Wes Bentley did not have to wait long to succeed in acting. Launching him into superstardom was a role in the Oscar-winning film “American Beauty.”
Indeed, Bentley became successful so quickly that he got lost in the fame. He has admitted that young as he was, Hollywood’s fame and nightlife helped him lose his way.
He spent years lost in a drug-induced haze and may have remained that way but for the special people in his life. Keep reading to discover what happened to Wes Bentley and how he’s doing now.
Wes Bentley Biography
He was born Wesley Cook Bentley on September 4, 1978, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. His parents are David and Cherie Bentley, both Methodist ministers.
Bentley was raised alongside three siblings: older brothers Jamey and Philip and younger brother Patrick. He attended Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas, and joined the drama club and demonstrated an affinity for acting.
Reports claim his interest in acting resulted from improv comedy with his brother Patrick, his best friend Damien Bunting, and another close friend, Josh Cowdery. They later developed an Improv group called B(3) + C and regularly dominated competitions in Arkansas.
In 1996, Bentley came first in Arkansas in solo acting and regularly won Poetry and Prose Readings. Bentley attended Juilliard School in New York at his mother’s behest after graduating high school.
He dropped out after a year, but while there, he appeared in stage works like “Henry IV, Part 1” and “The Weavers.” After dropping out, he focused on pursuing an acting career.
What Happened to Wes Bentley?
Wes Bentley found it challenging to cope with the pressures of being famous. He had initially expected his fame to happen incrementally. In the decade that followed his rise to fame, Bentley went down the path of drugs, getting addicted to cocaine and heroin.
In his defense, he was a young Arkansas boy in Hollywood. Attracted to the glamour and the allure of nightlife, Bentley got hooked first on heroin and then cocaine.
Thanks to his competitive spirit, the talented actor decided to take being a drug user as far as he could. He rolled with homeless men and other drug users, disappearing in a haze that ruined his career and his marriage to his first wife.
Were Wes Bentley and Heath Ledger Friends?
Wes Bentley and Heath Ledger were more than friends; they were like brothers. The pair were co-stars in the 2002 movie “The Four Feathers.” According to Bentley, Ledger was very concerned about his drug addiction. He was so worried that he emailed the actor, begging him to get sober.
Bentley said: “He even begged me to get sober in an email. The last email, he was beggin’ me. I didn’t, at first, but later, getting sober, I’d think of that email all the time.”
Sadly, Bentley never got to thank Ledger for looking out for him as the actor died of an accidental drug overdose in 2008. Bentley could not bring himself to attend the memorial service.
He said: “I tried to go, but I was messed up, and I felt that wasn’t right. So I got out of the cab on the way to it. And that sits with me forever.”
Bentley added: “He didn’t care what I was, or what I was like, the stupid things I was doing. He just wanted me to be better. I always considered him a brother, and I wish I could’ve given that back.”
How Old Is Wes Bentley?
Wes Bentley was born on September 4, 1978, making him 45 years old as of 2023.
Who Is Wes Bentley’s Wife?
Wes Bentley has been married twice so far. His first wife was Jennifer Quanz, and they were married between 2001 and 2009. The actor battled drug addiction while they were together but kept it from her for a long time. In the end, it is what caused the end of their marriage.
Bentley quickly moved on with producer Jacqui Swedberg, the woman he claims made him feel the strong urge to get his life together. He married Swedberg in 2010, and the pair have remained together ever since.
Wes Bentley Now
Bentley is as great as ever, and the future looks great. Not only has he maintained a steady presence on our screens, but he is now sober and focused on enjoying life with his family.
He shares two kids with Jacqui Swedberg: Charles and Brooklyn. And when he is not on set, he is either with them or playing/watching soccer.