Stefan Brogren (born 21 April 1972) is a Canadian actor, director, and producer who is best known for his mainstay role as Archie "Snake" Simpson in the Degrassi television franchise. First appearing as a student in the second series Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and continuing into Degrassi High (1989-91), Brogren played the role of Snake throughout every subsequent entry in the franchise, reprising his role in the revival Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-15) as a teacher and later principal, and again in Degrassi: Next Class (2016-17).

Stefan Brogren
Brogren in November 2010
Born (1972-04-21) 21 April 1972 (age 51)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer
Years active1987-present
SpouseMichelle Shaughnessy (2019)

He was later a producer of The Next Generation and Next Class and directed numerous episodes of both series, winning a Gemini Award for his directorial work in 2010.

Early life edit

Stefan Brogren was born on 21 April 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Brogren's father is of Swedish descent.[1]

Career edit

Brogren has portrayed Archie "Snake" Simpson since his teen years, as a student in Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, and then as a media teacher and principal in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2015). With the exception of The Kids of Degrassi Street, Brogren has appeared in every Degrassi series as a regular cast member. Brogren was the first Canadian actor to use the word "fuck" on Canadian primetime television, on the Degrassi High TV movie, School's Out! when he was discussing Joey Jeremiah's sexual escapades with Tessa Campanelli.

In 1999, Brogren starred in the music video for "Rock Past It" by London pop-metal band Scratching Post.

Brogren made his directing debut with Degrassi of the Dead, a non-canonical horror episode, which aired on Halloween 2007. The 15 minute webisode depicted several Degrassi characters attempting to escape from other characters who had become zombies as a result of eating genetically modified food. The show was followed by a behind-the-scenes/making-of presentation during which he was introduced as the director. He has directed many episodes since, and became a series producer in the eleventh season.

Brogren is one of two directors of The L.A. Complex which, like Degrassi, was produced by Epitome Pictures.

Personal life edit

He resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is 6 feet 4 inches (6'4") tall, and is married to Canadian comedian and actress Michelle Shaughnessy.

Filmography edit

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1992 School's Out Archibald "Snake" Simpson TV movie
1998 Hairshirt Timothy "Tim" Wright Also known as "Too Smooth"
2001 Prince Charming Bob Worthington TV movie
Focus Bodyguard
Invitation Stefan
2002 Drummer Boy Family Doctor
2003 Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart TV movie
The Happy Couple Dwayne's Friend
Masterpiece Monday Joe Short film
2004 Denied Donald
Evel Knievel Bob Tuax TV movie
2005 Pizza Shop Short film
Martha Behind Bars Federal Agent #1 TV movie
2006 Succubus Larry Short film
2008 Bitten (Vampire Apocalypse) Bearded Man
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Archibald "Archie" Simpson TV movie
2018 Very, Very, Valentine Mr. Carlisle TV movie
2020 A Christmas Break Phil Johnson TV movie
2022 Sneakerella Shoe Executive
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1987-1989 Degrassi Junior High Archibald "Snake" Simpson
1990-1991 Degrassi High Archibald "Snake" Simpson
1991 C.B.C's Magic Hour Basketball Teammate Episode: "The Prom"
1995-1996 Liberty Street Brandon 3 episodes
1997 La Femme Nikita Security Guard 1 episode
Wind at my Back Bowser Episode: "Something from Nothing"
1998 Twitch City Ty;er Fawcett Episode: "I Slept with my Mother"
1999 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Corky 1 episode
2001–2015 Degrassi: The Next Generation Archibald "Archie" Simpson Main role
2001 The Endless Grind Howard Episode: "The Endless Grind of Race"
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Oscar Camerman 2 episodes
Witchblade Leeman Bostwick Episode: "Convergence"
2002 The Associates Grady Pascoe / Rudy Pasco 2 episodes
2003 Wild Card Motel Clerk Episode: "No Bull"
2004 Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye Brian Guthrie Episode: "Political Agenda"
2005 Kojak Terry Episode: "East Sixties"
2005-2006 Degrassi: Minis Archibald "Archie" Simpson 5 episodes
2016–2017 Degrassi: Next Class Archibald "Archie" Simpson 8 episodes
2020 Canada's Drag Race Himself 1 episode
Private Eyes Dean Carl Robinson Episode: "Tappa Kegga Daily"
2021 American Gods High Priest Olaffson Episode: "Fire and Ice"
2022 Air Crash Investigation NTSB Investigator Macintosh Episode: "Turboprop Terror"
Directed
Year Title Notes
2006-2007 Instant Star 2 episodes
2008 Degrassi: Minis Episode "The Curse of Degrassi"
2009-2015 Degrassi: The Next Generationn 51 episodes
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood TV movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan TV movie
2012 The L.A. Complex 7 episodes
2015 Open Heart 8 episodes
2016-2017 Degrassi: Next Class 20 episodes
Raising Expectations 2 episodes
2018-2022 Holly Hobbie 23 episodes
2021 A Mother's Lie TV movie
A Chance for Christmas TV movie
2022 Obsessed to Death
2023 Welcome to Valentine TV movie
Popularity Papers 5 episodes
Twisted Neighbor
Music videos
Year Title Artist Role
2018 I'm Upset Drake Self

Awards edit

Year Award Category Series Nominee Result
1989 Gemini Award Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role[2] Degrassi Junior High Stefan Brogren Nominated
1990 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast[3] Degrassi High Dayo Ade, Sara Ballingall, Stefan Brogren, Michael Carry, Christopher Charlesworth, Amanda Cook, Irene Courakos, Angela Deiseach, Anais Granofsky, Rebecca Haines, Neil Hope, Cathy Keenan, Pat Mastroianni, Maureen McKay, Stacie Mistysyn, Bill Parrott, Siluck Saysanasy, Amanda Stepto, Duncan Waugh Nominated
2002 Gemini Award Geminis' Hottest Star[4] Degrassi: The Next Generation Stefan Brogren Nominated
2010 Gemini Award Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series[5] Degrassi: The Next Generation Linda Schuyler, Stefan Brogren,
David Lowe, Stephen Stohn,
Stephanie Williams, and Brendon Yorke
Nominated
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series[5] Degrassi: The Next Generation Stefan Brogren for "Beat It (Part 2)" Won
2011 Gemini Award Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series[6] Degrassi Linda Schuyler, Stefan Brogren,
David Lowe, Stephen Stohn,
Stephanie Williams, and Brendon Yorke
Won

References edit

  1. ^ Stefan Brogren's Twitter on Twitter
  2. ^ "Canadian Awards Database History Search for "Degrassi"". Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  3. ^ "IMDb: Young Artist Awards: 1990". IMDb. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Degrassi: The Next Generation – Awards". Epitome Virtual Reality. CTV. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  5. ^ a b "2010 Gemini Awards Presented in Drama, Children's and Youth, Comedy, and Variety Categories" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  6. ^ "2011 Gemini Awards Presented in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety Categories" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.

External links edit