Born December 15, 1964, the son of a dairy farmer in Shafer, Minnesota (population 81), Brett Rickaby attended Chisago Lakes High School where, as a senior, he received a letter from a professor at the University of Minnesota in Duluth encouraging him to attend their theatre program. Taking this as a sign, he enrolled at UMD and did not get cast in a single production his first year. Briefly, he considered hanging it up to become a tree trimmer, but re-dedicated himself and was cast in seven full-scale productions his sophomore year. By his senior year (1987) he had won what is roughly the acting equivalent of Heisman Trophy, The National Irene Ryan Acting Award at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.That fall he received a scholarship to attend New York University's MFA program with contemporaries and classmates Peter Krause ("Six Feet Under" (2001)), Camryn Manheim ("The Practice" (1997), Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock (2000)), Rainn Wilson ("The Office" (2005)) and Debra Messing ("Will & Grace" (1998)), and originated two plays with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and director Tony Kushner ("Angels in America" (2003)).Rickaby performed in numerous New York and regional theatre productions including The New York Shakespeare Festival, The Roundabout and The Actors Theatre of Louisville. In 1995, he was hired by Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George (1994)) to play Jigger Craigin in the National Tour of "Carousel" with Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy (2005)).In front of the camera, Rickaby has demonstrated a wide range of looks and sensibilities but is mostly known for playing a variety of psychopaths, sociopaths and other disturbed individuals.

Trivia: Brett appeared on a "Caller ID commercial" for Pac Bell in 1998 called "Ex-boyfriends."Also appeared in a promo for "Frasier" as a European Dance choreographer in 1997 called"Interpretive dance"1990 - Received NYU's Seidman Award given by the University to the graduate actor with the most professional potential.1987 - Rickaby's senior year at Univ. of Mn-Duluth, he wins the National Irene Ryan Award at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., representing the best college actor in the nation.1978 - Won Jr. High Talent Contest doing imitations of: Charlie Pride, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Elvis and Donny and Marie Osmond.Co-founder/facilitator of New York University's West Coast Collective.The father of two daughters: Kaitlyn and Mackenzie.1996-1997 While on tour with the National Tour of Carousel, developed a fan club called The Women of Leather.2007 Founder of Oracle Filmworks: a personal production company for actors.