Alexander MacNicoll
Alexander MacNicoll | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander MacNicoll August 1, 1989 Hunterdon County, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2013–present |
Alexander MacNicoll (born August 1, 1989) is an American actor and producer. He is known for portraying Dr. Van Markus on the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds (2024–2026) and Luke Holbrook on the Netflix mystery series The Society (2019). He also had a recurring role as Colton on the Amazon comedy-drama Transparent (2014–2019).
Early life and education
[edit]He was born and raised in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He discovered acting during his senior year of high school through a television and media class and by making short films in his English class, later switching to a theater major at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.[1] After graduating, MacNicoll moved to Los Angeles in 2013, working multiple jobs simultaneously including as a server, bartender, dog walker, and security guard while pursuing acting.[1]
Career
[edit]His on-screen debut came in 2013 with the television series Auditions from Hell. He gained early recognition with a recurring role as Colton on Amazon Prime Video's comedy-drama Transparent, appearing in five episodes in season two."[2]
His early film work included the Disney sports drama McFarland, USA (2015) as Fitz Mitchell, which was his first SAG job,[3] the football drama My All American (2015) as Mike Campbell, and the science-fiction film The 5th Wave (2016) as Flintstone. On television, he appeared in episodes of Criminal Minds, The Fosters, Bones, and Rizzoli & Isles, before landing a recurring role as Peter Standall on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020). In 2018, he appeared in the science-fiction film A.X.L. as Sam Fontaine, a rival motocross racer.[4]
In 2019, MacNicoll was cast as Luke Holbrook, a former high school quarterback in a relationship with Helena, played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo, in the Netflix mystery series The Society.[5] Created by Christopher Keyser and released on May 10, 2019, the series follows teenagers who return from a canceled school trip to find their Connecticut town completely cut off from the outside world. The series was renewed for a second season in July 2019 but was cancelled on August 21, 2020, due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Deadline Hollywood reported in 2023 that he had been cast as series regular Dr. Van Markus alongside Zachary Quinto in the NBC medical drama pilot Brilliant Minds.[7] The series inspired by the work of neurologist Oliver Sacks premiered on NBC on September 23, 2024. He plays a medical intern diagnosed with Mirror-Touch Synesthesia, a rare condition causing him to physically experience the sensations of those around him.[8] To prepare, MacNicoll researched the experience of Joel Salinas, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health who lives with the condition, telling NBC Insider: "It was just all about reading up on that and learning about his experience and trying to apply it to my own life."[9] The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 22, 2025.[10]
In 2025, Deadline Hollywood reported his casting in the indie horror film Sweetest Day.[11] In March 2026, Deadline reported that he had been cast in Change the Prophecy, a short film from writer and director Lindsay Grossman serving as a television proof-of-concept.[12]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | McFarland, USA | Fitz Mitchell | |
| 2015 | My All-American | Mike Campbell | |
| 2016 | The 5th Wave | Flintstone | |
| 2017 | Last Rampage: The Escape of Gary Tison | Donnie | |
| 2018 | A.X.L. | Sam Fontaine | |
| 2019 | All Roads to Pearla | Brandon Bell | |
| 2019 | The Rising Hawk | Maksim | |
| 2020 | Unpregnant | Kevin | |
| 2020 | Valley Girl | Brad | |
| 2020 | No Man's Land | Lucas Greer | |
| 2021 | Heart of Champions | John Kimball | |
| 2025 | The Only Way Out Is Through | Evan |
Selected Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2019 | Transparent | Colton | Amazon | Recurring |
| 2017–2020 | 13 Reasons Why | Peter Standall | Netflix | Recurring |
| 2019 | The Society | Luke Holbrook | Netflix | Main cast |
| 2022 | Barry | Kyle | HBO | |
| 2024 | Bad Monkey | Cody | Apple TV+ | |
| 2024–2026 | Brilliant Minds | Dr. Van Markus | NBC / Peacock | Main cast |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Meet Alex MacNicoll". CanvasRebel Magazine. January 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Transparent's Alex MacNicoll Joins Oliver Daly Indie Pic 'Miles'". Deadline. October 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Rising Hawk's Alex MacNicoll". Pop-Culturalist. October 2020.
- ↑ "A-X-L Film Review: Robot-Dog Tale Is a Bucket of Bolts and Borrowed Ideas". The Wrap.
- ↑ "Rachel Keller & Gideon Adlon Among 14 Cast In Chris Keyser & Marc Webb's Netflix YA Drama Series 'The Society'". Deadline. November 2018.
- ↑ "'The Society,' 'I Am Not Okay With This' Canceled at Netflix". Variety. 21 August 2020.
- ↑ "Alex MacNicoll, Spence Moore II, Aury Krebs & Ashleigh LaThrop Board NBC Medical Drama Pilot 'Wolf'". Deadline. April 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Meet the New Cast Members of Brilliant Minds". NBC Insider. September 2025.
- ↑ "Brilliant Minds' Alex MacNicoll on Dr. Van's Mirror-Touch: 'It Made Me a Better Person'". NBC Insider. October 2024.
- ↑ "'Brilliant Minds' Sets Return Date For Remaining Season 2 Episodes". Deadline. March 2026.
- ↑ "Doree Seay, Alex MacNicoll & Chris Labadie Cast In 'Sweetest Day'". Deadline. April 2025.
- ↑ "Taylor Richardson & Alex MacNicoll Set For Short 'Change The Prophecy'". Deadline. March 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Alex MacNicoll at NBC Insider