Angus O’Brien has landed in pop culture’s hall of fame with his unforgettable role as Hicks in Boots, Netflix’s breakout hit about U.S. Marine Corps recruits. With his mischievous smirk, deadpan delivery, and chaotic energy, Hicks has become one of the most talked-about characters in the show — and a fan favourite.
O’Brien, an out gay actor, brings complexity to a character who’s brash, hilarious, and unexpectedly touching. Speaking to Out, he opens up about finding his footing during the delayed production, playing a straight but ultra-butch role, forming a soulmate bond with co-star Miles Heizer, and rediscovering himself after getting sober.
The Delayed Dream
“It’s a complete dream come true,” O’Brien says about the response to Boots. After a long production journey complicated by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, O’Brien says the show’s release felt like “a huge relief.”
He joined the project from day one, alongside co-stars Miles Heizer and Max Parker. “Looking back, watching the show, we all looked so much younger,” he reflects. “It’s kind of nostalgic.”
Bald Heads & Boot Camp Bonds
Transforming into Hicks meant physically and mentally diving into Marine life. O’Brien welcomed shaving his head, calling it “a huge bonding experience.” He credits the dramatic change for helping him connect more deeply to the character: “It made connecting with Hicks a lot easier.”
Hicks: Agent of Chaos (With a Heart)
Though Hicks is described as straight, O’Brien is the only out actor among the five queer cast members playing a non-queer character. Fans speculated about Hicks’s sexuality, especially after a homoerotic shaving scene with Heizer’s character.
O’Brien clarifies: “More than a display of Hicks’s sexuality, that scene is showing… A) He likes getting up in people’s business and making them uncomfortable; B) Those moments of unexpected intimacy in boot camp.”
He says Hicks isn’t a villain — just someone looking for connection in unconventional ways. “There’s a way of reading the character… like, ‘He’s a sociopath.’ But to me, this is someone who sees the good in every situation. He wants to have an amazing time.”
One moment he’s particularly proud of is the season finale pinning ceremony. “I wanted, for once, for Hicks to just enjoy the moment,” he says, showing the character’s rare vulnerability.
On Set: Chosen Family & Soulmates
One of the standout takeaways from Boots for O’Brien? “Miles [Heizer] and I are… that’s my best friend in the entire world. I’ve had cast friends before, but this felt like a complete soulmate.”
That closeness, he says, helped during the uncertainty of the strike. “All we really had was each other,” he adds. “We relied on each other during those spiralling moments.”
The set also became a rare space where queer and straight actors gelled seamlessly. “All of my close friends are queer,” O’Brien jokes. “So it was really cool… these straight people? They can hang!”
Sobriety, Self-Discovery & Career Growth
O’Brien has been open about his sobriety, sharing that he and his brother have the same “sober birthday.” After struggling post-lockdown, he leaned on his already-sober family for support. Sobriety, he says, changed everything.
“On my 30th day of sobriety, I found out I booked a play,” he reveals. That production (A Bright New Boise) led directly to Boots.
“I feel very grateful that I get to bounce back and forth from these really interesting, strange characters back to my ‘gay as hell self,’” he laughs. “If I have to spend my career lying to myself and other people, I would rather just do something else.”
What’s Next?
O’Brien recently guest-starred on Elsbeth on CBS and is appearing in a new short film titled I’m Gonna Kill You, where — finally — he gets to play a gay character.
Looking ahead, he’s excited to take on “bizarre, exciting, and unexpected” roles. “I just want to keep playing characters like Hicks — and hopefully come back for a second season.”
