You probably recognize Brandon Butler as the guy in the varsity jacket who actually had a conscience. Or maybe you know him as the toxic boyfriend you loved to hate. Either way, if you’ve been tracking brandon butler movies and tv shows, you’ve noticed he has this specific knack for playing "the jock" while somehow making you feel like there's a lot more going on behind the eyes.
Honestly, it’s a tough niche to break out of. In Hollywood, once you put on a football jersey for a major streaming hit, people tend to think that’s all you can do. But looking at his trajectory from Frankfort, Illinois, to the weird, supernatural suburbs of 2024’s Hysteria! and his recent jump into the world of daytime soaps, it’s clear he’s playing a much longer game.
The Big Break: 13 Reasons Why and the "Good Jock" Trap
Most people first met Brandon as Scott Reed in the second season of 13 Reasons Why. It was a heavy show, obviously. Scott was introduced as part of the core group of athletes at Liberty High—a group that was, frankly, pretty monstrous.
The interesting thing about Scott Reed wasn't that he was a saint; it was that he was human. He joked about things he shouldn't have, but then he’d be the one to help Clay Jensen pick up his books. He was the "middle ground" character. He showed how peer pressure works in real life. You’re not always the villain, but you’re often complicit until you decide not to be. Fans spent half the season wondering if he was the one sending the polaroids, which kept him at the center of the mystery even when he wasn't the lead.
Taking a Darker Turn in Trinkets
If 13 Reasons Why made him a familiar face, Trinkets made him a person people talked about on Reddit. He played Brady Finch, and man, was Brady a piece of work.
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In Trinkets, Brandon moved away from the "misunderstood jock" vibe and dove straight into someone truly manipulative. Brady was the quintessential popular boyfriend who used his status to control Elodie. It was a complete pivot from Scott Reed. Seeing him play someone so genuinely unlikable—and doing it so well that people were actually stressed out watching him—showed that he had some real range.
A Quick Look at the Brandon Butler Filmography So Far:
- Sister Mary (2011): His very first credit where he played a choir boy. He was just 13.
- General Hospital (2016): A tiny role as "Frat Guy #1," which is funny considering where his career ended up in 2025.
- 13 Reasons Why (2018–2020): The role of Scott Reed that put him on the map.
- Trinkets (2019–2020): His run as Brady Finch, the show's primary antagonist.
- SEAL Team (2021–2024): He played Brad, showing he could handle more "adult" military drama beyond the high school halls.
- Dark Highway (2023): A thriller where he played Ethan, a guy on a road trip that goes south fast.
- Hysteria! (2024): He played Ryan Hudson, the quarterback whose disappearance kicks off a "Satanic Panic" in the 80s.
The 2024 Shift: Hysteria! and Leading Man Energy
In 2024, Peacock released Hysteria!, and it felt like a turning point. Brandon played Ryan Hudson. Again, he’s a quarterback, but the context is totally different. The show is a heavy-hitter with Julie Bowen and Anna Camp, set in the 1980s during the height of the Satanic Panic.
Ryan is the catalyst for the whole plot. His disappearance sends a small town into a paranoid frenzy. It’s a stylized, dark, and often funny show that allowed Brandon to move into a "period piece" setting. It proved he could hold his own alongside industry veterans without being overshadowed.
The Soap Opera Pivot: Zack Brady on Days of Our Lives
Now, here is what most people get wrong about Brandon’s career path. A lot of actors view daytime soaps as a step backward. But if you look at the greats—Demi Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt—they all started or spent time in that world.
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In June 2025, Brandon took over the legacy role of Zack Brady on Days of Our Lives. Replacing Scott Shilstone was a big deal for long-term fans. Zack is a character with a massive history—he was killed off as a child in 2006, and his "return" (usually in visions or supernatural twists) is always a tearjerker for the Bo and Hope storyline.
Watching Brandon navigate the high-speed, high-emotion world of soaps has been fascinating. It requires a different kind of stamina. You’re filming a massive amount of dialogue every single day. For Brandon, it seems like a way to sharpen his tools while staying visible to a completely different demographic than the Netflix crowd.
Why People Keep Searching for Him
Basically, Brandon Butler has managed to stay relevant because he doesn't just stick to one lane. He’s doing the indie thriller thing (Breathe), the comedy thing (Rockbottom with Jake Bongiovi), and the legacy TV thing.
He’s also an aspiring filmmaker. Not many people know that he’s been directing and composing music for short films like A Poet’s Life and Last Call. He’s not just waiting for the phone to ring; he’s actually obsessed with the craft of storytelling. He’s cited influences like Denzel Washington and Adrien Brody, which tells you he’s aiming for a career with some actual weight, not just a few years of being a teen heartthrob.
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What to Watch Next
If you’re just getting into his work, don't just stop at the Netflix stuff.
- Watch Hysteria! for the vibes. It’s the best thing he’s done recently and the 80s aesthetic suits him.
- Check out Breathe (2024). It’s a crime drama where he plays Craig London. It’s grittier and less "polished" than his TV work.
- Follow the Days of Our Lives arc. Even if you aren't a soap fan, seeing how he handles the "Zack Brady" legacy is a lesson in how to handle a recast.
Brandon Butler is currently in that sweet spot where he’s recognizable enough to lead a project but still hungry enough to take risks. Whether he stays in the world of daytime drama or makes a jump back to prestige streaming, he’s definitely someone who has escaped the "one-hit wonder" fate of many of his 13 Reasons Why costars.
Keep an eye on his production credits, too. He’s clearly leaning into the "multi-hyphenate" life, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him directing a feature film within the next few years. For now, catching up on his 2024 and 2025 projects is the best way to see how much he's actually grown as a performer.