Brandon Sklenar left his home in New Jersey without telling anyone in the dead of night to pursue a career in acting, and his risk paid off as he now stars in 1923 as Spencer Dutton

Brandon Sklenar is set to turn heads in the Yellowstone prequel

Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the exciting 1923 Yellowstone prequel, coming back to The Paramount Network and Paramount Plus on February 23.

Brandon Sklenar is set to make waves again as Spencer Dutton, with the season one finale having left viewers reeling from the intense drama as Spencer’s journey back to Montana continued amidst family upheaval at the ranch.

Spencer, now a beloved character on the series, saw his actor Brandon Sklenar become a hot topic among fans. But just who is this actor bringing Spencer Dutton to life? Brandon Sklenar, at 34, hails from the United States and has made his mark not only on 1923 but with appearances in It Ends with Us opposite Blake Lively and a role in Vice.

Born in New Jersey with Czechoslovak heritage, Sklenar’s path to the limelight took some interesting turns.

Brandon Sklenar appeared in It Ends With Us (Image: Getty Images for Sony Pictures)

A high school grad, he bolted for Los Angeles and took whatever work he could to survive, which included a mix of construction gigs and being an extra in movies and tv shows, until his talent was spotted. His big break in film came along in 2011 with Cornered.

Spilling the beans in a candid discussion with Man About Town, Sklenar shared insights into his unconventional journey saying, “I left right after high school, packed up the car and didn’t tell anybody I was leaving.”

He recounted the clandestine departure very akin to a lyrical Springsteen narrative, “Just left in the middle of the night, very much like a Springsteen song. I told my dad the day before I was going.”

Thankfully, his father supported his venture, “He said, ‘good luck’ and bought me a GPS because he’s amazing. I worked in construction and on odd jobs to make ends meet, like being an extra in a bunch of movies and TV shows.”

Sklenar’s lucky break unfolded when he bummed a lighter off someone at a diner, who just so happened to be a manager – and went on to represent him. Reminiscing about his roots, the actor fondly credits his nan for fuelling his early love for performance with regular video shop visits.

In heartfelt terms, he recalled, “She hooked me up with cream cheese sandwiches and a bunch of popcorn.”

Chatting with Esquire, he spilled the beans on his make-believe childhood passions, flaunting his knack for slipping into made-up characters. He shared, “In those early years I was a lone wolf in my own head,” adding, “I’d go to school in a character for two weeks. No joke.”

He further revealed the depth of his youthful imagination: “I’d have an English accent, or I’d just makeup words and languages, and entertain myself that way. I got pretty good at it.”