Few character actors working today have built a resume as delightfully unpredictable as Brett Gelman. From scene-stealing turns on cult-favorite sitcoms to his breakout dramatic work on one of Netflix’s biggest flagship series, Gelman has spent the better part of two decades refusing to be pinned down to a single genre. His face, his voice, and his unmistakable energy pop up everywhere, and that’s exactly what makes ranking Brett Gelman movies and TV shows such a rewarding exercise.
I have spent more hours than I care to admit watching, re-watching, and dissecting his performances to put together this updated 2026 ranking. The goal was simple but tricky: take a sprawling, genre-hopping career and boil it down to the 20 titles that best showcase what makes him special. Some entries are obvious picks; others are deep cuts that deserve more attention than they typically get.
Whether you discovered him as Murray Bauman on Stranger Things, fell in love (or love-to-hated) his turn as Martin on Fleabag, or spotted him in recent projects like Boy Kills World, Lady in the Lake, and McVeigh, there is something here for you. This list reflects his work as of June 2026, with recent releases and streaming availability factored into the rankings. If you want even more actor deep-dives after this, check out our guide to the best Jenny Slate movies and TV shows for another performer worth following.
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Brett Gelman’s Career: A Versatile and Dynamic Journey
Brett Gelman did not take a straight path to becoming one of Hollywood’s most in-demand character actors. He cut his teeth in the New York and Los Angeles improv and sketch scenes, logging serious time at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre alongside collaborators like Jon Daly, Paul Rust, and his then-wife Janicza Bravo, who would later direct him in Zola and Lemon. That comedy boot camp shaped the off-kilter timing that would become his signature.
By the mid-2000s, the small-screen bookings started stacking up. Guest spots on comedies gave way to recurring arcs, voice-acting gigs, and eventually the kind of prestige drama roles that convinced casting directors he could do far more than land a punchline. Producers realized early that Gelman was the rare performer who could walk into any writers’ room and instantly lift the material around him.
The awards buzz and fan enthusiasm really intensified once viewers saw him shift between comedy and drama in the same calendar year. He could play an insufferable brother-in-law on a BBC sensation and a paranoid conspiracy theorist on a Netflix phenomenon without breaking a sweat. That range, more than any single role, is what landed him on so many must-watch lists.
His filmography reads like a curated tour of the past two decades of American comedy and prestige TV. He has popped up in everything from broad studio action-comedies like The Other Guys to auteur-driven festival darlings like Lemon and Zola. On the streaming side, Netflix has essentially kept him on retainer, and Apple TV+ and Peacock have joined the party with recent projects.
Voice acting has been another pillar of his career. Animated hits like Family Guy, American Dad!, Adventure Time, and Inside Job have all benefited from his ability to bend his voice into strange, funny shapes. His podcast Gelmania, co-created with Jon Daly, also deserves a mention as a cult favorite that prefigured the absurdist comedy wave that took over streaming.
More recently, Gelman has been on a particularly strong run. The back half of Stranger Things, the Apple TV+ limited series Lady in the Lake, the action fantasy Boy Kills World, and the historical crime drama McVeigh have all showcased a performer who is still pushing himself into new territory. Few character actors get to keep reinventing this far into a career, and even fewer pull it off this convincingly.
What follows is my ranking of the 20 best Brett Gelman movies and TV shows, ordered by how essential each title is to understanding why he matters. The list favors projects where his contribution is significant, but it also makes room for smaller turns where he still manages to steal the scene. Streaming availability notes are included where relevant so you can plan your watch party.
Top 20 Brett Gelman Movies and TV Shows Ranked As of 2026
1. The Office: A Comedy Staple that Stands the Test of Time
The Office (2005-2013) is the kind of show that hardly needs an introduction at this point. The American adaptation of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s British original became a streaming-era phenomenon, turning its Scranton-set workplace mockumentary into one of the most rewatched sitcoms of all time on Peacock and Netflix.
Set inside the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, the series follows bumbling regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), prankster salesman Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), receptionist-turned-sales rep Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and the intensely intense Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson). Across nine seasons, the show balanced cringe comedy with surprising emotional depth.
Brett Gelman’s contribution to The Office lives in the form of “The Magician,” a gag referenced repeatedly within one memorable episode. The character exists as an offscreen running joke rather than a fully fleshed-out presence, which is exactly what makes his inclusion on this list so fascinating.
Michael Scott turns to this mysterious figure for help with mounting credit card debt, and the absence of an actual onscreen Magician becomes the source of repeated punchlines. The employees of Dunder Mifflin keep circling back to The Magician, building a mythology around someone the audience never quite meets.
What Gelman accomplishes here is harder than it looks. He manages to be a presence in the show’s comedic ecosystem without a single spoken line tied directly to him on camera. That takes a special kind of comic instincts, and the writers clearly trusted him to sell the bit.
