Adam Brody
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Adam Jared Brody (born December 15, 1979)<ref name="biography.com">Template:Cite web</ref> is an American actor. His breakout role was as Seth Cohen on the Fox television series The O.C. (2003–2007).<ref name="timem">Template:Cite magazine</ref> For his performance as Noah Roklov in the Netflix romantic comedy series Nobody Wants This (2024), he earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series (Musical/Comedy), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
Brody has appeared in films including Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Thank You for Smoking (2005), In the Land of Women (2007), and Jennifer's Body (2009). In the 2010s, Brody had supporting roles in comedies including Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) and Sleeping with Other People (2015), and dramatic films such as Lovelace (2013). He appeared in a number of television series during this time, and starred in and produced the television series StartUp (2016–2018).
Brody has also appeared in the DC superhero film Shazam! (2019) and its sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), and in the thriller films Ready or Not (2019) and Promising Young Woman (2020). He also starred in the mystery film The Kid Detective (2020) and the Hulu miniseries Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022).
Early life
Brody was born in San Diego, California,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to Valerie Jill (née Siefman),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a graphic artist, and Mark Alan Brody, an attorney.<ref name="tvg">Template:Cite web</ref> He has younger twin brothers, Sean and Matthew (born 1985).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His parents, both Jewish, are originally from Detroit. Brody had a bar mitzvah ceremony and grew up celebrating Jewish holidays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brody grew up in suburban San Diego, where he attended Wangenheim Middle School and Scripps Ranch High School and received "poor grades".<ref name="Casanova">Template:Cite web</ref> He spent much of his time surfing,<ref name="latimes07">Template:Cite web</ref> admitting that he "pretty much lived at the beach".<ref name="Casanova" />
Brody attended community college at MiraCosta College for one year, dropping out at the age of 19; he then moved to Hollywood to become an actor.<ref name="timem" />
Acting career
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After a year of training and auditioning, Brody landed the role of Barry Williams in the television film Growing Up Brady (2000) and appeared in the Canadian comedy series The Sausage Factory. In 2001, he had a minor role in American Pie 2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brody's first major television role came in 2002, when he was cast in a recurring role on the third season of the comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls as Dave Rygalski, Lane's bandmate and love interest.Template:Citation needed
In 2003, Brody appeared in the movie Grind and the music video for "Too Bad About Your Girl" by the Donnas. That year, he was cast in his breakout role as Seth Cohen on the teen drama series The O.C., where he reportedly improvised some of the character's comedic dialogue.<ref name="latimes07" /> The role turned him into a teen idol, with the character described by the Los Angeles Times as "TV's sexiest geek"<ref name="latimes07" /> and by Time as having "redefined" the screen persona of "unapologetic" nerdiness.<ref name="timem" /> Brody was the first male on the cover of Elle Girl.<ref name="timem" /><ref name="4/071">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2005, Brody had a supporting role in the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and played a Hollywood studio assistant in the film adaptation of Thank You for Smoking (2006).<ref name="latimes07" /> His next film role was in the romantic comedy In the Land of Women (2007), as a writer who returns to his mother's Michigan hometown to take care of his sick grandmother. He did not have to audition for the part, but was almost unable to appear in the film because of scheduling conflicts with the second season of The O.C.; the film's director pushed filming back eight months because he wanted Brody to star.<ref name="latimes07" /><ref name="4/071" /> The O.C. ended its run in 2007 after four seasons. Brody had said that he was "not unhappy" with the show's cancellation,<ref name="4/071" /> and that although he was "fortunate" to be on a successful series, he was also glad to "not be on it for 10 years".<ref name="timem" />
