Tyrone Benskin has been a significant presence in theatre, film, television, and music for over 30 years, garnering an impressive resume and acclaim for his varied body of work. As a versatile actor, he has portrayed a range of characters, from a no-nonsense cop to a caring and devoted father, from an ancient warrior to characters that showcase the darkness of human nature.
With numerous theatre credits to his name, Tyrone has appeared on many of Canada's celebrated stages. His film and television credits exceed 100, and include co-starring with Tori Spelling in the TV movie "Mind over Murder", starring in the Christmas classic "The Christmas Choir", and appearing in the civil rights drama "Deacons for Defense" opposite Forrest Whitaker and Mr. Ossie Davis.
Tyrone's feature film credits include the blockbuster hit "300", the Bob Dylan bio-pic "I'm not There", and acclaimed independent films "Peepers" and "Adam's Wall". He has also starred in the cult science fiction series "Charlie Jade", which aired in Canada, the US, and internationally.
For over five years, Tyrone served as Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop, Canada's oldest Black theatre company. He has also served as President of the Board of Creations Etc., a youth arts and outreach organization, and on the boards of several community-based non-profit organizations. Tyrone was twice elected to the post of National Vice President of ACTRA, Canada's national film and television actors union.
On May 2nd, 2011, Tyrone was elected to the 41st Parliament of Canada as the Member for the diverse riding of Jeanne-Le Ber. He was subsequently appointed to the post of "Official Opposition Critic for Canadian Heritage" by the Honorable Jack Layton. Tyrone also served as Deputy Critic for Official Languages and on the Sub-Committee for International Human Rights. He served as a Member of Canada's House of Commons for four and a half years before returning to the big screen in 2016, starring in Bad Santa 2 and the small screen as recurring character Rev. Wardell Cobb in season 2 of The Art of More opposite Denis Quaid.