Even with limited screen time, this appearance belongs at the top of the list because of what it represents. It captures how a tiny Brett Gelman cameo can ripple outward and color an entire episode of one of the most beloved sitcoms ever made. Few actors get to be part of a comedy institution this durable, and fewer still leave a mark this specific.
2. Stranger Things: A Nostalgic Blend of Sci-Fi and Thriller
Stranger Things is the show that turned Brett Gelman from “that guy you recognize from everything” into a household name. The Duffer Brothers’ sci-fi horror phenomenon, available on Netflix, blends 1980s Spielbergian adventure with Stephen King-style small-town dread, and Gelman’s Murray Bauman sits right at the center of its weird energy.
Set in the seemingly quiet town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series kicks off when young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) vanishes under mysterious circumstances. His friends stumble into a government conspiracy and meet a telekinetic girl known as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), setting off a chain of supernatural catastrophes that have unfolded across four seasons, with a fifth and final season on the way.
Gelman enters the picture in season two as Murray Bauman, a freelance investigative journalist and full-time conspiracy theorist living in a bunker hidden deep in Illinois. Murray is paranoid, perpetually shirtless in his own home, and inexplicably fluent in Russian, which becomes a major plot asset once the Cold War elements of the show ramp up.
What makes Murray Bauman Brett Gelman’s best role is the way the character evolves from comic relief to genuinely indispensable team member. By season three, he is translating intercepted Russian transmissions. By season four, he is helping Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) escape a Soviet prison camp, all while delivering some of the funniest lines the show has ever produced.
The decision to promote Gelman to series regular was one of the smartest moves the Duffer Brothers made. Murray’s chemistry with Alexei, the kidnapped Russian scientist he nicknames “Smirnoff,” produced one of the most beloved character pairings in the show’s run. Their bickering, mediated through Murray’s translation, is genuinely heartwarming.
If you want a single role that captures everything Brett Gelman can do, Murray Bauman is it. He gets to be funny, dramatic, heroic, and pathetic, sometimes all within the same scene. Stranger Things turned him into a star for good reason, and his Murray remains one of the best things about the entire series heading into its finale.
3. Family Guy: An Animated Phenomenon with Unending Laughs
Family Guy has been a Sunday-night staple on Fox (and now streaming on Hulu) for more than two decades, and it remains one of the most recognizable animated comedies on television. Seth MacFarlane’s creation follows the Griffin family, led by bumbling patriarch Peter and including his long-suffering wife Lois, awkward daughter Meg, dim-witted son Chris, evil-genius baby Stewie, and martini-sipping talking dog Brian.
The show’s signature cutaway gags, pop-culture references, and refusal to take anything seriously have kept it a ratings draw long after most animated sitcoms would have faded. It is also one of the rare shows where a guest voice actor can drop in for a single episode and still leave a mark.
Brett Gelman lent his distinctive vocal delivery to Family Guy in the Season 12 episode “Fresh Heir,” voicing a character tied into Peter Griffin’s increasingly unhinged scheme to name an heir to his estate. The plot spirals into chaos as Peter tries to bond with Chris, and Gelman’s contribution slots neatly into the episode’s escalating absurdity.
He also pops up in the episode “Baby Stewie,” voicing an Escape Room Guy in a storyline that finds Stewie grappling with whether he might be growing up too fast. Gelman’s voice work here demonstrates why animation directors keep calling him. He can conjure an entire personality out of a handful of lines.
What Family Guy gives Brett Gelman is a chance to play in the sandbox of pure comedy without the constraints of physical performance. His timing translates perfectly to animation, and the show’s anything-goes style matches his absurdist instincts.
Even in a guest capacity, his work on Family Guy belongs in any serious accounting of his best TV appearances. It also reinforced his standing as a go-to voice actor, opening doors to recurring animated roles like Myc Celium on Inside Job.
4. Mad Men: Immersion into the World of 1960s Advertising
Mad Men (2007-2015) is widely regarded as one of the finest dramas in television history, and streaming on AMC+ and Lionsgate+ has introduced it to a whole new generation. Matthew Weiner’s period piece about the advertising world of 1960s Madison Avenue redefined what prestige TV could look like.
At its center is Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a creative director whose carefully constructed identity is built on a stolen war record and a stack of lies. The show uses the ad world as a lens for exploring ambition, gender politics, identity, and the slow rot behind America’s postwar sheen.
Brett Gelman shows up in a brief but pointed turn during the show’s later seasons. His character fits the era’s manic energy perfectly, and Gelman uses every second of his screen time to telegraph a fully formed person behind a handful of lines. It is the kind of small role that casting directors remember.
What makes Gelman’s Mad Men appearance matter is the contrast. This is a show built on subtlety and repression, and Gelman’s instincts lean toward the bold and the bizarre. Watching him modulate his performance to fit Weiner’s meticulously controlled world is a small masterclass in adaptability.
