Jonathan Bennett (actor)

Jonathan Bennett
Born Jonathan D. Bennett
(1981-06-10) June 10, 1981
Rossford, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actor, model
Years active 1997–present

Jonathan D. Bennett (born June 10, 1981) is an American actor and model. He is known for his roles as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls[1] and the title character in the 2009 direct-to-DVD comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year and his recurring roles as Casey Gant in the UPN mystery drama Veronica Mars and J. R. Chandler in the ABC soap opera All My Children.

Early life

Bennett was born in Rossford, Ohio to David Bennett, a Toledo physician, and Ruthanne Bennett (née Mason). He has two half-brothers, Brian and Brent and one half-sister, Lisa.[2][3] Both of Jonathan's parents have died. His mother died November 30, 2012, at the age of 67,[2] and his father died of brain cancer on April 28, 2014 at age 73.[3]

Jonathan attended Eagle Point Elementary School in Rossford. His first acting experience was in a play in the seventh grade while living in North Carolina. Shortly after that, he moved back to Rossford, where he attended and graduated from Rossford High School.[4] He graduated in 1999 and attended Otterbein College, where he was a student of the theatre program. After dropping out of college, he moved to New York to pursue acting.

Career

After moving to New York, he was cast on the ABC soap opera All My Children as J.R. Chandler from 2001 to 2002. Since then, he has appeared in various television dramas, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Deception, Smallville, and Veronica Mars. Bennett co-starred in the hit comedy Mean Girls with Lindsay Lohan[4] where he played Aaron Samuels, the love interest of Lohan's character Cady Heron. He subsequently co-starred in the family comedy Cheaper by the Dozen 2 with Piper Perabo and the romantic comedy Lovewrecked with Amanda Bynes. Bennett appeared in the direct-to-video prequel The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning where he played Bo Duke. Also in 2009, he appeared as Nick in the Hallmark original movie Elevator Girl with his Mean Girls co-star Lacey Chabert and Ryan Merriman.

In 2009, Bennett starred as the title character in Van Wilder: Freshman Year,[4] which was released straight to DVD.

As of 2015, he is hosting a cooking competition on the Food Network called Cake Wars.[5]

Modelling and political activism

Bennett posed for a bondage-themed print advertising campaign by Declare Yourself, a campaign encouraging voter registration among youth for the 2008 United States presidential election. In the ads by photographer David LaChapelle, Bennett has three screws through his upper and lower lips, symbolically pinning his mouth shut. The ads drew some media attention.

Dancing with the Stars

On September 4, 2014, Bennett was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Allison Holker.[4][6] Bennett's personal motivation for joining the DWTS cast was in memoriam of his parents; his father having recently died from brain cancer, and his mother died the year prior, and they were both fans of the show.[4] Bennett and Holker were eliminated on Week 6 of competition and finished in 9th place.[7]

Personal life

Bennett supports the Love is Louder project and uploaded a video of himself talking about the bullying that he had gone through. Bennett stated, "Of all people, I know how mean people can be to each other. I mean, we made a whole movie about it [referencing Mean Girls]. It happened to me in high school, it happened to me in college [and] it still happens to me today. And I’m not gonna lie, it sucks. Sometimes it really sucks. But it doesn’t have to forever because there are people out there who love you, and love is a lot louder than hate.”[8] Jonathan Bennett stays in shape by working with top Celebrity Sports Nutritionist Edwina Cheer, touting, "Don't let Edwina's pretty face and big boobs fool you, she is hardcore!"[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Season of Youth Taylor Palm Beach International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
2004 Mean Girls Aaron Samuels Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Lindsay Lohan)
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Movie Star - Male
2005 Love Wrecked Ryan Howell
2005 Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Bud McNulty
2006 Bachelor Party Vegas Nathan
2009 Assistants, TheThe Assistants Zack Cooper
2009 Van Wilder: Freshman Year Van Wilder
2012 Memorial Day SSgt Kyle Vogel
2012 Music High Jasper "Jazz" Poland
2012 Divorce Invitation Michael
2012 Slightly Single in L.A. Seven
2013 Pawn Aaron
2013 Anything Is Possible George
2013 Secret Village, TheThe Secret Village Greg
2013 Misogynist Harrison Nominated — Best Actor - Los Angeles Underground Film Festival
2014 Authors Anonymous William Bruce
2014 Mining for Ruby Andrew
2015 Paid in Full Jack
2015 Cats Dancing on Jupiter Ben Cross
2015 Dogwalker's Christmas Tale, AA Dogwalker's Christmas Tale Dean Stanton
2015 Submerged Matt
2016 Do Over Anthony Campana
2016 Romantically Speaking Nathan
2016 Deadly Retreat Mike
2016 Do You Take This Man Christopher In post-production
TBA Day Six Alex Parsons In post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Dad N/A Episode: "Habadadery"
1998 Bill, TheThe Bill Youth Episode: "Racer"
2001–02 All My Children JR Chandler Role held: November 2001 – September 13, 2002
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Kyle Fuller Episode: "Deception"
2003 Boston Public Ethan Guest Episode: "Chapter Sixty-Three"
2004–05 Veronica Mars Casey Gant 2 episodes
2005 Smallville Kevin Grady Episode: "Blank"
2007 Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning, TheThe Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Bo Duke Television film
2007 Cane Brad Episode: "Time Away"
2010 Elevator Girl Nick Sweeney Television film
2012 Fred: The Show Lash Landridge Episode: "Freddy and the Figglettes, Part 2"
2012 Holiday High School Reunion Ben Oliver Television film
2013 Wrong Woman, TheThe Wrong Woman Ben Television film
2013 The Glades Drew Green Episode: "Killer Barbecue"
2014 Copycat[10] Himself (host)
2014 Sweet Surrender Jerry Television film
2014 Dancing with the Stars Himself (contestant) Finished in ninth place
2014 Christmas Kiss II, AA Christmas Kiss II Sebastian Television film
2015 Romantically Speaking Nathan Television film
2015–present Cake Wars Himself (host)
2016 Hit the Floor Lucas 2 episodes
2016 Awkward Ethan 5 episodes

References

  1. Maltin, Leonard (2008-08-05). Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide. Penguin. p. 893. ISBN 978-0-452-28978-9. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Ruthanne Bennett Obituary". Legacy.com. also published in Toledo Blade. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "David Bennett Obituary". Legacy.com. also published in Toledo Blade. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Toledo Native Dances in Parents' Memory". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. "Cake Wars on Food Network Canada".
  6. "'Dancing With The Stars' 2014: Season 19 Couples Ready to Tango". Good Morning America/Yahoo News. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  7. Reiher, Andrea (20 October 2014). "'Dancing With the Stars' Season 19 week 6 scores and elimination results". Zap2It.com. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  8. Ziegbe, Mawuse. "'Mean Girls' Jonathan Bennett Declares 'Love Is Louder' Than Hate". MTV. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  9. "Jonathan Bennett trains with Top Celebrity Sports Nutritionist Edwina Cheer". Jonathan Bennett trains with Top Celebrity Sports Nutritionist Edwina Cheer.
  10. Goldberg, Lesley (15 October 2013). "'Mean Girls' Alum Set to Host MTV's 'Copycat' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 June 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/27/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.