Showtime (Featured) starring Robert deNiro & Eddie Murphy. director: Tom Dey
TELEVISION:
- "Shameless" as Father Henry (priest). Director: Silver Tree. Showtime
- "Dr Ken" as a Middle Age Patient having a heart attack. Director: Anthony Rich. ABC
- "Documentary Now!", ep: "Mr. Runner Up: My Life as an Oscar Bridesmaid, Part 1" as a Rich Snooty Man in a Little Rascals style film. Directors: Alex Buono & Rhys Thomas. IFC
- "American Horror Story - Hotel", as Graves the Butler, opposite Kathy Bates, Matt Bower, Angela Bassett. Director: Micahel Goi. FX
- "Incredible Crew" as a Krumping High School Principal. A Nick Cannon production on CN.
- "Vegas" (CBS) as The Moderator, a KLAS TV on-air personality in 1960, opposite Gil Bellows.
- "General Hospital" (ABC) as Swiss Doctor
- "School And Board" (Comedy webseries from Multiview) Series Regular as Mike Donovan, the school board president.
- "Safety Geeks: SVI" (Comedy webseries by Dave & Tom) Series Regular as Hopkins The Butler. director Roger Tonry. Safety Geeks:SVI
Be sure to see ALL the episodes, or the one hour 3d movie version!
"Benton is one of the funniest and most professional actors we have ever worked with in the entire process. When it goes, he is onbaord for the long run." "He came in, auditioned and just got it. He nailed the humor and dignity with quiet loathing, but also with tremendous heart. We'd wanted a slightly older man to be Hopkins, but with a little make-up and Benton's inhabiting Hopkins, it was done."-- Dave (Beeler) &Tom (Konkle).
- "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS) as Jordan, a game show contestant, opposite Alex Trebeck. director: Pamela Fryman.
- "The League" (FX) as a "Brassy" Judge. director: Jeff Shaffer.
- "Greek" (ABC Family) as Professor of American Lit. director: Lee Rose.
- "Big Love" (HBO) as Dave, a talkative midnight shift mortician, opposite Bill Paxton. director: David Petrarca.
- "I'm Just A Bill, with Cedric Yarbrough & Gary Anthony Williams" on Funny Or Die as a silly BP executive.
- "The Event" as a NSA code breaking department Supervisor.
- "Elevator Girl" (TV movie on Hallmark Channel) as Doug, the Doorman. (The helpul and hapless doorman of the Beverly Glen Hotel.) director: Bradford May.
- "12 Miles Of Bad Road" (dramedy originally for HBO) as Fred, a Texas millionaire opposite Gary Cole. director Michael Lehmann.
- "Heartland", medical drama on TNT. As a distraught, "racially handicapped" West Virginia parent whose daugther was shot. Scenes all with Kari Matchett. Director: Milan Cheylov.
- "The Call", a pilot for ABC opposite Kal Penn. director: Michael Spiller.
- "Scrubs", (NBC) director: Victor Nelli. (Role of "Mr. Hobbs" - an ICU patient they keep waking up to make sure he isn't dead.)
- "Dexter" - crime series for Showtime (role of "Gene Marshall" a sicko Arsonist whom Dex slices up). director: Tony Goldwyn.
I'm included online in the DEXTER VICTIMS FILES. Click on "Gene Marshall".
- "Without A Trace" (CBS) (as a Narcotics Anonymous group leader) director: Chad Lowe.
- "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" (FX) (as a pro-life activist) director: John Fortenberry.
- "Passions" (Guest Principal - as Adolf Hitler. Yes, really.) (NBC) director: Phideaux Xavier.
- Recurring Appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (ABC) - July 2011 as 3 Hitler clones (4th time to be Adolf) fighting Capt. Mexico, 16 March 2010 as "Alex Tribeck's body", 13 March 2010 as "The Guy Ted Nugent shot with an Arrow". Previous: as CA State Senator Thomas -Girlie Man- McCort and a Fox Network Executive in parody news clips, and as a 1970s Cab Driver during "Cleto's Birthday".
