Mark Bennington, an American actor, photographer, drummer, and author.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
VMark Bennington was born on March 20, 1976, in Columbia, Missouri, United States. His upbringing was divided between the tranquil college town of Davis, CA, and the more rugged side of South Sacramento. From an early age, he harbored aspirations of becoming a ballet dancer and architect.
Currently based in Mumbai, Bennington married cultural anthropologist Dr. Taapsi Ramchandani on December 21, 2013, and they have two daughters together.
EDUCATION
Bennington pursued his passion for acting by attending Mike Nichols’s The New Actors Workshop in New York City, where he completed the MFA acting program.
CAREER
Over the course of ten years, he immersed himself in theater, participating in a wide range of productions from classics to experimental works. Notable experiences include working with Sir Trevor Nunn in “An Enemy of the People” alongside Sir Ian McKellen, collaborating with improv guru Paul Sills in “Ghost & Love Stories,” and portraying ‘William Shakespeare’ in Charles Marowitz’s play “Murdering Marlowe.” His roles varied from ‘Romeo’ in “Romeo & Juliet” to ‘Bassino’ in “The Merchant of Venice.”
As a theater director, Bennington staged productions such as Elizabeth Logun’s “On My Knees” off-Broadway and Noel Coward’s “Mild Oats” in Los Angeles. After a 16-year hiatus, he returned to theater in 2019, directing “The Mumbai Terror Attacks” at The Royal Opera House in Mumbai and acting in “Devika Rani: Goddess of the Silver Screen” directed by Lillette Dubey.
Beyond the stage, Bennington has established himself as a renowned photographer, with his work featured in numerous publications including The Atlantic, GQ India, Forbes, and The Los Angeles Times. His acclaimed photography book, “Living the Dream: The Life of the ‘Bollywood’ Actor,” was published by HarperCollins in 2017. Additionally, his project “America 2.0,” focusing on Muslim youth in NYC, gained international recognition in 2016. Bennington also served as an adjunct professor of photography at The S.I. Newhouse School of Media and Communication at Syracuse University.
In the realm of music, Bennington played drums for the legendary LA roots/rock band ’50cent Haircut,’ performing over 400 shows and recording three albums under Knitting Factory Records.
