Benjamin Wadsworth
Benjamin Hassan Wadsworth (born November 8, 1999) is an American actor best known for his breakout role as Marcus Lopez Arguello in the Syfy series Deadly Class (2018).[1] Born in Houston, Texas, Wadsworth developed an early interest in acting inspired by television and film characters, making his professional debut in independent Texas productions such as That Day (2015) and Blank Check (2015).[1] Wadsworth gained wider recognition for supporting roles in popular television shows, including Alec in MTV's Teen Wolf (2017) and Rocco Baxter in Showtime's Your Honor (2020).[1] His film credits include the horror-comedy Unhuman (2022), where he portrayed Randall.[2] More recently, he has starred as Drew in the Hulu drama series Tell Me Lies (2022–present), earning praise for his portrayal of complex romantic dynamics.[3] In his personal life, Wadsworth was previously engaged to actress Stella Maeve, his co-star from Deadly Class, with whom he shares a daughter, Jo Jezebel, born on January 29, 2020.[4] He began dating Cait Pool in 2024 and proposed to her on November 6, 2025, in a romantic candlelit setting.[5]Early life and background
Family heritage and upbringing
Benjamin Hassan Wadsworth was born on November 8, 1999, in Houston, Texas.[1] Wadsworth's ethnic heritage is diverse, encompassing Mexican, Iranian, English, Native American (including Cherokee), French, and Swedish ancestry. His father was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, and holds half Mexican descent through Spanish and Indigenous roots, while his mother hails from Tallahassee, Florida, with half Iranian ancestry via her father, along with quarter English and quarter Native American heritage via her mother, plus French and Swedish elements via his father's side.[6] Raised in Houston amid this multicultural family environment, Wadsworth developed an early fascination with performance, inspired by characters in movies and television shows he enjoyed watching as a child. This interest led him to participate in school plays, marking the beginning of his engagement with acting. To support his burgeoning pursuits in film and video production starting around age 13 in 2013, his family opted for homeschooling during high school, allowing flexibility for auditions and on-set commitments.[7][8][9]Education and entry into acting
Wadsworth developed an early fascination with acting during his childhood, often immersed in television shows and films that sparked his imagination and drew him toward performance. Inspired by stories like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, he became particularly motivated around age 10 upon learning that his uncle had once pursued acting in Los Angeles, which prompted Wadsworth to follow suit with his uncle's assistance in securing an agent.[10] To balance his burgeoning interest in acting with academics, Wadsworth transitioned to homeschooling during high school around 2013, a decision that provided the flexibility needed to attend auditions and participate in early projects without the constraints of a traditional school schedule. This arrangement allowed him to immerse himself fully in the craft, fostering his obsession with storytelling, complex characters, and the film industry.[10][11] Based in his hometown of Houston, Texas, Wadsworth's initial foray into the industry involved local travel for opportunities, enabling him to build experience through nearby productions while maintaining family proximity. His first professional acting credit arrived that same year in the short film Crime Stoppers: Do Something, a Houston-produced public service video where he portrayed a student, marking the beginning of his on-screen presence.[12][7]Acting career
Early roles and breakthrough
Wadsworth's entry into professional acting came through a series of small-scale television and film projects that honed his skills and built his resume. His first significant recurring role was as Iggy in the comedic web series Dad vs. Lad (2014–2017), where he appeared in all 26 episodes, portraying a mischievous young character in a father-son dynamic created by Ed Vela.[13] This role, which aired online and showcased his comedic timing, marked his early foray into recurring television work and helped him gain initial industry exposure. To accommodate his burgeoning career, Wadsworth was homeschooled during high school, starting around 2013, providing the flexibility needed for auditions and on-set commitments in Houston, Texas.[10] Parallel to his television debut, Wadsworth took on several independent film roles between 2014 and 2015, often playing supporting or lead characters in low-budget productions. In the short film Pick Your Poison (2014), he portrayed Sam/Son, a young figure navigating family tensions.[1] The following year, he appeared as Joel Jr. in the horror-thriller Preydators (2015), where his character's kidnapping drives the plot of a father's vengeful pursuit.