Tyrone Benskin

Biography

Tyrone Benskin is a versatile artist whose contributions to theatre, film, television, and music span over three decades. Renowned within both Canadian and international cultural spheres, he has built an impressive portfolio that showcases his ability to portray a diverse range of characters—from steadfast police officers to nurturing fathers, and from valiant warriors to complex figures reflecting humanity's darker aspects. His theatrical repertoire boasts performances on some of Canada's most prestigious stages.

With a remarkable collection of over 100 film and television credits to his name, Benskin has delivered memorable performances in projects such as the TV movie "Mind over Murder" alongside Tori Spelling, the holiday favorite "The Christmas Choir," and the poignant civil rights drama "Deacons for Defense," where he starred opposite Forrest Whitaker and Ossie Davis. His work extends to the NBC mini-series "10.5: Apocalypse" and the cult sci-fi series "Charlie Jade," which gained an international audience. Notable films in his career include the epic "300," the Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There," and the indie films "Peepers" and "Adam's Wall."

Beyond his artistic endeavors, Benskin served as the Artistic Director of the Black Theatre Workshop, Canada's oldest Black theatre company, and held the presidency of Creations Etc., a youth arts organization. He was elected twice as National Vice President of ACTRA, Canada’s actors' union. On May 2, 2011, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Jeanne-Le Ber, later taking on key roles in the Official Opposition, including critic for Canadian Heritage and deputy critic for Official Languages. After leaving Parliament, he returned to acting with roles in "Bad Santa 2" and the series "The Art of More," where he portrayed Rev. Wardell Cobb.