Betsy Brandt

Early life

Brandt was born in Bay City, Michigan, on March 14, 1973. She is of German descent. She graduated from Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Michigan, in 1991. She earned a BFA in acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1996. She earned an MFA at Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theater Training and studied abroad at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Career

In theater, Brandt has acted in Much Ado About Nothing with the Arizona Theatre Company, with the San Jose Repertory Theatre, Beth Henley's Ridiculous Fraud, Julia Cho's The Language Archive with South Coast Repertory, and Next Fall with Geffen Playhouse.

Brandt has had guest roles on the television shows Without a Trace, Judging Amy, ER, Boston Legal, The Practice, and NCIS.

From 2008 to 2013, Brandt portrayed Marie Schrader in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad. She auditioned for three different roles before being offered the part of Marie. She described her character as "an unpleasant bitch", but also stated that there was more to her than that. "I think we're seeing more of it now that she would be there for her family. But it's all about her." She reprised her role for the Better Call Saul series finale "Saul Gone" in 2022.

In 2012, she was cast as Sandy in Parenthood. Brandt was cast as Annie Henry on The Michael J. Fox Show, which premiered in September 2013. Her performance was met with positive reviews.

In 2014, Brandt was cast as one of the lead characters in the ABC series Members Only created by Susannah Grant, but the series did not go forward. From 2015 to 2019, she starred as Heather Short Hughes in the CBS comedy series Life in Pieces. The series was cancelled after four seasons.

In 2020, Brandt was cast as Cleo in the pilot episode of the NBC sitcom Jefferies, created by Jim Jefferies and Suzanne Martin. To date, the pilot remains unaired.

Personal life

Brandt married fellow UIUC graduate Grady Olsen in September 1998. They have two children together. They separated in August 2023 and she filed for divorce in December 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. Engel, Justin. (2022-08-16). "Bay City actor reprised 'Breaking Bad' role in 'Better Call Saul' finale. Critics raved.".
2. . (2015-03-14). "Happy Birthday!". *[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser*.
3. LaLonde, Pati. (February 6, 2011). "Bay City's Brandt sinking her teeth into the role of Marie on AMC's 'Breaking Bad'". [[MLive.com]].
4. (July 27, 2013). "U of I alum and 'Breaking Bad' star Betsy Brandt". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
5. (June 28, 2013). "Actress Betsy Brandt '96 FAA of Breaking Bad talks Hollywood with Illinois Alumni". [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].
6. "Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader". [[AMC (TV channel).
7. (2011). "Conversations with Ross: Featuring Betsy Brandt". Ross Carey.
8. (2011-12-27). "Q&A;: Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader) - Breaking Bad - AMC".
9. "The Michael J. Fox Show Season 1 Review".
10. Etkin, Jaimie. (May 9, 2014). "Shonda Rhimes Takes Over ABC's Thursday Nights". BuzzFeed.
11. [https://deadline.com/2014/03/betsy-brandt-to-co-star-in-abc-drama-series-the-club-703644/ "Betsy Brandt to co-star in ''The Club'' on ABC"] (March 2014); accessed April 21, 2014.
12. Lesley Goldberg. (November 23, 2014). "ABC's 'Members Only' Not Moving Forward (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
13. Andreeva, Nellie. (February 24, 2020). "Betsy Brandt To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot 'Jefferies'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
14. Vulpo, Mike. (2024-12-27). "Breaking Bad’s Betsy Brandt Files for Divorce From Husband Grady Olsen".
15. (June 14, 2013). "Betsy Brandt of Breaking Bad". University of Illinois Alumni Association.
16. Campione, Katie. (October 27, 2022). "'Saint X': Michael Park, Betsy Brandt Join Hulu's Psychological Drama". Deadline Hollywood.
17. Ramos, Dino-Ray. (2021-03-08). "Critics Choice Awards: 'Nomadland', 'The Crown' Among Top Honorees – Complete Winners List".
18. T. H. R. Staff. (2012-01-29). "SAG Awards 2012: The Winners List".
19. Finke, Nikki. (2013-01-28). "Screen Actors Guild 2013 Awards: 'Argo' Cast, Daniel Day-Lewis In 'Lincoln', Jennifer Lawrence In 'Silver Linings Playbook', Anne Hathaway in 'Les Miserables', Tommy Lee Jones In 'Lincoln', 'Downton Abbey' Cast, Bryan Cranston In 'Breaking Bad', Claire Danes In 'Homeland', Julianne Moore In 'Game Change', Kevin Costner in 'Hatfields & McCoy', 'Modern Family' Cast, Tina Fey & Alec Baldwin In '30 Rock'".
20. Ausiello, Michael. (2014-01-19). "2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Breaking Bad, Modern Family Score Multiple Wins".