Jonathan David Bennett (born June 10, 1981) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls, Bud McNulty in 2005's Cheaper by the Dozen 2, the title character in the 2009 direct-to-DVD comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year, and his recurring role as Casey Gant in the mystery drama Veronica Mars. He is the host of the Food Network series Halloween Wars, and he previously hosted Cake Wars.
Bennett made his Broadway debut in Spamalot on January 23, 2024, playing Sir Robin, Guard 1 and Brother Maynard.
Early life Bennett was born in Ohio, to David Bennett, a physician from Toledo, and Ruthanne Bennett (née Mason). He has two half-brothers, Brian and Brent, and one half-sister, Lisa.
Bennett attended Eagle Point Elementary School in Rossford, Ohio, and graduated from Rossford High School in 1999. Bennett attended Otterbein University.
Career After moving to New York, he was cast on the ABC soap opera All My Children as JR Chandler from 2001 to 2002. Since then, he has appeared in various television dramas, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Smallville, and Veronica Mars.
Bennett co-starred in the 2004 comedy movie Mean Girls as Aaron Samuels, the love interest of star Lindsay Lohan's character. In 2005, he co-starred in the family comedy movie Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and the romantic comedy movie Lovewrecked. In 2007, Bennett appeared in the direct-to-video prequel TV series The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning, in which he played Bo Duke. In 2009, he starred as the title character in Van Wilder: Freshman Year, and appeared as Nick in the Hallmark original movie Elevator Girl.
On September 4, 2014, Bennett was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Allison Holker. Bennett and Holker were eliminated on Week 6 of the competition and finished in 9th place.
From 2015 to 2017, Bennett hosted the Food Network cooking competition show Cake Wars.
In 2016, Bennett played gay sports agent Lucas in two episodes of Hit the Floor.
In 2018, with celebrity chef Nikki Martin, he released a pop culture cookbook titled The Burn CookBook.
In 2019, he was featured in the filmed poem rendition Love Goes Never Alone, in support of the LGBT+ community, for the online theatre publication First Night Magazine, performing next to other film, television and theatre celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz, Debra Messing, Neil Gaiman, and Sharon Osbourne.
On January 13, 2019, it was announced that Bennett would be a houseguest on the second season of the reality competition show Celebrity Big Brother.
In 2021, Bennet played Jesus Christ - as an imaginary best friend to the eponymous Russian boy in Wes Hurley's Potato Dreams of America.
In 2022, Bennett starred in the first LGBTQ-led Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, The Holiday Sitter.
Bennett and husband Jaymes Vaughan appeared together on the July 8, 2022, wedding-themed episode of Trixie Motel entitled "Oh Honeymoon". They provide support and advice to the groom-to-be. In 2024, Bennett was announced as the host and the main judge of Hallmark's reality series Finding Mr. Christmas, which premiered on October 31, 2024.
On April 16, 2026, it was announced that Bennett had been cast as Joe Fitzpatrick in the ABC soap opera General Hospital.
Personal life On November 30, 2020, representatives for Bennett confirmed he was engaged to The Amazing Race contestant and current Celebrity Page host Jaymes Vaughan, who proposed on the set for The Christmas House with an original song. In 2021, Bennett and Vaughan became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the magazine The Knot. In March 2022, the couple got married at the Unico Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico.
Bennett's mother Ruthanne died November 30, 2012, aged 67. His father, David, died on April 28, 2014, aged 73.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2003 Season of Youth Taylor Palm Beach International Film Festival Award for Best Actor 2004 Mean Girls Aaron Samuels Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Lindsay Lohan)Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Movie Star - Male 2005 Love Wrecked Ryan Howell Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Bud McNulty 2006 Bachelor Party Vegas Nathan 2009 Zack Cooper Van Wilder: Freshman Year Van Wilder 2012 Memorial Day SSgt Kyle Vogel Music High Jasper "Jazz" Poland Divorce Invitation MichaelRemake of 1997 Indian Telugu movie Aahwaanam Slightly Single in L.A. Seven Christmas Crush Ben 2013 Pawn AaronAlso executive producer Anything Is Possible George Greg Misogynist Harrison Nominated – Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival LAIUFF Award for Best Actoralso co-producer 2014 Authors Anonymous William BruceAlso executive producer Mining for Ruby Andrew A Christmas Kiss II Sebastian 2015 Paid in Full Jack Cats Dancing on Jupiter Ben Cross Dean Stanton 2016 Submerged Matt Do Over Anthony Campana Romantically Speaking Nathan Deadly Retreat Mike Do You Take This Man ChristopherAlso co-producer 2017 Bride to Be Danny 2019 The Haunting of Sharon Tate Jay Sebring Love on Repeat Kevin 2021 Potato Dreams of America Jesus Christ 2023 Snow Falls Jace Fire Island Rafael The Plus One Marshall
Television Year Title Role Notes 2001–2002 All My Children JR Chandler Main role 2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Kyle Fuller Episode: "Deception" 2003 Boston Public Ethan Guest Episode: "Chapter Sixty-Three" 2004–2005 Veronica Mars Casey Gant 2 episodes 2005 Smallville Kevin Grady Episode: "Blank" Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Himself Episodes: "From A to D" and "Magic Carpet Ride" 2007 Bo Duke Television film Cane Brad Episode: "Time Away" 2010 Elevator Girl Nick Sweeney Television film 2012 Fred: The Show Lash Landridge Episode: "Freddy and the Figglettes, Part 2" Christmas Crush Ben Oliver Television film 2013 The Wrong Woman Ben Television filmPolice Guys HimselfTelevision film The Glades Drew Green Episode: "Killer Barbecue" 2014 Sweet Surrender Jerry Television film Dancing with the Stars Contestant Season 19 Copycat MTV Host Sebastian Television film 2015 Romantically Speaking Nathan Television film Christmas Cookie Challenge Host 2015–2017 Cake Wars Host 2016 Hit the Floor Lucas Episodes: "Blocked" and "Good D" Awkward Ethan Recurring role (Season 5)Cupcake Wars Host 2016–2020, 2023–presentHalloween Wars Host 2017 Love at First Glance Victor Television film 2018 The Last Sharknado: It's About Time Billy the Kid Television film Christmas Made to Order Steven Television film 2018–2019 Entertainment Tonight Reporter 2019Celebrity Big Brother Contestant Season 2 Supergirl Quentin Episode: "Stand and Deliver" Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club Himself Episode: "After the Show" 2019–present Times Square Ball Host Annual live webcast 2020Station 19 Michael Episodes: "Ice Ice Baby" and "No One Is Alone" RuPaul's Drag Race Guest judge Episode: "Snatch Game" The Christmas House Brandon Nock Television film 2021 The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls Television film 2022 Deadly Yoga Retreat Remy Television film Wedding of a Lifetime Jake Television film The Holiday Sitter Sam Television film 2023 Fantasy Island Oliver Episode: "Forever and a Day" Christmas on Cherry Lane Mike Television film 2023–present Food Network's Battle of the Decades Host 2024 The Groomsmen: First Look Danny Television film trilogy The Groomsmen: Second Chances The Groomsmen: Last Dance Season's Greetings from Cherry Lane Mike Television film; sequel to "Christmas on Cherry Lane" Happy Howlidays Troy Television film2024 - 2025Finding Mr. ChristmasHost and judge2025 Doctor Odyssey Matt 2 episodes A Make or Break HolidayRestaurant managerTelevision filmA Keller Christmas VacationDylanTelevision film 2026 General Hospital Joe Fitzpatrick
Music videos Year Title Artist 2018 "Thank U, Next" Ariana Grande
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