Beck Bennett
Bennett in 2017
Born (1984-10-01) October 1, 1984 (age 39)
EducationUniversity of Southern California (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2018)​
Children1[1]

Beck Bennett (born October 1, 1984[2]) is an American actor and comedian. Bennett was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live for eight seasons, joining the show for its 39th season in 2013, and leaving at the end of its 46th season in 2021. Prior to SNL, he performed in AT&T's "It's Not Complicated" commercials, in which he interviewed children,[3] and produced sketch videos with the comedy group Good Neighbor.[4][5][6] He also hosted the YouTube show Theatre of Life.[7]

Early life

Bennett is the son of Sarah and Andy Bennett. He performed in multiple shows at Children's Theatre of Winnetka.[8] He graduated from New Trier High School in 2003 where he played Jean Valjean in his school's production of Les Misérables.[9] Bennett attended the USC School of Dramatic Arts in the B.F.A. Acting program.[9]

Career

In 2003, Bennett joined the improv/sketch group Commedus Interruptus along with fellow future SNL cast member Kyle Mooney and Nick Rutherford. In 2007, after graduation, Mooney, Rutherford, and Bennett joined with editor/director Dave McCary to form the sketch group Good Neighbor.[9] The group received praise from comedian Louis C.K.[10] and director Steven Spielberg, who sent Mooney, Bennett, Rutherford, and McCary a personal acknowledgement after being impressed with the Hook parody, Unbelievable Dinner. He complimented the sketch and encouraged the group to continue making funny movies.[11][12]

In 2011, Bennett created the satirical political talk show Fresh Perspectives,[13][14][15] which helped him land his AT&T commercials interviewing children.[16]

In 2012, he appeared in the film Kill Me Now,[17] a film starring multiple Internet sketch-comedy groups, and filmed Beside Still Waters[18] by writer/director Chris Lowell.

In March 2013, he appeared in an episode of Last Man Standing, and that August voiced a character for Axe Cop for Fox's Animation Domination High-Def programming block. That year, Good Neighbor produced a pilot for Comedy Central with Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez production company, though it was not picked up as a series, due to the move of three of the troupe's four members to New York City to star on Saturday Night Live.[19] That same year, Bennett completed work on the independent film Balls Out[20] and appeared in season 4 of Arrested Development.[21]

Bennett voiced Launchpad McQuack in the DuckTales reboot which ran from 2017 to 2021,[22] and Eric the robot in the Sony Pictures Animation film The Mitchells vs. the Machines. He is currently the voice of Hamster in another Disney animated series, Hamster & Gretel.[23]

Saturday Night Live

Bennett debuted as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in its 39th season on September 28, 2013.[24] He was promoted to repertory status for Saturday Night Live's 41st season on October 2, 2015.[25] He left the show following the finale of the 46th season on May 22, 2021.[26] In an interview with Time magazine, Bennett stated he chose to leave the show so he could be with his wife in Los Angeles instead of remaining in New York City and maintaining a long-distance relationship.[27] He is also set to voice Sterling in Fixed for New Line Cinema.[28]

Personal life

On May 13, 2016, Bennett posted a photograph of himself with his girlfriend Jessy Hodges, with a caption that stated that the couple were celebrating five years together.[29] The couple married on August 25, 2018.[30] Bennett has been friends with fellow SNL cast member Kyle Mooney since they were students at the University of Southern California.[31]

In March 2022, Hodges revealed via Instagram that she and Bennett had welcomed a child.[32]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Kill Me Now Todd
2013 Beside Still Waters Tom
2014 Balls Out Dick
2015 The Party is Over Adam
2016 Zoolander 2 Geoff Millie Uncredited
Dean Trevor
Sing Lance Voice
The Late Bloomer Luke
2017 Brigsby Bear Detective Bander
2018 The Unicorn Tyson
2019 Greener Grass Nick
Plus One Matt
The Angry Birds Movie 2 Brad Eagleberger, Hank Voice
2020 Bill & Ted Face the Music Deacon Logan[33]
2021 The Mitchells vs. the Machines Eric Voice
2023 Nimona Sir Thoddeus Sureblade Voice
TBA Fixed Sterling Voice; post-production[28]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Last Man Standing Police Sergeant Episode: "The Fight"; uncredited
Arrested Development 'Straight' Straightbait Actor Episode: "A New Start"
Axe Cop Father of Boy Voice, episode: "The Rabbit Who Broke All the Rules"
Lucas Bros. Moving Co Repo Man Voice, episode: "DDT"
2013–2021 Saturday Night Live Various Main cast
2015 Big Time in Hollywood, FL Ricky Episode: "Rehabilitation"
2017 Master of None Helicopter Pilot Voice, episode: "Amarsi Un Po"
Comrade Detective Nikita Ionescu 2 episodes
Ghosted Bob Episode: "Lockdown"
2017–2021 DuckTales Launchpad McQuack Voice, main role
2019 The Other Two Jeff 2 episodes
Shrill Kevin O’Donnell/The Awesome 2 episodes
Sunnyside Tripp Henson Episode: "Schnorf Town"
2021 Close Enough Luc Voice, episode: "Houseguest From Hell"
M.O.D.O.K. Austin Van Der Sleet Voice, recurring
Santa Inc. P3 Voice, episode: "Spring Awakening"
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! Thomas Voice, 4 episodes
2022 The Simpsons Grayson Mathers Voice, episode: "The Longest Marge"
Killing It Johnny 3 episodes
2022–present Hamster & Gretel Hamster Voice, main role
2022–Present Chibiverse Hamster, Launchpad McQuack Voice, 3 episodes
2023 I Think You Should Leave Stuart 1 episode

