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Jimmy Bennett
Jimmy Bennett
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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.

Key Information

Early life

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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.

Career

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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]

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 7 years old and she was 28.[1][9] He notified Argento that he intended to sue in November 2017, shortly after she went public with rape accusations against Harvey Weinstein.[10] Argento countered that Bennett "sexually attacked" her, and that her partner Anthony Bourdain had arranged to pay $380,000 as part of the settlement.[11][12]

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."[13] 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."[14][15]

In August 2018, the actress Rose McGowan spoke out in support of Bennett. She wrote to Argento: "You were my friend. I loved you. I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment. Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course. [...] be the person you wish Harvey could have been."[16]

In a letter published online in September, Argento's attorney admitted there was a sexual encounter, but claimed Bennett "sexually attacked" Argento.[17] 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.[18]

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?"
2004–2005 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"
2010–2011 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 [19][20]
"Downfalls High" 2021 Machine Gun Kelly Tickets To My Downfall [21]

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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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
James Michael Bennett (born February 9, 1996) is an American actor and musician recognized for his early career as a child performer in films including Daddy Day Care (2003), Hostage (2005), The Amityville Horror (2005), Poseidon (2006), Evan Almighty (2007), and Orphan (2009). Born in Seal Beach, California, Bennett began acting at age six and also provided voice work, such as portraying the young James T. Kirk in Star Trek (2009). In addition to acting, he pursued music, releasing the single "Over Again" in 2011. Bennett gained renewed public attention in 2018 amid the when he accused Italian actress of sexually assaulting him in May 2013 at a hotel, at which time he was 17 years old—below the state's of 18—and she was 37. According to Bennett's account, supported by text messages, a signed , and other documents, Argento provided him alcohol before engaging in with him. Following Argento's public allegations against , Bennett filed a notice of intent to sue for $3.5 million in damages, which resulted in a $380,000 settlement paid by Argento in exchange for dropping the claim, without a . Argento denied the assault, asserting Bennett initiated contact and continued sending her explicit images afterward, though Bennett reaffirmed his allegations, stating the encounter caused lasting trauma that resurfaced during the Weinstein case. The incident highlighted inconsistencies in #MeToo narratives, as initial media coverage of Argento's Weinstein accusations contrasted with subdued reporting on Bennett's claim despite documentary evidence.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

James Michael Bennett was born on February 9, 1996, in . He grew up in nearby , residing with his parents and a sister, though specific details about his family's professional or personal lives remain largely private and undisclosed in public records. At the age of six, Bennett expressed a personal ambition to appear on television, prompting his entry into the entertainment industry through commercial work; he secured multiple bookings in quick succession, marking his initial foray into performing before transitioning to on-screen roles. This early self-motivated pursuit of , without documented formal training or familial involvement in , laid the groundwork for his subsequent career, alongside developing interests in music such as guitar playing.

Acting Career

Early Child Roles (2003–2008)

Bennett began his acting career with television commercials at age six before securing his feature film debut in (2003), where he portrayed Tony, also known as The Flash, a energetic child in the titular daycare group. Born on February 9, 1996, Bennett was seven years old during filming, contributing to the ensemble of young performers alongside stars like . This role introduced him to wide audiences in a family comedy that emphasized group dynamics among preschool-aged characters. In 2005, Bennett expanded into thrillers with supporting parts in , playing Tommy Smith, the son of a family taken hostage, opposite , and , a where he depicted a young family member amid supernatural events. The following year, he appeared in the (2006) as Conor James, a boy navigating the capsized luxury liner's chaos alongside and . These roles demonstrated his adaptability across genres, from high-stakes tension to survival scenarios. Bennett supplemented his film work with guest appearances on television series, including episodes of (2003), (2004), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and during this period, which helped build his on-screen presence in dramatic and procedural formats. These early television spots, often portraying inquisitive children, aligned with the demands of child acting in structured narratives.