After the end of The O.C.Template:'s run, Brody turned to a full-time film career.<ref name="latimes07" /> In 2007, he appeared in supporting roles in the films Smiley Face and The Ten.<ref name="latimes07" /> In 2009, he starred in Boaz Yakin's drama Death in Love and in Diablo Cody's horror film Jennifer's Body. In 2010, he appeared in Kevin Smith's film Cop Out, and then in The Romantics. In July 2010, it was announced that he had worked play Deputy Ross Hoss in Scream 4,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was released in April 2011. In 2011, he voiced Woodie in the MTV animated series Good Vibes,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and appeared in The Oranges.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In January 2012, it was announced that Brody had joined the cast of Lovelace, a biopic about late 1970s porn star Linda Lovelace, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Brody portrayed Harry Reems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He starred in Some Girl(s), which premiered at the 2013 SXSW Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in Life Partners (2014).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, he appeared in Sleeping with Other People and starred as Billy Jones in Direct TV's sitcom Billy and Billie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2016, Brody starred in Sony Crackle's drama series StartUp.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He played the older version of Jack Dylan Grazer's character in the superhero film Shazam!<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and starred in the thriller Ready or Not, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett for Fox Searchlight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The films were released in April and August 2019, respectively, both to positive reviews. Brody has also appeared as Max Larssen in the eight-part drama Curfew, beginning in February 2019.<ref name="Cast2">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, he co-starred in the first season of Netflix's Nobody Wants This as Rabbi Noah Roklov who starts dating Kristen Bell's character, Joanne, a shiksa. His performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.<ref name="gg25">Template:Cite news</ref>
Other works
Template:See also Aside from acting, Brody is credited as a musician and writer; he says that he "writes screenplays and songs during [his] spare time."<ref name="timem2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2003, he wrote and produced the short film Home Security.<ref name="latimes072">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2005, Brody, along with Nathaniel Castro, Bret Harrison, and Brad Babinski, formed the Los Angeles–based rock band Big Japan, with Brody as the drummer.<ref name="latimes072" /> Their first release, Music for Dummies, was digitally released through Nightshift Records on August 23, 2005. The four-piece indie band played gigs at pubs and festivals from 2005 to 2007 such as The Knitting Factory, Bamboozle Left, The Roxy, Spaceland, and The Viper Room.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007, Brody, with Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, co-wrote a comic-book miniseries for DC's Wildstorm Comics titled Red Menace.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The limited series had six issues and was collected into a trade paperback. Since 2010, Brody has played drums in the project band The Shortcoats; they released their first EP, This Time Last Year, on October 4, 2011. Their song "Morning, Shipwreck," which Brody co-wrote, is featured in the sitcom Ben and Kate and the 2015 film The Meddler.Template:Citation needed
Brody is featured in the BBDO-created “It’s Time for WhatsApp” advertising campaign which debuted on September 3, 2025.<ref>Herrera, Tilde. "Adam vs. Adam: Scott and Brody Face Off in WhatsApp's Group Chat Test," Adweek, Wednesday 3 September 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.</ref>
Personal life
Brody is a secular Jew and is non-religious.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has described himself as a "faux intellectual"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="vidinterview2">Template:Cite web</ref> and is a member of the Democratic Party. He has joined voting action campaigns including Swing Left.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2010, Brody met actress Leighton Meester while filming The Oranges in Westchester, New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were engaged in November 2013 and married in a private ceremony on February 15, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their first child, a daughter, was born in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, they revealed they were expecting their second child,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a son who was born later that year.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In January 2025, their home was destroyed by the Palisades Fire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Random Acts of Violence | Student | |
