Jimmy Bennett

Jimmy Bennett
Bennett at the Television Critics Association in 2010
Born
James Michael Bennett

(1996-02-09) February 9, 1996 (age 28)
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present

James Michael Bennett (born February 9, 1996)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his roles as a child actor in Daddy Day Care, Hostage, The Amityville Horror, Poseidon, Evan Almighty, Orphan, Shorts, and as young James T. Kirk in the 2009 film Star Trek. He also starred on the ABC series No Ordinary Family as JJ Powell, a teenager gifted with vast intelligence after a plane crash.

Life and career

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Bennett was born on February 9, 1996, in Seal Beach, California, and lives with his parents and sister in Huntington Beach, California, where the family ran a hard rock–themed crêpe restaurant.[2][3][4] Bennett also plays guitar and sings on his official YouTube channel. He also wrote and performed the song "Summer Never Ends", which can be heard at the end of Shorts.

Bennett appeared in nearly 30 television advertisements,[5] as well as in episodes of the television series The Guardian and Strong Medicine, before being cast in the role of "Tony", the boy who wants to be the Flash, in the Eddie Murphy comedy Daddy Day Care. He had smaller roles in the films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Arthur Hailey's Detective, and also appeared in Judging Amy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Everwood, and lent his voice to characters in the animated films The Polar Express, The Jungle Book 2, Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown. He has been nominated for Young Artist Awards five times.

In August 2011, Bennett released his debut single "Over Again" and the accompanying music video.[6]

Personal life

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Sexual assault allegations against Asia Argento

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According to documents obtained by The New York Times, a $380,000 settlement was made between Bennett and actress Asia Argento after Bennett claimed that Argento sexually assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013, when he was 17 and Argento was 37.[7] Bennett said that after the encounter he began to feel "extremely confused, mortified, and disgusted".[8]

Bennett's lawyer wrote that in the years after the incident, Bennett was so traumatized that his job performance, income, and mental health declined.[1] They first met when Bennett played Argento's son in the 2004 film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things when Bennett was seven years old.[1] He notified Argento that he intended to sue in November 2017, shortly after she went public with rape accusations against Harvey Weinstein.[9] Argento countered that Bennett "sexually attacked" her, and that her partner Anthony Bourdain had arranged to pay $380,000 as part of the settlement.[10][11]

Following Argento's denials, a photograph of her topless in bed with Bennett was published, as well as her alleged admission of sex with him in text messages to model Rain Dove. In the screenshots, Argento reputedly stated: "I had sex with him it felt weird. I didn't know he was a minor until the shakedown letter."[12] Dove confirmed in a statement that they had provided the texts to police in response to Argento's apparent admission to "sexual engagement with a minor ... which is an illegal act that can qualify as statutory rape," as well as "receiving continued nude images without reporting/blocking the account/written rejection/or action."[13][14]

In a letter published online in September 2018, Argento's attorney admitted there was a sexual encounter, but claimed Bennett "sexually attacked" Argento.[15]

As of September 2018, Bennett and his lawyer Gordon Sattro were working with a Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigation regarding the claims of sexual assault against Argento.[16]

