Austin Basis
{{short description|American actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|9|14}}
| birth_place = Sea Gate, Brooklyn,
New York City, New York,
United States
| birth_name = Austin Lee Basis
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2002–present
| partner =
| parents =
|alma_mater = Binghamton University
| children =
| family =
}}
Austin Lee Basis (born September 14, 1976) is an American actor.
Early life and education
Basis was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Midwood High School. While majoring in theatre at Binghamton University, he performed in the title roles of "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead" and "I Hate Hamlet", in addition to several original productions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/austin-basis/bio/3030008472/|title=Austin Basis|website=TVGuide.com}} After graduation, he joined the Actors Studio MFA program,{{cite news|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/brooklyn-born-actor-loves-his-beauty-and-beast-role-2013-05-08-191500|title=Brooklyn born actor loves his 'Beauty and the Beast' role|last=Katinas|first=Paula|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=2013-05-13|accessdate=2014-04-11}} where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. He is Jewish.{{Cite web|url=https://abilitymagazine.com/austin-basis-beauty-and-the-beast.html|title=Austin Basis - Beauty and the Beast|website=abilitymagazine.com}}
Career
As a struggling actor in New York, Basis worked as a bartender, a bouncer, a busboy, a cater-waiter, and a substitute teacher while performing in independent and student films, and Off-Off Broadway plays. He also co-created and performed in an improv & sketch comedy show called "Mmm...Comedy" that ran for seven months.
= Television =
Basis's most prominent television role has been on the recent incarnation of Beauty & the Beast, where he played J.T. Forbes.
His television debut was in the Comedy Central film Porn 'n Chicken (2002). In 2004 he was cast in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001). He then landed a role in a Warner Brothers TV pilot for FOX called Spellbound (2004) with Christine Baranski, Barry Bostwick and Dave Annable.
Since then, Basis has appeared on numerous TV shows, including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006), Supernatural (2005), Life on Mars (2008) and Life Unexpected (2010–2011). His film credits include Dorian Blues (2004), Boxboarders! (2007), American Zombie (2007), My Sassy Girl (2008), and The Other End of the Line (2008).
He has appeared in a number of commercials as well, including spots for Toys 'R' Us, Wendy's, Dr. Pepper, State Farm, and Burger King. He also plays Benjamin Bankes the Pig in the Ad Council's "Feed the Pig" campaign.
Personal life
Basis has type 1 diabetes, and he has worked as an activist to promote awareness.{{cite news|url=http://ktla.com/2013/10/25/austin-basis-jdrf-walk-to-cure-diabetes/|title=Austin Basis- JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes|author=|work=KTLA|date=2013-10-25|accessdate=2014-04-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/interview-with-beauty-and-the-beast-star-austin-basis/2013/11/14/|title=Interview with Beauty and the Beast star Austin Basis|last=Fernandes|first=Marriska|work=Tribute.ca|date=2013-11-14|accessdate=2014-04-11}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2002
| Interviewed Student | TV movie |
| 2004
| Spellbound | Ben Miller | TV movie |
| 2004
| Spooky | |
| 2004
| Skips | Leo | short |
| 2005
| Terrormarketers | | voice |
| 2005
| Hazard | Angry Deli Vigilante | |
| 2005
| Building Girl | Duffy | |
| 2007
| Anthem | Man with a Portrait | short |
| 2007
| Ivan | |
| 2007
| James James | |
| 2007
| Om | Bobby | short |
| 2007
| Crazy Cal | |
| 2007
| Life Unkind | The Kid | short |
| 2008
| Leo | |
| 2008
| Charlie Hendricks | |
| 2009
| The Things We Carry | Jake | |
| 2010
| Re-Cut | David Stankowitz | |
| 2011
| J. Edgar | Bank Teller | |
| 2025
|Rockwell |Short film |
=Television=
=Web=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2010–2011
| Kenny Spruce | 11 episodes |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.austinbasis.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|1648016}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basis, Austin}}
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Male actors from Brooklyn
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:People from Sea Gate, Brooklyn