Even though his part is small, this appearance belongs high on the list because of the company it keeps. Sharing scenes with Hamm and the rest of the Mad Men ensemble is no small thing, and Gelman more than holds his own. It also signaled to drama casting directors that he was ready for prestige work, which paid off in projects like Twin Peaks and Mr. Mercedes down the line.
For viewers working through Mad Men for the first or fifth time, spotting Brett Gelman in a 1960s suit is one of those delightful “hey, that’s him!” moments that reward close watching. It is a tiny piece of one of TV’s greatest dramas, but it is unmistakably his.
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm: An Unapologetically Hilarious Take on Awkward Situations
Curb Your Enthusiasm, the long-running HBO comedy created by and starring Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, has been generating cringe and belly laughs in equal measure since 2000. The entire run is now streaming on Max, and it remains a masterclass in improvised comedy and the comedy of social discomfort.
The show follows a fictionalized version of Larry as he stumbles through Los Angeles, offending rabbis, celebrities, neighbors, and complete strangers with his refusal to abide by unwritten social rules. Regular cast members like Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, and Susie Essman anchor the chaos while famous guest stars cycle through.
Brett Gelman appears in the Season 6 episode “Vow of Silence” as Pig Parker. The storyline finds Larry chauffeuring an Orthodox Jewish rabbi around town while weighing a donation in his late mother’s memory, and naturally everything that can go wrong does. Gelman slots right into the show’s finely tuned machinery of social catastrophe.
What stands out about Gelman’s performance is how well he matches David’s rhythm. Curb relies heavily on improvisation, and any guest who cannot keep up with the show’s unusual energy gets exposed immediately. Gelman rises to the occasion, delivering reactions that are simultaneously outraged and helpless in the way the show demands.
His chemistry with David is exactly what you want from a Curb guest spot. The two performers seem to understand each other’s comic frequency, and the result is a sequence of escalating awkwardness that lands every beat. It is the kind of guest turn that fans of the show remember years later.
Curb Your Enthusiasm ran for twelve seasons before wrapping up in 2026, and Brett Gelman’s appearance is a small but memorable piece of that legacy. For anyone working through the show on Max, his episode is a strong showcase of why he became such a sought-after comedy guest.
6. Fleabag: A Darkly Humorous and Poignantly Raw Journey of Self-Discovery
Fleabag (2016-2019) is the show that proved Brett Gelman could break hearts as easily as he could make audiences laugh. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s adaptation of her own one-woman play became a global sensation, sweeping the Emmys and turning its title character into a defining figure of late-2010s television. The complete series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The series follows Fleabag (Waller-Bridge) as she claws her way through grief, family dysfunction, and bad relationships in London, frequently addressing the camera to let viewers in on her real thoughts. The fourth-wall-breaking device is not a gimmick; it is the engine that makes the show’s emotional honesty possible.
Brett Gelman enters in Season 2 as Martin, the boorish American husband of Fleabag’s sister Claire (Sian Clifford). Martin is loud, inappropriate, self-pitying, and seemingly incapable of reading a room. He is the kind of character audiences love to despise, and Gelman plays him with an unflinching commitment that borders on bravery.
What makes his performance spectacular rather than merely repellent is the tragedy underneath. Martin is clearly miserable, drinking too much and lashing out because his marriage is collapsing. Gelman never lets us forget the human being inside the monster, which makes his scenes more uncomfortable and more compelling than a straightforward villain turn would have been.
His chemistry with both Waller-Bridge and Clifford is electric. The dinner-party scenes from Season 2 are some of the most-discussed comedy sequences of the past decade, and Martin’s presence is a major reason why. Every sideways glance he draws from Claire tells a story about a marriage that should have ended years ago.
Fleabag cemented Brett Gelman as a performer capable of holding his own opposite the best in the business. Waller-Bridge herself has spoken about how essential his casting was to making Season 2 work, and that endorsement carries weight. If Stranger Things made him famous, Fleabag made critics take him seriously.
7. American Dad!: A Hilariously Unique Animated Journey
American Dad! premiered in 2005 and has been quietly outlasting many of its animated competitors ever since, currently streaming on Hulu and TBS. Created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman, the show focuses on CIA agent Stan Smith and his deeply weird family in the fictional town of Langley Falls.
The Smith household includes Stan’s wife Francine (Wendy Schaal), his liberal daughter Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), his nerdy son Steve (Scott Grimes), the shape-shifting alien grifter Roger (Seth MacFarlane), and Klaus, a German ski-jumper trapped in the body of a goldfish. The show’s political satire has only sharpened over its long run.
Brett Gelman’s voice work on American Dad! allows him to do what he does best, which is to inhabit strange, slightly off-putting characters who immediately command attention. He has voiced multiple characters across the show’s history, and each one carries his signature blend of confidence and absurdity.
One notable turn came in Season 14, where Gelman voiced a character whose dynamic with Roger created some of the season’s funniest friction. Roger and his scene partners thrive on escalating one-upmanship, and Gelman’s energy proved to be a perfect match for that rhythm. He pushes every line reading just far enough to feel dangerous without tipping into noise.
