Acting

Josh Brener

Born 1 October 1984 · Houston, Texas, USA · 42

**Josh Brener** (born October 1, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and voice artist. Recognized for his fast-talking delivery, witty neuroticism, and sharp comic timing, he achieved widespread recognition for his starring role as Nelson "Big Head" Bighetti on the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series *Silicon Valley* (2014 to 2019). Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Brener attended the Bellaire High School before enrolling at Harvard University. At Harvard, he served as the president of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, performing in and writing numerous original comedy productions. He also studied and performed improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, quickly finding steady work in commercial and sketch comedy spaces. Brener gained early television visibility with recurring roles on series such as *Glory Daze* (2010 to 2011) and *The Big Bang Theory*, where he made memorable appearances as Stuart Bloom's comic bookstore assistant, Dale. On the big screen, he secured early notice playing the energetic, fast-talking intern Lyle Spaulding in the Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson comedy *The Internship* (2013). In 2014, Brener was cast in his breakout role as Big Head in Mike Judge's *Silicon Valley*. As the affable, endlessly underqualified programmer whose baffling luck propels him upward into absurd corporate success and wealth, his character became one of the satire's most beloved running gags and narrative highlights throughout all six seasons. Beyond *Silicon Valley*, Brener has built an extensive film and television portfolio, including appearances in the comedy thriller *The Belko Experiment* (2016), the political drama *The Front Runner* (2018), and the comedy *What Men Want* (2019). On television, he starred in the short-lived comedy *Mythic Quest* as young C.W. Longbottom and made guest appearances across shows like *Modern Family*, *Maron*, and *The Last of Us*. Brener is also a prolific voice actor in animated features and television. He voiced Donatello in Nickelodeon's *Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2018 to 2020) and its 2022 feature film, Neeku Vozo in *Star Wars Resistance* (2018 to 2020), Dylan Dalmatian in Disney's *101 Dalmatian Street*, and Mark Beaks in *DuckTales* (2017 to 2021). With a seamless blend of live action comedy, voice performance, and character acting, he remains a versatile and steady presence across American television and film.