Long Island natives Greg and Mary Brandis moved to Danbury in the early 1970s.Greg,who was in the U.S.Navy,was stationed in Connecticut. The couple attended Western Connecticut State University.Mary was pregnant with Jonathan when she graduated.Greg became a Danbury firefighter, and Mary went on to teach school.Jonathan modeled as a toddler.A Darien photographer told the couple the boy was animated enough to be on television. Soon,the couple was taking him to New York to shoot commercials.At 9 years old, Jonathan had more than 80 commercials under his belt.When he and his dad visited California for a week of auditions,the sunny weather convinced the family to move.Brandis landed guest spots on shows such as "Full House",and "Who's the Boss?"At 14,he starred in the 1990 film "Neverending Story II" about a boy's adventures in a fantasy land.In 1992,Jon played opposite comic Rodney Dangerfield in the movie "Ladybugs".He starred in the martial arts comedy "Sidekicks",as a bullied asthmatic who fantasizes he is Chuck Norris' pal. Brandis' popularity peaked with "SeaQuest DSV", which aired from 1993 to 1995.