Shaun Benson (born January 16, 1976) is a Canadian actor and director. He acted in several theatre productions in the 1990s before embarking on his film and television career.
In 2002, Benson appeared alongside Harrison Ford in the American submarine film K-19: The Widowmaker and has since starred in various films including ARQ (2016), Never Saw It Coming (2017) and I Still See You (2018). He portrayed Dr. Steven Webber in the American daytime TV soap opera General Hospital in 2004 and 2005. More recently, he appeared as Gary Yolen in the first season of the horror anthology series Channel Zero (2016) and Topher Brooks in the Netflix series Tiny Pretty Things (2020).
He has trained in the Meisner technique of acting and teaches Meisner acting classes.
Early life Benson was born in Guelph, Ontario. He is the son of Eugene Benson, an English professor and a prolific novelist, playwright and librettist."Just Cause for Benson: The actor can stay in Vancouver - series gets an extension". The Province, March 7, 2003. He later graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a bachelor of science in chemistry and biochemistry, before studying acting at the George Brown College Theater School in Toronto.
While at university he began training in karate. He holds a 5th Degree Black Belt and his Renshi Teaching Certificate in Legacy Shorin Ryu under Hanshi Gary Legacy and Kyoshi Randy Dauphin and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Toronto BJJ under Jorge Britto with his time in Los Angeles spent training with Jean-Jacques Machado.
Career
Acting Benson's early roles as an actor included theatrical productions of John Palmer's Singapore,"A bad taste that lingers". National Post, April 3, 2000. Fabrizio Filippo's Waiting for Lewis,"Plays about teens not up to challenge ; Productions confront questions of fame and homophobia". Toronto Star, April 17, 1999. William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost,"Oakville ups ante on outdoor Shakespeare Review". Toronto Star, July 24, 1999. and Robin Fulford's Steel Kiss."From a gang of thugs to a bunch of losers". National Post, January 15, 1999.
In 2000, he appeared in a Molson Canadian commercial as a Canadian office worker who unleashes a torrent of hockey-style violence on an American coworker taunting him with Canadian stereotypes."'I am Canadian' the sequel: Meet the obnoxious American". Toronto Star, July 29, 2000. In 2001, he was cast in a lead role in the television drama series The Associates."The associates deliver their verdict: How close does CTV's new television series come to life at a law firm?". National Post, January 13, 2001.
In 2002, following the cancellation of The Associates, he was cast in the legal drama series Just Cause, which ran for one season."Fall TV looks to Vancouver: Several new shows are being filmed here or feature local talent". Vancouver Sun, September 11, 2002.
He played the recurring role of Dr. Steven Lars Webber on the soap opera General Hospital from 2004 to 2005, which attracted him considerable attention compared to his previous roles."Soapfest lures dedicated fans". Windsor Star, February 22, 2005. Since his time on General Hospital, Benson has guest starred in numerous television series, including Cold Case, The Unit, and Being Erica. In 2008, he appeared in the Proud Family film Oscar Proud.
In 2012, he starred in the IMAX 3D documentary film Flight of the Butterflies"a Canadian story that's top flight". The Globe and Mail, April 12, 2013. and in French comedy Populaire."A slight rom-com, but that's all; Paint-by-numbers Populaire powered by chemistry between stars". Montreal Gazette, February 8, 2013.
In the 2015 made-for-TV movie Kept Woman, he played an eccentric professor, Simon, who kidnaps his neighbor Jessica, played by Courtney Ford. Also in 2015, he starred in the Starz television series The Girlfriend Experience.
In 2016, Benson appeared in the Netflix time loop thriller ARQ as Sonny, as well as Season 2 of the series Gangland Undercover as Crowbar. He subsequently appeared in the SyFy series Channel Zero as the town sheriff, Gary Yolen.
Between 2017 and 2021, he appeared in many prestige projects including The Boys on Amazon as Ezekiel, Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix as Brooks, Code 8 as Dixon, as well as independent and TV film work for Lifetime, SyFy, etc.
Benson has trained as an actor using the Meisner technique and teaches Meisner acting classes in Toronto.
