Beck Bennett Explained

Beck Bennett
Birth Date:1 October 1984
Birth Place:Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Education:University of Southern California (BFA)
Years Active:2005–present
Children:1[1]

Beck Bennett (born October 1, 1984[2]) is an American actor and comedian. He 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]

Early life

Bennett was born in Wilmette, Illinois,[7] to Sarah and Andy Bennett. He performed in multiple shows at the 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] He also hosted the YouTube show Theatre of Life.[17]

In 2012, he appeared in the film Kill Me Now,[18] a film starring multiple Internet sketch-comedy groups, and filmed Beside Still Waters[19] 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.[20] That same year, Bennett completed work on the independent film Balls Out[21] and appeared in season 4 of Arrested Development.[22]

Bennett voiced Launchpad McQuack in the DuckTales reboot which ran from 2017 to 2021,[23] and Eric in the Sony Pictures Animation film The Mitchells vs. the Machines. He is currently the voice of Hamster in the Disney Channel animated series Hamster & Gretel,[24] [25] and is set to voice Sterling in Fixed.[26]

Saturday Night Live

Bennett debuted as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in its 39th season on September 28, 2013.[27] He was promoted to repertory status for SNLs 41st season on October 2, 2015.[28] He left the show following the finale of the 46th season on May 22, 2021.[29] In an interview with Time magazine, Bennett stated he left the show so he could be with his wife in Los Angeles.

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.[30] The couple married on August 25, 2018.[31]

