Brett Rice, a multifaceted individual, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the eldest of four siblings. His educational journey was marked by frequent changes, eventually leading him to Marist Military Academy in Atlanta, where he spent time before briefly serving in the Army.
It was during his Army stint that Rice discovered his passion for the performing arts. He accompanied a friend to a theater building, where he waited as his friend auditioned for a show. The director, noticing Rice's presence, asked him if he was interested in auditioning as well. Seizing the opportunity, Rice landed a role, and from that moment on, theater became his life's obsession.
For the next five years, Rice dedicated himself to the Atlanta theater scene, auditioning for almost every production that came his way. This included a TV pilot for The Catlins in 1982, which led to a two-year contract. He then appeared in The Bear (1984) alongside Gary Busey and Poison Ivy (1985) with Michael J. Fox, Adam Baldwin, and Nancy McKeon.
However, his work slowed down significantly until he experienced a remarkable streak of good fortune in the 1990s. During this period, Rice worked consistently, appearing in numerous TV shows, including I'll Fly Away (1991),In the Heat of the Night (1988),Walker, Texas Ranger (1993),and many more.
Rice's film credits include Forrest Gump (1994),Edward Scissorhands (1990),Kalifornia (1993),Passenger 57 (1992),From the Earth to the Moon (1998),The Waterboy (1998),and Remember the Titans (2000),where he played Coach Tyrell opposite Denzel Washington and Will Patton.
In addition to his on-screen work, Rice has made a guest appearance on the TV show Sheena (2000),with the episode "Stranded in the Jungle" set to air in 2002. With over 75 credits to his name in TV and film, as well as numerous stage credits, Rice has established himself as a talented and versatile performer.
Moreover, Rice has become a Councilor at Large with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG),allowing him to be more involved in the organization's politics and negotiations with producers in Los Angeles and New York.