American Dad! deserves credit for being one of the animated shows that consistently makes smart use of Brett Gelman. Where other series might treat him as a one-off novelty, this show has repeatedly found room for him to play. That is a testament to how much animation producers trust his instincts.
For viewers building a Brett Gelman watchlist, American Dad! offers some of the purest fun. You get his voice, his comedic timing, and his willingness to commit fully to absurd premises, all packaged inside one of the most enduring animated comedies of the modern era.
8. Adventure Time: Delighting Audiences with Its Whimsical Charm
Adventure Time (2010-2018) is one of the most beloved animated series of the past two decades, and the entire run is streaming on Max. Pendleton Ward’s Cartoon Network hit follows the human boy Finn (Jeremy Shada) and his magical shape-shifting dog Jake (John DiMaggio) through the surreal post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo.
The show’s colorful, storybook-inspired artwork hides surprising depth. Across ten seasons, Adventure Time explored grief, identity, trauma, and acceptance, often through deceptively simple episodes that unfolded into something profound. The voice cast is a murderer’s row of comedy talent, and Brett Gelman slots right in.
Gelman appeared in Season 6, voicing a character known as the Ringmaster who plays a role in one of the show’s bizarre and mysterious storylines. His vocal performance fits the show’s distinctive tonal balance, managing to be simultaneously funny and slightly menacing in the way the best Adventure Time characters are.
What makes Adventure Time a standout entry in Brett Gelman’s voice-acting portfolio is the specific challenge it presents. The show demands performers who can deliver absurd dialogue with total sincerity, and not every adult comedian can pull that off. Gelman’s theatrical background serves him well here.
The Ringmaster may not be one of the show’s central characters, but Gelman’s contribution is part of what makes Adventure Time such a rich rewatch. The show rewards viewers who pay close attention to every voice, and his work here demonstrates why he keeps getting invited into animated worlds.
9. Californication: An Irreverent and Provocative Journey through the Life of a Troubled Writer
Californication (2007-2014), starring David Duchovny as the perpetually self-destructive novelist Hank Moody, ran for seven seasons on Showtime and is currently streaming on Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on. The show’s blend of dark comedy, drug-fueled chaos, and surprisingly tender character work earned it a devoted cult following.
Set in Los Angeles, the series follows Hank as he bounces between writing jobs, bad decisions, and complicated relationships with his ex-girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and their daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). The show never shied away from sex, drugs, or moral ambiguity, which made it catnip for viewers who like their comedy with teeth.
Brett Gelman appears in Season 6 as a character affectionately known as the Annoying Hipster, the kind of self-important L.A. creative type that Hank Moody cannot stand. The role is essentially a parody of everything Hank hates about the modern entertainment industry, and Gelman leans into it with obvious relish.
What makes his performance memorable is how precisely calibrated it is. The Annoying Hipster could easily become a one-note caricature, but Gelman invests him with just enough specificity to make him feel like a real person you might unfortunately meet at a Hollywood party. His mannerisms, his cadence, and his complete lack of self-awareness are all perfectly rendered.
The scenes between Gelman and Duchovny crackle with the kind of hostile chemistry that makes for great comedy. Hank’s barely concealed contempt for everything the Hipster represents, met with the Hipster’s oblivious enthusiasm, creates friction that powers every second of their shared screen time.
Californication belongs on this list because it captures Brett Gelman in his natural habitat, playing an absurd Los Angeles type with the kind of insider detail that only someone who has lived in that world could pull off. It is a small part, but it is one of the funniest in his filmography.
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10. Twin Peaks: A Mysterious and Unforgettable Return to a Cult Classic
Twin Peaks: Season 3, also known as Twin Peaks: The Return, aired on Showtime in 2017 and stands as one of the boldest pieces of television David Lynch has ever produced. The 18-episode revival is streaming on Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on, and it remains a polarizing, awe-inspiring piece of work.
Picking up 25 years after the original series ended, The Return finds FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) trapped in alternate dimensions while his evil doppelganger wreaks havoc in the real world. The season expands far beyond the town of Twin Peaks, exploring new locations, new characters, and increasingly abstract Lynchian set pieces.
Brett Gelman joins the sprawling ensemble as Supervisor Burns, a character who fits neatly into the bizarre world Lynch constructed for the revival. Burns is not a central figure in the season’s mythology, but he is the kind of odd, precisely observed presence that Lynch loves to scatter through his work.
What makes Gelman’s involvement here significant is the company he keeps. The Return assembled one of the most eclectic casts in television history, and Lynch does not waste performers. Every appearance, no matter how small, serves a purpose in the larger tapestry. Gelman understands this, and he plays Burns with the right mix of mundane normalcy and lurking strangeness.
This role also signaled a shift in the kinds of projects that started coming Gelman’s way. Working with a director of Lynch’s stature opened doors in the prestige-drama world, and it is no coincidence that bigger TV roles followed shortly after. Twin Peaks: The Return functions as a kind of cred multiplier on his resume.
