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From the Flathead to the Big Screen

By Beacon Staff

It’s been an interesting year for Casey Brown. The former Flathead High School student has taken a break from his senior year at a California college and recently spent time as a drug-addicted hillbilly from Kentucky.

And, with the goals he’s set for himself, Brown would like to be that hillbilly for at least a couple more days.

When the Beacon last spoke with Brown in 2009, he was a junior at Flathead High School with a bright future ahead of him. A veteran of the Bigfork Children’s Playhouse, the high school’s theater program and the Alpine Theatre Company, Brown packed his bags and took off to the University of Southern California – Los Angeles Resident Honors Program.

Since then, his acting career has taken off in leaps and bounds. With several movies under his belt, Brown has also recently appeared in the FX television series, “Justified,” starring Timothy Olyphant as a federal marshal in the hill country of eastern Kentucky.

Now in it’s fourth season, “Justified” is one of the network’s top-rated shows. As of last week, Brown had filmed two episodes for the show as the opiate-addicted character, Benny. He is in discussions about more episodes, Brown said in an interview last week.

“It was really exciting when that all happened,” Brown said of his role on the show. “It’s really fun; it’s a great show to do. I’ve had a very, very fortunate year.”

Slated to be in his senior year at USC this year, Brown said he had to take the year off because the acting jobs kept pouring in.

“I would be a senior at the moment but I had to leave to shoot a film that I did earlier this year,” Brown said. “Work has been pretty consistent. It’s been a good problem to have; I figured I had to take the opportunity when it came.”

The film in question is called “Copperhead,” and centers on the effects that war has on the family. It takes place during the Civil War, and is directed by Ron Maxwell, whose other movies include “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals.”

Brown’s role in that movie is as Jeff Beech, the son of the only family in a northern New York town to subscribe to the anti-abolitionist theory of the union. The story follows his family and how the war tears it apart.

He spent two months this summer filming the movie, which is now in post-production and scheduled to be released this year.

“It was a fascinating movie to do,” Brown said.

Brown also shot a movie called “Reach Me,” with Kelsey Grammer, Kyra Sedgwick, Cary Elwes, Thomas Jane, Tom Sizemore and Sylvester Stallone. It is also expected to be released in 2013.

Casey Brown poses for a portrait during his junior year at Flathead High School. File photo by Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon

The move from small town Montana to Los Angeles took some adjustment, Brown said.

“LA is a very interesting place to be; it’s taken a little bit of time to get used to but it’s been really great. School helped with that transition, big time,” Brown said. “I’ve just now sort of settled into my post-school routine.”

Still, Brown very much remains a Montana kid at heart. He perked up immediately on the phone when he heard about the snow on Big Mountain, and vowed to get back here before the ski season was over.

For those who knew Brown before he made his way to Los Angeles, the successful venture into the acting world is likely unsurprising. Brown acknowledged that he is lucky to have the opportunities he’s had this year, and hopes to keep honing his craft as he goes along.

“I feel very blessed,” Brown said.

“Justified” airs on FX on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m.