Brian Hallisay Bio
Brian Gleidson Hallisay, born on October 31, 1978, is an American actor and producer whose career has spanned network television, cable dramas, and feature films. He is widely recognized for playing Will Davis on The CW’s Privileged and Kyle Parks on Lifetime’s The Client List, two roles that established him as a dependable leading man on prestige cable television. Hallisay has also appeared in notable series such as Revenge, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Bones, CSI: NY, and 9-1-1, demonstrating a steady presence across prime-time drama.
Early Life and Background
Brian Hallisay was born on Halloween in Washington, D.C., and raised in the metropolitan area. He comes from a family background that supported both academic ambition and creative curiosity, growing up in a region with a strong tradition of public service and higher education. As a young man, Hallisay displayed an early interest in storytelling and performance, often engaging in school productions and community activities that hinted at his future on screen.
Hallisay graduated from Gonzaga College High School in 1996, where he developed his interest in theater and the performing arts. He then enrolled at Cornell University, a prestigious institution in Ithaca, New York, where he pursued a rigorous liberal arts education. Hallisay earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell, completing his studies in 2000. After graduation, he chose to follow a more conventional professional path and took a position on Wall Street, working in the financial sector before deciding to pursue his long-held dream of acting.
Path to Acting
After spending several years working on Wall Street, Brian Hallisay decided to make a dramatic career change. He later reflected on the shift, saying he had always dreamed of seeing what acting was all about and felt compelled to give it a real chance. Encouraged by that long-standing ambition, Hallisay relocated to Los Angeles to begin training and auditioning for film and television roles.
Once in Los Angeles, Hallisay committed himself fully to the craft, taking acting classes and building a resume through small guest spots. His disciplined work ethic from his Wall Street years translated well to the patience required in Hollywood, where persistence and preparation are essential. Within a few years of moving west, he secured his first professional television credits, laying the groundwork for a sustained career in screen acting.
Brian Hallisay Career
Early Career (2005-2007)
Brian Hallisay made his television debut in 2005, appearing on the Fox series The Inside alongside Rachel Nichols and Adam Baldwin, as well as on Lifetime’s Strong Medicine opposite Patricia Richardson. These early guest appearances introduced him to network and cable audiences and allowed him to work with seasoned ensembles on professionally produced sets.
In 2006, Hallisay made his feature film debut in Erik MacArthur’s comedy Bottoms Up, starring Paris Hilton and Jason Mewes. Hallisay played the boyfriend to Hilton’s socialite character in a story about saving a failing small-town restaurant. The role gave him valuable big-screen experience and marked his transition from television guest spots to feature film work.
Breakthrough (2008-2015)
Hallisay’s first major breakthrough came in 2008 when he was cast as Will Davis on The CW’s Privileged, a drama set among the wealthy families of Palm Beach. His character, a charming bachelor delighted to discover that his beautiful new neighbor is also his tutor, became a fan favorite and established Hallisay as a romantic lead on network television. During this period, he continued building his resume with guest appearances on Without a Trace, Cold Case, Bones, Medium, Bionic Woman, and CSI: NY.
In 2011, Hallisay took on a darker role in Eli Roth’s Hostel: Part III, where he played the lead character in the horror franchise’s third installment. That same year, he was cast as Ben Hunter on ABC’s Revenge, a recurring role that further broadened his range. In 2012, he signed a deal with Lifetime to star as Kyle Parks on The Client List, a drama co-starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, with whom he would later form both a professional and personal partnership.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among Brian Hallisay’s most recognized works are Privileged, The Client List, Revenge, and the Hostel franchise entry Hostel: Part III. His television career has been marked by consistent leading and recurring roles on major broadcast and cable networks, including appearances on 9-1-1, where he played Doug Kendall, also known as Jason Bailey, opposite his real-life wife Jennifer Love Hewitt during the late 2018 and early 2019 seasons. These projects collectively define his reputation as a versatile performer comfortable in both serialized drama and feature film.
Brian Hallisay Family
Brian Hallisay married actress Jennifer Love Hewitt on November 20, 2013, after the couple became engaged earlier that year. The two had met while working together on The Client List and began dating in March 2012. Hallisay and Hewitt have built a closely knit family, with their children often featured in Hewitt’s public reflections on motherhood and family life.
The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Autumn James, shortly after their 2013 wedding. In June 2015, they had a son named Atticus James, and in September 2021, they welcomed their third child, a son named Aidan James. Hallisay is known for keeping his family life relatively private while still sharing meaningful milestones with the public through his wife’s interviews and social media.
Personal Life
Brian Hallisay resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and their three children, Autumn, Atticus, and Aidan. The family balances busy entertainment careers with a strong emphasis on privacy and home life, often prioritizing time together away from public events. Hallisay has spoken about how becoming a father shifted his perspective on his career and the kinds of roles he chooses to pursue.
Outside of acting, Hallisay maintains an interest in fitness, travel, and outdoor activities with his family. His journey from Wall Street to Hollywood, and his subsequent marriage and family life with one of television’s most recognizable actresses, has made him a figure of quiet interest among fans of contemporary prime-time drama.