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 52)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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

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

Career

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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).[2] 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.[3]

In 1999, Brogren starred in the music video for "Rock Past It" by 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.

He appeared in Drake's 2018 music video for "I'm Upset," which takes place during a Degrassi reunion.[4]

In 2022, he released his suspense thriller film Obsessed to Death.[5]

Personal life

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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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Hairshirt Timothy "Tim" Wright Also known as "Too Smooth"
2001 Focus Bodyguard
Invitation Stefan
2002 Drummer Boy Family Doctor
2003 The Happy Couple Dwayne's Friend
Masterpiece Monday Joe Short film
2004 Denied Donald
2005 Pizza Shop Short film
2006 Succubus Larry Short film
2008 Bitten (Vampire Apocalypse) Bearded Man
2022 Sneakerella Shoe Executive

Television

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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"
1992 School's Out Archibald "Archie" Simpson Television movie
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 Prince Charming Bob Worthington Television movie
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"
Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart Television movie
2004 Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye Brian Guthrie Episode: "Political Agenda"
Evel Knievel Bob Tuax Television movie
2005 Kojak Terry Episode: "East Sixties"
Martha Behind Bars Federal Agent #1 Television movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Archibald "Archie" Simpson Television movie
2016–2017 Degrassi: Next Class Archibald "Archie" Simpson 8 episodes
2018 Very, Very, Valentine Mr. Carlisle Television movie
2020 Canada's Drag Race Himself 1 episode
Private Eyes Dean Carl Robinson Episode: "Tappa Kegga Daily"
A Christmas Break Phil Johnson Television movie
2021 American Gods High Priest Olaffson Episode: "Fire and Ice"
2022 Air Crash Investigation NTSB Investigator Macintosh Episode: "Turboprop Terror"

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2005-2006 Degrassi: Minis Archibald "Archie" Simpson 5 episodes

Music videos

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Year Title Artist
1999 Rock Past It Scratching Post
2018 I'm Upset Drake

Filmmaking credits

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Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes
2006-2007 Instant Star Yes No Yes 2 episodes
2008 Degrassi: Minis Yes Yes Yes Episode "The Curse of Degrassi"
2009-2015 Degrassi: The Next Generation Yes Yes No 51 episodes
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood Yes Yes No Television movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Yes Yes No Television movie
2012 The L.A. Complex Yes Yes No 7 episodes
2015 Open Heart Yes Yes No 8 episodes
2016-2017 Degrassi: Next Class Yes Yes No 20 episodes
Raising Expectations Yes No No 2 episodes
2018-2022 Holly Hobbie Yes Yes No 23 episodes
2021 A Mother's Lie Yes No No Television movie
A Chance for Christmas Yes No No Television movie
2022 Obsessed to Death Yes No No
2023 Welcome to Valentine Yes No No Television movie
Popularity Papers Yes Yes No 5 episodes
Twisted Neighbor Yes No No
2024 Billion Dollar Bluff Yes No No

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Series Result Ref.
1989 Gemini Award Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role Degrassi Junior High Nominated [6]
1990 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Degrassi High Nominated [7]
2002 Gemini Award Geminis' Hottest Star Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [8]
2010 Gemini Award Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Nominated [9]
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Degrassi: The Next Generation

(Episode "Beat It: Part 2")

Won [9]
2011 Gemini Award Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Degrassi: The Next Generation Won [10]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's Program Nominated [11]
2012 Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: The Next Generation

(episode "Dead and Gone: Part 2")

Nominated [12]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's Program Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [13]
2013 Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Won [14]
2014 Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Won [15]
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Won [16]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's Program Nominated [17]
2015 Outstanding Children's Program Nominated [18]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Nominated [19]
2016 Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Nominated [20]
Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "#Sorrynotsorry")

Nominated [21]
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "Bootycall")

Nominated [21]
2017 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series Degrassi: Next Class

(episode: "#ImSleep)

Nominated [22]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Degrassi: Next Class Nominated [23]
2018 Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Nominated [24]
2020 Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Holly Hobbie Nominated [25]
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Program Nominated [26]
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Nominated [27]
2023 Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Nominated [28]

References

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  1. ^ Stefan Brogren's Twitter on Twitter
  2. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (17 March 2017). "Snake's path: Actor Stefan Brogren talks Degrassi's evolution". Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ Wong, Tony (17 March 2017). "Snake and Degrassi alumni reunite to celebrate 30th anniversary at Toronto ComiCon". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Drake 'I'm Upset' video features 'Degrassi' reunion | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Obsessed to Death Movie (2022) | Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Songs". www.digit.in. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "IMDb: Young Artist Awards: 1990". IMDb. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  8. ^ "Degrassi: The Next Generation – Awards". Epitome Virtual Reality. CTV. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "2011 Gemini Awards Presented in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety Categories" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Directors Guild of Canada (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards (2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Directors Guild of Canada (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Directors Guild of Canada (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards, CA (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
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