Tyrone Benskin has been a part of the Canadian and international cultural landscape for over 20 years now, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Studying theater at the university level in Montreal, Benskin has become a significant presence in theater, film, television and music. His theater credits include feature appearances on such celebrated stages as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the National Arts Centre and the Centaur Theatre in Montreal. His many acclaimed performances include Mr. M in the South African play My Children My Africa and the 71-year-old Nelson Williams Johns in the Black Theatre Workshop and Centaur productions of Wade in the Water.
His more than 70 film and television credits include the CTV/Lifetime TV movie “Mind Over Murder,” TNT’s “The Wool Cap” and the civil rights drama “Deacons for Defense” opposite Forrest Whitaker and the late Ossie Davis. Benskin can also be seen in the NBC mini-series “10.5: Apocalypse” and as Karl Lubinsky in the hit sci-fi series “Charlie Jade,” which airs in Canada, South Africa, France and Japan. His feature films include “Jack Paradise” and the blockbuster “300.”
Benskin’s voice may be recognizable, as he has voiced a number of commercials and has lent his tones to such animated characters as Kobalt in “Flash Gordon” and Rousso in the Muppet-style pre-school series “Whimzie’s House.”
Benskin is a published songwriter and composer, as well as a director and writer. He also sits as President of the Board of Creations, Etc., a youth arts and outreach organization. He is a National and Executive Councillor for the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Canada’s national actors union, and he is currently the Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop, Canada’s oldest black theater company.
