Luke Benward
Encyclopedia
Luke Aaron Benward is an American
teen actor and singer, best known for his starring role as Billy Forrester in How to Eat Fried Worms
and as Charlie Tuttle in the 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie, Minutemen
. He also played the role of "Nicky" in Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out? and played Stevie Dewberry in the film Because of Winn-Dixie
. At the age 7, he appeared in Martina McBride
's music video for "Concrete Angel
".
, Tennessee
, the son of Kenda (née Wilkerson) and Aaron Benward
. His father is in the country duo Blue County
, his mother is a part-time actress, model
, and acting coach, and his grandfather is Contemporary Christian artist Jeoffrey Benward
. He has two younger sisters.
as David Moore in 2002. His success grew in 2006, when he played Billy Forrester in the movie How to Eat Fried Worms
, which he won a Young Artist Award
for in the category of "Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film". He also played Charlie Tuttle in the Disney Channel Original Movie Minutemen
, the 14-year-old Alan in Dear John, and the little boy who helps the abused girl in the music video "Concrete Angel
" by Martina McBride
.
Benward's first album, Let Your Love Out, came out on January 5, 2009, and contained five songs. He also toured with the Christian group iShine LIVE for a short time, where he would sing his music in concert. The record label that signed him in called In Crowd Productions, whose collective credits include Hilary Duff
, India Arie, the Backstreet Boys
, Mat Kearney
, Death Cab for Cutie
, and the Jonas Brothers
.
He has also been in various commercials, including Nintendo
, McDonald's
, Willy Wonka
, American Express
, and Hamburger Helper
.
In his free time, Benward enjoys playing football (Wide Receiver 8th grade year), his guitar, video games, and breakdancing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teen actor and singer, best known for his starring role as Billy Forrester in How to Eat Fried Worms
How to Eat Fried Worms (film)
How to Eat Fried Worms is a 2006 American film based on the 1973 children's book of the same name by Thomas Rockwell. It was produced by New Line Cinema with Walden Media. Development began in 1998 and theatrical release for the U.S. and Canada was August 25, 2006. The DVD for the film was released...
and as Charlie Tuttle in the 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie, Minutemen
Minutemen (film)
Minutemen is a 2008 science-fiction Disney Channel Original Movie.The film was written by John Killoran and David Diamond and David Weissman and directed by Lev L. Spiro, who received a Director's Guild nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programs for it...
. He also played the role of "Nicky" in Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out? and played Stevie Dewberry in the film Because of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie (film)
Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 film adapted from the book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox...
. At the age 7, he appeared in Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
's music video for "Concrete Angel
Concrete Angel
"Concrete Angel" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride and co-produced by McBride and Paul Worley. Composed by Rob Crosby and Stephanie Bentley, the song was released in 2002, as the last single from McBride's 2001 Greatest Hits album...
".
Early life
Benward was born in FranklinFranklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, the son of Kenda (née Wilkerson) and Aaron Benward
Aaron Benward
Aaron Jeoffrey Benward is a American singer-songwriter who rose to fame when he formed a duo with his father, called Aaron Jeoffrey.-Life and career:...
. His father is in the country duo Blue County
Blue County
Blue County was an American country music duo composed of actor-singers Aaron Benward and Scott Reeves. They released their self-titled debut album in 2004 on Curb Records. This album produced four singles on the Billboard country singles charts, including the #11 "Good Little Girls"...
, his mother is a part-time actress, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, and acting coach, and his grandfather is Contemporary Christian artist Jeoffrey Benward
Jeoffrey Benward
Jeoffrey Benward is an American well-known Contemporary Christian Music singer and songwriter. He has been involved in the Christian music business since the 1970s, but achieved significant fame when he formed a duo with his son, Aaron, called Aaron Jeoffrey in 1995.-Life and career:Benward was...
. He has two younger sisters.
Career
Benward's acting career started when he landed a role in the film We Were SoldiersWe Were Soldiers
We Were Soldiers is a 2002 American war film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965. The film was directed by Randall Wallace and stars Mel Gibson. It is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and reporter Joseph L...
as David Moore in 2002. His success grew in 2006, when he played Billy Forrester in the movie How to Eat Fried Worms
How to Eat Fried Worms (film)
How to Eat Fried Worms is a 2006 American film based on the 1973 children's book of the same name by Thomas Rockwell. It was produced by New Line Cinema with Walden Media. Development began in 1998 and theatrical release for the U.S. and Canada was August 25, 2006. The DVD for the film was released...
