# Stefan Brogren

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).
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

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

## Career

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). 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.
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.
In 2022, he released his suspense thriller film Obsessed to Death.

## Personal life

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
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Hairshirt | Timothy "Tim" Wright | Also known as "Too Smooth" |
| 2001 | Focus | Bodyguard | |
| 2001 | Invitation | Stefan | |
| 2002 | Drummer Boy | Family Doctor | |
| 2003 | The Happy Couple | Dwayne's Friend | |
| 2003 | 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

| 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 |
| 1997 | 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" |
| 2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Oscar Camerman | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Witchblade | Leeman Bostwick | Episode: "Convergence" |
| 2002 | The Associates | Grady Pascoe / Rudy Pasco | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Wild Card | Motel Clerk | Episode: "No Bull" |
| 2003 | Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart | | Television movie |
| 2004 | Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye | Brian Guthrie | Episode: "Political Agenda" |
| 2004 | Evel Knievel | Bob Tuax | Television movie |
| 2005 | Kojak | Terry | Episode: "East Sixties" |
| 2005 | 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 |
| 2020 | Private Eyes | Dean Carl Robinson | Episode: "Tappa Kegga Daily" |
| 2020 | 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

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

### Music videos

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

## Filmmaking credits

| 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 |
| 2016-2017 | 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 |
| 2021 | 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 |
| 2023 | Popularity Papers | Yes | Yes | No | 5 episodes |
| 2023 | Twisted Neighbor | Yes | No | No | |
| 2024 | Billion Dollar Bluff | Yes | No | No | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Series | Result |
| 1989 | Gemini Award | Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role | Degrassi Junior High | Nominated |
| 1990 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast | Degrassi High | Nominated |
| 2002 | Gemini Award | Geminis' Hottest Star | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2010 | Gemini Award | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2010 | Gemini Award | Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation (Episode "Beat It: Part 2") | Won |
| 2011 | Gemini Award | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's Program | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2012 | Directors Guild of Canada | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation (episode "Dead and Gone: Part 2") | Nominated |
| 2012 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's Program | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2013 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2014 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2014 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2014 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's Program | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's Program | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2016 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2016 | Directors Guild of Canada | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series | Degrassi: Next Class (episode: "#Sorrynotsorry") | Nominated |
| 2016 | Directors Guild of Canada | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series | Degrassi: Next Class (episode: "Bootycall") | Nominated |
| 2017 | Directors Guild of Canada | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Family Series | Degrassi: Next Class (episode: "#ImSleep) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: Next Class | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Degrassi: Next Class | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Holly Hobbie | Nominated |
| 2020 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Program | Holly Hobbie | Nominated |
| 2021 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Holly Hobbie | Nominated |
| 2023 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series | Holly Hobbie | Nominated |