Wes Bentley: Difference between revisions
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Bentley was married to actress Jennifer Quanz from 2001 to 2009. They separated in 2009 due to his substance abuse. He married producer Jacqui Swedberg in 2010. They have a son, Charles, born in late 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20501824,00.html|title=Wes Bentley: 'I Felt Myself Dying'|date=June 13, 2011|author=Oliver Jones|publisher=''People'' magazine|accessdate=January 13, 2012}}</ref> and a daughter, Brooklyn, born in 2014. |
Bentley was married to actress Jennifer Quanz from 2001 to 2009. They separated in 2009 due to his substance abuse. He married producer Jacqui Swedberg in 2010. They have a son, Charles, born in late 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20501824,00.html|title=Wes Bentley: 'I Felt Myself Dying'|date=June 13, 2011|author=Oliver Jones|publisher=''People'' magazine|accessdate=January 13, 2012}}</ref> and a daughter, Brooklyn, born in 2014. |
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==Drug addiction== |
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In a ''[[New York Times]]'' article on February 8, 2010, he described his descent into [[drug addiction]] that began almost immediately after his success in ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''. He said he hid his addiction from his wife; they separated in 2006, and he moved to an apartment where he began doing drugs full-time. During this time he worked sporadically, just enough to pay bills and buy drugs. His addiction started to cause problems on the sets of the films ''[[P2 (film)|P2]]'' and ''[[Weirdsville]]'' and in 2008 he was arrested and ordered into counseling and [[12-step programs]]. He relapsed, however, and "continued using [[heroin]] until he was broke".<ref name="nyt1">{{cite news|last=Healy|first=Patrick|title=Back From the Depths, Rebuilding a Career|work=The New York Times|page=1|date=February 8, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/theater/08bentley.html}}</ref> |
In a ''[[New York Times]]'' article on February 8, 2010, he described his descent into [[drug addiction]] that began almost immediately after his success in ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''. He said he hid his addiction from his wife; they separated in 2006, and he moved to an apartment where he began doing drugs full-time. During this time he worked sporadically, just enough to pay bills and buy drugs. His addiction started to cause problems on the sets of the films ''[[P2 (film)|P2]]'' and ''[[Weirdsville]]'' and in 2008 he was arrested and ordered into counseling and [[12-step programs]]. He relapsed, however, and "continued using [[heroin]] until he was broke".<ref name="nyt1">{{cite news|last=Healy|first=Patrick|title=Back From the Depths, Rebuilding a Career|work=The New York Times|page=1|date=February 8, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/theater/08bentley.html}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:25, 1 January 2018
Wes Bentley | |
|---|---|
 Bentley in March 2012 | |
| Born | Wesley Cook Bentley September 4, 1978 Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Juilliard School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jennifer Quanz (m. 2001–2009)Jacqui Swedberg (m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
Wesley Cook "Wes" Bentley (born September 4, 1978)[1] is an American actor known for blockbusters and independent films.
Bentley is best known for his roles as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty (1999), which earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Supporting Actor, Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games (2012), and Doyle in Interstellar (2014). He was one of four subjects in the documentary My Big Break (2009), which covered his fame after American Beauty and struggles with substance abuse. Rebuilding his career, he starred in the premiere of Venus in Fur by David Ives in the off-Broadway production in 2010. His other film roles include The Four Feathers (2002), Ghost Rider (2007), P2 (2007), and Pete's Dragon (2016).
He began appearing in the FX anthology series American Horror Story in 2014, playing Edward Mordrake in Freak Show. In 2015, he starred as Detective John Lowe in Hotel, for which he received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination. The following year, he played Dylan (the actor who plays Ambrose White in My Roanoke Nightmare) in the series' sixth cycle, subtitled Roanoke.
