Wes Bentley is known as an actor with a charming on-screen appeal and remarkable adaptability, but there is more to this star.
Wes Bentley has consistently redefined his roles in Hollywood and has been a fan favorite for decades. But who is he beyond the man with a successful Hollywood career?
Who Is Wes Bentley?
Wes Bentley is a famous American actor born September 4, 1978, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock. He is the third of four sons of Cherie Baker and David Bentley. His mother is a chaplain and ordained elder in the Arkansas Conference, while his father is a minister, with both of them in the United Methodist denomination.
The actor attended Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas, where he graduated in 1996. After that, he attended the Juilliard School, where he joined their Drama Division as part of the school’s group 29, which was supposed to run from 1996-2000. Bentley left the school just after one year of attendance to pursue his acting career on a larger scale.
Wes Bentley Movies and TV Shows
Leaving school to pursue his acting career thoroughly worked out well for the actor. He got his first big break in 1999 playing Ricky Fits in “American Beauty.” Since then, he has been a prominent actor with appearances in many movies and TV shows over the years.
Some of his most famous appearances include:
- American Beauty (1999)
- The Claim (2000)
- Ghost Rider (2007)
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014 – 2015)
- American Horror Story: Hotel (2015 – 2016)
- American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016)
- Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)
- Yellowstone (2018 – Present)
- Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021 – 2022)
His highly successful career has also come with many nominations and awards for various projects. He brags of 3 big wins and over ten different nominations from awards like MTV Movie Awards, BAFTA Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, National Board of Review, and Teen Choice Awards, to name a few.
Wes Bentley’s Drug Addiction Battle
Bentley’s quick rise to fame came with anxiety and depression, leading him to drugs. The “Four Feathers” star battled drug addiction for many years. During this period, the actor lost his passion for acting and was only featured in roles to get by and pay for the drugs.
He continued on this wave until 2009 when his friend and famous “Dark Knight” star, Heath Ledger, died from an overdose. Bentley took the massive step of getting clean and went for rehabilitation services with support and encouragement from his wife, close friends, and children.
He also mentioned that seeing a megastar like “Iron Man” actor Robert Downey Jr. open up publicly about his addiction inspired him to seek help. Ever since, he has remained clean and is now an advocate for people battling drug addiction.
Who Is Wes Bentley’s Spouse?
Many do not know that the “Open” actor has been married twice in his lifetime.
Jennifer Quanz (2001 – 2009)
Bentley’s first wife was fellow Hollywood star Jennifer Quanz. She is a famous American actress famously known for her roles in movies like “Get Real” (1999), “21” (2000), and “Carving Out Our Name” (2001).
Bentley suffered from drug addiction and hid it from his wife during their marriage. Quanz later found out about his substance abuse, amongst other things, and this led to a separation between the two.
The couple’s relationship never recovered, and divorce proceedings were eventually filed in 2009. Quanz and Bentley have a son named Hezekiah, whom they co-parent until today.
Jacqui Swedberg (2010 – Present)
After the divorce proceedings were finalized, Bentley married Canadian producer and director Jacqui Swedberg. She makes a living in the entertainment industry behind the camera and is known for her great attention to detail.
Some of her works include projects like “Sleepwalking,” “Corner Gas,” and “Lullaby for Pi.” She is also reportedly a co-founder of the production company Made in Canada.
The couple is said to have first met in 2008 while Bentley was filming the movie “Dolan’s Cadillac” in Swedberg’s home country. A mutual friend introduced them, and instantly liked each other.
They began dating shortly after and finally walked down the aisle in 2010. Their wedding was a private event held in California, with only close friends and family in attendance.
The couple has kept their marital life very private, and they do not share much about their personal lives with the public. However, the couple did share that their marriage has produced two lovely children – Elijah Bentley and Frances Bentley.
What Is Wes Bentley’s Net Worth?
The hotshot actor has not made his income public, making it difficult to determine his net worth properly. However, it has been estimated to be between $3 to $5 million due to his massive success and roles in cinematic blockbusters.
Wes Bentley did not have it as easy as many would think, but it has only made the actor stronger and more focused on his craft and loved ones.