Born in Portland, OR on April 6, 1982, Bret Harrison always had a passion for performing—even as a young kid. From an early age, Bret showed a natural inclination toward the arts, balancing his creative interests with a full childhood. He trained in dance and stayed active by playing soccer and baseball, all while being part of the Cub Scouts. Throughout grammar school and high school, Bret Harrison could often be found on stage, taking part in various school productions. That early exposure led him to join a local community theater, where he gained valuable experience performing in plays like Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” and Tim Blake Nelson’s “Eye of God.”
Encouraged by his drama coach and mentor, Sandra Peabody, along with strong support from his parents, Bret Harrison made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles to chase his acting dreams—this, even though he was still finishing his senior year of high school. Determined not to fall behind, Bret completed his coursework through correspondence and eventually returned in June 2000 to walk with his classmates at graduation. And just weeks after settling back into life in LA, Bret Harrison landed his first major television role. He played the intelligent yet socially awkward neighbor on the popular series Grounded for Life (Fox/WB, 2000–05), a show centered around a working-class Irish Catholic family. It was a defining moment in Bret Harrison’s career—one that set the stage for everything that followed.
So, when it comes to Bret Harrison’s filmography, there are definitely some highs and lows. If we’re talking about the standout in his career, Bret Harrison’s highest rated movie is Lightning Bug, which came out back in 2004. It really made a mark and earned some solid praise. On the flip side, one of the less acclaimed entries is See You in Valhalla from 2015—that one ended up being Bret Harrison’s lowest rated film so far. Still, every actor has those moments, right? Bret Harrison has shown range over the years, even with the ups and downs.