Although he is the first to admit that much of his success is due to his longtime friendship with writer/director/producer J.J. Abrams — who cast Grunberg in plum roles on Felicity and Alias — this lovable actor is no slouch on his own. After studying business in college, Grunberg founded a successful frozen-yogurt business and assisted film producers Dino De Laurentiis and Joel Silver before segueing into acting. The quintessential Average Joe, he quickly landed TV guest spots, small film roles and a number of commercials, often portraying blue-collar guys. But his kindergarten pal Abrams lifted him out of the ranks of no-name players by writing him a role as a sarcastic inventor on Felicity. 2001 found Grunberg briefly appearing on two Abrams shows simultaneously, when he took on a recurring part as a CIA field agent on Alias in addition to his Felicity duties. Although TV remained his primary medium, he popped up in small film roles, notably the Abrams-directed Mission: Impossible III. In 2006 he snagged his highest-profile role to date as a hapless cop who can read minds on Heroes. But Grunberg has proven that his talents aren't limited to the screen. He plays in the charity-benefiting music act Band From TV, which features a star-studded lineup including Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Bob Gulney, Jesse Spencer, Adrian Pasdar and Scott Grimes. Though the band raises money for an array of causes, Grunberg is primarily involved in epilepsy research as his oldest son, Jake, has the disorder. He also created talkaboutit.org, a website to raise awareness for epilepsy and featuring several celebrity videos, and organizes frequent benefits and fund-raisers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Collection is hosted by Brad Gilmore.

A production of Gilmore Media LLC.© 2025 Gilmore Media LLC. All rights reserved.

For inquiries, contact Brad at [email protected] or visit bradgilmore.net.

Brad Gilmore is a Houston-based multimedia personality, author, and producer who has built a career at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and storytelling. Known to fans as The BOAT (“Best of All Time”), Brad has hosted and produced programming across ESPN Radio, CW39 Houston, and Reality of Wrestling alongside WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.He is the creator and host of The Collection, a podcast where he sits down with some of the most influential figures in film, television, and music. Brad is also an accomplished author, with forthcoming titles including Why We Love Back to the Future: 40 Years of Fandom, Flux Capacitors, and Timeless Adventures (Mango Publishing, 2025). His interviews, live events, and media work reflect his passion for pop culture and his gift for making conversations both insightful and entertaining.Beyond the microphone, Brad is committed to building platforms that spotlight creativity, amplify voices, and connect communities through media.