Local actor hits the big time

TV audiences across the world were introduced to a new character, Benny, on FX’s Emmy Award winning series “Justified” last night, but local residents know him as Bigfork’s Casey Brown. And later this year the world will get a second dose of Bigfork talent when Brown will hit movie theaters across the globe alongside Billy Campbell and Peter Fonda in “Copperhead.”

Although Brown is only 21 years old, he brings 11 years of acting experience to the table and it all began with the Bigfork Playhouse Childrens’ Theatre in 2001.

Brown’s first performance was also the BPCA’s first production, “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast,” where Brown played the role of “Clyde the dog” when he was 10 years old.

“Casey was the epitome of the professional from the time he was young,” BPCT founder Brach Thomson said. “As soon as he finished a rehearsal he would say ‘thank you.’”

Brown’s acting career grew from there.

Brown continued with the BPCT for years and interned with the Bigfork Summer Playhouse before moving on to the Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish. He left high school a year early to attend the University of Southern California where he participated in theatre and film productions.

As more acting opportunities arose, Brown left USC to begin his professional career as an extra in “Reach Me,” starring Sylvester Stallone which is due for release this spring.

“I have been very lucky, and honestly the work ethic and foundations I believe in today came from the childrens’ theatre,” Brown said. “That was the best training and asset I have had my entire life. I’m not just saying that, I 100 percent believe that Brach (Thomson) is onto something more powerful and transformative than he is aware of. I tell everyone that the (childrens’) theatre is the gem of the country.”

Now he’s guest starring in the fourth season of “Justified” as an oxycontin addict named Benny who causes trouble for Kentucky U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens, performed by Timothy Olyphant Brown describes his character and his character’s girlfriend, Roz (performed by Alexandra Kyle), as similar to Bonnie and Clyde.

Then in “Copperhead” he plays the role of Jeff Beech, the son of Billy Campbell’s character, Abner Beech, an anti-abolitionist farmer from New York in the 1860s.

“It was amazing, we were shooting this unbelievable script in the most beautiful place I’ve ever been next to Montana,” Brown said. “It was a blessing to work with everything really.”

Brown is currently auditioning for pilot episodes for this fall’s new TV shows in Los Angeles with plans to continue performing on stage as well as in TV shows and movies.

With such polar roles for his debut in the professional acting realm, he said getting into character takes some work.

“Live as truthfully as you can in the most imaginary circumstances you can come up with,” Brown said. “And not take yourself too seriously, that is something I try to work on, and at the end of the day it is pretend, which is the best thing about it.”

To watch Brown perform, tune in to FX at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays or catch a re-run of yesterday’s season premier.