About Brett Gelman from “Stranger Things”: Does he speak Russian?

 

Who is Brett Gelman?

Brett Gelman is an American award-winning actor, comedian and writer, probably best known to the world as Murray Bauman in Netflix’s series “Stranger Things” (2017-2024), and as Martin in the TV series “Fleabag” (2016-2019), in addition to many other roles he’s portrayed in his career.

Brett Gelman Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Brett Clifford Gelman was born on 6 October 1976, in Highland Park, Illinois, USA. Of Jewish ancestry, Brett has a younger sister who is a speech pathologist. He went to Highland Park High School, after which he enrolled at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and receiving classical training in theater.

Career Beginnings

Following his graduation, Brett moved to New York City with Jon Daly, who was his fellow schoolmate, and with whom he joined the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre as one part of the duo Cracked Out and sketch group Mr. A$$. The two worked for several years together, performing live across the US.

Before making his on-screen debut, Brett worked on a popular New York Lottery commercial, while he also performed a one-man show called “1,000 Cats”.

In 2004 he made a minor appearance in the comedy film “Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story”, starring Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer and Dannah Feinglass, among others.

He struggled to get things going, making only minor appearances until 2010, when he secured the role of Hal in the comedy film “The Other Guys”. His character is a reckless investor, and the main character’s boss, Detective Allen Gamble, played by Will Ferrell. Although it was a relatively minor role, Gelman’s performance was praised, as he helped contribute to the film’s overall comedic tone.

In 2011 he secured the role of Brett Mobley, a US Marshal in the TV series “Eagleheart”. His character is the friend of the series’ main character, and appeared in all 26 episodes of the popular series, co-starring alongside Chris Elliott, Maria Thayer and Michael Gladis.

Brett next secured the role of Mr. Gilbert in the British coming-of-age sitcom “The Inbetweeners”, which follows the misadventures of four teenage boys as they navigate the awkward and often humiliating terrain of adolescence, starring Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley, and others.

After this, he had a minor role as Jeff Raskin, a computer scientist and human-computer interface expert in the biopic-drama “Jobs”, which follows the life of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., starring Ashton Kutcher.

From 2014 to 2016, he played A.J. in the TV series “Married”, a comedy-drama series that follows the lives of Russ and his wife Lina, as they navigate the challenges of marriage and parenthood.

Rise to Prominence

Concurrently, in 2015, Brett secured the role of Hamish Crassus in the comedy series “Another Period”, created by and starring Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome as the Bellacourt sisters, while Gelman’s character, Hamish Crassus, was a social activist and anarchist who frequently clashed with the Bellacourt family. Gelman appeared in a total of 20 episodes over the course of the show’s three-season run.

‘Stranger Things’ Success

He continued his career with television roles, and from 2016 to 2018, portrayed Dr. Greg Colter in the TV series “Love”.

However, Brett Gelman’s breakout role came in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things”, in which he plays Murray Bauman, a conspiracy theorist and journalist who becomes involved with the show’s central group of characters, including Joyce Byers played by Winona Ryder, and Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour.

Gelman had said that he was a fan of the show before he was cast, which he was excited to join -to prepare for the role, Gelman has said that he did research on conspiracy theorists and journalists. He also worked with a dialect coach to perfect Murray’s distinctive accent.

From Russia, with love ❤️🙃@Stranger_Things #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/y6OOzPaFdi

— Shawn Levy (@ShawnLevyDirect) May 31, 2022

Due to the positive reception of Murray in the show’s second season, Gelman was promoted to a main character for the fourth season. He learned Russian and attended a karate course to fully prepare for the role. He’s become a fan favorite of the show, joining the other stars including Millie Bobby Brown and Winona Ryder among others.

Other Projects

During his work on “Stranger Things”, Brett also featured in a number of other projects. In 2018, he appeared in the film “Wild Nights with Emily” in which he played the role of Higginson. The film is a biographical comedy-drama about the life of poet Emily Dickinson, played by Molly Shannon; Gelman’s character is a close friend of Dickinson’s and serves as a mentor and confidante to her.

The same year he also starred as George in the HBO comedy series “Camping”, created by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, and which follows a group of friends who go on a camping trip to celebrate one of their birthdays. Gelman’s character, George, is a cynical and abrasive man who is married to the controlling and neurotic Kathryn, played by Jennifer Garner.

Despite positive reviews for the cast and performances, “Camping” received mixed reviews overall, and wasn’t renewed for a second season.

He’s now working on several projects, including the upcoming TV comedy series “Entitled”, in which he will star with Donald Sumpter and Pippa Bennett-Warner, and the action-thriller film “Boy Kills World”, among several others.

Net Worth

According to sources, Brett Gelman’s net worth is estimated at over $1 million, as of early 2023.

Personal Life, Dating, Married, Wife, Children

Brett Gelman was married to American film director, producer, and screenwriter Janicza Bravo from 2015 to 2018 – the couple met in New York City while working together on a New York Lotto commercial; yhey didn’t have children.

According to reports, Brett has been in a relationship with musician Ari Dayan since 2022.

Appearance and Vital Statistics

Brett Gelman has black hair and hazel eyes, and is recognized for his beard. He stands at a height of 6ft 1in (1.85m), while he weighs approximately 165lbs (75kgs). His vital statistics are unknown, but he has an average figure.