Travis Bennett

Travis Bennett (born May 16, 1994) is an American actor, rapper, and DJ best known for his early role as a founding member and DJ of the influential hip hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), as well as his subsequent transition to acting in television and film.^[1][2] Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Bennett—whose stage name was initially Taco and later Yung Taco—joined Odd Future in 2007 at age 12 after meeting Tyler, the Creator through his sister Syd (of the band The Internet, also an Odd Future member), and quickly became the group's hypeman and touring DJ, contributing to their rise in the early 2010s alternative hip hop scene.^[3][4] He gained wider recognition through the Adult Swim sketch comedy series Loiter Squad (2012–2014), where he performed alongside Odd Future members in various comedic segments, helping define the group's chaotic, youth-driven aesthetic before the collective disbanded around 2015.^[5][3] In the late 2010s, Bennett pivoted toward acting, drawing on his comedic background to land supporting roles such as Breez in the comedy film Confess, Fletch (2022) opposite Jon Hamm and Omar in You People (2023) with Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy, as well as appearances in History of the World, Part II (2023).^[2][4] His breakout television role came as Elz, the disaffected childhood friend and aspiring music producer of the protagonist, in the FX series Dave (2020–2023), where his natural chemistry with star Lil Dicky—stemming from their real-life friendship—earned praise for blending his Odd Future-era goofiness with more nuanced performances across three seasons.^[6][7] Bennett's momentum continued into 2025 with his first lead role as Perry, a quirky mattress store manager in a romantic comedy caper, in the film California King, directed by Eli Stern and co-starring Victoria Justice and Joel McHale, which premiered in April to positive reviews for its low-budget charm and his likable lead turn.^[8][9] Now in his early 30s and based in Los Angeles, Bennett has expressed interest in action roles and biopics, such as portraying basketball legends like Kobe Bryant, while maintaining a low-key personal life focused on thrifting, anime, and avoiding substances.^[4][3]

Early life

Upbringing and family

Travis Bennett was born on May 16, 1994, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Mid-City neighborhood, an area known for its vibrant cultural scene that influenced his early years.^[10][4] Bennett comes from a close-knit family, where he is the younger brother of musician Syd tha Kyd. His mother is a former city clerk, and his father is a Jamaican immigrant and entrepreneur. He has described a strong bond with his parents, often treating his mother to meals at local spots like John and Vinny's and sharing musical experiences with his father, who enjoys electronic dance music. His family home in Los Angeles, owned by his parents for over two decades, served as a stable base during his childhood.^[11][12] Raised in a musically inclined environment, Bennett was exposed to the arts early on through his sister's involvement in music and the surrounding Los Angeles hip-hop scene. Growing up around talented friends and family fostered his interest in creative pursuits, including the local culture of skating and basketball on Fairfax Avenue, a hub for emerging hip-hop and street art influences. As a shy yet outgoing child, he often hung out with older friends despite his mother's concerns about their habits, such as smoking weed, which highlighted the dynamic family oversight in his youth. Anecdotes from his childhood include playing basketball with peers like future Odd Future collaborator Earl Sweatshirt and experiencing typical kid milestones, such as his first kiss in third grade behind a school dumpster. These early interactions in Los Angeles's creative undercurrents laid the groundwork for his later connection to the Odd Future collective.^[11][13]

Education

Travis Bennett spent his formative high school years in Los Angeles, immersing himself in the city's dynamic cultural landscape that nurtured his budding interests in music and performance. The environment of peer collaborations during this period sparked his early creative pursuits, as he connected with like-minded individuals through shared passions for hip-hop and skate culture, which directly influenced the formation of informal creative groups.^[13] Supported briefly by his family's encouragement of artistic endeavors from his upbringing, Bennett participated in social school events like prom, where he donned a rented black-and-white suit and received a floral corsage, reflecting the transitional excitement of adolescence amid emerging professional opportunities. As his commitments to music intensified, he did not attend a conventional high school graduation ceremony around 2012, instead channeling his energy into performances at major events like Coachella at age 16 and other media explorations that shaped his future career.^[14][2][14]

