Buddy Handleson (born November 1, 1999) is an American actor,[3] best known for playing Henry Dillon in DisneyTeen sitcomShake It Up, Wendell Bassett in Nickelodeon comedy series Wendell & Vinnie, and Newt on Bella and the Bulldogs, also on Nickelodeon.[4] On June 25, 2017, he came out as gay. He first announced it in an Instagram post.
Biography
Buddy is the son of Jay and Athena Handleson.[5] At the age of 3, his parents tried to introduce him to modeling, but the young Buddy Handleson did not like it.[6] He was spotted by the talent agent Cathy Steele based in Orlando.[5]
He started auditioning for acting roles at the age of 7[6] and taking acting lessons with Romeo Marquez.[5] In 2010, he co-starred in an episode of 'Til Death, and guest-starred in an episode of Sons of Tucson[5] (role of Gabe AKA "Asskiss" in episode Kisses and Beads[7]). In February 2013, he landed the lead role of Wendell Bassett in Wendell and Vinnie.[6]
On June 25, 2017, Handleson came out as gay through a caption on an Instagram photo depicting him in front of a pride flag. He wrote,
"Over the past couple of years I've become more and more comfortable with my sexuality and I think I'm ready to share it with the world. I'm finally at a place in life where I can say 'I'm proud of who I am. I'm proud to be gay.'"[8]