Brett grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was an accomplished athlete, playing three varsity sports: football, volleyball, and wrestling. During this time, he also discovered his passion for music and formed a punk rock band with his brother Ryan, called The Disco Shivas. They performed at several notable venues, including a local Maryland dive bar, which was attended by a crowd of zero people.
At the age of eleven, Brett began his modeling career, strutting down the catwalk during a Model Search America Expo. He was surprised to be called back by several agencies in the mid-Atlantic region and quickly signed with a local talent agency. This led to work in print, radio, and promo videos.
Brett's big break came at the age of fourteen, when he auditioned for the role of a singing flower peddler in a revival of William Wycherley's 'The Country Wife' at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC. Although he didn't get to sing, he was cast in a non-singing role and fell in love with the theatre and its eccentric characters.
A year later, Brett landed his first feature film role in 'Hearts in Atlantis,' starring Anthony Hopkins and Anton Yelchin. His first scene was opposite Sir Hopkins, who Brett was convinced might want to eat him for dinner. The following year, he was cast as Gaylen Gilmore in the HBO Feature Film 'Shot in the Heart,' directed by Agnieszka Holland and starring Sam Shepard, Amy Madigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Elias Koteas, and Lee Tergesen.
Brett then appeared in the Discovery Channel Movie of the Week, 'A Haunting in Connecticut,' playing the lead role of Paul Parker, a cancer patient who makes a pact with the devil. Both 'A Haunting...' and 'Hearts in Atlantis' can still be found playing on cable networks.
After moving to New York City, Brett spent five years studying the craft of acting under the guidance of a disciple of Lee Strasberg's. During this time, he performed in dozens of original plays and classical productions, as well as began training as a boxer with several professional boxers.
Brett then moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, where he wrote and produced three short films, two of which he also starred in and directed. The first two films, 'Bed-Stuy Lullaby' and 'Jam,' both traveled to the Cannes International Film Festival and combined, screened in over ten festivals. His latest short film, 'The Weeper,' a story about a guy who spontaneously starts crying and can't stop, is currently in the festival circuit.
Brett has received critical acclaim for his roles in several LA theatre productions, including 'War Bride,' 'Sunny Afternoon,' 'Yellow,' and 'Dog Sees God.' At present, he is writing his first feature film and developing several projects for television and the Internet.
