Jimmy Ray Bennett

Bennett was born in Tallahassee, Florida to Jim and Janie Bennett, who have since divorced. He has two sisters. He graduated high school from the Florida State University School and earned his B.F.A in Musical Theatre from Florida State University in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.jimmyraybennett.com/|title=jimmyraybennett|website=jimmyraybennett|access-date=2017-08-28|archive-date=2017-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906182934/https://www.jimmyraybennett.com/|url-status=dead}}

After moving to New York City, Bennett co-created the improvised musical The Nuclear Family{{Cite web |url=http://www.curtainup.com/nuclearfamily |title=The Nuclear Family, a CurtainUp review |access-date=2017-08-28 |archive-date=2020-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807014019/http://www.curtainup.com/nuclearfamily |url-status=dead }} with Stephen Guarino and John Gregorio. The show was considered a cult hit downtown and moved Off-Broadway{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/movies/theater-review-they-re-just-making-it-up-as-they-merrily-go-along.html|title=They're Just Making It Up As They Merrily Go Along|date=19 September 2003|website=The New York Times}} in 2003 to the Zipper Theatre and subsequently to Barrow Street Theatre. The show was adapted for television the following year for the Sundance TV LAB.{{cite web|url=https://www.mccarter.org/ticketoffice/artistdetail.aspx?artist_id=99975717&event_id=5719|title=Artist Detail|website=www.mccarter.org}} He has also improvised with Dad's garage in Atlanta and at The Groundlings{{cite web|url=http://www.groundlings.com/performers/performer-details.aspx?performerID=423|title=The Groundlings|website=The Groundlings Website|access-date=2017-08-28|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831085014/http://www.groundlings.com/performers/performer-details.aspx?performerID=423|url-status=dead}} in Los Angeles. In 2006, he won the World Domination Improv Tournament{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/atlanta/article/World-Domination-TheatreSports-Tournament-09-Comes-To-Dads-Garage-91012-20090825-page3|title=World Domination TheatreSports Tournament '09 Comes To Dad's Garage 9/10-12|author=BWW News Desk|publisher=}} in Atlanta, along with The Nuclear Family.

In video games, he is the voice of Floyd Hebert in Grand Theft Auto V, of which he also provides the likeness and motion capture for the character. Released in 2013, GTA V is the largest grossing video game launch in history, having made over $800 million within the first 24 hours of release.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/09/20/grand-theft-auto-v-crosses-1b-in-sales-biggest-entertainment-launch-in-history/|title='Grand Theft Auto V' Crosses $1B In Sales, Biggest Entertainment Launch In History|first=Erik|last=Kain|website=Forbes|publisher=}} He also voiced numerous characters in Red Dead Redemption. Both were produced by Rockstar Games.

Theatrically, he played Sohovik in Damn Yankees{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/theater/reviews/11damn.html?mcubz=1|title = Faust on Third, Lost Soul at Bat|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 11 July 2008|last1 = Isherwood|first1 = Charles}} at City Center Encores Summer Stars and was also the understudy for Sean Hayes. In 2008 he performed at The Kennedy Center in the cast of Broadway: Three Generations{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303536_pf.html|title=Side by Side by Side|website=www.washingtonpost.com}} which opened the newly renovated Eisenhower Theater. Bennett was a member of the original productions of Illyria{{cite web|url=http://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/323244-jimmy-ray-bennett|title=Jimmy Ray Bennett Theatre Credits and Profile|website=www.abouttheartists.com}} for Prospect Theatre Company and White's Lies at New World Stages with Betty Buckley. He was in the New York premier cast of Around The World In 80 Days{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/bryce-ryness-jimmy-ray-bennett-john-gregorio-and-more-go-around-the-world-opening-may-30-off-broadway-com-205914|title=Bryce Ryness, Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio and More Go Around the World, Opening May 30 Off-Broadway - Playbill|website=Playbill|date=30 May 2013}} in 2013, Off-Broadway. Bennett also participated in the 75th Sondheim! Birthday Concert with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. He can be heard on the Cast Recording for The York Theatre Company's SUNDOWN{{cite web|url=http://www.sundownmusical.com/studio-cast-recording.html|title=Studio Cast Recording|website=Sundown|access-date=2017-08-31|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831085501/http://www.sundownmusical.com/studio-cast-recording.html|url-status=dead}} as Morgan Earp, as well as Vincent Youmans' THROUGH THE YEARS and Kay Swift's FINE AND DANDY. Both produced by PS Classics.{{cite web|url=http://www.psclassics.com/castrecordings_soundtracks.html|title=PS Classics - cast recordings and soundtracks|website=www.psclassics.com}}

Bennett was part of the 2013 CBS diversity showcase{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/01/talented-hopefuls-cbs-diversity-showcase.html|title=Minority hopefuls perform in CBS diversity showcase|date=24 January 2012|publisher=}} which took him to Los Angeles. He has been seen in Hot In Cleveland on TV Land. He was the neighbor in the Qu'osby Show{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dbhhse/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-exclusive---the-qu-osby-show---the-pilot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107044557/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dbhhse/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-exclusive---the-qu-osby-show---the-pilot|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2015|title=Exclusive - The Qu'osby Show - The Pilot - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Comedy Central|website=Comedy Central|date=18 February 2011 }} parody on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and in 2012, he was in the Peabody Award winning documentary DL Hugely: The Endangered List. He played tech billionaire Nathan Brooks on the Amazon Studios original drama Hand Of God.

Bennett resides in New York City.

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:Male actors from Tallahassee, Florida