You remember them. The red-headed whirlwind of energy that basically defined the "chaotic child" trope in the early 2000s. Whether they were soaking Steve Martin’s character in slapstick messes or driving Felicity Huffman to the brink of a breakdown on Wisteria Lane, Brent Kinsman movies and tv shows carved out a very specific niche in pop culture.
Honestly, if you grew up during that era, Brent and his twin brother Shane were everywhere. They weren't just background actors; they were the personification of suburban mayhem. But then, as quickly as they arrived, they seemed to vanish.
What actually happened? And why do people still care about their filmography decades later?
The Early Days: From a Dodger Game to Hollywood
It sounds like a cliché movie script itself. Brent and Shane were just four years old, hanging out at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, when a talent agent spotted them. Most kids are just trying to get a hot dog; these two ended up with a career.
Their first gig wasn’t a movie, though. It was a national Tylenol commercial. But that one ad opened the floodgates. By 2003, Brent was cast in what would become a staple of millennial childhood: Cheaper by the Dozen.
The Baker Family Chaos
In the 2003 remake of Cheaper by the Dozen, Brent played Nigel Baker. Shane played Kyle. They were the youngest of the twelve Baker children, usually found in the middle of a pile-on or causing some sort of structural damage to their home.
Working alongside legends like Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt isn't a small feat for a five-year-old. Brent wasn't just "there." He was part of an ensemble that won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film.
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They returned for the sequel, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, in 2005. It was more of the same—vacation rivalry with Eugene Levy’s family—but it solidified Brent’s status as one of the most recognizable child faces in the industry.
Wisteria Lane and the Scavo Era
If Cheaper by the Dozen made him a movie star, then Desperate Housewives made him a household name. Brent played Preston Scavo, one half of Lynette and Tom Scavo’s nightmare-inducing twin duo.
For four seasons, Brent and Shane were the physical embodiment of Lynette’s stress. They were the kids who wouldn't sit still, the kids who painted the stairs, the kids who made us all think twice about having twins.
Why the Scavo Role Was Different
- Duration: They were on the show from 2004 to 2008.
- The "Jump": In Season 5, the show did a five-year time jump. Brent and Shane were replaced by Charlie and Max Carver to play the teenage versions of the characters.
- Recognition: Brent won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006 for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. That’s a massive deal for a kid who wasn't even ten yet.
After leaving Desperate Housewives, Brent had a guest spot on the iconic medical drama ER in 2008. He played Curly Weddington in the episode "The Book of Abby." And then... things went quiet.
The Mystery of the "Acting Break"
A lot of people think Brent "failed" or "couldn't get work" as he got older. That’s actually not true. He and Shane made a very conscious choice to step away.
They wanted a normal life.
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They went to Maranatha High School in Pasadena. They played sports. They did the whole "regular teenager" thing that so many child stars miss out on. Eventually, they both headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Brent didn't study theater or film. He studied Agriculture.
There’s something incredibly grounded about a guy who went from winning SAG awards to learning about food systems and tractor driving. In interviews, Brent has mentioned that they wanted to see who their real friends were—people who liked them for being "Brent and Shane," not the "twins from that movie."
Brent Kinsman Movies and TV Shows: The Complete List
If you're looking to binge-watch his work, here is the factual breakdown of his professional credits.
Feature Films
- Cheaper by the Dozen (2003): Role: Nigel Baker.
- Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005): Role: Nigel Baker.
Television Series
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- Desperate Housewives (2004–2008): Role: Preston Scavo (Main cast, Seasons 1–4).
- ER (2008): Role: Curly Weddington (Guest star, 1 episode).
Talk Shows & Specials
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Guest appearances.
- The Wayne Brady Show: Guest appearance.
The 2026 Perspective: Is a Comeback Happening?
So, where is Brent now? As of 2026, the twins have expressed a genuine interest in returning to the industry. They’ve even mentioned writing their own scripts.
It's a different Hollywood now. They aren't the rambunctious five-year-olds anymore; they are grown men with college degrees and a much more mature outlook on the business. They’ve stayed active on social media, occasionally sharing throwbacks that send fans of Desperate Housewives into a nostalgia spiral.
The transition from child star to adult actor is notoriously difficult. But Brent has the advantage of having stepped away. He doesn't have the "burnt-out kid" energy. Instead, he seems like a guy who lived a full life and is now ready to treat acting as a craft rather than a childhood whirlwind.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re a fan of Brent’s work, the best way to support his potential return is to keep the engagement alive.
- Rewatch the Classics: Cheaper by the Dozen is a regular on Disney+, and Desperate Housewives remains a streaming giant on platforms like Hulu or Disney+ (depending on your region).
- Follow the Journey: Check out his official social media (he’s often active on Instagram under @brentkinsman7) to see what projects he and Shane are currently developing.
- Support Indie Projects: If they release their own scripted content as rumored, look for it on independent film platforms or YouTube.
Brent Kinsman represents a rare success story in Hollywood: the kid who got out while he was ahead, found himself, and is now coming back on his own terms.