Actor Profile: Tanner Novlan
From “Liberty Biberty” to The Bold and the Beautiful, Tanner Novlan has turned commercial comedy into a recognizable television career.
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Quick Summary: Tanner Novlan is a Canadian actor and model best known for playing Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful and for portraying the hilariously inept “struggling actor” in Liberty Mutual’s famous “Liberty Biberty” commercials. His television credits also include Roswell, New Mexico, Modern Family, Letterkenny, Bones, Rizzoli & Isles and Parenthood.
Vital Statistics
- Full Name: Tanner Novlan
- Date of Birth: April 9, 1986
- Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Raised: Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Profession: Actor and model
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
- Years Active: 2009–present
- Best Known For: Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan on The Bold and the Beautiful
- Famous Commercial Role: Liberty Mutual’s “Struggling Actor” / “Liberty Biberty” guy
- Spouse: Actress Kayla Ewell
- Children: Two
Who Is Tanner Novlan?
Tanner Novlan is a Canadian actor who has built a career spanning television dramas, soap operas, movies, modeling and national commercials.
For many viewers, Novlan first became memorable as the handsome but hilariously incompetent actor appearing in Liberty Mutual commercials. His character repeatedly struggles to deliver his lines correctly, most famously transforming the company name “Liberty Mutual” into the unforgettable phrase “Liberty Biberty.”
But Novlan’s career extends well beyond commercials.
Since 2020, he has played Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan on the CBS daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful, becoming an important part of the long-running soap’s central storylines.
Tanner Novlan’s Early Life
Novlan was born on April 9, 1986, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and was raised in the small community of Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan.
According to CBS, he grew up on his family’s approximately 3,500-acre wheat and canola farm. He eventually left Canada to pursue acting in Los Angeles, where he studied acting while going on auditions and working as a model.
His modeling work included print campaigns for major brands such as Guess and Tommy Hilfiger.
That combination of modeling experience and acting training eventually helped Novlan begin booking television, film and commercial roles.
Tanner Novlan and Liberty Mutual
Novlan’s Liberty Mutual commercials became one of the most recognizable parts of his career.
He portrays a fictional commercial actor who appears polished and confident but has trouble delivering even the most basic advertising lines correctly.
The joke reaches its peak when he mistakenly pronounces “Liberty Mutual” as “Liberty Biberty.”
The line became memorable enough that Liberty Mutual continued revisiting the concept, eventually turning Liberty Biberty into a recurring advertising campaign.
Novlan has subsequently been associated with newer Liberty Biberty commercials including campaigns such as “Famous Line,” “Pool,” “Say the Line” and related spots.
For a complete breakdown of the brand’s actors and recurring characters, see Liberty Mutual Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026).
Why the “Liberty Biberty” Performance Works
The humor in Novlan’s Liberty Mutual performance comes largely from commitment and contrast.
His character looks exactly like someone audiences expect to see in a polished national commercial. He is handsome, camera-ready and extremely confident.
The problem is that he is terrible at the actual job.
Novlan doesn’t play the character as though he knows he is funny. Instead, he remains completely sincere while forgetting lines, mispronouncing words and behaving as though his performance is going extremely well.
That straight-faced commitment makes the mistakes considerably funnier.
Acting Breakdown
Commercial actors can learn an important lesson from Novlan’s performance: don’t force the joke.
The script and situation already provide the comedy. Novlan simply commits to his character’s misplaced confidence.
His deadpan delivery and controlled facial expressions allow viewers to recognize the absurdity without being told when to laugh.
Tanner Novlan on The Bold and the Beautiful
Novlan joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2020 as Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan.
Finn enters the story as a doctor treating Steffy Forrester following a motorcycle accident. Their relationship develops romantically, ultimately connecting Finn to the powerful Forrester family and placing him at the center of several major storylines.
The role gave Novlan a very different showcase from his Liberty Mutual work.
Where the Liberty Biberty character depends on awkward comedy and intentionally poor acting, Finn requires Novlan to handle romance, family drama, emotional conflict and the fast-paced production demands of daytime television.
Other Tanner Novlan TV Roles
Before and alongside The Bold and the Beautiful, Novlan accumulated appearances across several television series.
His credits include:
- Roswell, New Mexico – Gregory Manes
- Modern Family
- Letterkenny
- Rizzoli & Isles
- Bones
- Parenthood
He has also appeared in films including Flatbush Luck, Fallen Stars and Ice: The Movie.
