Markus Flanagan

Markus Flanagan isn't a name that fills stadiums, but he's the actor every casting director wants for their second unit.

His training with Sanford Meisner in New York gave him a solid technical foundation that few in his generation still have. In 1988, Mike Nichols put him in front of the camera in Biloxi Blues, playing Roy Selridge.

And it worked.

He shared scenes with Matthew Broderick in a 20-million-dollar production that opened the doors of major studios for him. But Flanagan never felt comfortable with the label of rising star and preferred to focus on character work.

The Hollywood survival guide

He published The Business of Acting in 2007. It is not a book about dramatic theory or an essay on emotions on stage. It is a practical guide to landing an agent and understanding how unions work.

Because Flanagan understands that acting is a craft you work at with your hands.

Between 2004 and 2007, he was the friendly face of Unfabulous on Nickelodeon. That role as Jeff Singer gave him financial stability, which let him be selective about his next steps in cable television. The show ran for 41 episodes and brought in a steady stream of residuals that shaped his career strategy.

He wasn't after fame; he was after longevity.

Constant presence at the turn of the century

He has appeared in series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and had a brief role in Better Call Saul. In 2021 he joined the cast of The Morning Show for Apple TV+, playing Buck.

His work in the second and third seasons of the Reese Witherspoon series reinforces his image as a trusted professional. And so he keeps building credits without the need for big marketing campaigns.

In 2023 he shot several episodes of The Company You Keep for ABC. He lives in California and runs his acting seminar for working professionals, where he gives direct, hands-on corrections.

His rate for technical courses has remained steady since 2019.