Breakthrough Teenage Roles (2009–2015)

Bennett's breakthrough into teenage roles began in 2009 with his portrayal of the young in , directed by , where he depicted the character's rebellious adolescent phase through a memorable opening sequence involving a daring car stunt on an road. This role, though brief, showcased his ability to embody youthful alienation and defiance, aligning with the film's alternate reality origin story for the iconic captain and contributing to its status as a blockbuster reboot. In the same year, he appeared as Daniel Coleman in the psychological horror film , playing the frightened adoptive brother to a deceptive child antagonist, demonstrating early command of tense, emotional family dynamics amid terror. From 2010 to 2011, Bennett starred as JJ Powell in the ABC superhero family drama , portraying a high school teenager who acquires intuitive super-intelligence following a plane crash that empowers his family. His character grappled with academic pressures, due to his enhanced intellect, and strained sibling relationships, allowing Bennett to explore nuanced portrayals of adolescent and familial bonds in a genre-blending series that aired for two seasons. The role marked a significant step in his transition, earning recognition for character development amid the show's mix of action and heartfelt drama. By 2013, Bennett appeared in the ensemble comedy anthology as Nathan in the "Middleschool Date" segment, highlighting his versatility in lighter, awkward teen scenarios. In 2015, he took on the role of Brian Slater in A Girl Like Her, a mockumentary-style film addressing high , where he played the remorseful ex-boyfriend whose aggressive actions precipitate a peer's , delving into the complexities of toxic teenage relationships and regret. These projects underscored his evolution toward more layered adolescent characters, distinct from prior child-centric innocence, though amid varying commercial outcomes for the productions.

Transition to Adult Roles and Recent Projects (2016–present)

Following his teenage roles, Bennett's acting output diminished significantly, with no major lead parts in feature films after 2015. His transition to adult-oriented projects featured supporting or guest capacities in independent thrillers and television, reflecting the common trajectory for former child performers where opportunities often contract amid industry preferences for established adult talent. In 2017, he appeared as Dustin in the independent thriller Heartthrob, portraying a character entangled in a fatal obsession subplot, which premiered at limited festivals before a release. Bennett took on episodic television roles during this period, including Frost in the third season of : The Series (2016), a crime drama. He later guest-starred as Andrew Holmes, a student, in the 2022 Apple TV+ series (episode "Chapter Seven"), contributing to its ensemble depiction of Korean immigrant experiences across generations. Additionally, in , he played a named role in Downfalls High, a short musical drama directed by Machine Gun Kelly. By 2025, Bennett's on-screen presence remained infrequent, with these scattered credits underscoring a pivot away from consistent Hollywood employment typical of many ex-child actors, who face attrition rates exceeding 90% in sustaining viable careers post-adolescence, per industry analyses of guild data. No major theatrical releases or series regulars have materialized since, aligning with his pursuits in music and other endeavors.

Music Career

Musical Activities and Releases

Bennett began pursuing music alongside his acting career during his teenage years, releasing his debut single "Over Again" in August 2011 at age 15. The track, accompanied by a , showcased his songwriting and vocal abilities in a pop-rock style, with live performances at a release party where he also debuted "Everything About You" from an associated EP. These early efforts highlighted his self-taught guitar skills and original compositions, independent of major label backing. Following a period focused on acting, Bennett resumed independent music releases in the early 2020s, distributing tracks via streaming platforms as a solo rock artist. Notable singles include "For You," released in June 2023 with an official emphasizing personal themes of resilience and relationships. Subsequent outputs such as "What She Needs" (January 2024) and "Dead2me" (2024) reflect raw, introspective songwriting, available on services like and , where they have garnered thousands of streams. These self-produced works prioritize authentic expression over commercial production, often shared directly through . In parallel, Bennett joined the rock band as a around mid-2024, contributing to their nu-metal and sound during tours like the Blackout Tour and New Disease Tour. His involvement underscores music as a creative outlet during lulls, with live performances amplifying his versatility beyond scripted roles. This phase emphasizes empirical fan engagement via platforms like , rather than traditional industry promotion.

