Wes Bentley is an American actor who first became well-known via his role in the Oscar-winning film _American Beauty .
Attended Sylvan Hills high school in Sherwood, Arkansas.
Both of his parents are United Methodist ministers.
Attended The Juilliard School in New York City.
Previously shared a home in L.A. with Brad Rowe and Chad Lindberg.
Brother was a youth minister in Topeka, Kansas.
Cast as Sonny in Monsters Ball before dropping out and being replaced by Heath Ledger.
Cast as Lestat in Queen of the Damned before dropping out and being replaced by Stuart Townsend.
While filming Three Below Zero , the director Simon Aeby forbid Bentley from skateboarding to the set in New York City because he was the principle talent and needed to be on set every day of filming. But Bentley ignored the directors advice and continued to arrive each day via skateboard.
Was considered for the role of Danny Walker in Michael Bay s Pearl Harbor .
Attended the same high school as actor Russell Taylor , in Mountain Home, Arkansas, before Bentley transfered to high school in Sherwood, Arkansas before his junior year.
Grew up in Mountain Home, Arkanas where he played the drums at his local junior high school. During sophomore year at school he moved to Sherwood, Arkanas. He then attended Sylvan Hills high school, from his sophomore to senior year.
Was discovered at an open cattle call for the film "Rent". A casting director spotted him, and asked him to read for his film. Seven call backs later he was given the role, but the movie was never made.
Loves playing soccer in his spare time.
The third of four sons, which included older brothers Jamey and Philip and younger brother Patrick Bentley.
In 2010, told The New York Times that he spent most of the 2000s seriously addicted to drugs including cocaine and heroin, and that he only took the few acting roles that he did so that he would have money to buy drugs.
Stated in an interview on the DVD of There Be Dragons that his sobriety was inspired during filming by someone else on the set who had been sober for two years. He stopped drinking and doing drugs during filming, with this persons help, and experienced a whole spiritual renewal in his life. He has been sober ever since.
The couple welcomed their 2nd child,a daughter,Brooklyn,in 2014.
