Rules from My Future Self Bar Guy Episode: "Chapter One: Who R U?" 2015 Truth Be Told Neil Episode: "Members Only" 2016 Fall into Me Ryan Richards Episode: "Love Street" 2017 New Girl Loner Episode: "Cece's Boys"2022 Westworld Henry Episodes: "The Auguries" and "Que Será, Será" Walker: Independence Liam Collins Episode: "Pilot" The Offer Burt Reynolds Episode: "Brains and Balls" 2022–2025 1923 Spencer Dutton Main role
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