11. Lady in the Lake: A Gripping Apple TV+ Mystery That Showcases Gelman’s Dramatic Range
Lady in the Lake is the most significant recent addition to Brett Gelman’s television resume and one of the main reasons this ranking needed a refresh for 2026. The Apple TV+ limited series, which premiered in 2024, stars Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz, a 1960s Baltimore housewife who walks away from her comfortable life to become an investigative journalist after becoming obsessed with the deaths of two women.
Adapted from the novel by Laura Lippman and directed by Alma Har’el, the series is a moody, visually striking period piece that uses its Baltimore setting to examine race, class, gender, and the limits of white allyship in mid-century America. The show’s atmosphere is thick with dread and longing, and the performances match that tone.
Brett Gelman plays a role that lets him flex his dramatic muscles in ways his comedy fans might not expect. The series asks him to underplay, to sit inside silences, and to find the menace and sadness in a character who could easily be played as a one-dimensional antagonist. He delivers on all fronts, proving yet again that he is far more than a comic presence.
What makes Lady in the Lake such an essential entry on this list is that it represents the direction his career has been moving since Stranger Things and Fleabag broke him out. He is no longer just the guy you call when you need a weird cameo. He is being trusted with substantial roles in serious, awards-minded projects.
The series also placed him alongside a strong ensemble including Portman, Moses Ingram, and Y’lan Noel, and he holds his own against all of them. His scenes have a tension to them that comes from knowing he is capable of going anywhere, comically or dramatically, at any moment. That unpredictability is his superpower, and Lady in the Lake weaponizes it.
For anyone trying to understand why Brett Gelman keeps showing up in prestige projects, Lady in the Lake is required viewing. It is one of his best roles to date, and a clear sign that the second act of his career will be even more interesting than the first.
12. Fresh Off the Boat: A Lighthearted and Nostalgic Trip Through the ’90s
Fresh Off the Boat (2015-2020), loosely based on chef and author Eddie Huang’s memoir, was a landmark sitcom for Asian-American representation on network television. Streaming now on Hulu, the series follows the Huang family as they relocate from Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown to Orlando, Florida, in the 1990s to open a steakhouse.
The show centers on young Eddie (Hudson Yang), a hip-hop-obsessed kid trying to fit in at school while honoring his family’s Taiwanese heritage. His parents, Louis (Randall Park) and Jessica (Constance Wu), anchor the household with their different approaches to chasing the American dream. The result is warm, funny, and culturally specific in ways network sitcoms rarely attempt.
Brett Gelman appears in the show as Mitch, a character who interacts with the Huang family and brings his particular brand of awkward comedy to the suburban Orlando setting. Mitch fits the show’s satirical take on 1990s American suburbia, and Gelman’s timing slots neatly into the ensemble.
What makes his work on Fresh Off the Boat notable is how well he adapts to a family sitcom’s rhythms. This is a gentler, more wholesome comedic universe than he usually inhabits, and he dials back the menace to fit the tone. The result is a performance that still carries his distinctive energy without ever feeling out of place.
Fresh Off the Boat ran for six seasons and remains an important entry in the broader push for diverse representation on television. Brett Gelman’s contributions, while not the focal point of the show, are part of what made it such a consistently funny watch.
13. The Other Guys: An Action-Comedy with a Touch of the Unexpected
The Other Guys (2010) is one of the most quotable action-comedies of the 2010s. Directed by Adam McKay and streaming now on Starz and Hulu depending on your region, the film stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as mismatched NYPD detectives who are forced into the spotlight after the department’s hero cops (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson) meet an unexpected end.
The movie’s targets include Wall Street corruption, buddy-cop clichés, and the absurdity of municipal bureaucracy, all delivered with McKay’s signature improv-heavy style. Steve Coogan plays the slimy financier at the center of the case, and the supporting cast is packed with comedy ringers.
Brett Gelman appears as Hal, one half of the hapless private security team tasked with protecting Coogan’s character. Hal and his partner are spectacularly bad at their jobs, which makes them perfect foils for Ferrell and Wahlberg’s accidental heroes. Gelman plays him with the kind of misplaced confidence that makes incompetence genuinely funny.
What makes his performance work is the contrast between Hal’s swagger and his complete inability to do anything useful. Gelman commits so fully to the bit that even his body language, the way he stands, the way he walks, sells the joke before he opens his mouth. That is the mark of a comedian who understands film acting.
The Other Guys belongs on this list because it captures Brett Gelman in a pure studio comedy environment, holding his own against some of the biggest comedic names in the business. His chemistry with the rest of the security team and his timing opposite Ferrell are highlights of the film’s back half.
14. Mr. Mercedes: A Gripping Adaptation of Stephen King’s Chilling Tale
Mr. Mercedes (2017-2019), adapted from Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy by David E. Kelley, ran for three seasons on Peacock. The show stars Brendan Gleeson as a retired detective haunted by an unsolved mass-murder case, drawn back into the chase when the killer (Harry Treadaway’s Brady Hartsfield) resurfaces to torment him.