Early life
Bentley was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock,[2][3] the third of four sons of Cherie Baker and David Bentley. His father is a minister, and his mother is a chaplain and ordained elder in the Arkansas Conference, both in the United Methodist denomination.[1][4][5] He is of German, Scottish and English descent.[6]
In 1996, he graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas.[7] He attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division as part of its Group 29 (1996–2000)[8] but left the school after one year to pursue his acting career.[9]
Career
Bentley has starred in several films, including the Oscar-winning film American Beauty, The Four Feathers, P2, and Ghost Rider. He starred in the thriller Dolan's Cadillac,[10] based on the short story by Stephen King,[11] and There Be Dragons by director Roland Joffé. Bentley is one of the main subjects in the documentary My Big Break, directed by Tony Zierra, which follows Bentley and three of his former roommates, Chad Lindberg, Brad Rowe and Greg Fawcett, as they pursue their dream to become successful actors in Hollywood.
In the 2007 film Ghost Rider, Bentley played Blackheart, a demonic being that was the main antagonist.
In 2010, he starred opposite Nina Arianda in the premiere of the David Ives play Venus in Fur at the Classic Stage Company in New York City.[12][13][14][15]
In March 2012, Bentley had a supporting role in the blockbuster movie The Hunger Games, playing gamemaker Seneca Crane.
In 2012, Bentley also starred with Amber Tamblyn and Vincent Piazza in the indie feature 3 Nights in the Desert, directed by Gabriel Cowan and written by award-winning playwright Adam Chanzit.[16]
In June 2013, Bentley was selected to star in Ryan Murphy's HBO production, titled Open, along with Scott Speedman.[17]
After guest-starring in American Horror Story: Freak Show in 2014, Bentley was promoted to main cast for the fifth season of American Horror Story, entitled Hotel, starring as Detective John Lowe. In 2016, he played a supporting role in the sixth season, Roanoke.
Personal life
Bentley was married to actress Jennifer Quanz from 2001 to 2009. They separated in 2009 due to his substance abuse. He married producer Jacqui Swedberg in 2010. They have a son, Charles, born in late 2010[18] and a daughter, Brooklyn, born in 2014.
Drug addiction
In a New York Times article on February 8, 2010, he described his descent into drug addiction that began almost immediately after his success in American Beauty. He said he hid his addiction from his wife; they separated in 2006, and he moved to an apartment where he began doing drugs full-time. During this time he worked sporadically, just enough to pay bills and buy drugs. His addiction started to cause problems on the sets of the films P2 and Weirdsville and in 2008 he was arrested and ordered into counseling and 12-step programs. He relapsed, however, and "continued using heroin until he was broke".[12]
In July 2009, he said, he confessed to a friend, "I’m a drug addict, and an alcoholic, and I need help. I need help or I’m going to die".[19] He again entered a 12-step program and, while clean since then, considers himself on the path to recovery.
The documentary My Big Break (2009) captures Bentley's early life as an unknown actor, his explosive career launch after American Beauty, his subsequent emotional struggle with fame, and his admission years later that he was recovering from an addiction to drugs and alcohol.[12] He began to rebuild his career by starring in the Off-Broadway premiere of the play Venus in Fur by David Ives.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Serendipity Lane | Lonnie | Short film |
| 1998 | Three Below Zero | Julian Flincher | |
| Beloved | Schoolteacher's Nephew | ||
| 1999 | American Beauty | Ricky Fitts | |
| The White River Kid | White River Kid | ||
| 2000 | The Claim | Donald Daglish | |
| 2001 | Carving Out Our Name | Himself | |
| Soul Survivors | Matt | ||
| 2002 | The Four Feathers | Jack Durrance | |
| 2005 | The Game of Their Lives | Walter Bahr | |
| 2007 | Weirdsville | Royce | |
| Ghost Rider | Blackheart / Legion | ||
| The Ungodly | Mickey Gravatski | ||
| P2 | Thomas | ||
| 2008 | The Last Word | Evan | |
| The Tomb | Johnathan | ||
| 2009 | Dolan's Cadillac | Robinson | |
| The Greims | Donnie Greims | Short film | |
