Nicholas Joseph Braun (born May 1, 1988)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Hirsch in the HBO series Succession (2018–2023), for which he has received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[2] He has also appeared in several films, including Sky High (2005), Princess Protection Program (2009), Red State (2011), Prom (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Watch (2012), Date and Switch (2014), How to Be Single (2016), Zola (2021) and Cat Person (2023).

Nicholas Braun
Braun in 2024
Born
Nicholas Joseph Braun

(1988-05-01) May 1, 1988 (age 36)
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
ParentCraig Braun (father)

Early life

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Braun was born and raised on Long Island, New York. His father, Craig Braun, is an actor and a former graphic designer, who co-designed the Rolling Stones' tongue and lips logo.[3] When Braun was five years old,[4] his parents divorced, and he divided his time between his mother's home in Connecticut and his father's home in Manhattan.[5]

Braun attended boarding school as a teenager,[3] and acted during summer breaks.[6] He attended Occidental College as a math major, but dropped out after two years to continue pursuing a career in acting.[4]

He is 6'7" and has said his height is “the biggest impediment to getting roles”, and has tried to pass as several inches shorter. [7]

Career

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Encouraged by his father, Braun began to take acting classes at a very young age.[5]

He made his film debut in Sky High. He had roles in the Disney Channel Original Movies Minutemen (2008) and Princess Protection Program (2009).[8][9] He played the regular role of Cameron on the ABC Family show 10 Things I Hate About You,[9][10] until it was cancelled with its final episode airing on May 24, 2010.[11] He appeared in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and portrayed the character Cole Waters on the web series The LXD. In 2011, he played Lloyd Taylor in Disney's theatrical release Prom,[9][12] and Billy Ray in Kevin Smith's Red State. The following year, he had a supporting role in the coming-of-age film The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).

In 2015, he was featured on two tracks of the Phantoms' debut EP, Broken Halo. He provided vocals on the title track and on "Voyeur".[13] He also co-starred in both Date and Switch (2014)[14] and How to Be Single (2016).[15] He played Derek in the A24 drama film Zola (2021), which was directed by Janicza Bravo and written by Jeremy O. Harris.[16] The film received positive reviews.[17][18]

In 2018, Braun became a member of the main cast of the HBO drama series Succession, playing Gregory Hirsch. For his performance in the show, Braun received critical acclaim and was nominated three times—in 2020, 2022, and 2023—for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[19]

On July 29, 2020, Braun released the music video for his single "Antibodies (Do You Have The)".[20] He stated that the song was made in partnership with Partners In Health and the COPE Program to encourage listeners to donate in support of those most at risk from the pandemic.

In 2022, he appeared in the IFC mockumentary series Documentary Now! episode "Soldier of Illusion, Parts 1 & 2", directed by Alex Buono and Rhys Thomas. The installment parodied the films of Werner Herzog and was written by John Mulaney.[21]

Braun starred in the Susanna Fogel drama Cat Person (2023), which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.[22] The film is based on the 2017 short story featured in The New Yorker, which was released amid the MeToo movement.[23] Braun then appeared in the fantasy film Dream Scenario, directed by Kristoffer Borgli.[24][25] He was cast as filmmaker and puppeteer Jim Henson for the 2024 biographical dramedy Saturday Night and will appear in the 2026 thriller Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie, based on the novel by the same name.[26][27]

Other ventures

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Braun has invested in various bars and restaurants in New York City.[28][29]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Sky High Zach / Zach Attack
2008 Minutemen Zeke Thompson
2009 The First Time Ernie
2011 Red State Billy Ray
Chalet Girl Nigel
Prom Lloyd Taylor
2012 The Watch Jason
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Ponytail Derek
2013 At Middleton Justin
2014 Date and Switch Michael
2015 The Stanford Prison Experiment Karl Vandy
Poltergeist Boyd
Jem and the Holograms Brad Uncredited
Freaks of Nature Dag Parker
2016 How to Be Single Josh
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Tall Brian
Get a Job Charlie
Good Kids Andy Evans
2017 The Year of Spectacular Men Charlie
Avenues Peter
2020 Zola Derrek
The Big Ugly Will
2023 Cat Person Robert Holt
Dream Scenario Brian Berg
2024 Saturday Night Jim Henson / Andy Kaufman
2026 Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie Tim Derry Post-production
TBA Splitsville Post-production
Famous Filming[30]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Walter and Henry Henry Television film
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Kid Episode: "Surveillance"
2004 Carry Me Home Zeke Television film
2006 Without a Trace Zander Marrs Episode: "Fade-Away"
2007 Shark Craig Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
2008 Minutemen Zeke Thompson Television film
Cold Case Lenny Snow (1951) Episode: "Shore Leave"
2009 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Randy Episode: "Money for Nothing, Chicks for Free"
Princess Protection Program Ed Television film
2009–2010 10 Things I Hate About You Cameron James Main cast
2009 Three Rivers Michael Episode: "The Luckiest Man"
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Neal Monroe Episode: "Hitting for the Cycle"
Brave New World Matt Koutnick Unsold NBC pilot
2012 Friend Me Rob Unaired series
2018–2023 Succession Greg Hirsch Main cast
2020 Home Movie: The Princess Bride The Albino 2 episodes[31]
2021 Calls Tim (voice) Episode: "The End"
Saturday Night Live Himself Episode: "Jason Sudeikis / Brandi Carlile"
Santa Inc. Devin (voice) 7 episodes
2022 The Simpsons Cousin Greg (voice) Episode: "Meat Is Murder"
Documentary Now! Kevin Butterman 2 episodes
Year Title Role Notes
2008–2011 Poor Paul Clyde 22 episodes
2010 The LXD Cole Waters 3 episodes
2011 Corey & Lucas for the Win! Lloyd Taylor Episode: "Party All Night!"
2015 Wrestling Isn't Wrestling Theater audience member Short film