The series blends police procedural, psychological thriller, and horror elements, with King’s fingerprints all over the characterization. The show did not get the cultural attention it deserved during its original run, but Peacock streaming has helped it find the audience it always deserved.
Brett Gelman plays Roland Finklestein, an attorney who becomes entangled in the show’s legal machinations. The role lets him blend comedy and drama in a way few other projects on his resume allow. Finklestein is sharp, sardonic, and unflappable in the face of courtroom chaos, all qualities Gelman plays beautifully.
What makes this role stand out is how well it sits at the intersection of his comedy instincts and his growing dramatic chops. Mr. Mercedes is not a funny show by nature, but Gelman finds the dark humor in his scenes without ever undercutting the tension. That is a hard balance to strike.
The show also pairs him with a strong ensemble including Justine Lupe, Jharrel Jerome, and Breeda Wool, and his scenes crackle with the energy of performers who trust each other. Roland Finklestein is one of those supporting roles that lingers in your memory long after the credits roll.
15. Love: An Authentic Exploration of Romance and Relationships
Love (2016-2018) was a Netflix original series created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust, and all three seasons are still streaming on Netflix. The show follows Gus (Paul Rust) and Mickey (Gillian Jacobs), two damaged people who meet at a low point in both their lives and attempt to build something real.
The show’s premise sounds like a thousand other romantic comedies, but its execution is sharper and more honest than most. Love refuses to romanticize dysfunction. It digs into codependency, addiction, and the everyday work of trying to be a functional adult in your thirties.
Brett Gelman plays Dr. Greg Colter, a pompous psychology professor whose interactions with Mickey and her circle reveal him to be the kind of self-satisfied pseudo-intellectual you dread running into at a party. Dr. Colter is convinced he is the smartest person in every room, and Gelman plays his obliviousness with surgical precision.
What makes the role memorable is the sadness beneath the bluster. The show quietly suggests that Dr. Colter’s arrogance is masking the same loneliness and desperation that plagues every other character. Gelman lets those cracks show without ever spelling them out, which is exactly what the writing demands.
Love is one of those Netflix shows that flew somewhat under the radar during its original run but has aged into a respected part of the streaming era’s romantic-comedy canon. Brett Gelman’s performance is a key reason the show’s supporting cast feels so fully realized.
16. Inside Job: A Hilarious Dive into the World of Conspiracies
Inside Job (2021-2022) was an animated adult comedy from Netflix that developed a passionate fanbase during its too-short run. Created by Shion Takeuchi and executive produced by Alex Hirsch, the show takes place at Cognito Inc., a shadowy organization responsible for managing every conspiracy theory that is actually true.
The series centers on Reagan Ridley (Lizzy Caplan), a brilliant but socially awkward genius trying to climb the corporate ladder while her father (Christian Slater) schemes to retake control of the company. The supporting cast includes Tisha Campbell-Martin, Clark Duke, Andrew Daly, and one Brett Gelman as Myc Celium.
Myc Celium is a psychic mushroom-like organism from a hive mind deep inside Hollow Earth, and his dry, sarcastic delivery makes him one of the show’s funniest characters. He can read minds and provides a chemical that powers the company’s memory-erasing technology, both of which set up endless comic possibilities.
What makes Myc one of Brett Gelman’s best roles is how much his voice work defines the character. Myc’s bored superiority, his casual cruelty, and his occasional moments of vulnerability all come through in Gelman’s line readings. The character would not work half as well with a different voice behind it.
Inside Job’s cancellation after two seasons was a real loss for animation fans, but the complete series is still on Netflix and absolutely worth seeking out. Brett Gelman’s Myc Celium is a defining performance in his voice-acting career, ranking alongside Murray Bauman and Martin as one of his most fully realized characters.
17. The League: A Unique Blend of Friendship and Competitive Fervor
The League (2009-2015) was a semi-improvised comedy that turned fantasy football into the backdrop for one of the most punishingly funny friend-group dynamics on television. Created by Jeff Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer, the show ran for seven seasons on FX and FXX and is streaming on Hulu.
The series centers on six friends in Chicago whose fantasy football league serves as an excuse to torment each other year-round. The ensemble includes Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll, Jon Lajoie, Stephen Rannazzisi, Katie Aselton, and Paul Scheer, all of whom improvise freely around loosely scripted outlines.
Brett Gelman appears as a guest character who brings his signature energy to the show’s chaotic friend dynamic. The League’s improvisational style is a natural fit for a performer with Gelman’s comedy background, and his episode showcases his ability to walk into an established ensemble and immediately match its rhythm.
What makes his appearance on The League notable is how much comedy he wrings out of limited screen time. The show is packed with memorable guest stars, and Gelman more than holds his own in that company. His timing, his willingness to commit to bizarre choices, and his chemistry with the regular cast all stand out.
