Brendan Hunt is an American actor, comedian, and screenwriter who is best remembered for his role as Coach Willis Beard in the Apple TV+ television series, Ted Lasso (2020-2023). His other notable television appearances include Bless This Mess (2019), Key and Peele (2012-2015), Austin & Ally (2014; 2016), etc.
Born Name
Brendan Hunt
Nick Name
Nana
Brendan Hunt as seen at the Soho Playhouse in 2023 (PhilipRomanoPhoto / Wikimedia / CC BY 4.0 DEED)
Sun Sign
Cancer
Born Place
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Nationality
Education
Brendan studied theater at the Illinois State University and graduated in 1996.
Occupation
Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 11 in or 180.5 cm
Weight
78 kg or 172 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Brendan Hunt has dated –
Shannon Nelson – The Adam Ruins Everything (2017) actor proposed to his longtime girlfriend Shannon Nelson on June 29, 2023, after several years of courtship. The couple became parents for the first time with the arrival of their son Sean Theodore Nelson Hunt (b. January 2021). In September 2023, the couple announced that they were going to become parents for the second time.
Brendan Hunt as seen with Shannon Nelson in an Instagram picture taken on New Year’s Day 2024 (Brendan Hunt / Instagram)
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Black
However, his hair has turned ‘Gray’ due to his advancing age.
Eye Color
Hazel
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Dimpled smile
Brand Endorsements
Brendan Hunt has endorsed or promoted brands such as –
Oscar Mayer
Geico
Volkswagen
Skittles
Brendan Hunt Favorite Things
Football Club – Arsenal
National Football Teams – United States, the Netherlands
Episode Of Ted Lasso Season 1 – 1×07 (Make Rebecca Great Again)
Episodes Of Ted Lasso Season 2 – 2×08 (Man City), 2×10 (No Weddings and a Funeral)
Line From Ted Lasso Season 1 – “Then why are you trying to play like a Brazilian”
Line From Ted Lasso Season 2 – “Because I could never be that free”
Thing To Do In London – Watching Arsenal play in football matches
Brendan Hunt as seen in an Instagram picture taken in June 2022 (Brendan Hunt / Instagram)
Brendan Hunt Facts
He performed alongside Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, and Jordan Peele while being a part of the Boom Chicago comedy and improvisational troupe between 1998 to 2008.
If Hunt could play any other character on Ted Lasso, he would choose to play Roy Kent (played by Brett Goldstein).
He has made guest appearances in several television shows such as Reno 911! (2009), Community (2011), Parks and Recreation (2010), Zeke and Luther (2011), How I Met Your Mother (2012), Cousins for Life (2019), Celebrity Jeopardy! (2023), etc.
In 2013, he wrote an award-winning dark comedy play called Absolutely Filthy based on the popular Charlie Brown Peanuts comic strip. Hunt also starred in the play as the lead role of The Mess, which is loosely inspired by the Peanuts character of Pig-Pen. The idea for this play came to him while he was dancing alone at the Burning Man festival.
In addition to acting on Ted Lasso, he also contributed to the show as a co-creator and writer.
In 2013, Hunt co-wrote a Premier League advertising campaign wherein he played an assistant coach of the football club Tottenham Hotspur alongside Jason Sudeikis. Paste Magazine named it as the year’s second-best TV soccer sketch. Furthermore, the campaign also won a Bronze Award at the 2014 Sports Clio Awards.
Featured Image by PhilipRomanoPhoto / Wikimedia / CC BY 4.0 DEED
