Stefan Brogren

Last updated

Stefan Brogren
Stefan Brogren 10.jpg
Brogren in November 2010
Born (1972-04-21) 21 April 1972 (age 51)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Occupation(s) Actor, director, producer
Years active1987-present
SpouseMichelle Shaughnessy (2019)

Stefan Brogren (born 21 April 1972) is a Canadian actor, director, and producer who is best known for his mainstay role as Archie "Snake" Simpson in the Degrassi television franchise. First appearing as a student in the second series Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and continuing into Degrassi High (1989-91), Brogren played the role of Snake throughout every subsequent entry in the franchise, reprising his role in the revival Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-15) as a teacher and later principal, and again in Degrassi: Next Class (2016-17).

Contents

He was later a producer of The Next Generation and Next Class and directed numerous episodes of both series, winning a Gemini Award for his directorial work in 2010.

Early life

Stefan Brogren was born on 21 April 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Brogren's father is of Swedish descent. [1]

Career

Brogren has portrayed Archie "Snake" Simpson since his teen years, as a student in Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, and then as a media teacher and principal in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2015). [2] With the exception of The Kids of Degrassi Street , Brogren has appeared in every Degrassi series as a regular cast member. Brogren was the first Canadian actor to use the word "fuck" on Canadian primetime television, on the Degrassi High TV movie, School's Out! when he was discussing Joey Jeremiah's sexual escapades with Tessa Campanelli. [3]

In 1999, Brogren starred in the music video for "Rock Past It" by pop-metal band Scratching Post.

Brogren made his directing debut with Degrassi of the Dead, a non-canonical horror episode, which aired on Halloween 2007. The 15 minute webisode depicted several Degrassi characters attempting to escape from other characters who had become zombies as a result of eating genetically modified food. The show was followed by a behind-the-scenes/making-of presentation during which he was introduced as the director. He has directed many episodes since, and became a series producer in the eleventh season.

Brogren is one of two directors of The L.A. Complex which, like Degrassi, was produced by Epitome Pictures.

He appeared in Drake's 2018 music video for "I'm Upset," which takes place during a Degrassi reunion. [4]

In 2022, he released his suspense thriller film Obsessed to Death. [5]

Personal life

He resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is 6 feet 4 inches (6'4") tall, and is married to Canadian comedian and actress Michelle Shaughnessy.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 Hairshirt Timothy "Tim" WrightAlso known as "Too Smooth"
2001 Focus Bodyguard
InvitationStefan
2002Drummer BoyFamily Doctor
2003The Happy CoupleDwayne's Friend
Masterpiece MondayJoeShort film
2004DeniedDonald
2005Pizza ShopShort film
2006SuccubusLarryShort film
2008 Bitten (Vampire Apocalypse) Bearded Man
2022 Sneakerella Shoe Executive

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987-1989 Degrassi Junior High Archibald "Snake" Simpson
1990-1991 Degrassi High Archibald "Snake" Simpson
1991C.B.C's Magic HourBasketball TeammateEpisode: "The Prom"
1992 School's Out Archibald "Archie" SimpsonTelevision movie
1995-1996 Liberty Street Brandon3 episodes
1997 La Femme Nikita Security Guard1 episode
Wind at my Back BowserEpisode: "Something from Nothing"
1998 Twitch City Ty;er FawcettEpisode: "I Slept with my Mother"
1999 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Corky1 episode
2001 Prince Charming Bob WorthingtonTelevision movie
2001–2015 Degrassi: The Next Generation Archibald "Archie" SimpsonMain role
2001 The Endless Grind HowardEpisode: "The Endless Grind of Race"
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Oscar Camerman2 episodes
Witchblade Leeman BostwickEpisode: "Convergence"
2002 The Associates Grady Pascoe / Rudy Pasco2 episodes
2003Wild CardMotel ClerkEpisode: "No Bull"
Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart Television movie
2004 Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye Brian GuthrieEpisode: "Political Agenda"
Evel Knievel Bob TuaxTelevision movie
2005 Kojak TerryEpisode: "East Sixties"
Martha Behind BarsFederal Agent #1Television movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Archibald "Archie" SimpsonTelevision movie
2016–2017 Degrassi: Next Class Archibald "Archie" Simpson8 episodes
2018Very, Very, ValentineMr. CarlisleTelevision movie
2020 Canada's Drag Race Himself1 episode
Private Eyes Dean Carl RobinsonEpisode: "Tappa Kegga Daily"
A Christmas BreakPhil JohnsonTelevision movie
2021 American Gods High Priest OlaffsonEpisode: "Fire and Ice"
2022 Air Crash Investigation NTSB Investigator MacintoshEpisode: "Turboprop Terror"

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005-2006Degrassi: MinisArchibald "Archie" Simpson5 episodes

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
1999Rock Past It Scratching Post
2018 I'm Upset Drake

Filmmaking credits

YearTitleDirectorProducerWriterNotes
2006-2007 Instant Star YesNoYes2 episodes
2008Degrassi: MinisYesYesYesEpisode "The Curse of Degrassi"
2009-2015 Degrassi: The Next Generationn YesYesNo51 episodes
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood YesYesNoTelevision movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan YesYesNoTelevision movie
2012 The L.A. Complex YesYesNo7 episodes
2015 Open Heart YesYesNo8 episodes
2016-2017 Degrassi: Next Class YesYesNo20 episodes
Raising Expectations YesNoNo2 episodes
2018-2022 Holly Hobbie YesYesNo23 episodes
2021A Mother's LieYesNoNoTelevision movie
A Chance for ChristmasYesNoNoTelevision movie
2022Obsessed to DeathYesNoNo
2023Welcome to ValentineYesNoNoTelevision movie
Popularity PapersYesYesNo5 episodes
Twisted NeighborYesNoNo
2024Billion Dollar BluffYesNoNo

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategorySeriesResultRef.
1989 Gemini Award Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role Degrassi Junior High Nominated [6]
1990 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Degrassi High Nominated [7]
2002Gemini AwardGeminis' Hottest Star Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [8]
2010Gemini AwardBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesNominated [9]
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDegrassi: The Next Generation

(Episode "Beat It: Part 2")

Won [9]
2011Gemini AwardBest Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Degrassi: The Next Generation Won [10]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's ProgramNominated [11]
2012 Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: The Next Generation

(episode "Dead and Gone: Part 2")

Nominated [12]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's Program Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [13]
2013 Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesWon [14]
2014Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesWon [15]
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesWon [16]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's ProgramNominated [17]
2015Outstanding Children's ProgramNominated [18]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesNominated [19]
2016Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesNominated [20]
Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "#Sorrynotsorry")

Nominated [21]
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "Bootycall")

Nominated [21]
2017Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "#ImSleep)

Nominated [22]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Degrassi: Next Class Nominated [23]
2018Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesNominated [24]
2020Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Holly Hobbie Nominated [25]
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing ProgramNominated [26]
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesNominated [27]
2023Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesNominated [28]

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References

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  3. Wong, Tony (17 March 2017). "Snake and Degrassi alumni reunite to celebrate 30th anniversary at Toronto ComiCon". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
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