From McDonald’s to Hollywood: The Journey of Justin Bruening

 

Who is Justin Bruening?

American actor and former model Justin Bruening was born in St. Helena, Nebraska USA, on 24 September 1979, meaning that Libra’s his zodiac sign. He’s had roles in 39 TV series and movies, and is perhaps known best for playing Kyle Dash in the popular crime mystery series “Good Behavior”, which Chad Hodge and Blake Crouch created, and which starred Terry Kinney, Juan Diego Botto and Michelle Dockery. It follows the life of con artist Letty Raines, the series aired in 2016 and 2017 and was nominated for two awards.

Education and early life

Justin was raised in the small city of St. Helena by his mother and father, about whom he doesn’t usually speak in public because he respects their privacy; he hasn’t mentioned having siblings, and it’s thus believed that he has none.

Justin’s hometown had a population of 85 while he was growing up, and he had only nine classmates while attending a local high school; he was physically quite active during his teenage years, as he enjoyed running, cycling and playing sports.

Justin matriculated in 1998, and then moved to San Diego, California where he worked at McDonald’s; he was eventually scouted by Sue Nessel, and began modelling for popular casual wear brand Abercrombie & Fitch, before being convinced to take acting lessons, which led him to his first roles.

Roles in movies

Justin’s debut film role was in the 2002 music video “Britney Spears Feat. Pharrell Williams: Boys”, and the year 2006 saw him play Bobby in the comedy “Fat Girls”, written and directed by Ash Christian, who also starred in it, alongside Jonathan Caouette and Evan Miller. It follows the life of a gay high school student who’s dreaming about becoming a famous Broadway actor, and the film won one of its two award nominations.

In 2010, Justin played Whitt Sheffield in the romantic drama “Class”, and was then cast to appear as Steve Trevor in the 2011 action adventure fantasy “Wonder Woman” and Jeff Wright in the 2012 biographical crime drama “Blue-Eyed Butcher”. The year 2013 saw him star as Everett Mather in the romantic family drama “The Thanksgiving House”, directed by Kevin Connor, and which also starred Julia Jones and Emily Rose; it follows attorney Mary Ross who’s just inherited her late aunt’s house.

Justin’s also known for playing Shawn in the 2018 horror thriller “He’s Out There”, directed by Dennis Illiadis, and which starred Yvonne Strahovski, Anna Pniowsky and Abigail Pniowsky; it follows a woman and her two daughters as they’re vacationing at a remote lake house, and have to protect themselves from a psychopath.

Justin’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2019 romantic comedy “Swept Up by Christmas”, and in 2022 the thriller “Vanished: Searching for My Sister” and the romantic comedy “Reindeer Games Homecoming”, all lead roles.

Roles in TV series

Justin was noticed by casting director Judy Wilson in 2002, and in the following year invited to make his debut TV series appearance in the soap opera “All My Children”; he went on to play Jamie Martin in its 172 episodes until the series ended in 2011. It began airing in 1970, starred David Canary and Susan Lucci, and was created by Agnes Nixon; the series released close to 10,000 episodes, follows Erica Kane and her long line of husbands and won 192 of its 767 award nominations.

Justin appeared in an episode or two of various series while shooting for “All My Children”, such as the crime comedy “Castle”, the comedy “State of Georgia” and another comedy “Friends with Benefits”.

In 2015, he portrayed Leo Travers in the fantasy mystery “The Messengers”, which Eoghan O’Donnell created, and which starred JD Pardo, Diogo Morgado and Shantel VanSanten. It follows the crash of a mysterious object on Earth, and the lives of several people who died from an energy pulse which it emitted, but who’ve been resurrected; the series was nominated for an Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actor – Television (Diogo Morgado).

Justin’s three most recent TV series roles have been in 16 episodes of the romantic drama “Grey’s Anatomy” from 2013 through 2018, the 2020 episode “BlueBallz” of the crime fantasy “Lucifer” and 20 episodes of the romantic drama “Sweet Magnolias” from 2020 through 2022.

Other credits

Justin sang the song “Jingle Bells” in the 2012 romantic family comedy movie “The March Sisters at Christmas”.

Some of his recent talk-show appearances have been in “The Bonnie Hunt Show”, “Home & Family” and “Live with Kelly and Mark”.

Awards and nominations

Justin won a 2005 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer, for his performance in “All My Children”.

Love life and marriage

Justin prefers to keep the details of his love life to himself, and there’s only one woman whom he’s dated, that his fans know about. He met American actress Alexa Carole Havins when he was cast to appear in the soap opera “All My Children”; they began dating sometime in the mid-2003, and exchanged vows in a small and private ceremony on 5 June 2005. Alexa’s appeared in 33 movies and TV series, and is perhaps known best for playing Pat White in four episodes of the 2015 drama series “The Astronaut Wives Club”.

The two moved together to Los Angeles, California in 2008, and Alexa gave birth to their daughter Lexington Grace Bruening on 10 August 2010; their son Zane followed in 2013, and their second daughter (name undisclosed) in December 2015.

Justin’s yet to speak of the girls whom he had perhaps been with prior to meeting Alexa, he’s married to Alexa Carole Havins as of May 2023, and they have three children together.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Justin spent only half a year attending Chadron State College in Nebraska, as he chose to drop out and focus on his career.

He’s passionate about music and can play the guitar; his favorite bands are The Lumineers and Nirvana.

Justin once spent a summer working on a farm – his job was to inseminate animals, which he’s described as ‘the worst job ever’.

More than 8,000 people are following Justin on Instagram today, as he’s posted only 31 pictures onto the network.

He works out at the gym every day, thus his muscular body; Justin also enjoys swimming, playing soccer and kayaking.

His favorite actor is Robert De Niro, and some of his favorite movies include “Once Upon a Time in America”, “Raging Bull” and “A Bronx Tale”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Justin’s age is 43. He has brown eyes and hair, is 6ft 3ins (1.91m) tall and weighs around 195lbs (89kgs).

Justin’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of May 2023.

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