 By 1940 he had relocated with his family to Glendale, California, where his father worked as a general contractor.Living only 11 miles (18 km) from Hollywood, Brands as a young man was attracted to filmwork, and over time he managed to find employment as a stuntman and later opportunities to act.During his film career, Brands invariably served as supporting characters, often in uncredited roles, performing in at least 13 films between 1956 and 1978.