{{Short description|Canadian actor and filmmaker}} {{Infobox person | name = Dempsey Bryk | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|08|29}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2017–present | mother = Danielle Nicholas Bryk | father = Greg Bryk | relatives = Billy Bryk (brother) | website = }} '''Dempsey Bryk''' (born August 29, 1996) is an American-Canadian actor and filmmaker. He is known for playing Wyatt McMurtry in ''Heartland'', Airk Tanthalos in ''Willow'', and Private 'BA' Chapman in ''Going Dutch''.
==Early life== Dempsey Bryk was born on August 29, 1996 to actor, Greg Bryk, and interior designer, Danielle Nicholas Bryk. He has two younger siblings, Billy and Ella.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Nikki |title=How They Met: Bitten star Greg Bryk dishes on love and Levi’s jeans |url=https://streetsoftoronto.com/how-they-met-bitten-star-greg-bryk-dishes-on-love-and-levis-jeans/ |website=Streets of Toronto |date=15 October 2015}}</ref> As a child he appeared in his mother's home renovation shows; ''Building Bryks'', ''Bryk House'', and ''A Bryk at a Time''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Jennifer |title=Renovating a house, one Bryk at a time |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/home-and-garden/renovating-a-house-one-bryk-at-a-time/article_edd612ed-0c96-5cbe-9c39-82e4efcce4c3.html |website=Toronto Star |date=29 April 2011}}</ref>
He attended the University of Western Ontario's Ivey Business School for a year but left to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Marlow |title=Dempsey Bryk |url=https://mubi.com/en/cast/dempsey-bryk |website=MUBI}}</ref>
==Career== One of Bryk's early roles was as a recurring role on the long-running Canadian series, ''Heartland''. He played Wyatt McMurtry, the nephew of Casey McMurtry and a romantic interest of Georgie Fleming Morris.<ref>{{cite web |title=The cast of Heartland is busy with more than just the show |url=https://www.cbc.ca/television/heartland/the-cast-of-heartland-is-busy-with-more-than-just-the-show-1.5799622 |website=CBC |date=12 November 2020}}</ref> Bryk played Thurston Polk in the 2019 web-series The Birch, created by Crypt TV for Facebook Watch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jan |first1=Kevin |title=Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Birch’s Dempsey Bryk |url=http://pop-culturalist.com/exclusive-interview-pop-culturalist-chats-with-the-birchs-dempsey-bryk/ |website=Pop Culturalist |date=11 October 2019}}</ref>
In 2022, Bryk starred in ''The Fight Machine'' as a young boxer who ends up fighting in an illegal bare-knuckle match. His father in the movie is played by his real life father, Greg Bryk.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whittock |first1=Jesse |title=‘The Fight Machine’ Trailer: First Look At Andrew T. Hunt’s Action Drama Debuting At Fantasia Festival |url=https://deadline.com/video/the-fight-machine-trailer-first-look-andrew-t-hunts-action-drama-fantasia-festival/ |website=Deadline |date=18 July 2022}}</ref> The same year, he also played Prince Airk Tanthalos in the ''Willow'' sequel series on Disney+.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=‘Willow’: Dempsey Bryk Joins Cast Of Disney+ Series |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/willow-dempsey-bryk-cast-disney-plus-series-1234872588/ |website=Deadline |date=12 November 2021}}</ref> His character is the son of Madmartigan and Sorsha from the original film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Rosie |title=Willow Cast: Meet the Actors of the Disney+ Series |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/willow-cast-meet-the-actors-of-the-disney-series/ |website=Den of Geek |date=30 November 2022}}</ref>
In 2025, Bryk has a recurring role as Private Anthony 'BA' Chapman in the comedy series, ''Going Dutch'', starring Denis Leary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cordero |first1=Rosy |last2=Petski |first2=Denise |title=Denis Leary Attempts To Whip Military Misfits Into Shape In Trailer For Fox Comedy ‘Going Dutch’ |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/fox-going-dutch-teaser-trailer-1236162309/ |website=Deadline |date=9 December 2024}}</ref> He is also set to appear in the indie thriller, ''The Snare''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grobar |first1=Matt |title=Cassady McClincy, Dempsey Bryk, Lucy Walters & Royce Johnson Join Merlin Camozzi’s Thriller ‘The Snare’ |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/cassady-mcclincy-dempsey-bryk-more-join-thriller-the-snare-1235332672/ |website=Deadline |date=20 April 2023}}</ref>
''Crash Land'', his full-length directorial debut as a filmmaker, premiered at SXSW in 2026.<ref>Andrew Tracy, [https://playbackonline.ca/2026/02/05/dempsey-bryks-crash-land-sets-world-premiere-at-sxsw/ "Dempsey Bryk’s Crash Land sets world premiere at SXSW"]. ''Playback'', February 5, 2026.</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Film performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | ''The Silence'' | Rob | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | ''Marlene'' | Steven (Young Adult) | |- ! scope="row" | 2022 | ''The Fight Machine'' | Rob Tully | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | ''Ordinary Angels'' | Derek | |- ! scope="row" | 2025 | ''The Snare'' | Marty | Also co-executive producer |- |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Television performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2017 | ''Mary Kills People'' | Tristan Avery | 2 episodes |- | ''Saving Hope'' | Joseph Woods | Episode: "Hope Never Dies" |- | ''Black Mirror'' | Cal | Episode: "Arkangel" |- ! scope="row" | 2017–2019 | ''Heartland'' | Wyatt McMurty | 18 episodes |- ! scope="row" | 2018 | ''Ransom'' | Danny Ferguson | Episode: "Legacy" |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2019 | ''Jett'' | Orlando | Episode: "Phoenix" |- | ''Timeline'' | Brian | 4 episodes |- | ''V Wars'' | Brock | 2 episodes |- | ''The Birch'' | Thurston Polk | 12 episodes |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2021 | ''Hudson & Rex'' | Marksamus Sanford | Episode: "The Art of the Steal" |- | ''Coroner'' | Caleb Browning | 3 episodes |- ! scope="row" | 2022 | ''Willow'' | Airk Tanthalos | Main role |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2025 | ''Saint-Pierre'' | Tristan | Episode: "Off with his Head" |- | ''Going Dutch'' | Private Anthony 'BA' Chapman | Recurring role |- ! scope="row" | 2025–present | ''We Were Liars'' | Ebon | Main role (season 2)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jordan |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Amazon MGM’s ‘We Were Liars’ Ups Dempsey Bryk To Series Regular In Season 2 |url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/we-were-liars-season-2-dempsey-bryk-upped-series-regular-1236747829/|work=Deadline |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref>; recurring role (season 1) |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Short film performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" width=65 |Director ! scope="col" width=65 |Writer ! scope="col" width=65 |Producer ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | ''Viaticum'' | Ronnie Newey | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | ''Zane'' | Zane Petersen | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2021 | ''L for Loser'' | - | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- | ''Brief Story'' | Victor | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- | ''B.S. Poetry'' | The Poet Boy | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | ''What Would Jesus Do?'' | - | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Stage performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | ''Punkplay'' | Duck | |- ! scope="row" | 2022 | ''Fail to Prepare'' | | also writer and director |- |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Video game performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2021 | ''Far Cry 6'' | John, Jacob, Ethan Double | |- | ''Far Cry 6 - Joseph:Collapse'' | John, Jacob, Ethan Double | expansion pack |- | ''Harry Potter: Magic Awakened'' | Harry Potter | voice |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|8065502}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryk, Dempsey}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Canadian male voice actors Category:Male actors from Toronto Category:Film directors from Toronto