Career

Music beginnings with Odd Future

Travis Bennett joined the hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), commonly known as Odd Future, in 2007 as a teenager after meeting founder Tyler, the Creator.^[13][15] He adopted the stage name Taco and quickly became a core member of the group, which originated from creative collaborations among high school friends in Los Angeles.^[7][16] As Taco, Bennett primarily served as the collective's DJ and hypeman, energizing live performances and contributing to the group's chaotic, high-energy dynamic alongside members like Tyler, the Creator, Jasper Dolphin, and Syd.^[7][15] He occasionally rapped, most notably featuring on the track "Bitch Suck Dick" from Tyler's 2011 album Goblin, where he delivered verses emphasizing the group's irreverent, swag-focused style.^[17] His role extended to production support on several Odd Future tracks, helping shape their raw, DIY aesthetic during the late 2000s.^[15] Bennett participated in Odd Future's early mixtapes and tours, including the self-released The Odd Future Tape in 2008, which showcased the collective's underground sound and helped build their cult following through free downloads and grassroots promotion.^[16] As a teenager, he joined the group on tours across the U.S. in 2009 and 2010, often performing DJ sets and hyping crowds during their rise from local venues to larger festival slots.^[18] A key early project was the sketch comedy series Loiter Squad, which premiered on Adult Swim in 2012 and ran until 2014; co-starring Bennett as Taco alongside Tyler, Jasper Dolphin, and Lionel Boyce, the show blended absurd humor with musical interludes featuring Odd Future tracks like "Bitch Suck Dick," amplifying the collective's multimedia presence.^[19][20]

Transition to acting and television

Following his time with Odd Future, Travis Bennett began exploring opportunities in entertainment beyond music, leveraging the group's visibility to secure initial forays into acting and related fields. In the early 2010s, he gained his first substantial on-screen experience as a cast member on the Adult Swim sketch comedy series Loiter Squad (2012–2014), where he performed alongside fellow Odd Future members in various comedic sketches. This role provided foundational exposure to television production, though Bennett later reflected on the challenges of his youth during filming, noting at age 17 he was critiqued harshly for his performances, such as in a skit with Xzibit.^[4][14] Bennett's debut acting roles expanded in the mid-2010s through guest appearances on established comedy programs, including a spot as Taco on Workaholics in 2011 and contributions to Ridiculousness episodes alongside Tyler, the Creator in 2012, with occasional returns in subsequent years. He also provided various voices for the Adult Swim animated series The Jellies! from 2017 to 2019. These early guest spots and short-form appearances around 2015–2018 allowed him to hone his comedic timing while transitioning from music's improvisational style to scripted work, though specific short films from this period remain limited in documentation. The Odd Future connections opened doors, as Bennett's association with the collective facilitated auditions and networking in Hollywood.^[21][22][23] His key entry into sustained television came with the recurring role of Elz, a childhood friend and music producer, on the FXX comedy series Dave starting in 2020, which represented a breakthrough in series work and showcased his ability to portray nuanced, disaffected characters. This opportunity arose partly through personal ties, as Bennett met series star and creator Dave Burd (Lil Dicky) at a Camp Flog Gnaw event, leading to his casting. The role in Dave, ongoing through multiple seasons, solidified his pivot to acting.^[4][24][13] The transition was not without challenges; Bennett faced self-doubt and professional setbacks, including losing a supporting role in the 2021 film The Harder They Fall, which left him emotional and prompted a reevaluation of his approach to auditions and preparation. Motivated by a desire to evolve beyond the "Taco" persona and embrace discomfort for growth, he drew inspiration from mentors like Tyler, the Creator, and co-stars on Dave, pushing him to pursue acting as a means of personal and creative independence. The time-intensive nature of television production also contrasted with music's flexibility, requiring Bennett to adapt to structured schedules and collaborative environments.^[4][24][13]

Film roles and recent projects

Bennett's entry into feature films began with a cameo appearance as himself in the stunt comedy Jackass Forever (2022), where he participated in the franchise's signature chaotic pranks alongside the core cast.^[25] This role marked his initial foray into theatrical releases, leveraging his comedic persona from television sketches. Later that year, he portrayed Breez, a quirky sidekick in the mystery-comedy Confess, Fletch (2022), supporting Jon Hamm's lead as the investigative journalist Irwin Fletcher; the film received praise for its ensemble dynamics, with Bennett's character contributing to the lighthearted investigative banter.^[26] In 2023, Bennett expanded his film presence with the role of Omar, the laid-back younger brother of the protagonist's love interest in the romantic comedy You People, directed by Kenya Barris and starring Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy. As Omar, Bennett delivered understated humor amid the film's exploration of interracial relationships and cultural clashes, earning positive notes for his natural chemistry within the ensemble.^[27][28] The movie garnered mixed reviews overall but highlighted Bennett's growing comfort in supporting comedic parts. That year, he also appeared as Ahmed in the Hulu miniseries History of the World, Part II, in the episode "IV."^[2] Bennett's trajectory shifted toward more prominent roles in 2024 with Little Death, a Sundance-premiered comedy-drama directed by Jack Begert, where he played a flirtatious interest for one of the leads in a narrative blending psychedelic elements and personal introspection. Critics noted the film's ambitious but uneven structure, with Bennett's performance adding relatable charm to the supporting cast.^[29][30] His most significant film project to date arrived in 2025 with California King, a low-budget comedy caper in which he starred as Perry, a mattress store manager who devises an elaborate fake kidnapping scheme to win over a romantic interest, co-starring Jimmy Tatro, Victoria Justice, and Joel McHale. Released in April 2025, the film emphasized Bennett's lead capabilities through dry wit and physical comedy, with reviewers commending his chemistry with Tatro and his likable everyman appeal, though the overall reception was middling at a 5.3/10 on IMDb.^[8][31][9] This role demonstrated Bennett's evolution from ensemble cameos to anchoring comedic narratives, solidifying his transition from television to film leads without venturing into dramatic territory.^[32]

