Brett Gelman (born October 6, 1976) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Murray Bauman in Netflix's horror-supernatural series Stranger Things and as Martin in the BBC comedy Fleabag.
Gelman began his career as a comedian in the 2000s, gaining notability the following decade for his involvement in numerous Adult Swim shows, notably Eagleheart and comedy specials in 2014 and 2015. During this time, he also was part of the main casts of the NBC sitcom Go On, the Comedy Central series Another Period, and the FX comedy series Married.
Gelman became prominent in the late 2010s for his supporting roles in Fleabag and Stranger Things, in addition to those on Camping and Mr. Mercedes. As a voice actor, he has contributed to television series Jeff & Some Aliens and TripTank on Comedy Central and, more recently, I Heart Arlo and Inside Job on Netflix, among others. He starred in the Apple TV+ drama series Lady in the Lake.
Early life Gelman's father was a photo salesman. He was raised Jewish and has a younger sister who is a speech pathologist.
Gelman graduated from Highland Park High School in Illinois. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he received classical training in theater.
Career After college, Gelman moved to New York City with a fellow schoolmate, actor Jon Daly. While in New York, Gelman was a regular performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, as part of the duo Cracked Out and sketch group Mr. A$$.
A popular New York Lottery commercial funded his work for a while. Gelman did a one-man show called 1,000 Cats, which he workshopped at many venues.
Gelman has appeared in the films The Other Guys and 30 Minutes or Less. He has co-starred as Chris Elliott's sidekick Brett Mobley in the live-action Adult Swim series Eagleheart and is a regular sketch performer on HBO's Funny or Die Presents and Comedy Central's Nick Swardson's Pretend Time. He has had recurring roles on The Life & Times of Tim and The Inbetweeners, as well as making guest appearances on comedy programs such as Bored to Death, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, Happy Endings, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and The League. Gelman has also written for the MTV sketch series Human Giant and the Scott Aukerman & B. J. Porter created sketch pilot The Right Now! Show.
In 2010, Gelman appeared as a cast member on the Comedy Central sketch comedy special This Show Will Get You High, created by Matt Besser. Gelman co-starred as "Mr. K" on the NBC comedy series Go On starring Matthew Perry, and as A.J. on the FX comedy series Married.
In 2014, Gelman hosted a dinner party special, called Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends, which aired on Adult Swim.
In 2015, Gelman was also a consulting writer on season two of the entertainment news parody series Hot Package on Adult Swim and also recurs as Hamish on the Comedy Central series Another Period and as Ronnie on the Starz series Blunt Talk. Also in 2015, Gelman appeared in the series finale of Mad Men.
In July 2016, Gelman starred in the special Dinner in America with Brett Gelman, a sequel to Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends, which focused on racism. In November 2016, Gelman said that he had left Cartoon Network and Adult Swim due to the network's alleged poor treatment of female employees and the promotion of the controversial Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace.
In 2017, Gelman starred in and co-wrote Lemon, opposite Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Nia Long and Gillian Jacobs, directed by Janicza Bravo. It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017.
In 2016, it was announced that Gelman was cast in the second season of the hit Netflix science-fiction web series Stranger Things as Murray Bauman, a conspiracy theorist and former journalist. He was promoted to the main cast for the fourth season.
In 2018, he starred in the independent feature film Room for Rent, opposite Mark Little, Carla Gallo, Stephnie Weir, Patrick J. Adams, and Mark McKinney. Gunpowder & Sky released the film in the US on all major VOD platforms November 2, 2018.
In 2022, it was announced that Gelman was starring in the Apple TV+ drama series Lady in the Lake, based on Laura Lippman's novel of the same name.
Gelman was cast for the movie McVeigh in 2024, where he played the role of Terry Nichols. In an interview with Karen Butler of United Press International, Gelman said that he had to work hard to "get into the head of this (Nichols's) very reprehensible, very problematic guy."
Other work Gelman and frequent writing partner and collaborator Jon Daly performed for many years as the comedy rap duo "Cracked Out". Gelman has gained recognition for appearing as the "Little Bit Of Luck" character in the "Take 5" New York Lottery ad campaign that ran from 2008 through 2011. Gelman has said that the inspiration for the character is rocker Guthrie Govan.
Gelman made frequent appearances on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, as well as other podcasts on the Earwolf podcasting network. In 2011, he began his own podcast, Gelmania, also available on the Earwolf network. Gelman has said he wanted his podcast to "reflect a lot of the fears and anger and sadness of the world, but do that through a really stupid lens." In 2014, Gelmania began its second season but is no longer on the Earwolf network.
Personal life In December 2015, Gelman married Janicza Bravo. The pair met in New York City while working on a New York Lotto commercial. They divorced in 2018. Gelman announced his engagement to actress and model Ari Dayan via Instagram in April 2023.
