By Jaden Haly
Wesley Cook Bentley, a well-renowned actor known for his breakout role in American Beauty and additional roles in Yellowstone and The Hunger Games died on April 1 at his home in Jonesboro, due to health complications. He was 47.
Bentley became best known for his role in American Beauty as Ricky Fitts which helped start his acting career and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1999. Additionally, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2014 for American Horror Story. He worked in both TV and movies and his career included a wide range of roles such as Gamemaker Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games. His character in American Beauty was pivotal in the role of opening the door for darker and more realistic films in Hollywood. It became a cultural reference point for suburban loneliness and the quiet search for meaning in everyday life. He was a part of one of the most famous scenes in the film where a plastic bag drifts through the air. This was a defining moment that shaped the movie’s cultural impact.
He was born on September 4, 1978 in Jonesboro Arkansas and raised in Little Rock. His father, David Bentley, was a Methodist Minister and mother, Cherie Baker, was a Chaplain. He attended the public school of Sylvan Hills located in Sherwood Arkansas. He attended Juilliard’s School but left after one year to pursue his acting career. At an early age he was cast for American Beauty which ended up being a massive success. His early interest in acting started during his school years for having a strong passion for deep storytelling. He then pursued it more seriously.
He eventually battled with a drug addiction, struggling to quit heroin after his success in American Beauty. This later led to a decrease in further opportunities in the film industry affecting his personal life and his ability to keep working consistently. He proclaimed that this was the most challenging time of his life balancing drug abuse and family life.
He ended up finding the help he needed in rehab to get sober. In his comeback phase he started working in Hollywood again in many minor indie films for the remainder of his career such as The Four Feathers, There Be Dragons, After The Fall. He has been known for taking serious and complex roles rather than the mainstream ones. Those roles helped shoot him back into more mainstream attention by proving himself again and gaining back the trust within the film industry.
He professed his faith in Jesus Christ and joined The First United Baptist Church where he was a dedicated member. He publicly spoke about how the church helped him return to Jesus after years of struggling with addiction. Faith made him more grounded especially with family and in his personal life. He described his spiritual journey back to Christ as a renewal in purpose. Bentley believed in redemption and second chances in changing your life. His faith became an important part of his daily life which largely impacted his career and personal relationships.
He was married to his widow Jacqui Swedberg, a well-known producer, whom he wed in 2010. She played an important role in supporting him in his comeback years and with sobriety. They have two children, a son Charles and a daughter Brooklyn Bentley. The couple made the decision to keep their children out of the public’s eye to protect their privacy and safety.
He is survived by his wife Jacqui Swedberg; his children; his parents, David Bentley, Cherie Baker and his three brothers Jamey, Phillip, Patrick Bentley.