Tanner Novlan’s Commercial Career
Novlan’s commercial success demonstrates how a relatively short advertising performance can become an important part of an actor’s public identity.
Many national commercial performers remain largely anonymous to viewers. Novlan’s Liberty Mutual character was different because the joke itself encouraged audiences to wonder:
“Who is the Liberty Biberty actor?”
That recognition helped connect Novlan’s commercial career with his television work and made him one of the more identifiable insurance-commercial actors of recent years.
Personal Life
Novlan has been married to actress Kayla Ewell since 2015.
Ewell is known for roles including Vicki Donovan on The Vampire Diaries and Caitlin Ramirez on The Bold and the Beautiful.
The couple have two children.
Outside acting, Novlan has remained connected to sports. CBS notes that he regularly plays hockey, reflecting an interest that dates back to his upbringing in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tanner Novlan
Who is Tanner Novlan?
Tanner Novlan is a Canadian actor and model best known for playing Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan on The Bold and the Beautiful and the struggling “Liberty Biberty” actor in Liberty Mutual commercials.
Is Tanner Novlan the Liberty Biberty actor?
Yes. Tanner Novlan plays the struggling commercial actor who famously mispronounces “Liberty Mutual” as “Liberty Biberty.”
Who is the guy who says “Liberty Biberty”?
The actor who says “Liberty Biberty” in the Liberty Mutual commercials is Tanner Novlan.
How old is Tanner Novlan?
Tanner Novlan was born on April 9, 1986, making him 40 years old in 2026.
How tall is Tanner Novlan?
Novlan is approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, or about 1.85 meters.
Where is Tanner Novlan from?
Novlan was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and grew up in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan.
Who does Tanner Novlan play on The Bold and the Beautiful?
He plays Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan, the husband of Steffy Forrester.
Is Tanner Novlan married?
Yes. Tanner Novlan is married to actress Kayla Ewell. They married in 2015 and have two children.
Was Tanner Novlan a model?
Yes. Before establishing himself as a television actor, Novlan modeled in print campaigns for brands including Guess and Tommy Hilfiger.
What other shows has Tanner Novlan appeared in?
In addition to The Bold and the Beautiful, his television credits include Roswell, New Mexico, Modern Family, Letterkenny, Bones, Rizzoli & Isles and Parenthood.
Does Tanner Novlan still appear in Liberty Mutual commercials?
Liberty Mutual has continued revisiting the Liberty Biberty concept, with Novlan remaining closely associated with the recurring character and campaign.
Why Tanner Novlan Stands Out
Tanner Novlan occupies an unusual position in advertising history: he became memorable by convincingly playing an actor who was supposed to be bad at acting.
The Liberty Biberty campaign demonstrated his comic timing, while The Bold and the Beautiful has allowed him to show a much broader dramatic range.
Together, those roles have made Novlan recognizable to both daytime television audiences and millions of viewers who simply remember him as “the Liberty Biberty guy.”
Carmichael Phillip is a managing editor of Acting Magazine. In addition to editing, Mr. Phillip is a writer, coordinator and creative director.
Related Topics
Who Is the Actor in the Liberty Mutual “Say the Line” Commercial? (Tanner Novlan) – Tanner Novlan reprises his famous “Liberty Biberty” character in a self-referential Liberty Mutual commercial built around his most recognizable line.
Liberty Mutual – Biberty Bungle Commercial (Tanner Novlan) – This article breaks down Tanner Novlan’s performance as Liberty Mutual’s awkward, straight-faced “Liberty Biberty” actor.
Liberty Mutual – Swoon – TruthTellers Commercial (Lindsay Foster and Tanner Novlan) – Tanner Novlan and Lindsay Foster bring awkward romantic chemistry to this Liberty Mutual Truth Tellers commercial.
Liberty Mutual Dating App Commercial Actors – Tanner Novlan and Lindsay Foster star in a Liberty Mutual dating-themed commercial built around radical honesty and deadpan comedy.
Liberty Mutual “Truth Tellers: Biberty Baby” Commercial – Tanner Novlan returns as the “Liberty Biberty” guy in another extension of Liberty Mutual’s recurring Truth Tellers campaign.
Who Is the Bad Actor in the Liberty Mutual Commercial? – This article identifies Tanner Novlan as the deliberately incompetent actor behind Liberty Mutual’s famous “Liberty Biberty” joke.
