Brandon Jay McLaren has established himself in the entertainment industry with a wide variety of diverse characters in both television and film.

McLaren starred as Dale “DJ” Jakes in the television series “Graceland,” for which he earned a Canadian 2015 Golden Maple Award for Best Actor in a TV Series Broadcast in the U.S. Known for his breakout role as Bennet Ahmed in the series “The Killing,” McLaren was nominated for a Canadian Leo Award in 2012 for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series. Additional television credits include “Slasher,” for which he was nominated as Best Actor for an Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Award in Toronto, “Chicago Fire,” “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” “Falling Skies,” “Harper’s Island,” on the Network, the Canadian series “Being Erica,” and guest-starring roles on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” on the Network, “Human Target,” “The Wanda Sykes Show” and “The Black Sash.”

McLaren’s film credits include the independent film “Almost Anything,” which he also executive produced, “Dead Before Dawn 3D” and “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” which became a Sundance Film Festival favorite and won the 2012 SXSW Audience Award. McLaren’s first starring role was as Toby in “She’s The Man” opposite Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum.

Born and raised in Vancouver, McLaren is of Trinidadian and Grenadian descent. He attended University at Albany, State University of New York, on a full soccer scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in human biology, then moved back to Vancouver to pursue acting. In his spare time, he loves to cook, read and run. His birthday is Oct. 15. Follow McLaren on Twitter @brandojay and Instagram @brandonjaymclaren.