[1] Wadsworth also starred as Cecil/Sam Smith in the sci-fi horror Psyn: Pseudo Substances Yielding Necrosis (2015), a role that required him to embody dual personas in a story involving experimental drugs and psychological terror.[1] Additionally, he played the detective in the comedy Roller Cokesters (2015), a quirky ensemble piece centered on roller-skating antics.[1] In 2016, he made a guest appearance as Jordan in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World.[14] These early films, primarily shot in Texas, provided practical experience in diverse genres but offered limited distribution, challenging Wadsworth to seek broader opportunities. In 2018, prior to the premiere of Deadly Class, he starred as a cunning teenage suspect in the short thriller The Sleeping Dog.[15] By 2017, Wadsworth landed a lead role in the unaired television pilot Let the Right One In, an adaptation of the vampire novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, where he played Henry, a boy befriending a mysterious newcomer.[13] Produced by Tomorrow Studios for TNT and directed by Craig Gillespie, the pilot filmed in Vancouver but was not picked up to series despite positive internal feedback, representing an early setback in his pursuit of network television.[16] This experience highlighted the competitive casting landscape, as Wadsworth auditioned extensively during 2017–2018 amid growing interest in young talent for genre projects, often facing rejections before callbacks.[10] His persistence paid off with a guest appearance as Alec in the series finale of MTV's Teen Wolf ("The Wolves of War," 2017), where he portrayed a young hunter in the supernatural drama's climactic battle.[17] Airing to a large audience and produced by showrunner Jeff Davis—who had also helmed the Let the Right One In pilot—this role provided crucial visibility on a established series, signaling Wadsworth's transition from indie work to mainstream television and paving the way for his breakthrough recognition.[13]Major projects and recent work
Benjamin Wadsworth gained significant recognition for his lead role as Marcus Lopez Arguello, a homeless teenager recruited into an elite school for assassins, in the Syfy series Deadly Class (2018–2019). Adapted from Rick Remender's comic book series, the show premiered in January 2019 and aired for one season comprising 10 episodes, showcasing Wadsworth's portrayal of a morally conflicted protagonist navigating a world of violence and intrigue.[7][18] Despite critical praise for its faithful adaptation and Wadsworth's performance, Syfy canceled the series in June 2019 due to insufficient viewership, preventing further exploration of the source material's storyline.[19] The show has since developed a cult following among fans of the comic, who appreciate its blend of dark humor, 1980s aesthetics, and ensemble dynamics, though efforts to revive it on another network did not materialize.[20] Following Deadly Class, Wadsworth transitioned to supporting roles in high-profile television dramas. In 2020, he appeared as Rocco Baxter, the troubled youngest son of a crime family, in two episodes of Showtime's Your Honor, a legal thriller starring Bryan Cranston; his character becomes central to the plot as an unwitting victim in a hit-and-run incident that drives the series' moral dilemmas. He also starred as Randall, a sarcastic high schooler fighting for survival amid a zombie-like outbreak, in the 2022 horror film Unhuman, produced by Blumhouse and released on Epix; the ensemble-driven story tested group dynamics in a field trip gone wrong, highlighting Wadsworth's versatility in genre fare.[21] Wadsworth's career gained renewed momentum with his recurring role as Drew, the privileged and volatile brother of a college athlete, in Hulu's Tell Me Lies (2022–present). Initially a main cast member in season 1, where his character's personal struggles and family secrets intertwined with the central romance, his involvement shifted to guest appearances in season 2 (2024), culminating in a tragic arc that resolved his storyline.[22] In 2024, he appeared in the short film You Ready, Julia? as Julia's boyfriend, a minor supporting part in a narrative exploring interpersonal relationships. Post-Deadly Class, Wadsworth has leaned toward dramatic and horror genres, often portraying complex young men grappling with trauma or ethical conflicts, though he has expressed interest in diversifying beyond such archetypes in interviews. As of November 2025, no new projects for Wadsworth have been announced, and while Tell Me Lies season 3 is slated for early 2026, his character's death precludes further involvement, with the plot referencing past events instead.[23][24]Personal life
Relationships
