# Taylor Handley
**Taylor Handley** (full name Taylor Laurence Handley) is an American actor born in 1984 in [Santa Barbara, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-barbara-california), known for playing Oliver Trask on *The O.C.*, Johnny Miller on *Hidden Palms*, Dixon Lamb on *Vegas*, and Kyle McLusky on *Mayor of Kingstown*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) He began acting at the age of eight and has worked in film and television since his 1998 screen debut.[3](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/apb_press_735c1014.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Santa Barbara, California[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) |
| Screen debut | Rory Buck in *Jack Frost* (1998), opposite Michael Keaton[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) |
| Breakout TV role | Oliver Trask, six episodes of *The O.C.* season 1 (2003–2004)[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) |
| Series leads | Johnny Miller in *Hidden Palms* (2007, 8 episodes); Dixon Lamb in *Vegas* (2012–2013, 21 episodes); Officer Nicholas Brandt in *APB* (2017, 12 episodes)[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) |
| Current main role | Kyle McLusky in *Mayor of Kingstown* (2021– ), 40 episodes through season 4[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) |
| Recent work | Paul Hamler in *The Pitt* season 2 (7 episodes); Billy Jensen in *Griselda* (2024)[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) |
| Spouse | Audra Seminaro, married June 8, 2013[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/bio/) |
## Early roles
Handley made his film debut with a small supporting role in the 1998 holiday comedy *Jack Frost*, starring [Michael Keaton](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-keaton), playing Rory Buck.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) In 2000 he took the lead role of Pete Riley in the Disney Channel Original Movie *Phantom of the Megaplex*, a performance that earned him a [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nomination for best performance in a television movie (comedy) as a leading young actor.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/handley-taylor-1984)
Through the early 2000s he accumulated guest appearances across prime-time series, including *Sons of Thunder*, *Frasier*, *NYPD Blue*, *Touched by an Angel*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Becker*, and *Cold Case*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/handley-taylor-1984) He appeared in three episodes of the final season of *Dawson's Creek* in 2003, playing Patrick.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley)
## The O.C. and Hidden Palms
In 2003 and 2004, Handley played Oliver Trask, an emotionally troubled adolescent who grows so obsessed with [Marissa Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/marissa-cooper) after encountering her at a therapy clinic that he comes close to taking his own life over her, in six first-season episodes of *The O.C.*[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) The portrayal drew critical attention to the young actor, but also controversy: mental health advocates objected to the implication that Trask's depression was responsible for his reckless, borderline villainous behavior.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/)
In 2007 Handley led the cast of the CW mystery drama *Hidden Palms* as [Johnny Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-miller), a sensitive 15-year-old who moves to Palm Springs with his mother after his father's suicide; the series ran for eight episodes.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) The press kit for his later series *APB* notes that he led that cast for Kevin Williamson, the executive producer of *Dawson's Creek*, alongside [Amber Heard](https://www.edgepedia.org/amber-heard).[3](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/apb_press_735c1014.pdf)
## Film work
Handley's 2006 film output included three releases: *The Standard*, *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning*, in which he played Dean, and *Zerophilia*, in which he played Luke.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/handley-taylor-1984) *September Dawn*, in which he played Micah Samuelson, reached theaters on August 24, 2007.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/handley-taylor-1984) Later film work includes *Battle: Los Angeles*, the indie drama *Skateland*, and director [Curtis Hanson](https://www.edgepedia.org/curtis-hanson)'s surfing chronicle *Chasing Mavericks* (2012), in which he appeared alongside [Gerard Butler](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerard-butler) as Sonny.[3](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/apb_press_735c1014.pdf) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/) In 2013 he appeared in the "Greatness Awaits" commercial for the upcoming [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4) console.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley)
## Television series roles
Handley co-starred with [Dennis Quaid](https://www.edgepedia.org/dennis-quaid) in the CBS period drama *Vegas* (2012–2013) as Deputy Dixon Lamb, appearing in 21 episodes.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) He guest starred in the pilot of *Southland* on April 9, 2009, playing Wade, and returned as the character in the second episode of the second season.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) In 2017 he starred as Officer Nicholas Brandt in the Fox series *APB*, appearing in all 12 episodes of its single season.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley)
## Mayor of Kingstown
Since 2021 Handley has played Kyle McLusky, brother of [Jeremy Renner](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-renner)'s character Mike, in the [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) crime drama *Mayor of Kingstown*, created by [Taylor Sheridan](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-sheridan) and Hugh Dillon; he had appeared in 40 episodes through the end of season 4.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/news/) His role expanded sharply in season 4, which aired in late 2025: Kyle was arrested at the end of season 3 and spent much of season 4 in prison, first in a cell next to Merle Callahan (Richard Brake) and later in general population.[8](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/mayor-of-kingstowns-kyle-actor-why-filming-prison-scenes-can-feel-scary) In the season 4 finale, Kyle killed Callahan, closing the storyline with a reconciliation between the McLusky brothers.[9](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/if-mayor-of-kingstown-renewed-season-5-see-merle-impacts-mike-kyle-i-asked-taylor-handley-richard-brake)
The series was renewed for a fifth and final season of eight episodes, down from ten in seasons 1 through 4, and production began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in March 2026, with Handley among the returning cast.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/news/) The season picks up in the wake of Tracy's murder and the vengeance visited upon Callahan by Mike and Kyle.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/news/)
## Recent work
Handley played Detective Billy Jensen in two episodes of the 2024 Netflix miniseries *Griselda*, opposite [Sofía Vergara](https://www.edgepedia.org/sofia-vergara).[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/) In *The Pitt* season 2 he guest starred as Paul Hamler, husband of the cancer patient Roxie Hamler ([Brittany Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/brittany-allen)), in a seven-episode arc that ran from February to March 2026.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley) • [10](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-pitt-season-2/) His most recent film credit is *Outbreak* (2024), in which he played John Gibson and served as co-executive producer.[11](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/taylor-handley) • [12](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/taylor-handley/credits/3030258104/)
## References
1. [Taylor Handley – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/taylor-handley/)
2. [Taylor Handley, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/21775/taylor-handley)
3. [TAYLOR HANDLEY, FOX APB press kit](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/apb_press_735c1014.pdf)
4. [Taylor Handley – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/bio/)
5. [Handley, Taylor 1984–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/handley-taylor-1984)
6. [Taylor Handley, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/)
7. [Taylor Handley – News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359623/news/)
8. [Mayor Of Kingstown's Kyle Actor Told Me Why Filming Big Prison Scenes Can Feel Genuinely 'Scary', CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/mayor-of-kingstowns-kyle-actor-why-filming-prison-scenes-can-feel-scary)
9. [If Mayor Of Kingstown Gets Renewed For Season 5, I Want To See How Merle Impacts Mike And Kyle, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/if-mayor-of-kingstown-renewed-season-5-see-merle-impacts-mike-kyle-i-asked-taylor-handley-richard-brake)
10. ['The Pitt' Season 2: Everything We Know, Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-pitt-season-2/)
11. [Taylor Handley: Movies & Box Office, What's After the Movie](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/taylor-handley)
12. [Taylor Handley List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/taylor-handley/credits/3030258104/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames H to Ha*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license