# Nigel Bennett

Nigel Bennett (born 19 November 1949) is an English-born Canadian actor, director and writer. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.

## Early life and education

Bennett was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Bennett first started acting at eleven, playing a Roman citizen in a school production of Shaw's Antony and Cleopatra. He graduated from the University of Wales with a degree in theatre, and taught for a year and a half before beginning acting full-time. He had fifteen years of stage experience in Britain prior to moving to Canada. He attended Tettenhall College in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

## Career

He has been in a number of major films such as Murder at 1600, and The Skulls, and many, many other TV series. He had recurring roles in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, and Lexx.
Teaming up with writer P.N. Elrod, Bennett co-authored a series of acclaimed "James Bond with fangs" vampire adventure novels for Baen Books. The "Lord Richard, Vampire" trilogy includes Keeper of the King, His Father's Son, and Siege Perilous. He also contributed the short story "Wolf and Hound" to "Dracula's London," a collection edited by Elrod for Ace Science Fiction.
In 2006, he appeared in the Ken Finkleman miniseries At the Hotel, for which he was nominated for a Gemini Award.
Bennett keeps himself busy with additional film and TV roles, stage work, convention and charity appearances. He was the artistic director of the Atlantic Theatre Festival in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2006–07.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | The Ninja Mission | Second helicopter pilot | |
| 1988 | The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick | Derek Blackthorn | |
| 1988 | The Jeweller's Shop | Choreographer | |
| 1990 | Narrow Margin | Jack Wootton | |
| 1990 | The Star Turn | Geoffrey | |
| 1992 | Passage of the Heart | Alan Spencer | |
| 1994 | Back in Action | Kasajian | |
| 1994 | Paint Cans | Bryson Vautour | |
| 1994 | Legends of the Fall | Asgaard | |
| 1994 | Soft Deceit | Ed McCullough | |
| 1995 | Memory Run | Sladecker | Direct to video |
| 1996 | Darkman III: Die Darkman Die | Nico | Direct to video |
| 1997 | Murder at 1600 | Burton Cash | |
| 1998 | Sanctuary | Sen. Stephen Macguire | |
| 1998 | All I Wanna Do | Harvey Sawyer | |
| 1998 | One Tough Cop | Insp. Bassie | |
| 1999 | Free Fall | Donald Caldwell | |
| 1999 | Top of the Food Chain | Michel O'Shea | |
| 2000 | The Skulls | Dr. Whitney | |
| 2000 | Rats and Rabbits | Rocco | |
| 2002 | Phase IV | Sen. Richard Karnes | |
| 2002 | Cypher | Finster | |
| 2004 | Post Impact | Col. Preston Waters | |
| 2006 | A Bug and a Bag of Weed | Henry Tyler | |
| 2007 | Just Buried | Chief Knickle | |
| 2008 | Passage | Sir James Graham | |
| 2010 | The Corridor | Lee Shephard | |
| 2010 | Eternal Kiss | Dr. Polidori | |
| 2016 | Prisoner X | President Charles Turner | |
| 2017 | XXX: Return of Xander Cage | MI6 Control | |
| 2017 | The Shape of Water | Mihalkov | |
| 2020 | Christmas in the Rockies | Grandpa Sam | |
| 2021 | The Righteous | Graham | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Coronation Street | Colin Bailey | Episode #1.1749 |
| 1981–1982 | BBC2 Playhouse | Mr. Ring / Gary | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | Reilly, Ace of Spies | Port Official's Assistant | Episode: "Prelude to War" |
| 1984 | Eh Brian! It's a Whopper | Weigher-in | Episode: "The Shape of Things to Come" |
| 1985 | Gulag | Lubyanka Guard #1 | Television film |
| 1986 | Adderly | Monsieur Duval | Episode: "Nina Who?" |
| 1987 | Night Heat | Kilpatrick | Episode: "Love You to Death" |
| 1987 | Bay Coven | Mr. Bob Holden #1 | Television film |
| 1987 | A Child's Christmas in Wales | Father (past) | Television film |
| 1988 | The Twilight Zone | Jim Sinclair | Episode: "Memories" |
| 1988 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Griffin | Episode: "Survival of the Fittest" |
| 1989 | Passion and Paradise | Lt. Johnny Douglas | Television film |
| 1989 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Rausch / Karl Steiner | Episode: "The Butcher" |
| 1989–1994 | Street Legal | Ron Harris, Andrew Michaels, Lukash | 4 episodes |
| 1990 | The Campbells | Edward Marchant | Episode: "Bird of Paradise" |
| 1990 | T. and T. | Big Steve | Episode: "Wild Willy and the Waves" |
| 1990 | Hitler's Daughter | Berger | Television film |