| 2010 | Jonah Hex | Adleman Lusk | |
| 2011 | Rites of Passage | Benny | |
| Hirokin | Hirokin | ||
| There Be Dragons | Manolo Torres | ||
| After-School Special | Man | Short film | |
| 2012 | Underworld: Awakening | Dr. Edward Vronski | Uncredited |
| Gone | Peter Hood | ||
| The Hunger Games | Seneca Crane | ||
| Stars in Shorts | Man | ||
| The Time Being | Daniel | ||
| Hidden Moon | Victor Brighton | ||
| 2013 | Lovelace | Thomas | |
| Pioneer | Mike | ||
| Cesar Chavez | Jerry Cohen | ||
| 2014 | After the Fall | Bill Scanlon | |
| The Better Angels | Mr. Crawford | ||
| Things People Do | Bill Scanlon | ||
| Interstellar | Doyle | ||
| Welcome to Me | Gabe | ||
| Final Girl | William | ||
| 2015 | Knight of Cups | Barry | |
| We Are Your Friends | James | ||
| Amnesiac | Man | ||
| 2016 | Pete's Dragon | Jack | |
| Broken Vows | Patrick |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tilda | — | Television movie |
| 2014 | Open | Evan Foster | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2014–15 | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Edward Mordrake | 3 episodes |
| 2015–16 | American Horror Story: Hotel | Det. John Lowe | 11 episodes |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Ambrose White | 4 episodes |
| Dylan | 3 episodes |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Venus in Fur | Thomas | East 13th Street/CSC Theatre |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | National Board of Review | Best Male Breakthrough Performance | American Beauty | Won |
| 2000 | BAFTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actor – Drama | Nominated | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actor | Won | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Breakthrough Male Performance | Nominated | ||
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Breakout Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Fright Meter Awards | Best Actor | P2 | Nominated |
| 2016 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Movie or Limited Series | American Horror Story: Hotel | Nominated |
| 2017 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Villain | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b "Wes Bentley Biography (1978–)". FilmReference.com.
- ^ "Wes Bentley Talks Past Drug Use, Loss Of "Brother" Heath Ledger - Larry King Show".
- ^ "American Beauty's Wes Bentley".
- ^ "Wes Bentley star bio". Tribute.ca.
- ^ http://www.arumc.org/n_arkansas-born_actor_reconnects_with_god_on_film_se.php
- ^ https://www.entertainmentwise.com/bio/wes-bentley/
- ^ Bennett, Tara (March 21, 2012). "The 'Hunger Games' Cast Before They Were Famous: Wes Bentley, Senior Year at Sylvan Hills High School, Sherwood, Arkansas (1996)". Snakkle.com. Pontiac Digital Media.
- ^ "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. March 2010. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
- ^ Daly, Steve (October 8, 1999). "Wes Bentley of 'American Beauty'". People.
- ^ Christian Slater and Wes Bentley Join 'Dolan's Cadillac', Cinematical, April 25, 2008
- ^ Stephen King's DOLAN'S CADILLAC Filming in Canada!, May 29, 2008
- ^ a b c Healy, Patrick (February 8, 2010). "Back From the Depths, Rebuilding a Career". The New York Times. p. 1.
- ^ Run Extended for ‘Venus in Fur’, Patrick Healey, February 3, 2010, NY Times
- ^ Charles Isherwood, "One Object of Desire, Delivered", New York Times, January 28, 2010
- ^ "Nina Arianda: A Star Is Born", Playbill
- ^ Mike Fleming Jr. "Indie Feature '3 Nights In The Desert' Gets Underway". Deadline.com.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 13, 2013). "Wes Bentley to Star in Ryan Murphy's HBO Sexuality Drama 'Open'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Oliver Jones (June 13, 2011). "Wes Bentley: 'I Felt Myself Dying'". People magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "The Hunger Games Star Wes Bentley Fights Back From Homelessness, Bankruptcy". Radar Online. March 29, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
External links
- Wes Bentley at IMDb
- Wes Bentley at AllMovie
- 1978 births
- Living people
- American male film actors
- Juilliard School alumni
- Male actors from Arkansas
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from Jonesboro, Arkansas
- People from Sherwood, Arkansas
- Sylvan Hills High School alumni
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors