Bryan Greenberg | |
|---|---|
 Greenberg at the 2007Tribeca Film Festival | |
| Born | (1978-05-24)May 24, 1978 (age 46) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Tisch School of the Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | bryangreenberg |
Bryan Greenberg (born May 24, 1978) is an American actor. He is known for his starring role as Ben Epstein in theHBO original seriesHow to Make It in America as well as a recurring role inThe Mindy Project. He also had a recurring role asJake Jagielski in theWB seriesOne Tree Hill and as Nick Garrett on theABC dramaOctober Road. His film work includesThe Perfect Score,Prime,Bride Wars, andFriends with Benefits. He made his directorial debut with his filmJunction.
Greenberg was born May 24, 1978,[1] inOmaha, Nebraska, U.S. the son of psychologists Denise "Denny" (b.1951) and Carl Greenberg (b.1950).[2][3] He is Jewish and was raised inConservative Judaism.[3] Growing up, he attended Beth El Synagogue in Omaha. He had aBar Mitzvah ceremony, belonged to Jewish youth groups, went to Jewish summer camps where he acted in theater productions, and traveled to Israel.[4]
At seven years old, Greenberg appeared in the lead role in the Omaha Ballet production ofThe Nutcracker. He toured with the show for two months and later joined a children's theater company in Omaha. At age 12, Greenberg and his family moved toSt. Louis,Missouri, where he got his first major role in a nationally-broadcast Cookie Crisp cereal commercial.[2]
He graduated fromParkway Central High School inChesterfield, Missouri in 1996 and moved to New York City after high school.[3]
Greenberg earned hisBachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre atNew York University in 2000.[citation needed]
While at NYU, Greenberg auditioned and worked as a waiter, bartender, caterer and assistant to a mortgage broker.[3] He was cast as Romeo inNYU's performance ofRomeo and Juliet and performed with the Experimental Theater Workshop, theAtlantic Theater Company and the Amsterdam Experimental Workshop.[5]
In 1997, he got a small role on the television seriesLaw & Order. Soon after this appearance, Greenberg got an agent and one year later made his big screen debut inA Civil Action.
After landing small roles on several TV series (Boston Public,The Sopranos, andThird Watch among others), Greenberg was cast as Matty Matthews, a high school student trying to pass the SAT exam, in the filmThe Perfect Score. After graduating from NYU, Bryan moved to California.[2] While he was still appearing inOne Tree Hill, he began shooting another television show produced byGeorge Clooney forHBO calledUnscripted.[6]
Greenberg's first starring role was in theBen Younger filmPrime (2005). He played David Bloomberg, a young artist who falls in love with one of his motherMeryl Streep's therapy patients, played byUma Thurman.[7][8] Greenberg then starred inOctober Road on ABC and appeared withAlan Rickman in the filmNobel Son in 2008.[9] In 2009, Greenberg appeared in the filmBride Wars withKate Hudson and Anne Hathaway and starred oppositeAlexis Bledel andScott Porter in the indie filmThe Good Guy, which was released in February 2010.[10]
His seriesHow to Make It in America premiered on HBO on February 14, 2010.[11]The Washington Post called it "The New Yorkiest thing you could find on television, which is saying something," and praised its "portrayal of a dirty, scrappy, multi-ethnic New York culture."[12]The New York Times said the "series has great music (the theme song isAloe Blacc’s 'I Need a Dollar') and there are some snarky asides about hipster New York."[13] Season 2 premiered on October 2, 2011.[14] On December 20, 2011, HBO announced the cancellation of the show.
In 2012, Greenberg co-starred withLaura Prepon in the independent comedy filmThe Kitchen. That same year, Greenberg starred in the dark comedy filmThe Normals, which follows a young man who enters a two-week clinical trial of an anti-psychotic treatment at a drug-testing center in Queens.[15]
In 2013, Greenberg began shooting the untitledLance Armstrong biopic alongsideBen Foster, who will play Armstrong.[16]
In 2015, Greenberg and his wifeJamie Chung co-starred together in the romantic dramaAlready Tomorrow in Hong Kong.