Benjamin Wadsworth was previously engaged to actress Stella Maeve, whom he began dating in 2018. Wadsworth proposed to Maeve on May 10, 2019, and the couple announced their engagement via social media on May 31, 2019, with Maeve sharing a photo of the pair and her engagement ring on Instagram.[25] Their relationship drew public attention due to a 10-year age difference, which sparked some online criticism shortly after the announcement.[26] Wadsworth and Maeve separated sometime before 2024, though they continue to co-parent their daughter.[5] In 2024, Wadsworth began a relationship with Cait Pool, which the couple publicly debuted on social media in December of that year through shared photos of intimate moments. Their romance culminated in an engagement announced on November 10, 2025, following a proposal on November 6 in a romantic, rose-filled and candlelit setting, as detailed in their joint Instagram post featuring a professional photo shoot.[5] Wadsworth's relationships have been characterized by openness on social media platforms like Instagram, where both engagements were first revealed to fans, generating widespread media coverage in outlets such as People and Page Six. These announcements often coincided with peaks in his acting career, including promotions for Deadly Class during his time with Maeve and Tell Me Lies around his engagement to Pool.[27][5] The public nature of these partnerships has occasionally influenced Wadsworth's privacy, particularly with early scrutiny over his age gap with Maeve, which highlighted challenges in maintaining a low profile amid rising fame. However, his recent engagement to Pool has been met with largely positive reception, allowing him to balance personal milestones with professional growth without significant backlash.[26][5]Family
Benjamin Wadsworth and his ex-partner, actress Stella Maeve, welcomed their first and only child, daughter Jo Jezebel Wadsworth, on January 29, 2020, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[4] The baby weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth.[4] Wadsworth and Maeve, who were engaged when Jo was born, separated sometime prior to 2024, and they now share co-parenting responsibilities for their daughter, who is 5 years old as of 2025.[5] Wadsworth has no other children.[5]Filmography and recognition
Film roles
Benjamin Wadsworth began his film career with short films and independent projects in Texas. His early work includes the 2013 short Crime Stoppers: Do Something, where he played Student 1.[12] In 2014, he appeared in the short Pick Your Poison as Sam/Son.[28] Wadsworth's 2015 films feature several short and independent productions: That Day as Ben, Blank Check as Theo, Preydators as Joel Jr., Psyn: Pseudo Substances Yielding Necrosis as Cecil/Sam Smith, and Roller Cokesters as Detective.[29][30][31][32][33] He continued with shorts in 2017, including Hunter as Hunter and Joy Comes in the Morning as Jake.[34] In 2018, Wadsworth starred in the short thriller The Sleeping Dog as the lead teenage boy.[15] His feature film debut came in 2022 with Unhuman, portraying Randall.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Crime Stoppers: Do Something | Student 1 | Short film |
| 2014 | Pick Your Poison | Sam/Son | Short film |
| 2015 | That Day | Ben | Short film |
| 2015 | Blank Check | Theo | Short film |
| 2015 | Preydators | Joel Jr. | Independent film |
| 2015 | Psyn: Pseudo Substances Yielding Necrosis | Cecil/Sam Smith | Short film |
| 2015 | Roller Cokesters | Detective | Short film |
| 2017 | Hunter | Hunter | Short film |
| 2017 | Joy Comes in the Morning | Jake | Short film |
| 2018 | The Sleeping Dog | Teenage boy | Short thriller |
| 2022 | Unhuman | Randall | Feature film |
Television roles
Wadsworth's television debut was in 2013 with the role of Alex in the episode "Destiny Manifested" of More Than Human.[35] From 2014 to 2017, he portrayed Iggy in the web series Dad vs. Lad, appearing across multiple episodes as a series regular.[36] In 2016, he guest-starred as Jordan in one episode of Girl Meets World. The following year, 2017, saw Wadsworth cast as Henry in the unaired pilot Let the Right One In, and as Alec in the series finale episode "The Wolves of War" of Teen Wolf. He achieved a breakthrough with the lead role of Marcus López Arguello in Deadly Class (2018–2019), appearing in all 10 episodes of the series. In 2019, Wadsworth voiced TJ Detweiler in the short Recess: Third Street.[37] He recurred as Rocco Baxter in two episodes of Your Honor in 2020. Since 2022, Wadsworth has starred as Drew in the ongoing series Tell Me Lies, with 10 episodes in the first season and continuing into subsequent seasons.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | More Than Human | Alex | 1 episode: "Destiny Manifested" |
| 2014–2017 | Dad vs. Lad | Iggy | Web series, multiple episodes; series regular |
| 2016 | Girl Meets World | Jordan | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Let the Right One In | Henry | Unaired pilot |
| 2017 | Teen Wolf | Alec | 1 episode: "The Wolves of War" |
| 2018–2019 | Deadly Class | Marcus López Arguello | 10 episodes; lead role |
| 2019 | Recess: Third Street | TJ Detweiler | Short; voice role |
| 2020 | Your Honor | Rocco Baxter | 2 episodes |
| 2022–present | Tell Me Lies | Drew | Main role; 10 episodes in season 1 |