References

  1. ^ "Beck Bennett & Jessy Hodges Welcome First Child".
  2. ^ Rose, Mike (October 1, 2023). "Famous birthdays list for October 1, 2023 includes celebrities Brie Larson, Sarah Drew". cleveland. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Nudd, Tim (April 15, 2013). "How AT&T Got Kids to Make Some of the Year's Best Ads". Adweek. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Forde, Kevin (December 15, 2008). "The 8 Best Internet Sketch Troupes Whose Initials Aren't TAM". Cracked. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  5. ^ Perkins, Colin (October 5, 2010). "Sketch Artists: Good Neighbor Adds Some Absurdity to Viral Videos". Splitsider. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Good Neighbor Sketch Comedy". G4. December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  7. ^ beckbennett (January 30, 2011). "More Theatre of Life". YouTube. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  8. ^ "Home Page". Children's Theatre of Winnetka.
  9. ^ a b c Johnson, Steve (January 30, 2013). "Beck Bennett's calling answered with AT&T ads". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "codythebeau comments on Louis C.K. reddit". Reddit. May 14, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  11. ^ "Schubas". Schubas. January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  12. ^ Sykes, Tom (April 9, 2013). "Beck Bennett: Meet That Guy in Those Adorable AT&T Commercials". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  13. ^ McGlynn, Katla (April 7, 2011). "'Fresh Perspective' On Libya Offered By Adorable Kids (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  14. ^ Hampton, Adele (March 30, 2012). "A seven-year-old's take on Mitt Romney's candidacy - The Hill's Video". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  15. ^ Friar, Christine (July 1, 2011). "'Fresh Perspectives' Kids Talk Medicare, Call Paul Ryan A 'Lame Doo Doo' (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  16. ^ Elliott, Stuart (July 2, 2013). "A Spokesman Finds Fame Interviewing Tiny Experts". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "Kill Me Now: Internet Sketch Comics Make A Movie". Hex19. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  18. ^ Sneider, Jeff (May 31, 2012). "Chris Lowell sets feature directorial debut". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  19. ^ Frucci, Adam (August 23, 2013). "Good Neighbor Is the New Lonely Island: 'SNL' Hires Director Dave McCary Alongside Two Cast Members". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "Intramural: The Movie - 5 Questions w/ Beck Bennett". YouTube. August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  21. ^ Kurp, Josh (May 8, 2013). "'Arrested Development' Season 4 Guest Star List". Uproxx. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  22. ^ Fuller, Becky (December 7, 2016). "DuckTales Reboot Teaser Confirms Summer 2017 Premiere Date". Screen Rant.
  23. ^ Hullander, Tatiana (June 9, 2022). "Cast Of Disney Animated Series Hamster & Gretel Revealed [EXCLUSIVE]". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Tina Fey Introduces New 'SNL' Cast Members In Season 39 Premiere". HuffPost. September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "'SNL' Promotes Beck Bennett and Sasheer Zamata to Repertory Players". Vulture. October 5, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  26. ^ Porter, Rick (September 27, 2021). "Beck Bennett Departs 'Saturday Night Live' After 8 Seasons". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  27. ^ Chow, Andrew R. (September 30, 2021). "Beck Bennett On Leaving Saturday Night Live And His 5 Favorite Sketches". Time. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Bałaga, Marta (June 13, 2023). "Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn Lead Voice Cast of Animation Wiz Genndy Tartakovsky's R-Rated 'Fixed' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  29. ^ "Instagram post by @beckbennett • May 13, 2016 at 12:17am UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  30. ^ "SNL's Beck Bennett Marries Longtime Love Jessy Hodges". Us Weekly. August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  31. ^ "Student comedy group grabs attention". Daily Trojan. January 23, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "Beck Bennett & Jessy Hodges Welcome First Child". March 11, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  33. ^ Dave McNary (June 27, 2019). "'Bill & Ted' Sequel Adds New and Returning Cast Members (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2021.

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