Adam Brody's Real Name: Adam Jared Brody

Quick answer: Adam Brody's full name is Adam Jared Brody. He was born on December 15, 1979, in San Diego, California. Adam Brody is his real name, and Jared is his middle name. He became a teen icon as Seth Cohen on The O.C. (2003–07). Decades later he won a 2025 Critics Choice Award as a rabbi in Netflix's Nobody Wants This (Library of Congress; Britannica).

Real name and early life

The Library of Congress name authority files him as "Brody, Adam, 1979-." One citation records "b. 15 Dec. 1979; San Diego, Calif." and "Adam Jared Brody" from a biography page. Other LOC sources give birth dates of April 8, 1980, and April 8, 1981, and there is a variant heading for 1980. Britannica gives December 15, 1979, which most references follow.

According to Britannica, he is the son of graphic artist Valerie Jill (née Siefman) and lawyer Mark Alan Brody. He was raised in a Jewish family, though he has said he is not religious. As a boy he spent much of his free time surfing in San Diego. He dropped out of community college at 19 to pursue acting.

Career highlights

After a year of auditions and small TV parts, Brody played Barry Williams in the TV movie Growing Up Brady (2000). He then had a recurring role in season three of Gilmore Girls. His breakout was Seth Cohen on The O.C., which won him three consecutive Teen Choice Awards. Britannica credits his awkward, wisecracking portrayal with helping popularize geek culture on television.

During The O.C. he also appeared in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Thank You for Smoking (2005). Later films include Jennifer's Body (2009), Scream 4 (2011), and Lovelace (2013). He played the superpowered Freddy Freeman in Shazam! (2019) and its 2023 sequel, and appeared in Ready or Not (2019). He led and executive produced The Kid Detective (2020). On TV he starred in StartUp (2016–18) and appeared in Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022–23).

In Netflix's Nobody Wants This (2024–), he plays Noah, a progressive rabbi who falls for a non-Jewish woman played by Kristen Bell. Britannica says the role earned him a Critics Choice Award for best actor in a comedy series in 2025. The second season aired on October 23, 2025. He has also drummed in the rock band Big Japan.

Name notes for searchers

Adam is his given first name, Jared his middle name, and Brody his family surname, from his father, Mark Alan Brody. He has always acted under his own name. Library catalogs list his birth date in several ways, but the name is consistent.