Biography for
Vernon Wells (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

31 December 1945, Rushworth, Victoria, Australia

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Strong featured Australian actor born in rural Victoria in December 1945 whom initially worked in a quarry, and then as a salesman. Got himself noticed by casting agents and started to appear in Australian TV commercials, print ads, local Australian TV shows such as "Homicide" and "Matlock Police".

His first cinema appearance was a minor role in Felicity (1978), a low budget, erotic fantasy film. However, Wells was then fortunate to be cast as the homicidal biker "Wez", in the big budget Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) filmed around Silverton near Broken Hill in outback New South Wales, Australia. It's the role for which he is probably best known to international audiences, as Wells portrays a psychotic, post apocalyptic gang leader who relentlessly pursues hero Mel Gibson, before meeting a spectacular death at the film's finale. Hollywood beckoned for Wells, and he spoofed his mad biker role in the popular teen comedy Weird Science (1985), before taking on another villainous role as the treacherous ex-soldier "Bennett", who foolishly double crosses Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando (1985). Once more, Wells meets a dramatic end, as he is impaled against a boiler at the film's conclusion, as big Arnold remarks "Let off some steam, Bennett".

Wells continued to find regular work as a "villain" of one description or another, predominantly in B-grade thrillers or action films including Last Man Standing (1987), Circuitry Man (1990), Kick of Death (1997) and Starforce (2000). The talented Wells then landed a recurring role as futuristic criminal "Ransik" in the highly popular "Power Rangers" TV series, and subsequent series of films including _Power Rangers Time Force: Photo Finish (2001)_, _Power Rangers Time Force: The End of Time (2002)_ and _Power Rangers Time Force: Dawn of Destiny (2002)_.

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Trivia

Refers to "Captain Bennett," his Commando (1985) character, as "Freddie Mercury on steroids."

Former SAS commando.

Personal Quotes

When you're working, you're high on the adrenalin of the whole process. When you stop, you get almost classic withdrawal symptoms -- nervousness, edginess, you can't sleep. Acting is an essence that actors adore. I guess I shouldn't equate it with drugs because I've never been into that experience, but that's I suppose it must be. I'm so scared in front of the camera, there is so much terror, I get this rush of adrenalin. Then, I'm not Vernon Wells anymore, I'm the character. The energy is up, the metabolism is pumped up. You do that every day for eight weeks then stop cold and it seems like there's nothing to get up for in the morning.