Gelman has been a vocal supporter of Israel on Instagram throughout the Gaza war. In November 2023, Gelman was among more than a dozen creators and celebrities who confronted TikTok executives in a public letter claiming that the app is directly amplifying the spread of antisemitism. TikTok pushed back against claims that it was promoting pro-Palestine, anti-Israel content through its feeds, stating instead that while the platform regularly moderates antisemitic, Anti-Arab racist, and Islamophobic content, it does not moderate nor amplify the spread of content expressing criticism of the Israeli government. He appeared on the Israeli sketch-comedy program Eretz Nehederet later that year, "skewering the anti-Israel sentiment in the American left and especially on campus," as described in the Times of Israel.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 2004Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story Mayhem Team Member 2006Gingerbreed Driller Driver 2007Watching the Detectives Glenn 2008Stick It in Detroit Hot Rod Johnson 2009May the Best Man Win Bachelor Party Host 2010The Other Guys Hal 2011Eat August Short30 Minutes or Less Pizza BossA Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas TV Director 2013JobsJef RaskinAwful Nice IvanGregory Go Boom Tom Short, also producer 2014Someone Marry Barry Goker 2016Joshy GregFlock of Dudes Howie 2017Lemon Isaac Lachmann Also writerWilson RobertDRIB Brady ThompsonThe Disaster Artist Acting Teacher Room for RentCarl Lemay 2018Wild Nights with EmilyHigginsonLike Father Frank Lerue2019Jezebel BobbyVoice Harpoon Narrator 2020Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics Himself2021Arlo the Alligator Boy MarcellusVoiceWithout Remorse Victor Rykov2022Metal Lords Dr. Sylvester Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Mr. Grumps 2023 Surrounded Mr. Fields Strays Willy Boy Kills World Gideon van der Koy 2024 McVeigh Terry Nichols 2025 Haunted Heist TBA TBA Ned Parker Post-production Dr. Carnegie Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2005Coke Gonzales TV shortThe Colbert Report Spencer Episode: "Greg Behrendt" 2007Fat Guy Stuck in Internet Co-Worker, Linux, The Oracle 3 episodesHonesty Mechanic Episode: "Mechanic" 2008Human Giant Kidnapped Soldier, Rapzilla, Billy Crystal 2 episodes 2009Californication Annoying Hipster Episode: "Mia Culpa"2010Comedy Lab Ruby Voice, episode: "Penelope Princess of Pets"This Show Will Get You High Cast Member Comedy Central pilotNick Swardson's Pretend Time Various Episode: "Mudslide Junction" 2010–2011Funny or Die Presents Nick, Performer 3 episodesThe Back Room Mr. America, James Gandolfini 4 episodes 2010–2012The Life & Times of Tim Co-Worker, Walker Fan, Adam's Friend, Doug the Intruder Voice, 4 episodes 2011Happy Endings Carl Episode: "Your Couples Friends & Neighbors"Curb Your Enthusiasm Pig Parker Episode: "Vow of Silence"Bored to Death Faux Jonathan Episode: "We Could Sing a Duet" 2011–2013The League Gavin 2 episodes 2011–2014Eagleheart Brett Mobley Series regular; 26 episodes 2012The Office The Magician Episode: "Welcome Party" The Inbetweeners Mr Gilbert Recurring; 7 episodesAqua Teen Hunger Force Rocket Horse Voice, episode: "Rocket Horse & Jet Chicken" 2012–2013Go On Mr. K Series regular; 22 episodes 2012–2015Comedy Bang! Bang! Dog Lawyer, Mr. Celebrity 2 episodes2013Ghost Ghirls Rabbit Episode: "I Believe in Mira-ghouls"NTSF:SD:SUV:: Gabby Hofstein Episode: "Unfrozen Agent Man"We Are Men Alimony Steve Episode: "We Are Franksgiving" 2013–2014Drunk History Various 2 episodes 2013–2015Kroll Show Various 3 episodes2014Surviving Jack Principal McMullen Episode: "Rhythm Is a Dancer"Adventure Time Ring Master Voice, episode: "Sad Face"Bad Teacher Doug Pilaf 5 episodesDinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends Himself Special 2014–2015Married A.J. Series regular; 23 episodes2014–2016Mr. Pickles Cheeseman Voice, 2 episodesTripTank Jeff Voice, 9 episodes 2015Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Brett Gelman's Family Himself SpecialFresh Off the Boat Dusty Nugget Episode: "Persistent Romeo"Man Seeking Woman Demon Episode: "Stain"The Odd Couple Stuart Episode: "Jealous Island"Mad Men Daniel Episode: "Person to Person" 2015–2016Blunt Talk Ronnie 6 episodes 2015–2018Another Period Hamish Crassus Recurring; 20 episodes2016Angel from Hell Lee 2 episodesClarence Mr. Mozer Voice, episode: "Field Trippin'"Dinner in America with Brett Gelman Himself SpecialHigh Maintenance Himself Episode: "Selfie" 2016–2018Love Dr. Greg Colter Recurring; 10 episodes 2016–2020American Dad! Various voices 6 episodes 2016–2019Fleabag Martin Series regular; 7 episodes2017Jeff & Some Aliens Jeff Voice, main role (10 episodes)Making HistoryPaul Revere 2 episodesBudding Prospects Vogelsein PilotTwin Peaks Supervisor Burns 2 episodes 2017–2025Stranger Things Murray Bauman Recurring (seasons 2–3)Main (season 4–5) 2018Camping George Main role; 8 episodes 2019Mr. Mercedes Rolan Finklestein Recurring role; 9 episodes2020Family Guy Escape Room Guy Voice, episode: "Baby Stewie" The Mighty Ones Egg Voice, episode: "Egg Nag" 2021I Heart Arlo Marcellus Voice, 18 episodes 2021–2022 Inside Job Magic Myc Voice, 18 episodes2023Eretz NehederetWise man from BerkeleyChristmas special sketch Entitled Gabe Stark Main role, 8 episodes2024 Lady in the Lake Milton Main role, 7 episodes Hamster and Gretel Felix Voice, episode: "Who's in Charge?" TBA Bernie Yuman Upcoming miniseries
Music Video Year Title Role Notes2011 Another Like You - Hayes Carll
References
External links