Music videos

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Year Title Artist(s) Ref.
2009 "I Want You to Want Me" (10 Things I Hate About You version) KSM [32]
2011 "Your Surrender" (Prom version) Neon Trees [33]
2021 "Antibodies (Do You Have The)" (Atlantic Records) Nicholas Braun [34]

Awards and nominations

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Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Critics' Choice Television Awards 2022 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Succession Nominated [35]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2020 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Succession Nominated [36]
2022 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Succession Nominated [37]
2023 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Succession Nominated [38]
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2022 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Succession Won [39]
2024 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Succession Won [40]

References

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  1. ^ Lindert, Hattie (May 1, 2022). "Nicholas Braun Gets Birthday Wish from Pal Christopher Mintz-Plasse: 'One of the Cutest Boys I've Ever Known'". people.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "72nd Emmy Awards Complete Nomination List" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Allen, Ben (June 16, 2021). "Nicholas Braun on Zola, Succession rumours and, yep, those Crocs". GQ Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Itzkoff, Dave (October 6, 2021). "How the 'Succession' Star Nicholas Braun Elevates Cousin Greg". New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Moshakis, Alex (October 31, 2021). "Succession's Nicholas Braun: 'I feel better being honest than hiding'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Feher, Samantha (October 23, 2021). "How Nicholas Braun — Cousin Greg on 'Succession'— became NYC's hottest bachelor". New York Post. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  7. ^ https://www.vulture.com/article/jacob-elordi-height-essay.html?utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw
  8. ^ Murray, Iana (August 29, 2019). "In Praise of Nicholas Braun, Disney Star". GQ. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Nicholas Braun". IMDb. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  10. ^ "Nicholas Braun". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "TV Show News and Ratings – Live Feed". The Hollywood Reporter. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "What the Cast of 'Prom' Is Up to Now: Photos Today". J-14. June 8, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Broken Halo – EP". iTunes. September 25, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  14. ^ Sneider, Jeff (February 14, 2014). "Hunter Cope on His Breakout Gay Role Opposite Dakota Johnson in 'Date and Switch'". thewrap.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  15. ^ Cabral, R. J. (April 14, 2015). "New Line's 'How to Be Single' Adds Jason Mantzoukas, Nicholas Braun (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Ide, Wendy (August 8, 2021). "Zola review – a tweet-driven joyride to the dark side". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Zola (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Zola". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Cordero, Rosy; D'Alessandro, Anthony; Sitek, Natalie (January 15, 2024). "'Succession' Cousin Greg Spinoff? Here's What Nicholas Braun Has To Say — Emmys Red Carpet". Deadline. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Nicholas Braun - Antibodies (Do You Have The) [Music Video]". Youtube. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Alexander Skarsgard, Nicholas Braun on lampooning Werner Herzog in the Documentary Now! premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Khazan, Olga (December 11, 2017). "A Viral Short Story for the #MeToo Moment". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "Full Cast & Crew: Dream Scenario (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Hammond, Pete (September 10, 2023). "'Dream Scenario' Review: Nicolas Cage Hits The Heights Of Comedy In A Hysterical Role Like No Other In His Career – Toronto Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Kroll, Justin; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 7, 2024). "'SNL 1975' Origin Movie Finds Its Jim Henson, Michael O'Donoghue & Billy Crystal". Deadline. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  27. ^ Stephan, Katcy (June 7, 2024). "'Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie,' Starring Hugh Jackman, Gets February 2026 Release Date From Amazon MGM Studios". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "'Succession's Nicholas Braun Opens a Bar in N.Y.C. — Plus More Celebrity-Owned Restaurants". People Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  29. ^ "'Succession' May Be Going Away but Cousin Greg's Real-Life Restaurants Are (Hopefully) Here to Stay". Food&Wine. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  30. ^ Ritman, Alex (November 19, 2024). "Nicholas Braun, Stephanie Koenig and Debby Ryan Join Zac Efron in Celebrity Thriller 'Famous' for Black Bear (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Breznican, Anthony (June 26, 2020). "Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  32. ^ "KSM – I Want You to Want Me (10 Things I Hate About You Version)". YouTube. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  33. ^ "Neon Trees – Your Surrender (Prom Version)". YouTube. April 6, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  34. ^ "Antibodies (Do You Have The)". YouTube. July 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  35. ^ Pederson, Eric (March 7, 2021). "Critics Choice TV Nominations: Succession Leads Field As HBO Edges Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  36. ^ "72nd Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  37. ^ Lewis, Hilary; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 12, 2022). "2022 Emmy Awards Nominations Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  38. ^ Lewis, Hilary (July 12, 2023). "Emmys 2023: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  39. ^ "The 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  40. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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