Brian Bonsall

2025-09-29T05:19:25Z

2607:FEA8:1C61:7D00:518:6410:CC9D:446B: /* Discography */

{{Short description|American actor, musician (born 1981)}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brian Bonsall
| image = Brian Bonsall.jpg
| caption = Bonsall in 2009
| birth_name = Brian Eric Bonsall
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|3}}
| birth_place = [[Torrance, California]], U.S.
| other_names =
| spouse = {{marriage|Courtney Tuck|2017}}
| children = 1
| occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|musician}}
| years_active = {{Ubl
| {{nowrap|1986–1995; 2022 (actor)}}
| 1998–present (musician)
}}
| website =
}}

'''Brian Eric Bonsall''' (born December 3, 1981) is an American [[rock music|rock musician]], singer, guitarist and former [[child actor]]. Bonsall is the guitarist for punk rock band [[The Ataris]]. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Andrew "Andy" Keaton, the youngest child on the [[NBC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Family Ties]]'' from 1986 until 1989, and [[Alexander Rozhenko]], the son of [[Worf]] and [[K'ehleyr]], on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' from 1992 to 1994.

== Early life and acting career ==
Bonsall was born in [[Torrance, California]], to Garth Bonsall and his wife Kathleen Coleman. In 1986, he began playing the role of Andy Keaton in the sitcom ''[[Family Ties]]''. Bonsall won three [[Young Artist Award]]s for his performance on the series. He was also nominated for a Young Artist Award for his starring role in the [[made-for-TV movie]] ''[[Do You Know the Muffin Man?]]'' in 1990.

He made his feature film debut in 1992 in the [[horror film]] ''[[Mikey (film)|Mikey]]'', playing the title role, a demonic young boy who murders his parents and terrorizes his adoptive parents. This caused controversy in the UK owing to its depiction of a child killer at a time when the [[murder of James Bulger]] had raised sensitivity about violent behavior by children. The film was initially passed uncut by the [[British Board of Film Classification]], but its certificate was withdrawn by [[James Ferman]] in the wake of the Bulger killing.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/banned-the-most-controversial-films-1768299.html?action=gallery&ino=12 Banned: The most controversial films] ''The Independent''. Retrieved 1 June 2014.</ref>

Bonsall is known for playing [[Alexander Rozhenko]], son of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''{{'}}s Klingon security officer, [[Worf]], a recurring role he played for seven episodes across several seasons.

He played [[Patrick Swayze]]'s son in the 1993 film ''[[Father Hood]]''. In 1994, he starred in the [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] comedy ''[[Blank Check (film)|Blank Check]]'' and co-starred with [[Bob Saget]] in the TV movie comedy ''[[Father and Scout]]''. His other acting credits include the TV movie ''[[Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme]]'' and guest appearances on television series such as ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'' and ''[[The Young Riders]]''.

==Post-acting==
In 1995, Bonsall retired from acting and moved with his mother and stepfather to [[Boulder, Colorado]]. He attended [[Boulder High School]], graduating in 2000.<ref name="colday">{{cite news |work=Colorado Daily |first=Vanessa |last=Miller |date=2009-12-07 |url=http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13945077 |title=Former 'Family Ties' star Brian Bonsall arrested again in Boulder |access-date=2009-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113080734/http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13945077 |archive-date=2012-01-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He became a musician, forming the rock band Late Bloomers with his friends in 1998. He has been in the Boulder-based punk bands Thruster and The Light on Adam's Stereo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/brianbonsall/sets/the-light-on-adams-stereo/|title=Brian Bonsall - The Light on Adam's Stereo (Eight songs by Brian Bonsall: "Restart", "Just Calling to Say Goodbye", "Never Drinkin' Again", "Picture Perfect", "My Condolences", "Destiny", "Another Chapter", "On Our Way"; 26:09 free audio)|access-date=2014-06-02|publisher=SoundCloud}}</ref>

In 2016, Bonsall became a member and toured with rock band [[The Ataris]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westword.com/music/lowjob-heading-into-the-blasting-room-with-jason-livermore-7264077 |title=Lowjob Heading Into the Blasting Room With Jason Livermore |last=Childers |first=Oakland L. |work=[[Westword]] |date=2015-10-27 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> That same year, he claimed to have been clean and sober since his 2010 arrest: "My drunken run-ins with the law are about 10 years behind me, so I’m pretty happy about that. I’m not proud of my past mistakes but you live and you learn".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmindustrydigest.com/brian-bonsall-then-and-now/ |title=Brian Bonsall: Then and Now | Film Industry Digest |access-date=2020-04-14 |archive-date=2020-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205224743/http://www.filmindustrydigest.com/brian-bonsall-then-and-now/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2017, Bonsall married Courtney Tuck.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/announcements/marriage-licenses-in-greeley-weld-county-area-for-oct-24/|title=Marriage Licenses in Greeley, Weld County area for Oct. 24 |date=2017-10-23 |access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref> Together, they have a son. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fabiosa.com/ctent-rsvlk-auibs-pbibs-phakl-michael-j-fox-s-on-screen-son-on-family-ties-brian-bonsall-is-all-grown-up-and-now-a-proud-father-and-husband-himself/|title=Michael J. Fox's On-Screen Son On 'Family Ties' Brian Bonsall Is All Grown Up And Now A Proud Father And Husband Himself|website=Fabiosa.com|access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>