| 2001 | According to Spencer | Tommy | |
| American Pie 2 | High school guy | Unrated version | |
| 2002 | The Ring | Male teen #1 / "Kellen" | |
| 2003 | Grind | Dustin Knight | |
| Home Security | Greg | Short film; also writer and producer<ref name="latimes072" /> | |
| Missing Brendan | Patrick Calden | ||
| 2005 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Benjamin Danz | |
| Thank You for Smoking | Jack Bein | ||
| 2007 | In the Land of Women | Carter Webb | |
| Smiley Face | Steve the Dealer | ||
| The Ten | Stephen Montgomery | ||
| 2008 | Death in Love | Talent agent | |
| 2009 | Jennifer's Body | Nikolai Wolf | |
| 2010 | Cop Out | Barry Mangold | |
| The Romantics | Jake | ||
| 2011 | Damsels in Distress | Charlie Walker | |
| The Oranges | Toby Walling | ||
| Scream 4 | Ross Hoss | ||
| 2012 | Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | Owen | |
| Revenge for Jolly! | Danny Fidazzo | ||
| 2013 | Baggage Claim | Sam | |
| Lovelace | Harry Reems | ||
| Some Girl(s) | The Man | ||
| Welcome to the Jungle | Chris | ||
| 2014 | Growing Up and Other Lies | Rocks | |
| Life Partners | Tim | ||
| Think Like a Man Too | Isaac | ||
| 2015 | Sleeping with Other People | Sam | |
| 2016 | Showing Roots | Bud | |
| Yoga Hosers | Ichabod | ||
| 2017 | CHiPs | Clay Allen | |
| Big Bear | Eric | ||
| 2018 | Isabelle | Matt Kane | |
| 2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Chronic-Con Hot Topic salesman | |
| Shazam! | Freddy Freeman (adult) | ||
| Ready or Not | Daniel Le Domas | ||
| 2020 | The Kid Detective | Abe Applebaum | |
| Promising Young Woman | Jerry | ||
| The Last Blockbuster | Himself | ||
| 2022 | Scream | Partygoer | Voice cameo |
| My Father's Dragon | Bob | Voice | |
| 2023 | Shazam! Fury of the Gods | Freddy Freeman (adult) | |
| River Wild | Trevor | Direct-to-video | |
| American Fiction | Wiley Valdespino | ||
| 2024 | The Gutter | Building Inspector |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Amanda Show | Greg Brady | Episode: "When Brady's Attack" |
| 2000 | City Guys | Customer #1 | Episode: "Makin' Up is Hard to Do" |
| Family Law | Noel Johnson | Episode: "My Brother's Keeper" | |
| Go Fish | Billy | Episode: "Go Student Council" | |
| Growing Up Brady | Barry Williams | TV movie | |
| Judging Amy | Barry Gilmore | Episode: "Romeo and Juliet Must Die – Well, Maybe Just Juliet" | |
| Undressed | Lucas | 3 episodes | |
| 2000–2001 | Once and Again | Coop | 3 episodes |
| 2000–2002 | The Sausage Factory | Zack Altman | Main cast |
| 2001–2004 | Grounded for Life | Brian | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Smallville | Justin Gaines | Episode: "Crush" |
| 2002–2003 | Gilmore Girls | Dave Rygalski | Recurring role (season 3) |
| 2003–2007 | The O.C. | Seth Cohen | Main cast |
| 2004 | MADtv | Seth Cohen | Episode 9.22 |
| 2006 | The Loop | Keith MacDonald | Episode: "The Rusty Trombone" |
| 2011 | Good Vibes | Woodie Stone | Main cast; voice role |
| 2013 | Burning Love | Max | Main cast (season 2) |
| House of Lies | Nate Hyatt | 3 episodes | |
| Kroll Show | Joel Faizon | Episode: "Ice Dating" | |
| The League | Ted Rappaport | 4 episodes | |
| 2014 | New Girl | Berkley | Episode: "Exes" |
| The Cosmopolitans | Jimmy | Pilot | |
| 2015 | Billy and Billie | Billy Jones | Main cast |
| 2016–2018 | StartUp | Nick Talman | Main cast; also producer |
| 2018 | Urban Myths | Jack Lemmon | Episode: "Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder" |
| 2019–2020 | Single Parents | Derek | Guest role (season 1); recurring role (season 2) |
| 2019 | Curfew | Max Larssen | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Marc Feigen Fasteau | Episode: "Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc" |
| 2022 | Fleishman Is in Trouble | Seth Morris | Miniseries; main cast |
| 2024–present | Nobody Wants This | Noah Roklov | Main cast |
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Template:Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series
- Pages with broken file links
- 1979 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male writers
- American comics writers
- American male film actors
- American male screenwriters
- American male songwriters
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Film producers from California
- Jewish American male actors
- Jewish American musicians
- Jews from California
- Living people
- Male actors from San Diego
- Musicians from San Diego
- Actors from Carlsbad, California
- American secular Jews
- Writers from San Diego
- 20th-century American drummers
- American male drummers
- 21st-century American drummers
- Screenwriters from California
- 20th-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century American Jews
- Scripps Ranch High School alumni
- Drummers from San Diego