| 1990 | E.N.G. | Phil Norwin | Episode: "Duffy, Bok, & Flann" |
| 1990–1991 | Max Glick | Derek Blackthorn | 3 episodes |
| 1990–1993 | Counterstrike | Quinton Jones, Stash Jannovic, Kirkoff | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | Heritage Minutes | James Floyd | Episode: "Avro Arrow" |
| 1991 | Tropical Heat | Hudson | Episode: "Big Brother Is Watching" |
| 1992 | The Valour and the Horror | Kurt Meyer | Episode: "In Desperate Battle: Normandy 1944" |
| 1992 | Beyond Reality | Dr. Bill Brandt | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| 1992 | The Women of Windsor | Lawson | Television film |
| 1992 | Secret Service | Cross | Episode: "Tattoo Arms and the Man" |
| 1992–1996 | Forever Knight | Lacroix / Lucien LaCroix / Spirit Guide | 69 episodes |
| 1993 | The Hidden Room | Leon | Episode: "Transfigured Night" |
| 1993 | Matrix | Dr. Anders | Episode: "Lapses in Memory" |
| 1993 | Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story | N/A | Television film |
| 1993 | Dieppe | Baillie-Grohman | Television film |
| 1993 & 1997 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Capt. Jack Lasher, John Mitchell | 3 episodes |
| 1994 | Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad | Levi Coffin | Television film |
| 1994 | I Know My Son Is Alive | Atty. Derek Eisner | Television film |
| 1994 | Ultimate Betrayal | Steven Rodgers | Television film |
| 1994 | Model by Day | Nicholai | Television film |
| 1994 | RoboCop | Granger | Episode: "The Human Factor" |
| 1994 | Madonna: Innocence Lost | Bennett | Television film |
| 1994–1995 | X-Men: The Animated Series | Mastermind / Jason Wyngarde, Master Mold | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 1994–1996 | Hurricanes | Voices | 7 episodes |
| 1995 | Between Love and Honor | Large Man | Television film |
| 1995 | Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story | John Farrow | Television film |
| 1995 | The Shamrock Conspiracy | Dennis Malloy | Television film |
| 1995 | Friends at Last | Teddy | Television film |
| 1995 | Road to Avonlea | Enoch Cain | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Harrison Bergeron | Dr. Eisenstock | Television film |
| 1995 | Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling | Treasury Agent Whittlesy | Television film |
| 1995 | Degree of Guilt | Victor Salinas | Television film |
| 1995 | The New Adventures of Madeline | Voices | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | Lonesome Dove: The Series | Willis Logan | Episode: "The Alliance" |
| 1995 | Where's the Money, Noreen? | Briscoll | Television film |
| 1995–1996 | Action Man | Additional Voices | 26 episodes |
| 1996 | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice | Brother Anthony | Television film |
| 1996 | In the Fold | Cyno Commander | Television film |
| 1996 | Gotti | Bruce Mouw | Television film |
| 1996 | Her Desperate Choice | Raskin, Private Investigator | Television film |
| 1996 | Taking the Falls | Samuel Wisotsky | Episode: "The Marrying Man" |
| 1996–1999 | Psi Factor | Frank Elsinger | 39 episodes |
| 1997 | The Arrow | James Floyd | Miniseries |
| 1997 | F/X: The Series | Agent Cal Judson | Episode: "Quicksilver" |
| 1997 | Lies He Told | Commanding Officer | Television film |
| 1997 | Any Mother's Son | Allen Schindler Sr. | Television film |
| 1997 | Once a Thief | Nicholas Love | Episode: "Drive, She Said" |
| 1997 | Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs | Robert Hooke | Television film |
| 1997–1998 | La Femme Nikita | Col. Egran Petrosian | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Earth: Final Conflict | Major Raymond MacIntire | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show | U | Episode: "From Honey, with Love" |
| 1998 | Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples | Kurt (segment "Aart and Johtje Vos") | Television film |
| 1998 | Thanks of a Grateful Nation | Col. Sanitsky | Television film |
| 1998 | Flood: A River's Rampage | Harry | Television film |
| 1998 | Super Dave | Doctor Leo Thompson | Episode dated, October 21, 1998 |
| 1998 | Naked City: A Killer Christmas | Joseph Soloff | Television film |
| 1999 | Vanished Without a Trace | Davis | Television film |
| 1999 | Different | Russell Talmadge | Television film |
| 1999 | Half a Dozen Babies | David McLaughlin | Television film |
| 1999 | Total Recall 2070 | Jake Esterhaus | Episode: "Eye Witness" |
| 1999 | War of 1812 | Winfield Scott | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 2000 | The Crossing | Gen. Horatio Gates | Television film |
