Famous Birthdays·August 14·Ben Bass (actor)
Ben Bass (actor)

USBen Bass (actor)

A steady, grounded presence on screen who found his defining role as the seasoned training officer in the hit series Rookie Blue.

Born 1968 (age 58)·American-Canadian actor·Birthday: August 14·Generation X

Photo: Canadian Film Centre from Toronto, Canada · CC BY 2.0

Biography

Ben Bass built a career on reliable, compelling character work, often as figures of authority or quiet strength. The American-born, Canadian-raised actor cut his teeth with guest spots on popular series like *The X-Files* and *Stargate SG-1* before landing longer-running roles. He played Dr. Quentin on *The Eleventh Hour* and had a memorable turn as a vampire hunter on *Forever Knight*. But it was the part of Sam Swarek, the tough but fair training officer on *Rookie Blue*, that made him a familiar face. For six seasons, he anchored the ensemble, portraying a cop's journey from streetwise mentor to a man navigating complex relationships within the force. His performance brought a weathered authenticity to the show, balancing its procedural elements with human drama. Beyond that signature role, Bass has continued to work steadily in television and film, embodying the kind of durable, skilled actor who forms the backbone of the industry.

Generation X

1965–1980

The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.

Ben was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Ben Was Born

The biggest hits of 1968

#1 Movie

2001: A Space Odyssey

Best Picture

Oliver!

#1 TV Show

The Andy Griffith Show

Ben's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1968Born

Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated

Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school

US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided

Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager

MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified

Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive

Apple Macintosh introduced

Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote

Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown

Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21

Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests

Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30

Google founded; Clinton impeachment

Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40

Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis

Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50

Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting

Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Portrayed Detective Sam Swarek across all six seasons (2010-2015) of the globally syndicated police drama *Rookie Blue*.
  • Played the recurring role of Dr. Quentin on the Canadian sci-fi drama *The Eleventh Hour*.
  • Appeared in notable genre television series including *The X-Files*, *Stargate SG-1*, and *Forever Knight*.
  • Featured in films such as *The Day After Tomorrow* and *The Lookalike*.

Did You Know?

He is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Before acting, he studied at the University of Toronto and worked as a model.

He is an avid hockey fan and player.

His father, Ron Bass, was a well-known Canadian football player for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

“null”

— Ben Bass (actor)

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