Filmography

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Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Jungle Book 2 Hathi Jr. Voice
Daddy Day Care The Flash/Tony
2004 Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo Roo Voice
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things Young Jeremiah
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Tommy
The Polar Express Billy the Lonely Boy Voice
2005 Hostage Tommy Smith
The Amityville Horror Michael Lutz
Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie Roo Voice
2006 Firewall Andy Stanfield
Poseidon Conor James
Shark Bait Young Pi Voice
2007 Evan Almighty Ryan Baxter
South of Pico Mark Weston
2008 Diminished Capacity Dillon
Snow Buddies Buddha Voice
Trucker Peter
2009 Star Trek Young James T. Kirk
Orphan Daniel "Danny" Coleman
Shorts Toby Thompson
Alabama Moon Moon Blake
Stolen John Wakefield
2010 Bones Bones White
2011 Ghild Ralph Gullivan Short film
2013 Movie 43 Nathan Segment: "Middleschool Date"
2014 Camouflage Kevin
2015 Bad Asses on the Bayou Ronald
A Girl Like Her Brian Slater
2017 Heartthrob Dustin
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Strong Medicine Willy Episode: "Admissions"
The Guardian Matty Butler Episode: "Monster"
2003 Judging Amy Cory Sinkler Episode: "Just Say Oops"
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Rerun Van Pelt Voice, television special
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Henry Turner Episode: "Paper or Plastic?"
2004–05 Everwood Sam Feeney 3 episodes
2005 Detective Ivan Tempone Television film
2006 He's a Bully, Charlie Brown Rerun van Pelt Voice, television special
2007 Gilmore Girls Macon Episode: "Santa's Secret Stuff"
2010–11 No Ordinary Family James "JJ" Powell, Jr. Main cast; 20 episodes
2011 Breaking In Episode: "21.0 Jump Street"
2012 Perception Alex Willingham 2 episodes
2014 Garfunkel and Oates Braden Episode: "Maturity"
2015 Murder in the First Alfie Rentman 2 episodes
2016 From Dusk till Dawn: The Series Fanglorious Bandmate 1 episode
2017 Bosch Mojo 4 episodes
2022 Pachinko Andrew Holmes Episode: "Chapter Seven"
Video game roles
Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Polar Express Billy the Lonely Boy
2005 Winnie the Pooh's Rumbly Tumbly Adventure Roo
2006 Kingdom Hearts II English dub
2007 Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
Music Video Appearance
Title Year Performer Album Ref.
"Stingray Affliction" 2014 Issues Issues [17][18]
"Downfalls High" 2021 Machine Gun Kelly Tickets To My Downfall [19]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger Daddy Day Care Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast Nominated
2005 Outstanding Young Ensemble in a New Medium The Polar Express Won
2007 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger Firewall Nominated
2008 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor (Comedy or Musical) Evan Almighty Nominated
2010 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor Alabama Moon Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast Shorts Won
2014 Golden Raspberry Award Worst Screen Combo (shared with the entire cast) Movie 43 Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Severson, Kim (August 19, 2018). "Asia Argento, Who Accused Weinstein, Made Deal With Her Own Accuser". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  2. ^ Epting, Chris (December 29, 2010). "In the Pipeline: Rock history is on the menu". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois: Tronc. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "LA Teen Festival The Magazine". Lateenfestival.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Rockin The Crepe". Fb101.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "Jimmy Bennett Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards". TV Guide. Portland, Oregon: NTVB Media. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Bennett Debuts 'Over Again' Music Video". ClevverTV. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  7. ^ Severson, Kim (August 19, 2018). "Asia Argento, Who Accused Weinstein, Made Deal With Her Own Accuser". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. ^ North, Anna (August 23, 2018). "The sexual assault allegations against #MeToo advocate Asia Argento, explained". vox.com. New York City: Vox Media. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  9. ^ Puente, Maria (August 22, 2018). "Jimmy Bennett speaks about Asia Argento: We DID have sex when I was underage". USA Today. Mclean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  10. ^ Miller, Julie (October 1, 2018). "Asia Argento Details Alleged Assault By Jimmy Bennett; Asks X Factor Italy to Rehire Her". Vanity Fair. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  11. ^ Melas, Chloe (September 5, 2018). "Asia Argento's attorney says 17-year-old sexually 'attacked' her". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Systems. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  12. ^ "Photo, text messages appear to contradict Asia Argento's denial of relationship". NBC News. August 23, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Marcus, Emily (August 29, 2018). "Rain Dove Sent Asia Argento Texts About Sexual Assault Case to Authorities". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Vercammen, Sara Sidner,Paul (August 29, 2018). "Rain Dove speaks out about Asia Argento allegations". CNN. Retrieved September 27, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Melas, Chloe (September 5, 2018). "Asia Argento's attorney says 17-year-old sexually 'attacked' her". CNN. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ^ Winton, Richard (September 7, 2018). "Young actor accusing Asia Argento of sex abuse as a minor will work with detectives, his lawyer says". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "Issues - Stingray Affliction'". YouTube. February 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "Issues - Stingray Affliction'". Stefan Anderson Producer. February 17, 2014. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  19. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly - Downfalls High". YouTube.
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