===Legal issues===
On March 28, 2007, Bonsall was arrested on charges of assaulting his partner. He was sentenced to two years of probation on August 31, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title='Family Ties' actor pleads guilty in assault case |url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/9/2/20038898/family-ties-actor-pleads-guilty-in-assault-case/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

On December 7, 2009, Bonsall was arrested for third degree assault and failure to appear in connection with the 2007 assault on his girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13945077|title=Former 'Family Ties' star Brian Bonsall arrested again in Boulder|access-date=2016-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113080734/http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13945077|archive-date=2012-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2010, Bonsall was arrested on charges of using marijuana in violation of the terms of his release. He was sentenced in April 2010 to two years of probation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/family-ties-child-star-brian-bonsall-sentenced-two-years-probation-assault-charge-article-1.166178|title='Family Ties' child star Brian Bonsall sentenced to two-years probation|newspaper=NY Daily News|access-date=2016-10-31}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1986–1989
| ''[[Family Ties]]''
| rowspan=2|Andrew "Andy" Keaton
| 78 episodes
|-
| rowspan=3|1988
| ''[[Mickey's 60th Birthday]]''
| Television special
|-
| ''[[Go Toward the Light]]''
| Zack
| Television movie
|-
| ''[[Day by Day (American TV series)|Day by Day]]''
| Andrew "Andy" Keaton
| Episode: "Trading Places"
|-
| rowspan=4|1989
| ''[[Do You Know the Muffin Man?]]''
| Teddy Dollison
| Television movie
|-
| ''[[Booker (TV series)|Booker]]''
| Billy
| Episode: "Deals and Wheels: Part 1"
|-
| ''On the Television''
| Googie Chowder
| Episode: "Stupid People's Court"
|-
| ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]''
| Brian
| Episode: "Koopa Klaus"
|-
| rowspan=3|1990
| ''[[Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme]]''
| Michael
| rowspan=2|Television movie
|-
| ''Angel of Death''
| Josh
|-
| ''[[Married People]]''
| Brian
| Episode: "To Live and Drive in LA"
|-
| rowspan=4|1991
| ''[[The Young Riders]]''
|
| Episode: "Old Scores"
|-
| ''[[Shades of L.A.]]''
| Andy Makowski
| 2 episodes:
|-
| ''[[Parker Lewis Can't Lose]]''
| Andrew Keaton
| Episode: "Civil Wars"
|-
| ''[[False Arrest (film)|False Arrest]]''
| Jason Lukezic
| Television movie
|-
| 1992–1994
| ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
| Alexander Rozhenko
| 7 episodes
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Mikey (film)|Mikey]]''
| Mikey Holt
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1993
| ''Distant Cousins''
| Alex Sullivan
|
|-
| ''[[Father Hood]]''
| Eddie Charles
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1994
| ''[[Blank Check (film)|Blank Check]]''
| Preston Waters
|
|-
| ''[[Father and Scout]]''
| Michael
| rowspan=2|Television movie
|-
| ''Lily in Winter''
| Michael Towler
|-
| 2018
| ''Slaughsages''
| Bonz
| Short film
|-
| 2022
| ''You're Melting!''
| Dr. Love
|
|}
==Discography==
'''The Ataris'''
*Silver Turn to Rust (2017)

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title of work
! Result
|-
|1988
|rowspan=4|[[Young Artist Award]]
|Best Young Actor Under Ten Years of Age in Television or Motion Pictures
|rowspan=2|''Family Ties''
|rowspan=2 {{won}}
|-
|1989
|Best Young Actor Under Nine Years of Age
|-
| rowspan=2|1990
|Best Young Actor Starring in a TV Movie, Pilot or Special
|''Do You Know the Muffin Man? ''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Performance by an Actor Under Nine Years of Age
|''Family Ties''
|{{won}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|id=0095176}}
*[https://soundcloud.com/brianbonsall Brian Bonsall] on [[SoundCloud]]

{{The Ataris}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonsall, Brian}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American punk rock musicians]]
[[Category:Boulder High School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:The Ataris members]]

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Brian Bonsall