He is known for his long-running portrayal of English teacher Grantly Budgen in the hit BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, which he played from 2006 to 2013.
He is also known for playing Steve McDonald's therapist in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2015, although he first appeared in the show as D.I.
In 2021, Brown appeared in the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors as Marvin Bulis, having previously played various other roles in the show.
Brown's most prominent role in a drama before Waterloo Road was Eddie Vincent in Casualty, where he appeared in 17 episodes between 2002 and 2003.
In 2010, Brown was nominated for the Best Actor prize in the 2010 TV Choice Awards, and won it three years in a row.