, which he won a Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
for in the category of "Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film". He also played Charlie Tuttle in the Disney Channel Original Movie Minutemen
Minutemen
Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats, hence the name.The minutemen were among the first...
, the 14-year-old Alan in Dear John, and the little boy who helps the abused girl in the music video "Concrete Angel
Concrete Angel
"Concrete Angel" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride and co-produced by McBride and Paul Worley. Composed by Rob Crosby and Stephanie Bentley, the song was released in 2002, as the last single from McBride's 2001 Greatest Hits album...
" by Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
.
Benward's first album, Let Your Love Out, came out on January 5, 2009, and contained five songs. He also toured with the Christian group iShine LIVE for a short time, where he would sing his music in concert. The record label that signed him in called In Crowd Productions, whose collective credits include Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
, India Arie, the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, Mat Kearney
Mat Kearney
Mathew William "Mat" Kearney is an American musician born in Eugene, Oregon, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Kearney has received critical acclaim and widespread recognition for his Columbia Records debut, Nothing Left to Lose. So far, he has a total of four top 20 hits on the Adult Top 40...
, Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
, and the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
.
He has also been in various commercials, including Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, Willy Wonka
Willy Wonka
This article is about the fictional character. For the candy company, see, The Willy Wonka Candy Company.Willy Wonka is a fictional character in the 1964 Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the film adaptations that followed. The book and the 1971 film adaption both vividly...
, American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
, and Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper is a line of packaged food products primarily consisting of boxed pasta bundled with a packet or packets of powdered sauce/seasonings. The contents of each box are combined with browned ground beef, water and milk to create a complete dish. The product line also features products...
.
In his free time, Benward enjoys playing football (Wide Receiver 8th grade year), his guitar, video games, and breakdancing.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | We Were Soldiers We Were Soldiers We Were Soldiers is a 2002 American war film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965. The film was directed by Randall Wallace and stars Mel Gibson. It is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and reporter Joseph L... |
David Moore | |
| Family Affair Family Affair Family Affair is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to September 9, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do civil engineer and bachelor Bill Davis as he attempted to raise his brother's orphaned children in his luxury New York City apartment. Davis' traditional... |
Jody Davis | TV series; 2 pilot episodes | |
| "Concrete Angel Concrete Angel "Concrete Angel" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride and co-produced by McBride and Paul Worley. Composed by Rob Crosby and Stephanie Bentley, the song was released in 2002, as the last single from McBride's 2001 Greatest Hits album... " |
Boy | Music video by Martina McBride Martina McBride Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range.... |
|
| 2005 | Because of Winn-Dixie Because of Winn-Dixie (film) Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 film adapted from the book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox... |
Steven "Stevie" Dewberry | Co-starred |
| 2006 | How to Eat Fried Worms How to Eat Fried Worms (film) How to Eat Fried Worms is a 2006 American film based on the 1973 children's book of the same name by Thomas Rockwell. It was produced by New Line Cinema with Walden Media. Development began in 1998 and theatrical release for the U.S. and Canada was August 25, 2006. The DVD for the film was released... |
William "Billy" Forrester ("Worm Boy") | Lead role |
| 2008 | Minutemen Minutemen (film) Minutemen is a 2008 science-fiction Disney Channel Original Movie.The film was written by John Killoran and David Diamond and David Weissman and directed by Lev L. Spiro, who received a Director's Guild nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programs for it... |
Charles "Charlie" Tuttle | |
| Dog Gone | Owen | ||
| Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out? | Nicholas "Nikki" Roland | ||
| 2010 | Dear John | Alan at 14 | |
| 2011 | Madison High Madison High Madison High is an American television pilot and a High School Musical spin-off that is in production for the Disney Channel in the United States.... |
Devin Daniels | Lead Role, Upcoming [Disney Channel Original Series] |
| 2012 | 16 South | Daniel Champion | Lead Role |