Controversies

Relationship with Asia Argento

Jimmy Bennett first met in 2004 on the set of the film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, which Argento directed and in which she starred as the mother of Bennett's character; at the time, Bennett was seven years old and portrayed her on-screen son. The professional collaboration fostered an ongoing personal connection, with Argento described in legal documents as serving as both a mentor and a mother figure to Bennett in subsequent years. Public social media interactions evidenced a close, affectionate rapport prior to 2013. On May 9, 2013, Argento posted multiple photographs of herself with Bennett at different locations, captioning them to refer to him as "my son, my love." Bennett similarly expressed familial regard toward Argento in his own posts, addressing her as a "mom" figure. Their interactions occurred amid a significant age disparity—Bennett was 17 in 2013, while Argento was 37—and inherent power imbalances common in Hollywood, where established figures like Argento held influence over emerging actors such as Bennett. California's age of consent is 18, establishing a legal threshold for sexual activity irrespective of perceived maturity or relational dynamics. In August 2018, actor Jimmy Bennett publicly accused of sexually assaulting him on May 9, 2013, in a hotel room in Marina del Rey, alleging that she provided him with alcohol before performing on him and engaging in despite his reluctance. Bennett, who was 17 at the time and thus below 's age of consent of 18, stated that the encounter caused him emotional distress and professional setbacks, prompting him to seek compensation shortly after Argento accused of rape in October 2017. Argento denied the assault allegations and any sexual contact with Bennett, asserting through her attorney that she had no intimate relationship with him and that the payment was a precautionary measure to avoid potential litigation amid the #MeToo movement's scrutiny. In a statement, Argento claimed the settlement was urged by her late partner to prevent damaging headlines that could undermine #MeToo, emphasizing that Bennett had initiated legal demands without prior contact. Documents obtained by revealed that Bennett's attorney sent a to Argento in October 2017, leading to a November 2017 settlement agreement for $380,000 paid in installments, including $200,000 initially and the balance over time, in exchange for a barring Bennett from discussing the matter or pursuing civil claims. Argento's confirmed the payout but framed it as avoiding "even the possibility of future legal action" rather than an admission of wrongdoing. No criminal charges were filed against Argento, despite the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reviewing the allegations in August 2018; under Section 261.5, sexual intercourse with a minor under 18 constitutes regardless of consent, though the for such cases had expired by 2017. The civil settlement resolved Bennett's claims without admission of liability, and payments reportedly ceased after the public disclosure in 2018 due to Argento's financial difficulties.

Diverse Viewpoints and Media Coverage

Jimmy Bennett stated that his delay in publicly disclosing the alleged 2013 assault stemmed from feelings of shame and fear, with the trauma resurfacing only after positioned herself as a #MeToo victim in , prompting him to seek compensation at age 21. This account, while emphasizing emotional barriers common in abuse claims, has been contrasted by observers noting Bennett's near-adult status at 17—California's being 18—and their prior professional acquaintance from co-starring in a , which challenges assumptions of inherent power imbalances in encounters involving late teenagers. Critics from right-leaning perspectives, including Harvey Weinstein's attorney , highlighted Argento's alleged hypocrisy as a #MeToo leader who publicly condemned older-male predators while reportedly engaging in similar conduct with a younger co-star, arguing it exposed selective application of accountability standards. In contrast, left-leaning advocates like defended the movement's integrity, asserting that Argento's accountability—via the $380,000 settlement paid in 2018 without an admission of guilt—demonstrates #MeToo's gender-neutral push for justice rather than undermining it, with the payout structured as pragmatic risk mitigation including a . Media coverage revealed biases, with mainstream outlets like and amplifying the story's implications for #MeToo's credibility while often foregrounding Argento's victim narrative from Weinstein allegations, sometimes glossing over Bennett's confirmed encounter details and lack of documented coercion evidence in favor of broader movement defenses. Right-leaning commentary, such as in Spiked, critiqued this as a failure to apply consistent scrutiny, portraying Argento's fallout as a self-inflicted "witch hunt" rather than systemic reckoning, underscoring how institutional left-leaning tilts in journalism prioritized narrative cohesion over disinterested fact-examination of Bennett's maturity and agency.

Recognition

Awards and Nominations

Bennett earned two wins and five nominations from the Young Artist Awards, an organization recognizing outstanding performances by young actors in film and television, primarily for his work as a child performer between 2004 and 2010. These accolades highlighted technical proficiency in and , such as his win for Best Performance in a - Young for Shorts (2009), where he contributed to a cast noted for cohesive group portrayals amid fantastical elements. Another win came for voice and in (2004), acknowledging his role in the film's pioneering performance-capture sequences. Nominations included Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor for Alabama Moon (2009), emphasizing solo dramatic range in a coming-of-age narrative, and Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor for Orphan (2009), where his portrayal involved intense emotional restraint opposite established leads. Earlier nods covered supporting roles in Hostage (2005) and Firewall (2006), reflecting peer recognition in high-stakes thrillers despite competitive fields dominated by prolific child actors.
YearAwardCategoryResultWork
2010Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble CastWinShorts
2010Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young ActorNominationAlabama Moon
2009/2010Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young ActorNominationOrphan
2008Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young ActorNominationFirewall
2005Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature FilmNominationHostage
2004/2005Young Artist AwardOutstanding Voiceover or Motion Capture PerformanceWinThe Polar Express
Post-2010, Bennett received no comparable industry honors, aligning with patterns among transitioning to mature roles, where award visibility often diminishes without blockbuster commercial success.

References

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