Brent Hinkley is an American character actor, director and playwright known for bringing a distinctive intensity, humor and memorable screen presence to a wide variety of film, television and stage roles. Over several decades, he has worked with acclaimed filmmakers and appeared in numerous celebrated productions, earning recognition as a versatile performer capable of moving effortlessly between drama, comedy, horror and science fiction.

Hinkley appeared as Officer Murray in the Academy Award-winning thriller The Silence of the Lambs, directed by Jonathan Demme. He also portrayed Jerry in Adrian Lyne’s psychological horror film Jacob’s Ladder and Rick, the nervous employee working behind the counter at Whammyburger, in the acclaimed 1993 drama Falling Down. One of his most recognizable film performances came in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, in which he portrayed real-life actor Conrad Brooks, a member of filmmaker Ed Wood’s famously unconventional group of collaborators.

His additional movie credits include Honeymoon in Vegas, Bob Roberts, Carnosaur, Almost Heroes, Switchback, Universal Soldier: The Return, Say It Isn’t So, Blood Work and The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest. Whether appearing in a major studio production or an independent film, Hinkley has consistently created memorable characters from even the most unusual or eccentric roles.

Television audiences may recognize Hinkley as Brother Andrew in the classic X-Files episode “Gender Bender.” He also appeared as Lou in the popular Seinfeld episode “The Merv Griffin Show,” Butch in Star Trek: Voyager, Manny in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Professor Donald Huke in The West Wing. His extensive television résumé also includes appearances on Night Court, 21 Jump Street, Married… with Children, The Drew Carey Show, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Home Improvement, ER, Gilmore Girls, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Carnivàle, Monk and The Closer.

Beyond his work in film and television, Hinkley has maintained a strong connection to live theater. He is a co-founder and longtime company member of The Actors’ Gang, the influential Los Angeles theater ensemble associated with bold, experimental productions and socially engaged storytelling. His stage work has included performances in numerous classical and contemporary plays, including productions of Macbeth, Medea, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ubu the King and Noises Off. He shared an L.A. Weekly Theater Award for Best Ensemble for his work with The Actors’ Gang and Cornerstone Theater Company.

Hinkley has also worked behind the scenes as a stage director and playwright, further demonstrating the range of his creative talents. With a career spanning acclaimed films, cult favorites, popular television series and adventurous theatrical productions, he has built an impressive body of work and remains a recognizable favorite among fans of classic cinema and genre entertainment.