Filmography

Television appearances

Bennett's involvement with Odd Future provided early exposure to television, beginning with sketch comedy and guest spots that transitioned into more substantial acting roles.^[33] His credited television roles, organized chronologically, include:

• Workaholics (2011): Appeared as Taco in the episode "Heist School," a guest role in the Comedy Central series.^[21]
• Loiter Squad (2012–2014): Portrayed various characters as a main cast member across all 31 episodes of the Adult Swim sketch comedy series, also serving as co-creator, writer, and producer.^[5]
• Ridiculousness (2012): Featured as himself in the episode "Tyler the Creator & Taco Bennett," a guest appearance on the MTV clip show.^[22]
• The Jellies! (2017–2019): Provided various voices as a recurring guest in the Adult Swim animated series created by Odd Future members.^[34]
• The Eric Andre Show (2020): Appeared as himself in the episode "Hannibal Quits," a guest spot on the Adult Swim talk/sketch series.^[35]
• Dave (2020–2023): Played the recurring role of Elz, Lil Dicky's friend and hype man, appearing in 25 episodes of the FXX/Hulu comedy series.
• History of the World, Part II (2023): Portrayed Ahmed in the episode "IV," a guest role in the Hulu anthology comedy miniseries.

Film credits

Travis Bennett's feature film roles span a range of comedic and ensemble projects, beginning with cameo appearances and progressing to supporting characters in narrative features. In 2022, Bennett appeared as himself in a cameo in Jackass Forever, directed by Jeff Tremaine.^[25] Later that year, he played the role of Breez in Confess, Fletch, directed by Greg Mottola. Bennett portrayed Omar in the 2023 romantic comedy You People, directed by Kenya Barris. In 2024, he took on the role of Brian in Little Death, a comedy-drama directed by Jack Begert. That year, he also appeared in the short films Saint Laurent: Love and Saint Laurent: Memory, directed by Nadia Lee Cohen.^[36] His most recent film credit is Perry in California King (2025), directed by Eli Stern.^[37]

Music videos and other media

Bennett's involvement in music videos began during his time with Odd Future in the early 2010s, where he frequently appeared alongside fellow members in promotional content for the collective's releases. One of his earliest prominent appearances was in the 2012 music video for "Oldie" by Odd Future, a sprawling ensemble piece directed by Tyler, the Creator, in which Bennett performed as the opening act in the chronological sequence of member showcases. In 2013, he made a cameo appearance as himself in Tyler, the Creator's "Domo 23" video, contributing to the chaotic, high-energy narrative that featured other Odd Future affiliates like Earl Sweatshirt and Jasper Dolphin.^[38][39] Beyond acting roles, Bennett took on directing duties for several Odd Future-related projects, including co-directing the 2010 video for "French!" by Tyler, the Creator, which showcased the group's signature irreverent style. He also directed the "V.C.R." video that same year, blending sketch-like elements with musical performance. In the mid-2010s, Bennett's music video contributions shifted toward production oversight rather than on-screen appearances, though he occasionally featured in supporting capacities for collaborators within the Odd Future extended network.^[40] While Bennett has not had major publicized appearances in music videos during the 2020s, his early work in this medium laid the groundwork for his transition into broader comedic and visual storytelling formats.^[41]

Discography

Odd Future contributions

Travis Bennett, performing under the stage name Taco, served as the primary DJ for the Odd Future collective during its active years from 2007 to 2015, handling turntable duties for live performances and contributing to the group's energetic stage presence.^[15][42] His vocal contributions appeared on select tracks across Odd Future's major group releases and related solo projects, often delivering hype verses, ad-libs, or skits in collaboration with other members. Early appearances include the skit "Thisniggaugly" on Earl Sweatshirt's 2010 mixtape Earl, where Taco engaged in humorous dialogue with Earl, and vocals on "Tina" from Tyler, the Creator's 2009 mixtape Bastard, featuring alongside Jasper Dolphin in a chaotic, irreverent segment.^[43][44] On the 2010 mixtape Radical, Taco provided vocals alongside Jasper Dolphin on the track "Swag Me Out," a playful closer emphasizing the group's irreverent style.^[45][46] Taco's most prominent features came on Odd Future's sole studio album, The OF Tape Vol. 2 (2012). He opened the posse cut "Oldie" with an iconic intro shout-out to the Golf Wang brand, setting the tone for verses from nearly every member.^[47] On "We Got Bitches," Taco delivered the opening verse, rapping boastful lines over a chaotic beat produced by Tyler, the Creator, alongside contributions from Tyler and Jasper Dolphin.^[48] Similarly, on "Real Bitch" featuring MellowHype, Taco contributed a verse highlighting the track's raw, explicit humor.^[49] Beyond these, Taco appeared on collaborative efforts tied to the collective, such as the 2012 track "Trashwang" from Tyler, the Creator's album Wolf, where he provided ad-libs and vocals amid an ensemble of Odd Future affiliates including Na-Kel Smith, Jasper Dolphin, and Left Brain.^[50] No production credits are attributed to him in Odd Future releases, with his role centered on DJing and sporadic rapping.^[42]

