Christopher Beck Bennett (born October 1, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for eight seasons (2013–2021). Before his tenure on SNL, he performed in AT&T "It's Not Complicated" commercials in which he interviewed children,[2] and produced sketch videos with the comedy group Good Neighbor[3][4][5] as well as for his YouTube show Theatre of Life.[6]
Beck Bennett | |
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![]() Bennett in 2017 | |
Born | Christopher Beck Bennett (1984-10-01) October 1, 1984 (age 38) Wilmette, Illinois, U.S. |
Education | University of Southern California (BFA) |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 1[1] |
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]
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.[8] The group received praise from 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 Axe Cop for Fox's Animation Domination High-Def programming block. 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 voiced Launchpad McQuack in the DuckTales reboot which ran from 2017 to 2021,[21] and Eric the robot in the Sony Pictures Animation film The Mitchells vs. the Machines. He is currently the voice of Hamster in another Disney animated series, Hamster & Gretel.[22]
Bennett debuted as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in its 39th season on September 28, 2013.[23] He was promoted to repertory status for Saturday Night Live's 41st season on October 2, 2015.[24] He left the show following the finale of the 46th season on May 22, 2021.[25] In an interview with Time magazine, Bennett stated he chose to leave the show so he could be with his wife in Los Angeles instead of remaining in New York City and maintaining a long-distance relationship.[26]
His celebrity impressions on SNL include Ted Allen, Ashley Parker Angel, Salt Bae, Bob Baffert, Javier Bardem, Bill Belichick, Wolf Blitzer, Tom Brady, Jeb Bush, Drew Carey, Bill Clinton, Harry Connick Jr., Simon Cowell, Bing Crosby, Ted Cruz, Guillermo del Toro, Vin Diesel, Sam Elliott, Boomer Esiason, Jim Gilmore, Roger Goodell, Mark Halperin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Hollywood, Matt Iseman, Ronny Jackson, Elton John, Brian Kilmeade, Robert Kraft, Steve Kroft, Mike Lindell, Howie Long, Al Michaels, Mitch McConnell, Jim Nantz, Kevin O'Leary, Nick Offerman, Mike Pence, Vladimir Putin, Bruce Springsteen, Jake Tapper, Malcolm Turnbull, Chris Wallace and George Zimmer.[27]
Recurring characters[27]
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.[28] The couple married on August 25, 2018.[29] Bennett has been friends with fellow SNL cast member Kyle Mooney since they were students at the University of Southern California.[30]
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[31] | |
2021 | The Mitchells vs. the Machines | Eric (voice) | |
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" | |
2012-2016 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Bucky, Bucky Hensletter (voice) | 37 episodes |
2013–2021 | 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" | |
2017–2021 | DuckTales | Launchpad McQuack (voice) | Main cast |
2019 | The Other Two | Jeff | 2 episodes |
Shrill | Kevin O’Donnell/The Awesome | 2 episodes | |
Sunnyside | Tripp Henson | Episode: "Schnorf Town" | |
2021 | Close Enough | Luc (voice) | Episode: "Houseguest From Hell" |
M.O.D.O.K. | Austin Van Der Sleet (voice) | Series regular | |
The Simpsons | Grayson Mathers (voice) | Episode: "The Longest Marge" | |
2022 | Hamster & Gretel | Hamster (voice) | Main cast |
General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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