Scott Speedman
A Canadian actor who mastered the art of brooding intensity, moving seamlessly from teen drama heartthrob to gritty genre stalwart.
Born 1975 (age 51)·Canadian actor·Birthday: September 1·Generation X
Biography
Scott Speedman's trajectory in Hollywood is a study in compelling quiet. A former competitive swimmer with Olympic aspirations, an injury rerouted him towards acting, where he found a different kind of power in stillness. He broke through as Ben Covington on 'Felicity,' embodying the complicated, soulful object of desire for a generation. Rather than bask in teen idol status, he deliberately sought shadows, taking on the role of the hybrid creature Michael Corvin in the 'Underworld' franchise, where his physicality and restrained performance grounded the fantastical series. Speedman has consistently chosen interesting, often morally ambiguous characters in films like 'The Strangers' and 'Crimes of the Future,' and on television in 'Animal Kingdom.' His career is defined not by flash, but by a potent, watchful presence that draws audiences into the inner lives of the characters he portrays.
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.
Scott was born in 1975, 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 Scott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Scott's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
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
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread recognition for his role as Ben Covington on the WB drama series 'Felicity'.
- Portrayed the central hybrid character Michael Corvin across multiple films in the 'Underworld' franchise.
- Played a series regular role as Barry 'Baz' Blackwell on the TNT crime drama 'Animal Kingdom'.
- Starred in the critically acclaimed horror film 'The Strangers,' which became a cult hit.
Did You Know?
He was a nationally ranked swimmer in Canada and narrowly missed qualifying for the 1992 Olympic team.
Speedman was born in London, England, and moved to Canada as a child.
He attended the University of Toronto on a swimming scholarship but left to pursue acting.
He and his 'Felicity' co-star Keri Russell dated for a period during the show's run.
“I was a swimmer, and acting is a lot like that—it's about rhythm and being present in the moment.”