In 2024, Greenberg joined the cast ofSuits LA oppositeStephen Amell.[17]
In 2007, Greenberg released his debut album,Waiting for Now. He has toured withGavin DeGraw,Michael Tolcher,Ari Hest, andGraham Colton. At his New York City Show at the High Line Ballroom, Greenberg was joined byHow to Make it in America co-starKid Cudi. Greenberg's songs have been featured in many of his film and television work, includingOne Tree Hill,October Road, andNobel Son.
In 2011, Greenberg released his second album,We Don't Have Forever, produced byThom Monahan (Vetiver,Devendra Banhart,Gary Louris), which included the single "Walk Away". The album also included "You Can Run", a collaboration withHow to Make It in America co-star and rapper Kid Cudi.[18][19] Greenberg said he wrote the record over a period of two years when he was experiencing many changes in his life and decided to title the recordWe Don't Have Forever to reflect that.[20]
In 2012, Greenberg began dating actressJamie Chung. They became engaged in December 2013[21][22] and were married on October 31, 2015, inSanta Barbara, California.[21][23] Their twin sons were born viasurrogacy in October 2021.[24][25]
In January 2025, Greenberg and Chung's house in Los Angeles was destroyed by awildfire.[26]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Civil Action | Firecracker kid | Uncredited |
| 2004 | The Perfect Score | Matty Matthews | |
| 2005 | Prime | David Bloomberg | |
| 2006 | Escape | Bryan | Short film |
| 2006 | Love & Debate | Chris | |
| 2007 | Nobel Son | Barkley Michaelson | |
| 2009 | Bride Wars | Nathan "Nate" Lerner | |
| 2009 | The Good Guy | Daniel Seaver | |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Parker | |
| 2012 | The Kitchen | Paul | |
| 2012 | The Normals | Billy Schine | |
| 2014 | A Short History of Decay | Nathan Fisher | |
| 2015 | Vice | Evan | |
| 2015 | A Year and Change | Owen | |
| 2015 | Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong | Josh | |
| 2015 | The Program | Floyd's buddy | Uncredited |
| 2016 | Flock of Dudes | Barrett | |
| 2017 | Random Tropical Paradise | Harry Fluder | |
| 2018 | Fourplay | Tom | |
| 2022 | The Mental State | Dylan Cady | |
| 2023 | You People | Issac | |
| 2024 | Junction[27] | Michael | Also writer and director |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Law & Order | Matt Wheeler | Episode: "Thrill" |
| 2000 | The Sopranos | Peter McClure | Episode: "Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist's Office..." |
| 2000 | Third Watch | Francis DeSilva | Episode: "Journey to the Himalayas" |
| 2000, 2003 | Boston Public | Mr. Freeman | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Three Sisters | Roy | Episode: "A Date with Destiny" |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine | Kent | Episode: "Rape Kit" |
| 2002 | The Chronicle | Damon Furberg | Episode: "The Stepford Cheerleaders" |
| 2002 | Providence | Neal | Episode: "Great Expectations" |
| 2003–2006 | One Tree Hill | Jake Jagielski | 26 episodes |
| 2004 | Life with Bonnie | Timmy | Episode: "Nip, Tuck and Role" |
| 2005–2006 | Unscripted | Himself | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | October Road | Nicholson "Nick" Garrett | Main role; 19 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | How to Make It in America | Ben Epstein | Main cast; 16 episodes |
| 2013 | The Arrangement | Billy Whitley | Television film |
| 2015 | Bessie | John Hammond | Television film |
| 2016–2017 | The Mindy Project | Ben | 13 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | The Tick | Derek | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | Sideswiped | Ryan | Episode: "The Ex" |
| 2019 | God Friended Me | Teddy Preston | Episode: "The Lady" |
| 2019 | Same Time, Next Christmas | Gregg Harris | Television film |
| 2023 | Round and Round | Zach | Television film |
| 2024 | The Vince Staples Show | Officer | Episode: "Pink House" |
| 2024 | The Emperor of Ocean Park | Howard Denton | |
| 2025 - | Suits LA | Rick Dodsen | Main Role |