Beck Bennett

Beck Bennett (born October 1, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and writer who is a current cast member on Saturday Night Live, joining in 2013.[1] Before his tenure on SNL, he was recognized for the AT&T "It's Not Complicated" commercials where he interviewed children,[2] his sketch videos with the comedy group Good Neighbor,[3][4][5] and his YouTube show Theatre of Life.[6]

Beck Bennett
Bennett in 2017
Born (1984-10-01) October 1, 1984
Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActor, comedian, writer
Years active2003–present
Spouse(s)
(
m. 2018)

Early life

Bennett was born in Wilmette, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), the son of Sarah and Andy Bennett. He performed in multiple shows at Children's Theatre of Winnetka.[7] He graduated from New Trier High School in 2003 where he played Jean Valjean in his school's production of Les Misérables.[8] Bennett attended the USC School of Dramatic Arts in the B.F.A. Acting program.[8]

Career

In 2003, Bennett joined the improv/sketch group Commedus Interruptus along with fellow 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.[8] The group received praise from the comedian Louis C.K.[9] 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.[10][11]

In 2011, Bennett created the satirical political talk show Fresh Perspectives,[12][13][14] which helped him land his AT&T commercials interviewing children.[15]

In 2012, he appeared in the film Kill Me Now,[16] a film starring multiple internet sketch-comedy groups, and filmed Beside Still Waters[17] by writer/director Chris Lowell.

In March 2013, Bennett appeared in an episode of Last Man Standing, and that August voiced a character for FOX ADHD's Axe Cop. That same 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, in light of the move of three of the troupe's four members to New York City to star on Saturday Night Live.[18] That same year Bennett completed work on the independent film Balls Out[19] and appeared in season 4 of Arrested Development.[20]

Bennett voices Launchpad McQuack in the 2017 DuckTales reboot.[21]

Saturday Night Live

Bennett debuted as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in its 39th season on September 28, 2013.[22] He was promoted to repertory status for Saturday Night Live's 41st season on October 2, 2015.[23]

His celebrity impressions on SNL include Ashley Parker Angel, Javier Bardem, Bill Belichick, Wolf Blitzer, Jeb Bush, Drew Carey, Bill Clinton, Harry Connick Jr., Simon Cowell, Bing Crosby, Ted Cruz, Guillermo Del Toro, Sam Elliott, Jim Gilmore, Roger Goodell, Mark Halperin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Hollywood, Matt Iseman, Ronny Jackson, Elton John, Brian Kilmeade, Steve Kroft, Howie Long, Al Michaels, Mitch McConnell, Jim Nantz, Kevin O'Leary, Nick Offerman, Mike Pence, Vladimir Putin, Jake Tapper, Malcolm Turnbull, and George Zimmer.[24]

Other recurring characters[25]

  • Casey, co-host of Inside SoCal
  • Richard Patterson (a.k.a. "Baby Boss"), a successful business executive who has the body and awkward movements of a baby
  • Jack Trask, host of Action 9 News at Five

Personal life

On May 13, 2016, Bennett posted to his Instagram a photograph of himself with his girlfriend Jessy Hodges, in which the caption stated that the couple were celebrating five years together,.[26] The couple married on August 25, 2018.[27] He has been friends with fellow SNL cast member Kyle Mooney since they were students at the University of Southern California.[28] In celebration of this friendship, many SNL sketches have Bennett and Mooney’s characters either being on the same side or direct enemies.

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 and Hank (voice)
2020 Bill & Ted Face the Music Deacon Logan[29]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Last Man Standing Police Sergeant (uncredited) Episode: "The Fight"
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–present 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–present DuckTales Launchpad McQuack (voice) Main cast
2019 The Other Two Jeff 2 episodes
Shrill The Awesome Episode: "Troll"
Sunnyside Tripp Henson Episode: "Schnorf Town"
gollark: What would it be *otherwise*?
gollark: Also, worrying.
gollark: Noooo!
gollark: Can I get one of those broken ones too?
gollark: https://dragcave.net/lineage/qGQ97TJ09's Inability to Count.

References
  1. "Here Are Your New 'SNL' Featured Players". Splitsider. 2013-08-23. Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  2. Nudd, Tim (2013-04-15). "How AT&T Got Kids to Make Some of the Year's Best Ads". Adweek. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  3. Forde, Kevin. "The 8 Best Internet Sketch Troupes Whose Initials Aren't TAM". Cracked.com. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  4. Perkins, Colin (2010-10-05). "Sketch Artists: Good Neighbor Adds Some Absurdity to Viral Videos". Splitsider. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  5. "Good Neighbor Sketch Comedy". G4tv.com. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  6. beckbennett (2011-01-30). "More Theatre of Life". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  7. "Children's Theatre of Winnetka". Children's Theatre of Winnetka.
  8. "Beck Bennett's calling answered with AT&T ads - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  9. "codythebeau comments on Louis C.K. reddit". Reddit.com. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  10. "Schubas". Schubas. 2012-01-06. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  11. Sykes, Tom (2013-04-09). "Beck Bennett: Meet That Guy in Those Adorable AT&T Commercials". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  12. McGlynn, Katla (2011-04-07). "'Fresh Perspective' On Libya Offered By Adorable Kids (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  13. Hampton, Adele (2012-03-30). "A seven-year-old's take on Mitt Romney's candidacy - The Hill's Video". Thehill.com. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  14. Friar, Christine (2011-07-01). "'Fresh Perspectives' Kids Talk Medicare, Call Paul Ryan A 'Lame Doo Doo' (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  15. Elliott, Stuart (2013-07-02). "A Spokesman Finds Fame Interviewing Tiny Experts". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  16. "Kill Me Now: Internet Sketch Comics Make A Movie". Hex19. 2012-07-26. Archived from the original on 2017-04-30. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  17. Sneider, Jeff (2012-05-31). "Chris Lowell sets feature directorial debut". Variety. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  18. Frucci, Adam (2013-08-23). "Good Neighbor Is the New Lonely Island: 'SNL' Hires Director Dave McCary Alongside Two Cast Members". Splitsider. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  19. "Intramural: The Movie - 5 Questions w/ Beck Bennett". YouTube. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  20. Kurp, Josh (2013-05-08). "'Arrested Development' Season 4 Guest Star List". Uproxx.com. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  21. "DuckTales Reboot Teaser Confirms Summer 2017 Premiere Date". ScreenRant. 7 December 2016.
  22. "Tina Fey Introduces New 'SNL' Cast Members In Season 39 Premiere". Huffington Post. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  23. "'SNL' Promotes Beck Bennett and Sasheer Zamata to Repertory Players". Splitsider. 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  24. "SNL Archives | Cast | Beck Bennett". snlarchives.net. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  25. "SNL Archives | Cast | Beck Bennett". snlarchives.net. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  26. "Instagram post by @beckbennett • May 13, 2016 at 12:17am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  27. "SNL's Beck Bennett Marries Longtime Love Jessy Hodges". Us Weekly. 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  28. "Student comedy group grabs attention | Daily Trojan". Daily Trojan. 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  29. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/bill-and-ted-sequel-new-returning-cast-members-1203254965/
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