Liberty Mutual Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) – Explore Tanner Novlan, David Hoffman, Jason Benetti, Lindsay Foster and the other performers featured across Liberty Mutual campaigns.
Is David Hoffman the Actor in the Liberty Mutual Commercial? – Learn about David Hoffman, the actor who plays Doug in Liberty Mutual’s separate LiMu Emu & Doug campaign.
Who Is the Guy Who Does the Liberty Commercials? – This page explains the different recurring male actors associated with Liberty Mutual, including David Hoffman and Tanner Novlan.
Who Is Doug on Liberty Mutual Commercials? – Meet David Hoffman and learn how Doug became another major recurring character in Liberty Mutual advertising.
Who Is Frank in the Liberty Mutual Commercial? – This article identifies another recognizable character from Liberty Mutual’s larger advertising universe.
How Much Is David Hoffman from Liberty Mutual Worth? – A closer look at the career and commercial success of Tanner Novlan’s fellow Liberty Mutual advertising star David Hoffman.
Liberty Mutual – Doug Jr. Commercial 2026 – David Hoffman returns as Doug in this family-oriented extension of Liberty Mutual’s recurring LiMu Emu campaign.
Liberty Mutual – Tiny Desk – Doug Jr. Commercial – This commercial expands Liberty Mutual’s character universe with another Doug Jr. storyline.
Liberty Mutual – LiMu Emu – Soccer Commercial – David Hoffman and LiMu Emu bring their familiar insurance-comedy partnership to a soccer-themed setting.
Liberty Mutual “Truth Tellers: Interruption” Commercial – This page explores another installment from the same broader Truth Tellers campaign associated with Tanner Novlan’s recent Liberty Mutual work.
Liberty Mutual “Truth Tellers: Wax” Commercial – Another Truth Tellers advertisement demonstrates Liberty Mutual’s reliance on deadpan performers and awkward everyday situations.
Liberty Mutual “Interruption: Great Day” Commercial Actors – This article identifies performers in another Liberty Mutual commercial built around character-based comedy.
Liberty Mutual “Commendation” Commercial Actors – Explore the actors and performance style featured in Liberty Mutual’s “Commendation” advertisement.
Liberty Mutual “PBS: American Experience” Commercial Actors – This page examines the cast featured in another Liberty Mutual campaign and expands the brand’s commercial-actor cluster.
Liberty Mutual “LiMu Emu & Doug: Streaker” Commercial – David Hoffman and supporting performers star in one of Liberty Mutual’s more physical comedy-driven advertisements.
Liberty Mutual “LiMu Emu & Doug: LiMu Limo” Commercial – Doug and LiMu Emu take their recognizable partnership into another absurd Liberty Mutual scenario.
Liberty Mutual “LiMu Emu & Doug: Goodbye” Commercial – This installment uses David Hoffman’s deadpan performance and LiMu Emu’s visual comedy to continue the brand’s recurring campaign.
Liberty Mutual “LiMu Emu & Doug: Golf” Commercial – David Hoffman brings Doug’s exaggerated confidence to a golf-themed Liberty Mutual advertisement.
Liberty Mutual “LiMu Emu & Doug: Farmer” Commercial – This article looks at another character-driven Liberty Mutual spot featuring Doug and LiMu Emu.
Insurance Commercial Actors (The 2026 Edition) – See how Tanner Novlan compares with other recognizable insurance-commercial performers such as J.K. Simmons, Dean Winters and Stephanie Courtney.
Actors in Commercials (The Complete Guide 2026) – This comprehensive guide examines recurring commercial actors, spokespersons and performers across major advertising campaigns.
What Are Commercial Actors? – Learn more about the profession that helped Tanner Novlan gain broad recognition through his Liberty Mutual campaign.
Actors in Commercials Archive – Browse Acting Magazine’s collection of articles identifying actors and celebrities featured in television advertising.
Acting Magazine Commercial Index – Search Acting Magazine’s larger directory of commercial actors, campaigns and brand-specific advertising pages.
Farmers Insurance Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) – Compare Tanner Novlan’s Liberty Mutual character work with J.K. Simmons’ long-running role as Professor Burke for Farmers Insurance.
The General Insurance Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) – Explore another major insurance-advertising cast featuring Shaquille O’Neal, T-Pain and other celebrity performers.
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