Solo releases and features

Travis Bennett, performing under the alias Taco, has not issued any solo singles, EPs, or full-length projects as of 2025, with his musical endeavors centered on DJing and vocal contributions within collaborative settings.^[42][51] Available discographies indicate no independent releases under his name during the 2010s or 2020s. Similarly, Bennett has no credited guest features on tracks by artists outside his primary collective, reflecting a pivot toward acting and production roles rather than standalone music output.^[1][42]

Other musical appearances

Bennett provided background vocals on the track "Hot Wind Blows" from Tyler, the Creator's 2021 album Call Me If You Get Lost, which also features Lil Wayne.^[52] These additional vocals contribute subtle layers to the song's production, highlighting his ongoing ties to collaborative hip-hop projects. In addition to recorded features, Bennett has shared informal DJ sets centered on electronic dance music via his SoundCloud profile, posting them sporadically as part of a broader podcast series that occasionally incorporates musical elements.^[53] These sets represent casual extensions of his DJ background, distinct from his more structured releases.

Personal life and other ventures

Relationships and public image

Bennett maintains a low-key approach to his personal relationships, keeping details largely private while occasionally sharing glimpses through social media. Bennett has publicly discussed the role of therapy in his mental health journey, crediting early sessions for fostering self-discovery and emotional resilience. In an October 2025 appearance on a Dear Media podcast clip, he expressed gratitude for his parents initiating therapy during his youth, noting how it helped shape his personal growth and perspective on life. These insights reflect a broader emphasis on vulnerability, influenced briefly by early life challenges that encouraged ongoing self-reflection. Bennett's personal life also centers on hobbies like thrifting vintage clothes and decor—inspired by his mother's former thrift shop in Los Angeles—and watching anime, though he has expressed reservations about certain series. He has stated that he avoids drugs and alcohol, having remained sober during his time touring with Odd Future.^[4][3] On social media, Bennett engages followers with a casual, humorous style that blends lifestyle updates, fashion, and lighthearted commentary, maintaining an authentic public persona. His Instagram account (@yungtaco) features visually striking posts showcasing streetwear and everyday moments, contributing to his relatable image among fans.^[54] Bennett has addressed his evolving public image, particularly his desire to transcend the "Taco" moniker from his Odd Future days. In a 2021 Complex interview, he explained, "I’m just trying to shake the Taco away... I’m trying to make that disappear slowly," emphasizing a shift toward being recognized as Travis Bennett in acting and creative pursuits.^[24] No major controversies have marked his public statements on identity, though he has consistently advocated for personal reinvention without sensationalism.

Business and endorsements

In the early stages of his career with Odd Future, Bennett participated as a model in the collective's 2016 fashion show, showcasing streetwear designs that blended skate culture and hip-hop aesthetics.^[55] This involvement highlighted his emerging presence in fashion circles, where he contributed to the group's merchandise efforts through promotional appearances and styling input.^[56] Bennett expanded his fashion footprint with a high-profile collaboration on the Nike Kyrie 5 "Taco" Player Edition sneakers in 2018, a limited-release design featuring camouflage patterns inspired by his personal style and Odd Future roots.^[57] The project, partnering with NBA player Kyrie Irving, emphasized themes of self-expression and was distributed through select Nike channels, marking one of his first major brand endorsements outside music.^[58] In 2024, Bennett featured in Tommy Hilfiger's Spring campaign titled "Kendall & Friends," modeling preppy yet subversive looks alongside Kendall Jenner, Fai Khadra, and others in a Los Angeles setting.^[59] Photographed by Renell Medrano, the ads promoted chinos, Oxford shirts, and polos, reinforcing Bennett's transition into modeling and brand ambassadorship.^[60] By September 2025, Bennett entered a partnership with Taco Bell, playfully referencing a custom taco creation in social media posts tagged with #tacobellpartner.^[61] This endorsement aligned with his nickname and involved promotional content highlighting personalized menu ideas, though specifics on financial impact remain undisclosed.^[61]