The League remains a cult favorite for comedy fans, and Brett Gelman’s guest spot is a small but meaningful piece of its legacy. It is exactly the kind of role that makes building a complete Brett Gelman watchlist such a rewarding exercise.
18. Happy Endings: A Refreshing Take on Friendship and Love
Happy Endings (2011-2013) was a fiercely clever ensemble sitcom about six friends in Chicago that was cancelled far too soon but developed a devoted cult following in syndication and on Hulu. The show followed the fallout when Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) leaves Dave (Zachary Knighton) at the altar, forcing their friend group to figure out how to keep hanging out.
The ensemble also includes Jane (Eliza Coupe) and her husband Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.), the sarcastic Max (Adam Pally), and the perpetually optimistic Penny (Casey Wilson). The show’s rapid-fire dialogue and willingness to let its characters behave badly made it stand out in a crowded sitcom field.
Brett Gelman appears in a recurring capacity as Carl, a character whose quirks provide some of the show’s most unexpected comic moments. Carl is the kind of fully strange individual that Gelman excels at playing, a person who seems to operate on a slightly different frequency than everyone around him.
What makes his work on Happy Endings so satisfying is how seamlessly he fits into the show’s frenetic ensemble. This is a cast that talks fast and banters constantly, and Gelman matches their pace without missing a beat. His Carl is one of those side characters fans still quote years later.
Happy Endings remains one of the great “cancelled too soon” comedies of the 2010s, and Brett Gelman’s contributions are part of what makes the rewatch experience so rich. If you have never seen it, Hulu has the complete run waiting.
19. Metal Lords: Unleashing the Power of Heavy Metal and Friendship
Metal Lords (2022) is a Netflix original coming-of-age comedy directed by Peter Sollett and written by D.B. Weiss, one half of the Game of Thrones showrunning team. The film follows two high school misfits, Kevin (Jaeden Martell) and Hunter (Adrian Greensmith), who form a heavy metal band to compete in their school’s Battle of the Bands.
The movie is a love letter to classic metal that also functions as a sweet, surprisingly emotional story about teenage friendship and finding your people. The soundtrack is packed with references to Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, and the film treats its characters’ passion for the genre with genuine respect.
Brett Gelman plays Dr. Sylvester, the school faculty member who becomes an unlikely mentor to the boys as they try to pull their band together. The role lets Gelman do what he does best, which is to take a character who could have been a one-joke authority figure and give him unexpected depth.
What makes Dr. Sylvester memorable is the way Gelman underplays him. Where a lesser actor might have turned the role into a broad comic caricature, Gelman finds the warmth and world-weariness underneath. His scenes with Martell and Greensmith have a quiet generosity to them that elevates the film.
Metal Lords did not get a huge theatrical push, but it found its audience on Netflix and remains one of the better rock-and-roll coming-of-age stories of the streaming era. Brett Gelman’s supporting performance is a key reason the movie works as well as it does.
20. Zola: A Wildly Entertaining Tale of Friendship and Betrayal
Zola (2020) is the wildest film on this list and one of the most distinctive movies of the past decade. Directed by Janicza Bravo from a screenplay co-written with Jeremy O. Harris, the film is based on the now-legendary 148-tweet viral thread by Aziah “Zola” King. Streaming now on Showtime and Paramount+, it stars Taylour Paige as a Detroit waitress who gets roped into a disastrous Florida road trip by a fellow stripper named Stefani (Riley Keough).
What follows is a swirling descent into criminality, exploitation, and pitch-black comedy, fueled by Stefani’s lies, her hapless boyfriend Jarrett (Nicholas Braun), and the menacing pimp known only as X (Colman Domingo). Bravo directs with a hyper-stylized confidence that makes every frame feel like its own statement.
Brett Gelman appears as David Shapiro, a sleazy journalist who inserts himself into the chaos at a critical moment. The role is tailor-made for his particular skills. David is exactly the kind of self-satisfied exploiter Gelman has spent his career perfecting, and he plays him with the precise mix of charm and menace that the film needs.
What makes his appearance here special is the personal dimension. Bravo was married to Gelman during this period, and Zola is one of several projects they made together. That creative shorthand is visible in every frame of his performance. There is a fearlessness to his work here that comes from total trust in the director.
Zola earned wide critical acclaim and was one of the most talked-about independent films of its release year. Brett Gelman’s contribution, while not the largest in the film, is one of its most memorable, a perfectly rendered portrait of a man who sees other people’s nightmares as material for his next feature.
If you want to see Brett Gelman at his most unsettling, Zola is the film to queue up. It captures everything that makes him special, the timing, the menace, the willingness to be despised on camera, all in service of one of the most audacious American films of the past decade.
Also Read: Best Thomas Doherty Movies and TV Shows
Bonus Recent Roles Worth Tracking Down
Beyond the core 20, a few recent Brett Gelman performances deserve honorable mentions because they show where his career is heading. These are the kinds of roles that may climb this ranking in future updates as their impact settles in.
