Lyriq Bent is best known for his roles in the hit Canadian series, “Rookie Blue” and the extremely successful Saw horror franchise. His performance in the miniseries, “The Book of Negroes,” earned him a 2016 Canadian Screen Award Nomination for Best Performance in a Dramatic Series.
Born in Jamaica, Bent moved to Canada when he was five years old. He began taking acting classes shortly after college. Bent likes to seek out roles that address issues with cultural relevance, such as oppression and human rights, which has led him to projects that are important to him – many of which he credits for shaping him into the actor and person he is today.
Bent starred as the male lead, Chekura Tiano, in the hit mini-series based on Lawrence Hill’s best-selling novel, The Book of Negroes, alongside Louis Gossett Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr. and Aunjanue Ellis. The mini-series was nominated for several awards, including the Critics’ Choice Awards. Bent has also starred in lead roles in Pay the Ghost opposite Nicholas Cage and the political thriller Shoot the Messenger.
Bent appeared as the male lead in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It,” a contemporary update of Lee’s groundbreaking 1986 indie film; the new Tyler Perry produced feature film, Acrimony, opposite Taraji P. Henson; and “Mary Kills People,” a six-episode dark
comedic drama series starring “Hannibal” alumna Caroline Dhavernas; and also as Anna Paquin’s love interest on Showtime’s final season of “The Affair.”
More recently, Bent will next be seen as a series regular in the Spectrum/BET series “Long Slow Exhale.” Bent appeared in the OWN dramatic series “Delilah,” from the creators of “Green Leaf.”
