Happy Birthday Wes Bentley
Wes Bentley or Wesley Cook Wes Bentley was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on September 4, 1978. He is the third of four sons of Cherie Baker and David Bentley, his father is a minister, his mother is a chaplain and ordained elder in the Arkansas Conference, both in the United Methodist denomination and, brother was a youth minister in Topeka, Kansas. In 1996, he graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas.He attended the Juilliard School’s Drama Division as part of its Group 29 (1996–2000)but, left the school after one year to pursue his acting career.
He loves playing soccer in his spare time. He married to actress Jennifer Quanz from 2001 to 2009 but, they separated in 2009 due to his substance abuse. He again married producer Jacqui Swedberg in 2010 and they have a son named Charles, born in late 2010. The couple also welcomed a daughter named Brooklyn in 2014. In July 2009, 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.He again entered a 12-step program and, while clean since then, considers himself on the path to recovery.
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, based on the short story by Stephen King,and There Be Dragons by director Roland Joffé. In the film titled Ghost Rider, Bentley played Blackheart, a demonic being that was the main antagonist and, in 2010, he starred in the premiere of the David Ives play Venus in Fur at the Classic Stage Company in New York City.
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.
Two years later in 2012, Bentley played a supporting role in The Hunger Games, playing game-maker Seneca Crane and, in the indie feature 3 Nights in the Desert. In June 2013, Bentley was selected to star in Ryan Murphy’s HBO production titled “Open” along with Scott Speedman.
Bentley got nominated in a number of films in the years 1999-2000, but won accolades for his role in the movie American Beauty in various categories like: Most Promising Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Breakthrough Performance – Male to name a few.
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