Birth Date: | 1999 11, mf=yes[1] |
Birth Place: | Danville, California, U.S.[2] |
Other Names: | Buddy Keaton |
Occupation: | Actor |
Years Active: | 2006–present |
Buddy Handleson (born November 1, 1999) is an American actor,[3] best known for playing Henry Dillon in Disney Teen sitcom Shake It Up, Wendell Bassett in Nickelodeon comedy series Wendell & Vinnie, and Newt on Bella and the Bulldogs, also on Nickelodeon.[4] On June 25, 2017, he came out as gay. He first announced it in an Instagram post.
Buddy is the son of Jay and Athena Handleson.[5] At the age of 3, his parents tried to introduce him to modeling, but the young Buddy Handleson did not like it.[6] He was spotted by the talent agent Cathy Steele based in Orlando.[5]
He started auditioning for acting roles at the age of 7[6] and taking acting lessons with Romeo Marquez.[5] In 2010, he co-starred in an episode of 'Til Death, and guest-starred in an episode of Sons of Tucson[5] (role of Gabe AKA "Asskiss" in episode Kisses and Beads[7]). In February 2013, he landed the lead role of Wendell Bassett in Wendell and Vinnie.[6]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Hannah Montana | Boy | Episode: "Jake... Another Little Piece of My Heart" | |
2009 | Trauma | Lost Boy Jonah | Episode: "Masquerade" | |
2010 | 'Til Death | Timmy | Episode: "Dog Fight" | |
2010 | Sons of Tucson | Gabe | Episodes: "Golden Ticket", "Kisses and Beads" | |
2010–2012 | Shake It Up | Henry Dillon | Recurring role, 9 episodes | |
2011 | Mr. Sunshine | Timmy | Episodes: "Lingerie Football", "Family Business" | |
2011 | Coming & Going | Christopher Crump | Film | |
2012 | Doc McStuffins | Luca | Voice role | |
2012 | Bad Fairy | Rocco DiRizzo | TV movie | |
2013 | Wendell & Vinnie | Wendell Bassett | Lead role | |
2014 | Little Savages | Vinny | Film | |
2015–2016 | Bella and the Bulldogs | Newt | Main role | |
2017–2018 | Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | Wally | Episodes: "Quadpendence Day", "We'll Always Have Parasites" | |
2019 | Sydney to the Max | Gerald | Episode: "The Parent Track" |
Handleson lived in Burbank with his mom from 2012–2014 and then moved to Redondo Beach, California.
On June 25, 2017, Handleson came out as gay through a caption on an Instagram photo depicting him in front of a pride flag. He wrote,"Over the past couple of years I've become more and more comfortable with my sexuality and I think I'm ready to share it with the world. I'm finally at a place in life where I can say 'I'm proud of who I am. I'm proud to be gay.'"[8]