Alexander Benoit(born October 9, 1995) is an American actor and former competitiveice dancer.With his skating partner,Elliana Pogrebinsky,he is a two-timeISU Challenger SeriesTallinn Trophybronze medalist (2016, 2017), the 2016Lake Placid Ice Dance Internationalchampion, the2017 U.S. nationalpewter medalist, and a two-time (2015–2016)U.S. junior nationalbronze medalist.
| Alex Benoit | |
|---|---|
 Benoit in 2021 | |
| Born | October 9, 1995 Winfield, Illinois |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | United States |
| Began skating | 2004 |
| Retired | March 20, 2018 |
Early life
editBenoit was born on October 9, 1995, inWinfield, Illinois.[1]He has French-Canadian and Ukrainian ancestry.[2]His mother has served as aU.S. Figure Skatingjudge and ice dance controller.[3]His father was a scholarship football player forNorthwestern University.After finishing high school through distance education, he enrolled atOakland UniversityinRochester Hills, Michigan,where he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Theatre degree.[4]
Early skating career
editBenoit began skating in 2004.[1]Competing as a single skater, he won the national juvenile bronze medal at the 2009 U.S. Junior Championships and was awarded the intermediate bronze medal the following season. Candice Brown coached him from 2004 to 2014.[4]
Benoit decided to switch to ice dancing after being diagnosed with a congenital knee condition that was aggravated by his flip and lutz jumps.[3]He teamed up with Olivia Di Iorio in late 2012.[5]The two placed 11th in junior ice dancing at the2014 U.S. Championships.They were coached by Candice Brown inNaperville, Illinois,and byIgor ShpilbandinNovi, Michigan.[3][5]
Partnership with Pogrebinsky
editBenoit teamed up withElliana Pogrebinskyin March 2014 after a tryout inNovi, Michigan,that was suggested byIgor Shpilband.[4][3]Their international debut came at the2014–15 ISU Junior Grand Prix(JGP) inAichi;after placing fifth in Japan, Pogrebinsky and Benoit were sent to the JGP inZagreb,Croatia, where they finished 8th. In January 2015, they won the junior bronze medal at the2015 U.S. Championshipsand were selected to compete at the2015 World Junior ChampionshipsinTallinn.Ranked 12th in the short dance, they qualified for the free dance (14th) and finished 13th overall in Estonia.
During the2015–16 ISU Junior Grand Prixseries, Pogrebinsky/Benoit placed fourth inLinz,Austria, and won the bronze medal inLogroño,Spain. They repeated as junior national bronze medalists and were assigned to the2016 World Junior ChampionshipsinDebrecen,Hungary; they placed fifth in the short dance, fourth in the free, and fourth overall.
Pogrebinsky/Benoit decided to compete on the senior level in the 2016–17 season.[3]Following autumn appearances at twoISU Grand Prixevents and twoISU Challenger Seriesevents, they won the senior pewter medal at the2017 U.S. Championshipsin January 2017. They completed their season in the top 24 of the ISU World Ranking for ice dance. During this season, Pogrebinsky/Benoit debuted a new move, which they named the "Fountain Lift", in theirLayla and Majnun-themed free dance. It consisted of Benoit skating on a deep outside spread eagle while Pogrebinsky performed an arched-back handstand on his knees.
During the2017-18 season,they again competed at two ISU Grand Prix events, two Challenger Series events, and the2018 U.S. Championships,capping off their season with another top 24 ISU World Ranking.
Benoit announced his retirement from competitive skating on March 20, 2018, to finish his college education and to pursue his acting career.[6]
Professional acting career
editBenoit's first professional role was inDaddy Long Legs,in the title role of Jervis Pendleton, in 2018. The production was the Michigan premiere of the musical and was staged at The Dio Theatre inPinckney, MI.His next role was in the musical Something in the Game, about football coachKnute Rockne.The musical was staged through theAmerican Music Theatre Project,based atNorthwestern UniversityinEvanston, Illinois.Benoit was a member of the ensemble, as well as an understudy forGeorge Gipp;the production ran in 2018.