- "Short Circuitz" - sketch comedy show for MTV by Nick Cannon. director: Michael Dimich.
- "Real Time With Bill Maher" (HBO) (Political satire sketch: S&M Water Cooler Newspaper Guy.) Director: Hal Grant.
- Strong Medicine (Lifetime)(as "Mr Worthington" - beating the crap out of a ticket scalper in the ER) director: Steve Gomer.
- JAG (CBS) (as Family Court Baliff) director: Bradford May.
- Charmed (WB) (Good Samaritan gets car-jacked by demon animal boys) director: Don Kurt.
- Mary Christmas (Made for TV Movie) (PAX) ("Dan Charles", a rather oddball News Anchor) director and starring: John Schneider.
- The Last Dance (CBS Movie Of The Week starring Maureen O'Hara & Eric Stoltz) director: Kevin Dowling.
- The Drew Carey Show (ABC) ("Bill", one of Drew's fellow insane asylum inmates) director: Gerry Cohen.
- I'm With Her (ABC) (sleazeball thinks Teri is a hooker on Halloween) director: Philip Charles MacKenzie.
- A.U.S.A. (NBC) (as a disgruntled Jury Foreman) director: Linda Mendoza.
- Arli$$ (HBO) (as university dean Dr. Chance) director: Robert Wuhl
- Family Law (CBS) (as Commissioner Brian Kluft) director: Oz Scott.
- Profiler (NBC) (rich sleazeball is saved in the nick of time by the Profiler team) director: PJ Pesce.
- City Guys (NBC) ("Tony" the high school janitor) director: Frank Bonner.
- Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (as Mister Mesmer) (FOX) director: Ryuta Tasaki.
- America To The Max (Pilot) (as a 4000 year old Vampire leading a 12 step Blood Anonymous group).
- VH1 Big In 2004 Awards. (As the English Butler "Bennington" to Brigette Nielsen and Flavor Flav in a Comedy Sketch.)
- Ben Folds "Still Fighting It" Video (MTV-VH1) (a Father and son can only communicate by moshing.) director: Gavin Bowden.
- Tow Down "Country Rap Tunes" Video (MTV) (As the Sheriff in an homage to The Dukes of Hazzard) director: Jeff Byrd.
- Arrest & Trial (2 episodes - one as a head FBI Agent, other as a D.A.) (UPN) director: Gabe Torres.
- American Frontier - Decisive Battles Series: New Orleans (THC) (as a senior British officer and as a historian "talking head") director: Gary Foreman.
- Welcome to Scarborough Faire (Comic Host) IFVC Award. (CBS) directors: Kurt Frey & Kim Nelson.
- All American Cowboy (as a Gunfighter) w/Clint Walker, James Drury, Ken Curtis, Chuck Connors, Buck Taylor, Jock Mahonney. director: Howell Upchurch.
- The Life in Your Hands (PBS medical special) (as a Doctor).
- Frontier: Legends of the Old Northwest (THC) (as a British officer). director: Gary Foreman.
- When Dreams Come True (MOW) w/Cindy Williams (ABC).
- Dallas. director: Michael Preece.
- Dallas: The Early Years (MOW)
COMMERCIALS:
Numerous National and Regional.
INDUSTRIAL/EDUCATIONAL:
- "Then and Now". In-House PSA for LACSD. Playing an Alistair Cooke/John Cleese host ala Masterpiece Theatre. Director: Seth Pinsker.
- PetCare TV - "Feline Hypertension". Benton co-stars with none other than his own Gandalf, the wizardly wonder cat!
PRINT:
- UCLA Medical Services brochure.
- Newsweek May 22, 2006 Issue - Article Cover as Dad for "Baby Boomer-Helicopter Parents".
- Toyota Tacoma "Highland Fling" as Scottish athletic games Judge.
THEATRE AND STAGE: (from over 100 roles)
- "INFERNO" (as the British Commander) telling the story of The Battle of Waterloo in a visual, musical extravaganza by Luc Petit, based on Victor Hugo's "L'expiation" (Atonement) on the actual Battlefield in Belgium during the 200th Anniversary events, June 2015.
