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IMDbPro

Vernon Wells(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
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Vernon Wells
A professor struggling to save his marriage and career who uncovers a society of witches.
Play trailer0:56
The Initiation (2023)
50 Videos
27 Photos
Strong-featured Australian actor Vernon Wells was born December 1945 in Rushworth, rural Victoria, to Eva Maude (Jackson) and Michael Wells. He initially worked in a quarry, and then as a salesman. He was 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 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)_.
BornDecember 31, 1945
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 31, 1945
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards

Photos27

Vernon Wells in Red Snow (2021)
Vernon Wells in JAG (1995)
Christopher Lambert and Vernon Wells in Fortress (1992)
Vernon Wells in Circuitry Man (1990)
Vernon Wells in Loss Prevention (2018)
Vernon Wells in Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
Vernon Wells in Knight Rider (1982)
Vernon Wells in Hunter (1984)
Photo Courtesy 20th Century Fox Home Video
Lauren C. Mayhew, Mel Novak, Tony Todd, Vernon Wells, Mike Apple, Vida Ghaffari, Jimmy Drain, Erika Monet Butters, and Audrey Walters in Realm of Shadows (2023)
Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Henry Gibson, Wendy Schaal, and Vernon Wells in Innerspace (1987)
Vernon Wells in Circuitry Man (1990)

Known for

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando (1985)
Commando
6.7
  • Bennett
  • 1985
The Road Warrior (1981)
The Road Warrior
7.6
  • Wez
  • 1981
Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock, and Ilan Mitchell-Smith in Weird Science (1985)
Weird Science
6.6
  • Lord General
  • 1985
Innerspace (1987)
Innerspace
6.8
  • Mr. Igoe
  • 1987

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • End of Loyalty
    • Completed
  • Realm of Shadows
    • Completed
  • Blood and Snow
    • Post-production
  • The Initiation
    • Post-production
  • The Dead Rose
    • In Production
  • Area 5150
    • Post-production
  • Cheer Bloody Murder
    • Post-production
  • Harvest
    • Post-production
  • Suicide by Cop
    • Post-production
  • The Sweepers
    • Post-production
  • Bill vs. The American Dream (2022)
    Bill vs. The American Dream
    • (voice)
  • Brittany Murata, Bob Bagnall, Erika Monet Butters, Daniel Sharner, and Caustic Scifidelic in War of Powers (2022)
    War of Powers
  • The Christmas Tapes (2022)
    The Christmas Tapes
  • Hans Hernke, Vernon Wells, Antonia Whillans, Dani Thompson, Derek Nelson, and Chris Sanders in Werewolf Cabal (2022)
    Werewolf Cabal
  • Amber Road (2022)
    Amber Road
  • Brian Gaskill, Marta Kristen, Vernon Wells, and Layla Cushman in A Bachelor's Valentine (2022)
    A Bachelor's Valentine
  • Courtney Gains, Hans Hernke, Vernon Wells, Vito Trabucco, Robert Throckmorton, Lance Polland, Laura Stetman, and Steven Robert Alexander in American Bigfoot (2022)
    American Bigfoot
  • Frost (2022)
    Frost
  • Paul Logan, Vernon Wells, Travis Hancock, and Juli Tapken in Forbearance (2022)
    Forbearance
  • Stephen Dorff and Emile Hirsch in The Price We Pay (2022)
    The Price We Pay
  • Debra Lamb, Vernon Wells, Jeff Grennell, Jesse Marciniak, Tim O'Hearn, and Aaron Bratcher in Showdown in Yesteryear (2022)
    Showdown in Yesteryear
  • Of the Devil (2022)
    Of the Devil
  • Kirby Delaunay in Soul Cage (2022)
    Soul Cage
  • Myrom Kingery in Thor: God of Thunder (2022)
    Thor: God of Thunder
    • (as Vernon G. Wells)
  • Tales from the Other Side (2022)
    Tales from the Other Side

Producer

  • Australian Muscle Max'd Out
    • In Production
  • Cashout!
    • Pre-production
  • We are one
    • Completed
  • WomanKIND
    • Pre-production
  • SOS
    • Post-production
  • Frost (2022)
    Frost
    • (as Vernon G. Wells)
  • Tara Reid, Louis Mandylor, Richard Tyson, Vernon Wells, Duane Whitaker, Robin Sydney, John Omohundro, and Lindsay Elston in Sally Floss: Digital Detective (2022)
    Sally Floss: Digital Detective
  • Krista Allen, Francis Capra, Eric Etebari, Michael Matteo Rossi, David Labrava, and Rahart Adams in Shadows (2022)
    Shadows
  • Jack Be Nimble (2022)
    Jack Be Nimble
  • Michael Paré, Vernon Wells, Sebrina Scott, and John Wells in Christmas Collision (2021)
    Christmas Collision
  • The City of Gold (2018)
    The City of Gold
  • Al Snow, Lauren Albert, and Abisha Uhl in Loss Prevention (2018)
    Loss Prevention
  • Vernon Wells in Der Vertrag (2017)
    Der Vertrag
  • Landfall (2017)
    Landfall
  • Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper (2016)
    Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper
  • After the Harvest (2014)
    After the Harvest
  • Like a Bat Outta Hell (2013)
    Like a Bat Outta Hell
  • The Lackey (2012)
    The Lackey
  • Curse of the Forty-Niner (2002)
    Curse of the Forty-Niner
  • Vernon Wells in Misfit Patrol (1996)
    Misfit Patrol

Director

  • Australian Muscle Max'd Out
    • In Production
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos52

Official Trailer
Trailer 1:45
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:43
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:10
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:32
Official Trailer
Official Teaser Trailer
Trailer 0:56
Official Teaser Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:36
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 0:28
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:12
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:21
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:26
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:34
Trailer
Sally Floss: Digital Detective
Trailer 1:59
Sally Floss: Digital Detective

Personal details

Edit
    • Official Site
    • December 31, 1945
    • Rushworth, Victoria, Australia
  • Other works
    Appeared as a prison guard in the music videos for the band Slayer - "You Against You" and "Pride in Prejudice".
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview

Did you know

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

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