Brandon Jay McLaren is a Canadian actor who plays the volatile U.S. Customs Agent Dale Jakes, on Graceland.
Biography[]
In 2012, McLaren starred as Jamil Dexter on the second season of the hit show “Falling Skies.” McLaren may be best known to audiences for his starring role as Bennett Ahmed throughout season one on the critically acclaimed series “The Killing,” or for his role as Jack Landors in children's TV Series Power Rangers SPD. He was nominated for a 2012 Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series, for his work on the show.
McLaren has also made his mark in feature films, appearing in “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” which made its way through the film festival circuit in 2011 after becoming a Sundance Film Festival Favorite and winning the 2012 SXSW Audience Award. McLaren first made his mark in Hollywood as Toby, in the smash comedy hit “She’s the Man,” opposite Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. His additional credits include appearing on the series “Being Erica,” “Harper’s Island” and guest-starring roles on “CSI,” “Human Target” and “The Wanda Sykes Show.”
Born and raised in Vancouver, McLaren is of Trinidadian and Grenadian descent. He found his love for acting during high school, where he took theater courses. McLaren graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology from New York State University at Albany, where he received a full scholarship for soccer. During college, McLaren realized he missed theater and decided to return to Vancouver and pursue acting full-time. Once back in Vancouver, McLaren booked his first real project, a series called “The Black Sash.” He also produced and starred in the short film “Two Knots”—the first of nine short films for the ensemble feature Vancouver Stories.
Career[]
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Cleaning Lady | Jeremy Dolan | "El Camino del Diablo" | |
| "El Reloj" | ||||
| 2022-23 | Snowfall | Buckley | 14 Episodes | |
| 2021-23 | The Rookie | Elijah Stone | 11 Episodes | |
| 2023 | The Rookie: Feds | Elijah Stone | "Payback" | |
| 2022 | Everything's Trash | Hamilton Hayes | 16 Episodes | |
| 2021 | Turner & Hooch | Xavier Watkins | 12 Episodes | |
| 2021 | Firefly Lane | Travis | 6 Episodes | |
| 2020 | Marry Me This Christmas | Daniel English | TV Movie | |
| 2020 | The Twilight Zone | Frisch | "8" | |
| 2017-19 | Ransom | Oliver Yates | 39 Episodes | |
| 2018 | UnREAL | Dr Simon | 10 Episodes | |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Captain Adrian Scott | "Blue Angel" | |
| 2016 | The Jury | Jared | TV Movie | |
| 2016 | Chicago Fire | Danny Booker | 3 Episodes | |
| 2016 | Slasher | Dylan Bennett | 8 Episodes | |
| 2015 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Marco | 7 Episodes | |
| 2013-15 | Graceland | Dale Jakes | 36 Episodes | |
| 2015 | Romantically Speaking | Dave | TV Movie | |
| 2015 | Motive | Lee Ward | "The Suicide Tree" | |
| 2014 | Graceland Insider | Dale Jakes | 1 Episode | |
| 2014 | The Audition Room | Brandon | ||
| 2012 | Falling Skies | Jamil Dexter | 6 Episodes | |
| 2011-12 | The Killing | Bennet Ahmed | 12 Episodes | |
| 2011 | 17th Precinct | Andres Lopez | TV Movie | |
| 2011 | Three Inches | Macklin Sportello | TV Movie | |
| 2010-11 | Being Erica | Lenin | 16 Episodes | |
| 2011 | Normal | Nate Henry | TV Movie | |
| 2011 | RL Stine's the Haunting Hour | Major Mayhem | "Game Over" | |
| 2010 | Betwixt | Decker | TV Movie | |
| 2010 | Human Target | Omar | "Run" | |
| 2009 | Revolution | Trent | TV Movie | |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Anthony Samuels | "The Lost Girls" | |
| 2009 | Harper's Island | Danny Brooks | 13 Episodes | |
| 2007-09 | The Best Years | Devon Sylver | 14 Episodes | |
| 2009 | Kyle XY | Chad | "Welcome to Latnok" | |
| 2008 | Sea Beast | Drew | TV Movie | |
| 2008 | Yeti: Curse of the Snow Demon | Rice | TV Movie | |
| 2008 | Love Sick: Secrets of a Sex Addict | Gabriel • Clinic Staff | TV Movie | |
| 2007 | Hybrid | Ashmore | TV Movie | |
| 2004 | Smallville | Delivery Man | "Covenant" | |
| 2006 | Yance | "Fallout" | ||
| 2006 | Blade: The Series | Run Run | "Bloodlines" | |
| 2006 | 49th and Main | Joseph Ismail | ||
| 2005 | Reunion | Anthony Marjorino | "1992" | |
| 2005 | Power Rangers S.P.D | Jack Landors • Red SPD Ranger | 38 Episodes | |
| 2004 | The Days | Trey Morgan | 5 Episodes | |
| 2004 | Perfect Romance | Rude Student | TV Movie | |
| 2004 | The Collector | Posse Member #1 | "The Rapper" | |
| 2004 | The Chris Isaac Show | Clerk | "The Little Mermaid" | |
| 2003 | D.C Sniper: 23 Days of Fear | Eye Witness | TV Movie | |
| 2003 | Black Slash | Antoine | "Snap Shots" | |
| 2003 | Just Cause | Maurice | "Blackboard Jungle" |
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Almost Anything | Will | |
| 2013 | Seasick Sailor | Big Guy | |
| 2013 | Plush | Butch Hopkins • Writer | |
| 2012 | Dead Before Dawn 3D | Dazzle Darlington | |
| 2011 | Two Knots | Devon | Short |
| 2010 | Messages Deleted | Dude Up Front | |
| 2010 | Tucker and Dale vs. Evil | Jason | |
| 2009 | Cole | Clay | |
| 2009 | Love Happens | Mohawk | |
| 2009 | National Lampoon's Ratko: The Dictator's Son | Juwann | |
| 2008 | Vice | Gangbanger Driver | |
| 2007 | Scar | Howard | |
| 2007 | Ashes Fall | Owen | Short |
| 2006 | She's the Man | Toby | |
| 2004 | Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | Skater Dude #2 |
Awards[]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Golden Maple Award | Best Actor in a TV Series Broadcast in the U.S | Graceland | Winner |
Graceland Episodes[]
| Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Season 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Season 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Trivia[]
- In his spare time, McLaren loves to cook, read and run.