Directing In 2013, Benson directed Stop/Kiss by Diana Son for the Toronto Fringe Festival. The play won best of festival and garnered and extended run.
He directed the 2015 independent film Barn Wedding, which won the HMV People's Pick For Best Flick award at the 2015 Canadian Film Fest.
In 2021, he co-wrote, co-directed and starred, with Karen Knox, in Borderline which had its World Premiere in the UK at Crystal Palace International Film Festival and its North American Premiere at Dances With Films at the Chinese Theatre.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 K-19: The Widowmaker Leonid Pashinski 2007 The Metrosexual Eric Bremer 2008 Prank Erik 2012 Populaire Bob Taylor 2013 William Also known as Le Beau Risque Home Sweet Home Sheriff Sanders 2015 Barn Wedding Derrick Unearthing Sheriff Brian Wrigley 2016 ARQ Sonny Edge of Winter Ted Interlude City of a Dead Woman Theodrick 2017 Trench 11 Kapitan Müller 2018 Never Saw It Coming Kirk Nicholson 22 Chaser Elvis I Still See You Mr. Calder 2019 Togo Gunnar Kaasen Queen of the Morning Calm Ian Code 8 Dixon Boys vs. Girls Gary 2020 Fatman Lex 2021 Banned Frank 2022 Slash/Back Officer Lefebvre Trader Bob the Broker Voice part 2023 Home Free Vincent Good Wife's Guide to Murder Benjamin Diggs 2024 Yuppie Joe Dickinson
Television Year Title Role Notes 2001–2002 The Associates Jonah Gleason Recurring role 2002–2003 Just Cause Patrick Heller Main role 2004–2005 General Hospital Dr. Steven Webber Recurring role 2006 Cold Case Truck Sugar Episode: "The Red and the Blue" 2007 The Unit Interrogater #1 Episode: "Sub-Conscious" 2009 Tornado Valley Bobby Television film 2010 Being Erica Will Appleyard 3 episodes Wedding for One Jeff Doyle Television film 2011 Against the Wall Mike Fletcher Episode: "Obsessed and Unwanted" Flashpoint Geoff Daikin Episode: "Grounded" Stay with Me Davis Sakeris Television film 2012 The Listener Jack Newman Episode: "The Bank Job" Haven Robert Taylor Episode: "Reunion" Republic of Doyle Eric Langtson / Eric Howlett 2 episodes 2013 Played Charlie Mulcair Episode: "Revenge" Cracked Damian Tremblay Episode: "The Hold Out" Heartland Adrian Gilson 3 episodes Lucky 7 Phil Episode: "Cable Guy" 2014 Darknet Desmond Episode: "Darknet 3" Defiance: The Lost Ones Lenny Recurring role; 5 episodes Working the Engels Ken Episode: "Jenna vs. The Momfia" That's My DJ Mark Television miniseries; 3 episodes (2014, 2017) 2015 Saving Hope Lane Berkley Recurring role; 6 episodes Kept Woman Simon Television film 2016 Inhuman Condition William "Will" Bader Recurring role; 10 episodes The Girlfriend Experience Ryan 4 episodes Gangland Undercover Crowbar Season 2; 8 episodes Channel Zero: Candle Cove Gary Yolen Main role 2017 Frontier Monaghan Episode: "Mutiny" 2018 Killjoys The Hunter Episode: "Baby, Face Killer" Prescription for Danger Dr. Mark Laurie Television film 2019 Ransom Dr. Dolan Kendrick Episode: "Story for Another Day" Frankie Drake Mysteries James Barton Episode: "No Friends Like Old Friends" 2019, 2024 The Boys Ezekiel 5 episodes 2020 Tiny Pretty Things Topher Brooks 8 episodes 2021 Murdoch Mysteries Anthony Quivell / Owen McCall Episode: "Love or Money" 2022–2024 Billy the Kid John Riley Recurring role; 11 episodes 2023 Mayans M.C. McKenzie 2 episodes Slasher Alistair Simcoe 5 episodes Hudson & Rex Tom McGimsie Episode: "Working for the Weekend"
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