| 2000 | Code Name Phoenix | Head of Marshall Service | Television film |
| 2000 | Catch a Falling Star | Carter Hale | Television film |
| 2000 | Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story | Fergus Keegan | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Code Name: Eternity | Koom | Episode: "The Watery Grave" |
| 2000 | The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne | Jacomb Hyde | Episode: "The Black Glove of Melchizedek" |
| 2000 | The Chippendales Murder | Frank Ballard | Television film |
| 2000 | Canada: A People's History | Guy Carleton / Additional Voices | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Relic Hunter | Professor Alaine Richarde | Episode: "Cross of Voodoo" |
| 2000–2002 | Lexx | Prince / Isambard Prince / White King | 22 episodes |
| 2001 | Dark Realm | Patrick Lawless | Episode: "Emma's Boy" |
| 2001 | All Souls | Barney Wheelock | Episode: "One Step Closer to Roger" |
| 2001 | A Town Without Christmas | Literary Agent | Television film |
| 2002 | Mentors | Alan Pinkerton | Episode: "The Private Eyes" |
| 2002 | The Pilot's Wife | Dick Somers | Television film |
| 2002 | Too Young to Be a Dad | Dr. Howell | Television film |
| 2002 | Widows | Harry Rawlins | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 2002 | The Scream Team | Warner MacDonald | Television film |
| 2002 | Interceptor Force 2 | Jack Bavaro | Television film |
| 2002 | Heart of a Stranger | Stan | Television film |
| 2003 | Liocracy | Jerry Wright | Episode: "Say Uncle" |
| 2003 | Do or Die | Ethan Grant | Television film |
| 2003 | Mutant X | John Warren | Episode: "Final Judgement" |
| 2003 | Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart | Rat Bastard | Television film |
| 2003 | Sex and the Single Mom | Nick Gradwell | Television film |
| 2003 | Andromeda | Paroo | Episode: "Answers Given to Questions Never Asked" |
| 2003 | Rush of Fear | Sheriff Lathrop | Television film |
| 2003 | Starhunter | Roan Gerick | Episode: "Painless" |
| 2003 | Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion | Captain From | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Reversible Errors | Talmadge Loman | Television film |
| 2004 | Phantom Force | Jack Bavaro | Television film |
| 2004 | Plain Truth | Jeremy Whitmore | Television film |
| 2005 | Beach Girls | Sam Emerson | 5 episodes |
| 2005 | The Hunt for the BTK Killer | Detective Zilinski | Television film |
| 2005 | Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making | Brébeuf Professor | Television film |
| 2006 | At the Hotel | Jacob | 6 episodes |
| 2006 | Fatal Trust | Samuel Ryder | Television film |
| 2006 | The State Within | Charles Macintyre | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Jesse Stone: Sea Change | Harrison Pendleton | Television film |
| 2007 | Matters of Life and Dating | Errol Sager | Television film |
| 2008 | Bridal Fever | Sam Panofsky | Television film |
| 2008 | The Summit | Ian Greene | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Burn Up | Jerry | Episode #1.1 |
| 2008–2010 | The Border | Andrew Mannering | 16 episodes |
| 2009 | G-Spot | Doctor | Episode: "Handicap Hummer" |
| 2009 | Nova | Charles Lyell | Episode: "Darwin's Darkest Hour" |
| 2009 | Sea Wolf | Henderson | Episode #1.1 |
| 2011 | The Kennedys | Henderson | Episode: "Bobby's War" |
| 2011–2021 | Murdoch Mysteries | Inspector Giles/Chief Constable Giles | 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Time of Death | Robert Loring | Television film |
| 2014 | Rookie Blue | Dr. Howard | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Saving Hope | Dr. Burt Goran | Episode: "Trading Places" |
| 2015 | Orphan Black | Kassov | Episode: "Insolvent Phantom of Tomorrow" |
| 2015–2016 | The Strain | Dr. Draverhaven | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Valentine Ever After | Judge Joe Emmett | Television film |
| 2016 | Dark Matter | Larcan Tanner | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Designated Survivor | Alton Prast | Episode: "Original Sin" |
| 2018 | Frankie Drake Mysteries | Mr. Frost | Episode: "Now You See Her" |
| 2019 | Coroner | Bryan Da Silva | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Tin Star | Mr. Quiring | 5 episodes |
| 2019 | V Wars | Emil Lansing | Episode: "Down with the Sickness" |
| 2020 | A Christmas Exchange | Garret / Bartender | Television film |
| 2021 | Jupiter's Legacy | Dr. Jack Hobbs | Episode: "What's the Use" |