Boy Kills World (2023)
Boy Kills World is a wildly kinetic action-fantasy directed by Moritz Mohr, starring Bill Skarsgard as a deaf-mute warrior seeking revenge in a dystopian society. The film’s hyper-stylized violence and dark humor created a perfect home for Brett Gelman, who appears as Gideon Van Der Koy. His performance leans into the film’s absurdist tone while delivering some of its most memorable beats. If you enjoy gonzo action cinema and want to see Gelman fully embrace the genre chaos, this one is a wild ride worth seeking out.
McVeigh (2024)
McVeigh is a sobering historical crime drama that examines Timothy McVeigh in the lead-up to the Oklahoma City bombing, with Brett Gelman cast as Terry Nichols. The role is a dramatic departure from his usual wheelhouse and a reminder that he can handle gravely serious material. Reviews highlighted his supporting turn as one of the film’s standout elements, and it is the kind of performance that should open even more dramatic doors going forward.
Why Brett Gelman Keeps Getting Better
Part of what makes ranking Brett Gelman movies and TV shows so satisfying is that the list keeps evolving. He is not an actor who peaked early or settled into a comfortable niche. Every year seems to bring a new genre, a new collaborator, or a new kind of role that pushes him in a fresh direction.
The current stretch of his career, from Stranger Things through Lady in the Lake, Boy Kills World, and McVeigh, may be his strongest yet. He is finally getting the kinds of substantial dramatic parts his talent has always merited, and the industry seems to have woken up to the fact that he is one of the most reliable character actors working today.
Forum discussions on Reddit frequently highlight Murray Bauman as his most beloved role, with fans praising his comedic timing and the surprising emotional depth he brings to a character that started as comic relief. His AMA on r/Stranger Things remains a touchstone for fans who appreciate how engaged and unguarded he is in person.
If there is a critique fans sometimes raise, it is that his characters can feel tonally similar across projects, the confident weirdo, the pompous intellectual, the menacing comic presence. But the best roles on this list show how much range he actually has when given the chance to stretch. Lady in the Lake and McVeigh, in particular, demonstrate sides of his talent that earlier comedy-heavy projects did not.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brett Gelman’s best role?
Most fans and critics point to Murray Bauman on Stranger Things as Brett Gelman’s signature role, though his turn as Martin on Fleabag and his voice work as Myc Celium on Inside Job are equally essential. His recent work in Lady in the Lake also ranks among his best dramatic performances.
What Netflix series is Brett Gelman in?
Brett Gelman appears in several Netflix projects, most notably Stranger Things as Murray Bauman and Inside Job as the voice of Myc Celium. He also appears in the Netflix film Metal Lords and the streaming series Love.
Can Brett Gelman speak fluent Russian?
Brett Gelman is not actually fluent in Russian. His character Murray Bauman on Stranger Things is, and Gelman learned his Russian dialogue phonetically for those scenes, which became some of the show’s most memorable moments.
Who does Brett Gelman play in Stranger Things?
Brett Gelman plays Murray Bauman on Stranger Things, a conspiracy theorist and investigative journalist who becomes an essential ally to the main cast. He was introduced in season two as a recurring character and promoted to series regular in season four.
What are Brett Gelman’s best movies?
The top Brett Gelman films include Zola, The Other Guys, Metal Lords, Boy Kills World, and McVeigh. His film roles tend to be smaller and more eccentric than his television work, but they consistently showcase his ability to steal scenes in any genre.
Where can I stream Brett Gelman movies and TV shows?
Most of Brett Gelman’s major projects are streaming somewhere. Stranger Things, Inside Job, Love, and Metal Lords are on Netflix. Fleabag is on Amazon Prime Video. The Office and Happy Endings are on Peacock and Hulu respectively. Lady in the Lake is on Apple TV+, and Mr. Mercedes is on Peacock.
A Showstopping Performer: Celebrating Brett Gelman’s Excellence
Brett Gelman has spent the better part of two decades quietly building one of the most impressive character-actor resumes in contemporary entertainment. This ranking of his 20 best movies and TV shows covers the obvious milestones, Murray Bauman, Martin, Myc Celium, alongside lesser-known gems that reward discovery. What ties them together is the unmistakable presence he brings to every project.
What the 2026 update to this list makes clear is that his best work may still be ahead of him. Lady in the Lake, Boy Kills World, and McVeigh all point toward a performer who is finally getting the substantial roles his talent has always warranted. As Stranger Things approaches its finale and new projects continue to be announced, the next few years could push him into a new tier of stardom.
If you are looking for more actor deep-dives after this, check out our guides to the best Matt Cornett movies and TV shows and the best Thomas Doherty movies and TV shows for more curated watchlists. Brett Gelman’s career is a reminder that the most interesting performers are often the ones who never stop reinventing themselves, and his filmography is well worth your time.