Jonathan Brandis was born in Danbury, Connecticut, USA, to parents Greg and Mary. His acting career commenced at the tender age of five, with appearances in numerous television commercials. Prior to his breakthrough role, he made minor appearances in various films and television shows.
Brandis's first starring role arrived in the 1990 film "The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter", a significant milestone in his burgeoning career. He went on to star in the popular films "Ladybugs" in 1992 and, more notably, portrayed the character of Lucas Wolenczak in Steven Spielberg's television series "SeaQuest 2032" in 1993.
To prepare for his role on "SeaQuest", Brandis took on an accelerated course load in high school, allowing him to graduate a year earlier. Unfortunately, his career stagnated for a period, and he hoped that his role in the serious drama film "Hart's War" (2002) would revive his fortunes. Regrettably, most of his scenes were ultimately cut from the final product, leading to a profound depression that had devastating consequences.