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

Bennett has been friends with fellow SNL cast member Kyle Mooney since they were students at the University of Southern California.[33]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Kill Me NowTodd
2013Beside Still WatersTom
2014Balls OutDick
2015The Party is OverAdam
2016Zoolander 2Geoff MillieUncredited
DeanTrevor
SingLanceVoice
The Late BloomerLuke
2017Brigsby BearDetective Bander
2018The UnicornTyson
2019Greener GrassNick
Plus OneMatt
The Angry Birds Movie 2Brad Eagleberger, HankVoice
2020Bill & Ted Face the MusicDeacon Logan[34]
2021The Mitchells vs. the MachinesEricVoice
2023NimonaSir Thoddeus SurebladeVoice
2024UnfrostedBarney Stein
2025SupermanSteve LombardPost-production
TBAFixedSterlingVoice; post-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Last Man StandingPolice SergeantEpisode: "The Fight"; uncredited
Arrested Development'Straight' Straightbait ActorEpisode: "A New Start"
Axe CopFather of BoyVoice, episode: "The Rabbit Who Broke All the Rules"
Lucas Bros. Moving CoRepo ManVoice, episode: "DDT"
2013–2021Saturday Night LiveVariousMain cast
2015Big Time in Hollywood, FLRickyEpisode: "Rehabilitation"
2017Master of NoneHelicopter PilotVoice, episode: "Amarsi Un Po"
Comrade DetectiveNikita Ionescu2 episodes
GhostedBobEpisode: "Lockdown"
2017–2021DuckTalesLaunchpad McQuackVoice, main role
2019The Other TwoJeff2 episodes
ShrillKevin O’Donnell/The Awesome2 episodes
SunnysideTripp HensonEpisode: "Schnorf Town"
2021Close EnoughLucVoice, episode: "Houseguest From Hell"
M.O.D.O.K.Austin Van Der SleetVoice, recurring
Santa Inc.P3Voice, episode: "Spring Awakening"
Saturday Morning All Star Hits!ThomasVoice, 4 episodes
2022The SimpsonsGrayson MathersVoice, episode: "The Longest Marge"
2022–presentHamster & GretelHamsterVoice, main role
2023Killing ItJohnny2 episodes
Office RacePatTV Movie[35]
I Think You Should Leave with Tim RobinsonStuartEpisode: "SO NOW EVERY TIME I'M ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO DO,
I ASK MYSELF, 'WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT IS THIS?'"
ChibiverseHamster, Launchpad McQuackVoice, 2 episodes
Rick and MortySheriffVoice, episode: "How Poopy Got His Poop Back"
Big MouthOwenVoice, 2 episodes
2024Is It Cake?SelfCelebrity judge, episode: "Knock Knock...Cake Service!"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beck Bennett & Jessy Hodges Welcome First Child.
  2. Web site: Rose . Mike . 2023-10-01 . Famous birthdays list for October 1, 2023 includes celebrities Brie Larson, Sarah Drew . 2024-01-19 . cleveland . en.
  3. Web site: Nudd . Tim . How AT&T Got Kids to Make Some of the Year's Best Ads . Adweek . April 15, 2013 . October 16, 2013.
  4. Web site: Forde . Kevin . The 8 Best Internet Sketch Troupes Whose Initials Aren't TAM . December 15, 2008 . Cracked . October 16, 2013.
  5. Web site: Perkins . Colin . Sketch Artists: Good Neighbor Adds Some Absurdity to Viral Videos . Splitsider . October 5, 2010 . May 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160604102729/http://splitsider.com/2010/10/sketch-artists-good-neighbor/ . June 4, 2016 . live.
  6. Web site: Good Neighbor Sketch Comedy . G4. December 19, 2008 . October 16, 2013 . October 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171006111930/http://www.g4tv.com/videos/35689/good-neighbor-sketch-comedy/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Beck Bennett . 2024-02-25 . TVGuide.com . en.
  8. Web site: Home Page. Children's Theatre of Winnetka.
  9. News: Steve. Johnson. Beck Bennett's calling answered with AT&T ads. . January 30, 2013 . October 26, 2021.
  10. Web site: codythebeau comments on Louis C.K. reddit . Reddit . May 14, 2012 . October 16, 2013.
  11. Web site: Schubas . Schubas . January 6, 2012 . October 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927235802/http://www.schubas.com/Mobile/Show+Details?showId=15276 . September 27, 2013 . dead .
  12. News: Sykes . Tom . Beck Bennett: Meet That Guy in Those Adorable AT&T Commercials . The Daily Beast . April 9, 2013 . October 16, 2013.
  13. News: 'Fresh Perspective' On Libya Offered By Adorable Kids (VIDEO). . April 7, 2011. November 4, 2019. Katla . McGlynn.
  14. Web site: Hampton . Adele . A seven-year-old's take on Mitt Romney's candidacy - The Hill's Video . . March 30, 2012 . October 16, 2013 . October 30, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090833/https://thehill.com/video/campaign/219231-a-7-year-olds-take-on-mitt-romneys-candidacy . live .
  15. News: 'Fresh Perspectives' Kids Talk Medicare, Call Paul Ryan A 'Lame Doo Doo' (VIDEO) . HuffPost. July 1, 2011 . November 4, 2019 . Christine . Friar.
  16. News: A Spokesman Finds Fame Interviewing Tiny Experts. Stuart. Elliott. The New York Times. November 4, 2019. July 2, 2013.
  17. Web site: beckbennett . January 30, 2011 . More Theatre of Life . June 4, 2017 . YouTube.
  18. Web site: Kill Me Now: Internet Sketch Comics Make A Movie. Hex19 . July 26, 2012 . October 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170430192724/http://hex19.com/blog/kill-me-now-internet-sketch-comics-make-a-movie.html . April 30, 2017 . dead .
  19. News: Jeff. Sneider . Chris Lowell sets feature directorial debut. Variety. May 31, 2012 . October 16, 2013.
  20. Web site: Good Neighbor Is the New Lonely Island: 'SNL' Hires Director Dave McCary Alongside Two Cast Members. Frucci. Adam. August 23, 2013. Vulture. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20171119020638/http://splitsider.com/2013/08/good-neighbor-is-the-new-lonely-island-snl-hires-director-dave-mccary-alongside-two-cast-members/. November 19, 2017. live.
  21. Web site: Intramural: The Movie - 5 Questions w/ Beck Bennett . YouTube . August 1, 2013 . October 16, 2013.
  22. Web site: Josh. Kurp. 'Arrested Development' Season 4 Guest Star List. May 8, 2013. Uproxx. October 16, 2013.
  23. Web site: Becky. Fuller. DuckTales Reboot Teaser Confirms Summer 2017 Premiere Date. December 7, 2016. Screen Rant.
  24. Web site: Hullander . Tatiana . Cast Of Disney Animated Series Hamster & Gretel Revealed [EXCLUSIVE] ]. ScreenRant . June 9, 2022 . June 9, 2022.
  25. Chow . Andrew R. . September 30, 2021 . Beck Bennett On Leaving Saturday Night Live And His 5 Favorite Sketches . . October 9, 2021.
  26. Web site: Bałaga . Marta . 2023-06-13 . Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn Lead Voice Cast of Animation Wiz Genndy Tartakovsky's R-Rated 'Fixed' (EXCLUSIVE) . 2023-06-13 . Variety . en-US.
  27. News: Tina Fey Introduces New 'SNL' Cast Members In Season 39 Premiere. September 29, 2013. HuffPost. May 27, 2022.
  28. News: 'SNL' Promotes Beck Bennett and Sasheer Zamata to Repertory Players. October 5, 2015. Vulture. May 27, 2022.
  29. News: Beck Bennett Departs 'Saturday Night Live' After 8 Seasons. Porter. Rick. September 27, 2021. September 27, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter.
  30. Web site: Instagram post by @beckbennett • May 13, 2016 at 12:17am UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BFU7ZM3gVOg . December 26, 2021 . registration. Instagram. January 28, 2018.
  31. News: SNL's Beck Bennett Marries Longtime Love Jessy Hodges. August 26, 2018. Us Weekly. August 28, 2018.
  32. News: Beck Bennett & Jessy Hodges Welcome First Child. March 11, 2022. December 7, 2023.
  33. News: Student comedy group grabs attention. January 23, 2011. Daily Trojan. January 21, 2018.
  34. Web site: Dave McNary . 'Bill & Ted' Sequel Adds New and Returning Cast Members (Exclusive) . . June 24, 2021 . June 27, 2019.
  35. News: ‘Office Race’ Review: Slow and Not So Steady. September 4, 2023. The New York Times. August 17, 2024.