- "BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE" by John van Druten, at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, as Sidney Redlitch (played by Ernie Kovacs in the movie version - but THIS was the original stage version script). Oct 20-Nov 2, 2010.
"deftly acted production... JENNINGS is funny as the alcoholic writer who believes witches lurk around every corner." ~ Les Spindle, Backstage
"The production succeeds on so many levels it's hard to know which to mention first.. the performances pitch-perfect for the play's mid-20th Century New York setting ... BENTON JENNINGS completes the stellar cast terrifically as a blissfully clueless Redlitch." --Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
"The cast is uniformly splendid, BENTON JENNINGS holds the stage as another 50s type, the self-assured author smug in his conceit and deliriously pleased with himself." -Laura Hitchcock, CurtainUp
"... just as veteran BENTON JENNINGS delights as the gullible Sidney Redlitch." - Leigh Kennicott, Stagehappenings
"Thanks. Enjoyed the show. You rocked." - Danny Goldman
- "DEATH AND THE MAIDEN" by Ariel Dorfmann. SkyPilot Theatre Company. Playing lead role of Dr. Robert Miranda.
REVIEWS: "Death and The Maiden" ...with skillful direction by Dado, is a superb production..."- Beth Temkin, Tolucan Times.
"... BENTON JENNINGS' portrayal of Dr. Miranda was outstanding, intelligently shifting the character in-and-out of the shadows, between the terrified and confused victim and the evil doctor who tortured Paulina - deftly keeping the audience guessing about his role in the former regime."- Maggie R., Goldstar.
"BENTON JENNINGS bravely and capably taking on one of the ugliest characters in modern theater history."- The Burbank Leader.
- "TAKING SIDES" by Ronald Harwood (Oscar winning writer of "The Pianist"), presented by SkyPilot Theatre Company. Playing the Lead Role of famed German orchestra conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler.
REVIEW: By Beth Temkin, Tolucan Times
"Taking Sides is powerful, taking place in Berlin, 1946, with gut-wrenching performances by an extraordinary cast.
The plot concerns the de-Nazification trial of Wilhelm Furtwangler, (BENTON JENNINGS) conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic...Furtwangler fights for his freedom...
JENNINGS gives a multi-layered portrayal of the great conductor, first 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."
"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." - Frank Thompson; author, screenwriter, producer, historian
- The role of "Doc" in "REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT"
A play by Rod Serling. SkyPilot Theatre Company.
Due to an illness in the Cast, stepped into the LEAD ROLE of Maish Resnick (the fighter's manager) with less than 5 days rehearsal!
"An aging boxer and his shifty manager face off against an uncertain future outside the ring in the production of Rod Serling's classic play (which won a Peabody Award)...The washed up boxer is ruled unfit for the ring by a stadium doctor - an excellent BENTON JENNINGS - and suddenly finds himself a has-been at the ripe old age of 33...The emotional beats are delivered in affecting, one-two punch monologues..."- Amy Bowker, The Tolucan Times
- ""PETER COTTONTAIL, JR." -- Wrote and Directed this show for SkyPilot Theatre Company's first Children's Outreach Program.
REVIEW: "Peter Cottontail Jr." Promotes Helping Others
By Mary Mallory, Toulcan Times
"Peter Cottontail, Jr." is a crowd pleasing play for children. Funny and delightful, the show promotes honesty and doing the right thing... Director BENTON JENNINGS builds a rapid pace to the show from constant movement, dancing, and great timing. Jennings creates an almost cartoonish atmosphere, through the use of slapstick, Three Stooges like sounds, and little signs... A sweet, entertaining story, "Peter Cottontail Jr." is an excellent production for the happy children in all of us."
- "HELL CAB"
SkyPilot Theatre Company.
