A former basketball player, Kauchani Bratt, never considered pursuing acting, but the events of the 2020 pandemic changed his perspective entirely.
Kauchani Bratt is an up-and-coming actor making waves with his first film, “Rez Ball.”
Highlights
- Kauchani Bratt, 23, played on his high school’s varsity basketball team for three years and helped lead them to victory in the Native American Basketball Invitational.
- 6’4″ tall, Bratt put his basketball dreams aside for good when the pandemic struck in 2020.
- Kauchani took the initiative to improve his skills by enrolling in classes in San Francisco.
In the Netflix basketball movie, he plays Jimmy Holiday, a determined high school senior and basketball player who helps his single mom pay the rent by working part-time.
After facing a heartbreaking loss, Jimmy focuses all his energy on leading his team, the Chuska Warriors, to success.
Like his character, Bratt has Native American roots and is connected to the Quechua and Coahuiltecan Nations.
Kauchani Bratt Is The Former College Basketball Player
Kauchani Bratt, 23, grew up in San Francisco and loved basketball from a young age.
He played on his high school’s varsity basketball team for three years and helped lead them to victory in the Native American Basketball Invitational.
Six foot and four inches tall, Bratt started at San Jose State but later transferred to a junior college with hopes of pursuing basketball.
However, he put his basketball dreams aside for good when the pandemic struck.
Kauchani Bratt was an excellent fit for the role of Jimmy Holiday because the casting call sought a Native performer with basketball experience.
Kauchani Bratt Took Acting Classes To Improvise His Role In Movies
Although he had never considered acting before, he felt that this project was unique and essential, and he wanted to be part of it, even in a minor role.
Despite his lack of acting experience, Kauchani took the initiative to improve his skills by enrolling in classes in San Francisco.
His performance as Jimmy Holiday was impressive and contributed to the film’s high rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now, Kauchani aims to build a career in acting. He has signed with a management company and wants to land a role in a science fiction project.
Additional Information
- Kauchani Bratt’s uncle Benjamin Bratt expressed immense pride in him and praised him for the soulful qualities he has shown since childhood and now in his acting.
- He graduated from UCSC in 2023 with a degree in philosophy.
- Kauchani Bratt has kept details about his parents private but has shared that his father is of Coahuiltecan heritage, and his mother is of Quechua descent.