In 2019, he appeared inMamma Mia!at theDrury Lane Theatrein Oak Brook, Illinois. Benoit understudied the roles of Sky and Father Alexandrios, in addition to being an ensemble member. Remaining at Drury Lane through Mid-2019, he appeared in the regional premiere ofMatilda the Musicalin the role of Rudolpho, while also performing the role of the Escapologist. In late 2019 he appeared inInto the Woodsat theWriters TheatreinGlencoe, IL,as Rapunzel's Prince. The production later received severalJeff Awardnominations, including "Best Musical" and "Best Ensemble".
Represented by Stewart Talent Agency, he has also worked in commercials and voice-overs. He can be seen regularly on multiple nationally telecastWeatherTechcommercials.
In 2019, Benoit announced his intention to pursue aMaster of Artsin Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art(LAMDA), graduating in 2020 with first class honours.[7]
In January 2022, Benoit starred in the official music video ofJameson Rodgers' country hit, "Missing One".
In 2022, it was announced that he was cast in the Broadway-bound musical,The Notebook,premiering September 2022 atChicago Shakespeare Theatrein Chicago.
Personal life
editBenoit also serves as aU.S. Figure Skatingjudge for singles, pairs, and ice dance. In 2020, Benoit announced his engagement to Canadian actress Jordan Grier, whom he met while studying at LAMDA. They were married in October 2021 in Chicago.
Programs
editWith Pogrebinsky
edit| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 [8][4] |
|
|
| 2016–2017 [1][9] |
|
Persian legend:Layla and Majnun |
| 2015–2016 [10] |
| |
| 2014–2015 [11][9] |
|
|
With Di Iorio
edit| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 [5] |
|
|
Competitive highlights
editGP:Grand Prix;CS:Challenger Series;JGP:Junior Grand Prix
With Pogrebinsky
edit| International[12] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 |
| GPCup of China | 7th | |||
| GPFrance | 7th | |||
| GPRostelecom Cup | 6th | |||
| GPSkate America | 7th | |||
| CSLombardia Trophy | 4th | |||
| CSNebelhorn Trophy | 4th | |||
| CSTallinn Trophy | 3rd | 3rd | ||
| Lake Placid IDI | 1st | 3rd | ||
| International: Junior[12] | ||||
| World Junior Champ. | 13th | 4th | ||
| JGPAustria | 4th | |||
| JGPCroatia | 8th | |||
| JGPJapan | 5th | |||
| JGPSpain | 3rd | |||
| National[4] | ||||
| U.S. Championships | 3rd J | 3rd J | 4th | 7th |
| J = Junior level TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew | ||||
With Di Iorio
edit| National[5][13] | |
|---|---|
| Event | 2013–14 |
| U.S. Championships | 11th J |
References
edit- ^abc"Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT: 2016/2017".International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^Pogrebinsky, Elliana; Benoit, Alex (September 9, 2015)."Waltzing on the Danube: Ice dancers blog from Linz".IceNetwork.com.
- ^abcdeCalder, Anne (June 15, 2016)."Pogrebinsky & Benoit set their sights on long-term goals".ice-dance.com.
- ^abcde"Elliana Pogrebinsky and Alex Benoit".IceNetwork.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2017.
- ^abcd"Olivia Di Iorio & Alex Benoit".ice-dance.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-02-08.Retrieved2016-02-08.
- ^Brannen, Sarah S. (March 30, 2018)."The Inside Edge: Krasnozhon avoids major injury".IceNetwork.com.
- ^"Alex Benoit".London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT: 2017/2018".International Skating Union.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^ab"Programs".Official website of Pogrebinsky & Benoit.Archivedfrom the original on February 8, 2016.
- ^"Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT: 2015/2016".International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^"Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT: 2014/2015".International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ab"Competition Results: Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT".International Skating Union.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^"Competition Results: Olivia DI IORIO / Alex BENOIT".International Skating Union.