Austin Lee Basis was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in a little
beach community called Sea Gate, at the end the famous Coney Island
boardwalk. His mother, Shari, was a teacher for over 30 years, and his
father, Arthur, has managed a meat-distribution company for almost 20
years. He has a younger brother, Jeremy, who is also a teacher.
From a very young age Austin felt at home in the limelight,
entertaining people and making them laugh - but actually dreamed of
playing major league baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets! Once
it was clear that biology and genetics were teaming up to prevent that
from happening, Austin turned his focus to... becoming a doctor!
Eventually, even that became an elaborate form of procrastination.
Throughout Austin's childhood he performed in plays, usually musical
comedies, despite his lack of singing ability. From his first role as
"The Sun" in the kindergarten play to the title role of Dracula in a
Junior High School production of "Young Dracula" to the Dentist in a
summer camp version of "Little Shop of Horrors" to the part of Stanley
in "Brighton Beach Memoirs" - his first full production in college -
Austin's future was being mapped out before his eyes.
Austin went on to Major in Theater at Binghamton University. He
performed in the title roles of "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead"
and "I Hate Hamlet" among others, in addition to several original
productions. He continued his training and education at the Actors
Studio Drama School, where he received an MFA in Acting.
Soon after graduating, Austin became a lifetime member of the Actors
Studio. There he had the privilege to work with the likes of
Al Pacino,
Faye Dunaway, and
Estelle Parsons; and under the tutelage
of
Ellen Burstyn,
Harvey Keitel,
Arthur Penn, and
Lee Grant.
Austin was a struggling actor in New York for a couple of years. He
worked as a bartender, a bouncer, a busboy, a cater-waiter, and a
substitute teacher to make a living, all the while - taking classes to
hone his audition skills, working "in Session" at the Actors Studio,
and performing in a slew of independent & student films, and Off-Off
Broadway plays. He also co-created and performed in an improv & sketch
comedy show called "Mmm...Comedy" that ran for 7 months.
Austin's television debut was in the Comedy Central film
Porn 'n Chicken (2002).
His break came in 2004 when he was cast in an episode of
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001).
Austin then landed a role in a Warner Brothers TV pilot for FOX called
Spellbound (2004) with
Christine Baranski,
Barry Bostwick and
Dave Annable. He soon moved out to LA for
good and began making a living as an actor.
Austin has since appeared on numerous television shows, among them:
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006),
Supernatural (2005) and
Life on Mars (2008). His diverse
film credits include
Dorian Blues (2004),
Boxboarders! (2007),
American Zombie (2007),
My Sassy Girl (2008), and
The Other End of the Line (2007)
- traveling as far as India to shoot them.
He enjoys a successful commercial career as well, appearing in spots
for Toys 'R' Us, Wendy's, Dr. Pepper, State Farm, and Burger King. He
also plays Benjamin Bankes the Pig in the Ad Council's "Feed the Pig"
campaign.
Austin enjoys drawing and writing poetry.
Not Your Buddy(2017)
The Fear We Share(2019)
Dracula Goes to Camp(2017)
Bernie's Wonder Years(2016)
Mimics(2025)as Emcee Tony
Fireflies in the Dusk(2025)as Rockwell
The Rookie(2018)as Deputy Kingston
Dead End Drive(2020)
American Zombie(2007)
Dorian Blues(2004)
The Octo Circus(2009)
Denim-Wrapped Nightmares: A Supernatural Podcast(2022)as Self - Guest
The Screen Forum(2020)as Self - Guest
Let's Dive In(2020)as Self
Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz(2020)as Self
Home & Family(2012)as Self
