Inside 1923's Brandon Sklenar's life from family to 'making ends meet'
Brandon Sklenar plays Spencer Dutton in the Yellowstone prequel 1923 and fans are keen to know more about the actor, who has also starred in It Ends with Us and Vice
Brandon Sklenar plays Spencer Dutton in the Yellowstone prequel 1923 and fans are keen to know more about the actor, who has also starred in It Ends with Us and ViceBrandon Sklenar comes from New Jersey
The highly anticipated 1923 prequel of Yellowstone returns to The Paramount Network and Paramount Plus on February 23, marking the comeback of Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton as he embarks on a treacherous journey back to Montana.
The season one finale left viewers on the edge of their seats, with Spencer separated from his wife Alex, played by Julia Schlaepfer, after receiving distressing news from his family at the ranch.
Spencer quickly became the fan-favourite character of the series. But who is the man behind the character?
Brandon Sklenar is a 34 year old American actor, also known for his roles in It Ends with Us alongside Blake Lively and Vice.
Blake Lively and Brandon Sklenar seen at a surprise screening of It Ends With Us (
Image:
Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
Born in New Jersey to a mother of Czechoslovak descent, Sklenar's journey to stardom was far from conventional.
After high school, he left New Jersey and moved to Los Angeles, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet until he was discovered by a manager at the age of 20.
His professional film debut came in 2011 with the film Cornered.
In an interview with Man About Town, Sklenar opened up about his humble beginnings, revealing: "I left right after high school, packed up the car and didn't tell anybody I was leaving.
"Just left in the middle of the night, very much like a Springsteen song. I told my dad the day before I was going.
"He said, 'good luck' and bought me a GPS because he's amazing. I worked in construction and on odd jobs to make ends meet, like being an extra in a bunch of movies and TV shows."
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton in 1923
Sklenar's big break came when he approached a man for a lighter at a diner, only to discover that the man was a manager who would go on to sign him.
Reflecting on his early life, he credited his grandmother for nurturing his acting ambitions with weekly video store trips. He affectionately recalled: "She hooked me up with cream cheese sandwiches and a bunch of popcorn."
In a chat with Esquire, he delved into his childhood, revealing a flair for inventing characters to inhabit.
"In those early years I was a lone wolf in my own head," he said. "I'd go to school in a character for two weeks. No joke."
He elaborated on his creative escapades: "I'd have an English accent, or I'd just makeup words and languages, and entertain myself that way. I got pretty good at it."
1923 airs on The Paramount Network and Paramount Plus on February 23