Benton ®

BentonJennings.com
Internet Movie Data Base listing
You can also find me over at:
Nextcat.com
And:
Facebook
Representation:
Hervey-Grimes Talent Agency
310-475-2010
Factoid:
I am a scion of "Manos: The Hands Of Fate".
Yes, really.
My Father played the "Cop". See:
IMDB - MANOS
Newsie News:
I wrote and directed the first Theatre For Young Audiences production for SkyPilot Theatre Company which played in North Hollywood, April - May.
Info: www.skypilottheatre.com
I was thrown feet first into the deep end!
Joined the cast of the new musical "LOST IN HOLLYWOODLAND" when the chap playing Edwin had to leave. The show opened April 12.
http://www.lostinhollywoodland.com/
Recently shot a role in a new David Zucker comedy feature film, "AMERICAN CAROL".
I portrayed Adolf Hitler.
Yes....Really. Again.
And opposite Kelsey Grammer!
Here's some quotes about my recent performance in "TAKING SIDES" for SkyPilot Theatre Company
“Powerful, thought-provoking and disturbing... All of the actors are first-rate but Benton Jennings is the standout -- possibly the best theatrical performance I've seen all year. See "Taking Sides" while you can -- it'll stick with you for a long, long time. Benton is an endlessly versatile performer. I have seen him bring down the house doing sketch comedy, and break an audience's heart with his wrenching dramatic role in "Taking Sides," as a German conductor accused of collaborating with the Nazis during World War II. I'm beginning to think there's not much he can't do. He's a great, great actor." "
- Frank Thompson; author, screenwriter, producer
“If you saw Benton Jennings in TAKING SIDES, you saw an amazing performance. Those of us there on Saturday evening were absolutely blown away. What a major theatrical treat! There were other wonderful performances as well, but Benton was incredible.”
- Joan Messinger, Talent Agent, Pinnacle“...gut-wrenching performances by an extraordinary cast... Benton Jennings gives a multi-layered portrayal of the great conductor, 1st appearing as a dignified and proud figure, and at the end, in a tremendously moving speech, has a complete emotional breakdown of his character in a stunning, unforgettable performance.”
~ Beth Temkin, reviewer“Benton Jennings was fantastic, as was the play and the rest of the cast. It deserves a much wider audience and a much longer run...hopefully, it will happen! We were blown away.”
-- Michael Andreas, composer, & Julie Fleischer, producer
“Every time I see Benton Jennings perform, I am more in awe. Not only do I admire his acting skills, his interpretations are thoughtful and thought provoking.”
-- Alison Mize, Casting Director..talented, energetic cast have done L. A. a service by bringing this gripping play to life."
- John Rubinstein (Tony Award actor & The Wizard in L.A.'s "Wicked")
"MY" episode on the new medical drama "Heartland" on TNT aired Monday July 16 and Wednesday July 18. Entitled "The Places You'll Go". I play a distraught father who is, well, let's say he's "racially handicapped". All my scenes are with the lovely Kari Matchett.
You can see some snippets from the scenes on: http://www.nextcat.com/bentonjennings
I was recently in the run of "Requiem For A Heavyweight", the Peabody Award winning play by Rod Serling, produced by SkyPilot Theatre Company.
Due to an illness I stepped into the LEAD ROLE of Maish Resnick (the fighter's Manager) for 3 performances (before that I was "Doc" - the guy what forces the boxer into retirement)
I was asked barely 5 days before..and we didn't have understudies...about 70 pages of dialog to learn in less than 5 days. Woo hoo!
Here's some "official" reviews:
“..The washed up boxer is ruled unfit for the ring by a stadium doctor (an excellent Benton Jennings)- Amy Bowker, The Tolucan Times
LA Weekly gave the show a "Go" rating (i.e., "Go See")
www.laweekly.com/stage/theater/theater-reviews/16535/?page=3
LA TIMES -- "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is the "Death of a Salesman" of the prizefighting world, as powerful today as when the Rod Serling teleplay first aired in 1956....the production, tautly directed by Eric Johnson, is sending theatergoers out the doors with telltale wetness on their cheeks." — Daryl H. Miller
Review from “HellCab”:
“Benton Jennings shows tremendous range as he moves in and out of the cab, alternating among characters that are weird, threatening, buffoonish, or Middle America..”
--Jim Crogan, reviewer
A film I am in, "How Henri Came To Stay", showed at Cannes this year. I took the role of the paraplegic British ex-officer which David Suchet had to back out of due to scheduling. (It's a murder mystery set in 1948 London.) The film also was selected into the "KCET Fine Cut Film Festival Best In Show" award.