Brendan Cowell (born August 16, 1976) is an Australian actor, screenwriter and director. Cowell was born in Cronulla, Sydney, New South Wales. He was stumbled upon acting by accident while waiting for his sister to come out of a rehearsal, he was then cast in a commercial at age 8. He went to Charles Sturt University, in Bathurst, to complete Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Media, originally considering journalism as a career option.
Although he is generally known as an actor, he also has many off-screen credits to his name, such as writing and producing and has won the Patrick White Playwrights' Award for his drama Bed. His most famous role is playing the rather enigmatic Tom on Australian cable TV's Love My Way and playing Todd for the first 2 seasons on Life Support, on SBS TV. Brendan is also a stage actor, as well as commercial.
Brendan features in a fortnightly reality radio show called the THE ACTOR FACTOR on Triple J's Top Shelf drive show.
His most recent acting credit is as "second flower buyer" in an advertisement for an upcoming Pay TV Personal Digital Recorder. It was filmed in the walkway behind the ABC studios in Ultimo, NSW. Originally not cast in the role, Cowell was being interviewed on the Triple J breakfast show when he heard of the filming happening downstairs and rushed to the set, earning the role on the spot.
