Check out this video from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia! Brandon Gilpin a.k.a ShowTime Brando is a young multi-hyphenate, best known for his acting roles of DJ Neva Scared on the Starz television series P-Valley and Renard on Grown-ish. The actor, dancer, music artist, comedian, entrepreneur, and budding filmmaker grew up in Amityville, New York, where he learned to hustle to be the best at whatever he tried his hand in.
His mom instilled in him from an early age how to prioritize his values and personal goals and maximize his potential. Starting at 4 years old, Brandon poured his expressive positivity and zeal for life into dance. After hopping on stage during intermission at his sister’s dance recital, he was invited to join his local dance school. His formal training in hip-hop, ballet, and tap dance supplemented what was already natural, as Brandon and his cousins would often get paid by adults for dancing at the many Jamaican parties they attended.
He began acting at the age of 10, starring in a local college film. While working part-time and playing basketball in highschool, Brandon began to realize his passion for being an entertainer. He received the nickname ‘ShowTime’ from the showmanship he displayed on the basketball court, which also happened to perfectly convey the energy he carries into all aspects of his self-expression.
ShowTime Brando grew a local following and fanbase by teaming up with neighborhood DJs to host parties. At the age of 15, Brandon returned home from summer camp laser-focused on his goals. He dropped his first song, “The Ultimate Dance Challenge”, on social media and went viral, amassing over 50,000 views on Facebook within the week. He began taking trains into New York City and attending auditions and casting calls on his own, signing with his first manager just a year later.
He continued to put out music and starred in his highschool’s production of In the Heights by Lin Manuel Miranda as the lead character Usnavi. With the support of his family and close friends, Brandon set his sights on college to expand his horizons and experience new things. Determined to study at an HBCU and always striving to be the best, Brandon attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he went on to graduate with a degree in Theatre and Performance.
During his first semester in college, Brandon interned for the BET drama series The Quad. That same year, he took a trip out to LA to meet and mingle with industry executives he could reach on LinkedIn. Once he booked a recurring role on the Starz drama P-Valley, Brandon found himself in a position to do exactly what he’d always dreamed of doing. He continued to work, booking various roles including Teenager in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect starring Jennifer Hudson, Deon Williams on the CBS series Blue Bloods; and most recently, Brandon played the role of Renard on the Freeform TV series Grown-ish, all while completing his college degree.
Inspired by shows like Everybody Hates Chris, That’s So Raven, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Brandon wants to incorporate his personal life and style into projects that inspire others and continue to spread his positive outlook on life.
By fusing his life experiences, music, writing, dancing, acting, and his love for performance, Brandon has set the bar for himself as high as possible: to become one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Keep up with Brandon’s latest news on social media and his Youtube page @ShowTimeBrando, and his website, ShowTimeBrando.com.
