Categories Famous Actors, Celebrities born in 1988, Celebrities born in May, Celebrities born in USA, Celebrities born on May 01, Taurus Zodiac Celebrities
Nicholas Joseph Braun, professionally known as Nicholas Braun, is an American actor whose work spans television and film. Born on 1 May 1988 in Bethpage, New York, United States, he is 38 years old as of 14 November 2026. A Taurus, he is widely recognised for playing Greg Hirsch in the HBO drama Succession.
Early Life, Family Background, and Education
Braun was born in Bethpage and raised on Long Island, New York. His father, Craig Braun, is an actor and former graphic designer who co-designed the Rolling Stones’ tongue and lips logo. Encouraged by his father, Nicholas began taking acting classes at a very young age, developing an interest in performance while growing up. His family background gave him an early connection to creative work and the entertainment world.
His parents divorced when he was five, and he thereafter divided his time between his mother’s home in Connecticut and his father’s home in Manhattan. During his teenage years, he attended boarding school and continued acting during summer breaks. This arrangement allowed him to maintain his education while pursuing performance opportunities whenever his schedule permitted. Acting remained a consistent interest as he moved through adolescence and considered his future.
Braun later enrolled at Occidental College, where he studied mathematics. He remained there for two years before leaving college to focus on an acting career. The decision reflected the direction his interests had taken since childhood, as he was increasingly committed to pursuing professional opportunities on screen. His early training, summer acting experiences, and willingness to make a major educational change helped set the course for the career he began building in the early 2000s.
Building an Acting Career Through Film and Television
Braun’s acting career began in 2001, and one of his early film appearances came in the 2005 superhero comedy Sky High. He went on to appear in the Disney Channel Original Movies Minutemen in 2008 and Princess Protection Program in 2009. These family-oriented productions introduced him to a broad television audience and gave him experience working in different screen environments. They also helped establish a foundation for the steady run of film and television roles that followed.
On television, Braun played Cameron in the ABC Family series 10 Things I Hate About You. The show was cancelled, with its final episode airing on 24 May 2010. He also appeared in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and portrayed Cole Waters in the web series The LXD. These projects expanded his television credits and allowed him to work across comedy, drama, and online storytelling as he continued developing his screen presence.
His film work during the following years included Red State and Prom in 2011, in which he played Lloyd Taylor. In 2012, he appeared in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Watch, adding both drama and comedy to his growing filmography. Later credits include Date and Switch in 2014, How to Be Single in 2016, Zola in 2021, and Cat Person in 2023. The range of projects reflects a career built through varied supporting roles and continued work across genres.
Succession and His Breakthrough as Greg Hirsch
Braun reached a new level of recognition with Succession, the HBO drama that ran from 2018 to 2023. He played Greg Hirsch, a member of the Roy family’s extended circle who becomes increasingly involved in the personal relationships and business conflicts surrounding the powerful media dynasty. Greg’s uncertain position within the family creates opportunities for awkward humour, ambition, and tension. Braun’s performance helped make the character a memorable part of the show’s ensemble.
As the series develops, Greg navigates shifting loyalties and complicated dealings with the Roy family. Braun brings an understated comic quality to the role, using timing and reactions to convey the character’s uncertainty and opportunism. The performance also gives Greg room to evolve as he becomes more familiar with the family’s influence and internal struggles. Across the series, Braun balances the character’s awkwardness with moments of calculation, contributing to the show’s mix of sharp comedy and family drama.
The role brought Braun major industry recognition. He received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Succession, in 2020, 2022, and 2023. He was also nominated for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2022. In addition, he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with his Succession castmates in both 2022 and 2024. The Emmy and Critics’ Choice honours were nominations, while the two ensemble awards were wins.
Personal Life, Physical Appearance, and Interests
Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, Braun has a physical presence that has influenced his experience in the acting business. He has said that his height has cost him parts and that, early in his career, he sometimes tried to present himself as shorter. His comments offer a glimpse into one practical challenge he encountered while pursuing roles. His height is also a distinctive feature familiar to audiences who follow his work.
Braun’s career has continued across film and television since its beginning in 2001. His credits range from Disney Channel productions and romantic comedies to independent films and an acclaimed HBO drama. That variety has allowed him to take on different kinds of characters while building experience over more than two decades. Although Greg Hirsch remains his best-known role, his wider filmography shows a sustained presence in several areas of screen entertainment.
Outside acting, Braun has invested in various bars and restaurants in New York City. This involvement adds a business interest to his professional activities, while acting remains his main occupation. His New York connections also reflect his background, having been born in Bethpage and raised on Long Island.
Nicholas Braun’s journey reflects years of steady work, beginning with early screen appearances and leading to widespread recognition for Succession. His portrayal of Greg Hirsch brought him award nominations and ensemble honours, while his filmography demonstrates a broad range of experience. With a career spanning more than two decades, Braun remains a distinctive presence in contemporary American entertainment.