"The cast is first-rate, as it jumps from one character to another, no two the same. 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, Backstage West
"This show is a fast rollercoaster of wild fun. The acting is extraordinary, believable and conceiveable. Attractive faces changing characters and costumes with good lighting, set, and sound, will be just the ticket for what ails you. If you don't have trouble keeping up with the witty characters see this and fasten your seatbelt!" --Laurie Senit, KCLA-American Radio Network
"It's called a "dramedy." It lasts sixty-five minutes; it's played in a "renovated" taxi cab on the smallest stage in Los Angeles, and it's good -- in fact, very good." -http://www.showmag.com/theater/theater947.html
"The wonderful actors play these various characters with a lot of heart and sincere conviction. Their roles change drastically from one another and they are able to switch into whatever personality comes up next. Hellcab isn't pretty. It's not for the overly sensitive or for those who still have sugar plum fairies dancing on their heads. It's in-your-face, direct and not easily ignored. I think Dickens would be proud of what Kern wrote. A slice of brutal honesty with some vulnerability and hope thrown in. After all, it IS Christmas." -- Mary E. Montoro, SoCal
- Good Spanky! (Sketch Comedy Ensemble) Los Angeles venues.
"An eclectic and versatile cast...brings a host of hilarious characters to life...this feels like sketch comedy the way it is meant to feel - quirky, loose, daring, and always memorable...There are plenty of highlights ...BENTON JENNINGSis Cahuenga, a pathetic art snob with his Gallery Appreciation Society -- "Cahuenga is thrilled to be here with G.A.S.!" ... Good Spanky! has silliness galore and offers just about as charming a night of good, semi-clean fun as we could want." -- Backstage West
"...talented comedians...can kick up laughs." -- LA Weekly
- Richard II (Richard II - Lead) (London, England)
- The Fantasticks (Mortimer) (Played this role twice. First at Stage West in Ft. Worth. Most recently at El Portal Theatre Center, L.A. & MET2 San Diego.)
- Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration Closing Ceremonies (M.C. and Narrator). New Orleans, Dec. 2003. Was also Televised.
- Reel Improv (Improv Comedy Ensemble), Los Angeles.
- Lamplight Christmas Tours (Mr. Hubble - Lead) Heritage Square, Los Angeles (1998-2002).
- Blithe Spirit (Charles - Comedy Lead) Circle Theatre, Ft. Worth.
- Don't Dress For Dinner (Robert - Comedy Lead)
- No Sex Please We're British (Peter - Comedy Lead)
- The Death & Life of Sneaky Fitch (Doc Burch - Comedy Lead)
- Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio)
- MacBeth (MacBeth)
- Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)
- Robin Hood (Robin)
- A Trifle Dead (Sinclair the Butler - comedy lead) (world premier - three times: Actor's Theatre, Stage West, & Pegasus Theatre Dallas).
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius - Lead)
- Julius Caesar (Casca)
- The Taming of the Shrew (Tranio) Played this role twice in separate productions.
- The Lady's Not For Burning (Humphrey - Lead)
- Crown Matrimonial (David-King Edward VIII - Lead)
- Antigone (Jonas)
- Treasure Island (Long John Silver)
- Hamlet (Player King/Bernardo)
- Richard III (Ely)
- Comedy of Errors (Angelo)
- The Odd Couple (Vinnie)
- The Madwoman of Chaillot (Deaf Mute)
- Butley (Gardner)
- As You Like It (William/Forrester)
- Moby Dick Rehearsed (multiple roles)
- Animal Farm - staged reading (Snowball, Benjamin)
- Once Upon Vaudeville (Comedian)
- Once Upon Burlesque (Comedian)
- Oh! What A Lovely War (multiple roles, chiefly the British Drill Sergeant)
- George M! (Sam Harris)
- King Midas & the Golden Touch (King Midas, touring company)
- Huckleberry Finn (The Duke)
- Tom Sawyer (Muff Potter)
- Davy Crockett (Andrew Jackson)
- Alice in Wonderland (Mad Hatter)
- Alice in Wonderland (Gryphon)
- Brer Rabbit (Brer Wolf ... a Rock n Roll Brer Wolf!)
- Winnie The Pooh (Owl)
- Winnie The Pooh (Rabbit, touring company)
- The Little Mermaid (King Neptune)
- The Princess and The Pea (The King)
- Sleeping Beauty (The King)
- Snow White and The 7 Dwarves (Huntsman)
- The Frontier Santa (Santa - who appears in several different guises.)
