Benjamin Ayres
A versatile Canadian actor who brought depth to offbeat characters in cult TV series and medical dramas.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Canadian actor·Birthday: January 19·Generation X
Biography
Benjamin Ayres built a career on playing memorably flawed and complex characters, often in shows that developed passionate, if niche, followings. His breakout came as the death-obsessed Casper Jesperson in the CBC's short-lived but sharply written 'jPod', a role that showcased his ability to balance dark humor with pathos. He later found wider recognition as the earnest and capable Dr. Zach Miller on the long-running medical drama 'Saving Hope', proving his leading-man chops. Ayres has consistently worked across Canadian television, earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his recurring role in the dysfunctional family comedy 'Less Than Kind'. His trajectory reflects a steady climb through the ranks of Canadian screen talent, moving from cult favorite to a familiar face in prime time.
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.
Benjamin was born in 1977, 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 Benjamin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Benjamin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the series regular role of Casper Jesperson in the CBC television adaptation of Douglas Coupland's 'jPod'.
- Portrayed Dr. Zach Miller across five seasons of the hit CTV medical drama 'Saving Hope'.
- Received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his performance in the HBO Canada series 'Less Than Kind'.
Did You Know?
He is a trained stage actor and has performed in theatrical productions across Canada.
Ayres played a minor role in the 2006 film 'The Last Kiss', starring Zach Braff.
He guest-starred in an episode of the popular sci-fi series 'Stargate Atlantis'.
“I'm drawn to characters who are a little broken, a little off-center.”
