Who Plays Justin Foley: Why Brandon Flynn is the Only One Who Could Have Done It

When 13 Reasons Why first dropped on Netflix, everybody hated Justin Foley. He was the classic high school nightmare—a smug, leather-jacket-wearing jock who basically ruined Hannah Baker’s life with a single photo. But by the time the series wrapped, people were crying their eyes out over him. That kind of massive emotional pivot doesn't just happen because of good writing. It happens because of the guy behind the character.

Who plays Justin Foley? That would be Brandon Flynn.

If you’re just catching up on the show now or rewatching it for the tenth time, you might be wondering where this guy came from and why he feels so familiar. Flynn didn’t just play a jock; he turned a two-dimensional villain into the most tragic, complex heart of the entire show. Honestly, looking back from 2026, his performance is still one of the best things to come out of that era of teen dramas.

The Miami Kid Who Landed a Massive Break

Brandon Flynn wasn’t exactly a household name when he got the part. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, he was a theater kid through and through. He actually started acting way back in the fifth grade. His first role? Mr. Smee in a musical version of Peter Pan. He’s joked in interviews about how he had the hiccups during the entire performance.

Not exactly the "cool jock" energy he’d eventually bring to Liberty High.

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He eventually got serious, moving up to the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He graduated in 2016, and practically the next second, he was auditioning for Netflix. Before 13 Reasons Why, his resume was pretty thin—just a guest spot as "Mike the Intern" on a show called BrainDead.

Then Justin Foley happened.

Why Brandon Flynn Was Perfect for the Role

Casting a character like Justin is tricky. If you pick someone too mean, the audience never forgives them. If you pick someone too soft, the "bully" aspect doesn't land. Flynn had this specific look—sorta sharp and intimidating, but with eyes that looked like he was about to cry at any moment.

That vulnerability was the key.

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In the first season, Justin is an antagonist. He’s the first "reason" on Hannah’s tapes. He lets horrible things happen to Jessica Davis because he’s too scared of Bryce Walker. But as the seasons progressed, we saw the trauma under the surface: the homelessness, the addiction, and the absolute mess of a home life.

Flynn did his homework for this. To prep for the addiction storylines, he researched the physical toll of heroin use. He even looked at Kurt Cobain as an inspiration for the physical "heaviness" and stomach pain that comes with withdrawal. He changed the way he stood, dropping the jock swagger for a protective, hunched-over posture.

What Else has Brandon Flynn Been In?

If you've finished the show and need more Flynn in your life, he hasn't been sitting idle. He’s actually become a bit of a chameleon, jumping between horror, prestige drama, and even stage plays.

• Ratched (2020): He played Henry Osgood, a character that is... well, way darker and weirder than Justin Foley. Let's just say it involves a lot of psychological intensity.
• Hellraiser (2022): He took a dip into the world of Cenobites, playing Matt McKendry in the Hulu reboot.
• Manhunt (2024): He portrayed Edwin Stanton Jr. in this Apple TV+ historical drama about the search for John Wilkes Booth.
• Kowalski (2025): He recently dominated the New York stage playing a young Marlon Brando. Critics went wild for it because, let's be real, playing Brando is a high-wire act.
• Willie and Jimmy Dean (Upcoming): Currently, there’s massive buzz about him playing the legendary James Dean in a new biopic.

The Cultural Impact of Justin Foley

It’s easy to forget how much of a conversation 13 Reasons Why started. Some of it was controversial, sure. But Justin’s arc specifically highlighted things like the opioid crisis and the reality of teen homelessness in a way that felt raw.

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Brandon Flynn used that platform for good, too. Shortly after the show premiered, he came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He’s been super vocal about queer rights and mental health ever since. In 2024, he married his husband, Jordan Tannahill, and he continues to pick roles that push for better representation in Hollywood.

He’s not just "the guy from the Netflix show" anymore. He’s an actor who can carry a biopic about one of the greatest icons in cinema history.

What You Should Watch Next

If you’re a fan of Flynn’s work as Justin Foley, don't just stop at the tapes.

1. Check out Manhunt on Apple TV+ to see him in a completely different period setting. It shows off his range way more than the high school locker room scenes did.
2. Keep an eye out for the James Dean biopic. It’s set to be his biggest role to date and will likely cement him as an A-lister.
3. If you’re into indie films, find Looks That Kill (2020). It’s a dark comedy where he plays a kid whose face is so attractive it literally kills people. It’s weird, charming, and very Flynn.

The "jock with a heart of gold" trope is old, but Brandon Flynn made it feel like we were seeing it for the first time. Whether he's playing a troubled teen or a Hollywood legend, he brings a specific kind of "fire and vulnerability" that is pretty rare to find.

Go watch Ratched if you want to see him go full villain, or stick to the 13 Reasons Why finale if you just want a good cry. Either way, you're watching a masterclass in how to build a character from the ground up.