- The Wizard of Oz (Cowardly Lion)
- The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow, touring company)
- No! No! A Million Times No! (Stafford Blackman - The Villain)
- Marat/Sade (Jacques Roux)
- Babes in Toyland (Uncle Barnaby - the Villain)
- South Pacific -- w/Ruta Lee (Yeoman Quayle, at Casa Manana)
- After Magritte (Chief Inspector Foot - Comedy Lead)
- All My Sons (Joe - Lead)
- The Tempest (Gonzalo, Odessa Shakespeare Festival)
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Baltus van Tassel - the father)
- Cinderella (The Ugly Step-Mother. Yes, really.)
- The Spanish Brabanter (Jan Knol, an old fart) (English Language Premier, Hip Pocket Theatre)
- The Impresario (Cochetto the Fop French Artist) (English Language Premier, Hip Pocket Theatre)
- The Tex Swindle Medicine Show (writer, co-creator, and comedy lead)
- Tonight at 8:30 (at Stage West. Trivia: a college kid named Lou Diamond Phillips was Benton's understudy in this Noel Coward comedy.)
National Tours:
- Annie Get Your Gun (Major Domo)
- A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley) (2 tours)
- THE GUNFIGHTERS Over 6000 performances nationally 1975-1999. Award Winning Sketch Comedy Act.
LIVING HISTORY & REENACTMENT
- Hundreds of presentations world wide since 1980.
- Most often this is a form of IMPROV acting, quite usually interacting directly with an audience.
- Dozens of characters, ranging from Napoleonic era British officers, to 1836 Texas Revolutionaries, a varied assortment of 1870s-80s Old West personalities, 1920s G-Men and Gangsters, to everything in between.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
- Dialects: All British regions (Upper Class, Eastend, Cockney, Devon, Liverpool, Northern, Midlands, etc.), Irish, Scottish, Australian,
German, French, Russian, Scandanavian, India, Asia, American Accents (Southern, New York, Midwest, Northeast, Texas,
Minnesota, Western, etc).
- Vocal Characterizations, Voice-Over, Improv, Horseback (western), Stage Combat, Fencing, Fast Draw, Firearms (matchlock, flintlock, cap & ball,
revolver, single action, double action, rifles, automatics, etc., PLUS 1700s/Napoleonic/1800s Artillery -- Cannons. ) Canoe, Rowing, Archery, Taekwondo (green belt),
Regency & Victorian Eras Ballroom Dance, Historical Technical/Military/Costume Advisor.
- Valid Passport.
As Fight Director:
- MacBeth
- Romeo and Juliet
- I Hate Hamlet
- A House With Two Doors is Difficult to Guard
- City of Angels
- Robin Hood
- The Fantasticks (L.A.)
- 25 years & over 6000 performances with The Gunfighters comedy old west act.
TRAINING:
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, England.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theatre Arts, TCU.
- American Film Institute, Los Angeles, Film Acting: w/ Adam Roarke.
- Film Actors Lab, Dallas: Master's Program w/ Spencer Milligan & Adam Roarke.
- Shakespeare Master Class: Lynn Redgrave, Los Angeles.
- Improv: Dee Marcus, Los Angeles. Gary Anthony Williams, L.A.
- Film Acting: Vincent Chase, Los Angeles.
- Stage Combat: LAMDA: Jonathon Waller. Gascon Institute, Los Angeles: Bob Chapin.
- Movement: LAMDA: Jack Murphy.
- Alexander Technique: Robert MacDonald, LAMDA.
- Voice & Diction: Greg Depaulney, LAMDA.
- Voice-Over, Commercial: Alex Polinsky, Kalmenson & Kalmenson (Kit Pavrentini, Bob Ackerman) L.A.
- Voice-Over, Animation: Susan Blu, Philece Sampler, Bob Bergen (all L.A.).
- Military: Capt. Dale Dye.
- Cold Reading Technique: Reel Pros Workshops, L.A.
