After a career in primetime and film, Jonathan Bennett has returned to his daytime roots. The actor, who nabbed the role of JR Chandler on All My Children (2001-2002) at the age of 19, is playing Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital.
Key Takeaways
- Bennett is best known for his role as Aarn in Mean Girls.
- The actor often hosts Food Network shows, most notably Halloween Wars.
- Bennett published a Mean Girls-inspired cookbook.
What To Know About Jonathan Bennett
A native of Rossford, Ohio, Bennett obtained a degree in Theater from Otterbein College. Upon graduation, he moved to New York to pursue a career in acting and promptly began landing work, from the aforementioned AMC to parts on primetime hits like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Smallville, and Veronica Mars. He also held key roles in the films Mean Girls, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and Lovewrecked. He later went on to star as Danny in The Groomsmen trilogy on Hallmark.
Want to learn more about the actor? Here are seven things to know about Jonathan Bennett.
1. Bennett is best known for his co-starring role in the 2004 film Mean Girls. He played Aaron Samuels, love interest of the movie’s star, Lindsay Lohan. It’s a career turn he’ll never forget. “Mean Girls is the gift that keeps on giving,” he told The Community Paper. “Being part of a movie that’s become pop culture is an honor. It’s the perfect movie.”
2. He realized his life-long dream of starring on Broadway in Monty Python’s musical comedy Spamalot, where he portrayed the cowardly Round Table knight, Sir Robin. “Since I was 5 years old, I’ve wanted to be on Broadway,” Bennett revealed in an interview with New York Theatre Guide. “I grew up as a giant musical theatre junkie. I am so obsessed with musical theatre that Wicked invited me to the 20th anniversary show just because they knew I was a superfan.”
3. In addition to scripted work, Bennett has also hosted shows like Food Network’s Cake Wars, Cupcake Wars, and Halloween Wars. He was also a host and judge on Finding Mr. Christmas, a reality competition series on Hallmark+.
4. Bennett competed on two popular reality series. In 2014, he was one of the celebrities competing on Season 19 of Dancing With the Stars and was paired with professional dancer Allison Hoker. In 2019, he was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
5. He’s a published author. In 2018, he released The Burn Cookbook: An Unofficial Unauthorized Cookbook for Mean Girls Fans. He co-wrote it with celebrity chef Nikki Martin. It features parody recipes inspired by the movie, like “Fetch-uccine Alfredo” and “You Go, Glenn (Hot) Cocoa”, behind-the-scenes stories, and personal recipes from Bennett.
6. The actor, who came out as gay in 2014, has been married to actor and entertainment reporter Jaymes Vaughan since 2022. The pair was the first gay couple to appear on the cover of The Knot magazine. Released in April 2021, the cover and accompanying interview highlighted their engagement story and planning of their wedding.
7. Bennett is known for his advocacy work. He hosted charity events and dance-a-thons across the country with Camp Heartland to raise money for children affected by HIV and AIDS. He also posed for Declare Yourself, 2008 print advertising campaign that encouraged young Americans to register and vote in the presidential election.
