Austin Basis


Austin Lee Basis is an American actor.

Early life and education

Basis was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Midwood High School. While majoring in theatre at Binghamton University, he performed in the title roles of "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead" and "I Hate Hamlet", in addition to several original productions. After graduation, he joined the Actors Studio MFA program, where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. He is Jewish.

Career

As a struggling actor in New York, Basis worked as a bartender, a bouncer, a busboy, a cater-waiter, and a substitute teacher while performing in independent and student films, and Off-Off Broadway plays. He also co-created and performed in an improv & sketch comedy show called "Mmm...Comedy" that ran for seven months.

Television

Basis's most prominent television role has been on the recent incarnation of Beauty & the Beast, where he played J.T. Forbes.
His television debut was in the Comedy Central film Porn 'n Chicken . In 2004 he was cast in an episode of "". He then landed a role in a Warner Brothers TV pilot for FOX called Spellbound with Christine Baranski, Barry Bostwick and Dave Annable. At this point he moved to Los Angeles.
Since then, Basis has appeared on numerous TV shows, including "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", "Supernatural", "Life on Mars" and "Life Unexpected". His film credits include Dorian Blues, Boxboarders!, American Zombie, My Sassy Girl, and The Other End of the Line - traveling as far as India to shoot them.
He has appeared in a number of commercials as well, including spots for Toys 'R' Us, Wendy's, Dr. Pepper, State Farm, and Burger King. He also plays Benjamin Bankes the Pig in the Ad Council's "Feed the Pig" campaign.

Personal life & projects

Basis has type 1 diabetes, and he has worked as an activist to promote awareness. In November, 2018, Austin Basis, along with his co-creators Dave Maulbeck and Josh Taub, officially released the first 5,500 copies of comic book series after surpassing a fundraising goal of $10,000.00 on Kickstarter. The saga follows four different high school student-turned-superheroes facing disabilities that also inform their incredible evil-fighting powers; this includes Basis' virtual avatar, Bobby Byers, A.K.A., CYABETES. The ongoing project spotlights Basis’ lifelong desire to create and empower characters that have been traditionally sidelined in the mainstream comic book universe. Team Kinetix, as the creator trio is dubbed, is represented by BUCHWALD and is currently exploring additional mediums in which share this unique story.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web