Benz Antoine

Rubens Antoine, known professionally as Benz Antoine, was born on June 22, 1972, in Montreal, Canada. He is the eldest of three children raised by his mother, Rose-Marie. Antoine initially pursued economics at Concordia University before switching to philosophy, where he developed an interest in music and formed a rap group, ‘Da Freshmen’. His entry into acting was unplanned; in 1993, while accompanying his girlfriend to an audition, he was asked to read for a role as a businessman in a corporate video. This marked a turning point in his career, leading him to fully embrace acting.

Antoine’s film career began with his big screen debut as “Crabman” in “Romeo Must Die” (2000). He later appeared in notable films such as “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” (2005), “Four Brothers” (2005), and “Death Race” (2008), where he played Tyrese Gibson’s co-pilot. His versatility is also evident in his voice acting roles, including voicing the character ‘Baptiste’ in the popular video game “Overwatch” and “Overwatch 2” (2019, 2022).

On television, Antoine is widely recognized for his portrayal of ‘Tyler Joseph’, an alcoholic beat cop, in the acclaimed French-language series “19-2” (2011-2015). He reprised this role in the English adaptation for the Bravo network (2014-2017), earning nominations for Best Supporting Actor for both versions. His extensive television work also includes recurring parts on “Blue Murder” and “At The Hotel,” as well as guest appearances on “Rookie Blue” and “The Firm.” Antoine has also expanded his creative work into writing and directing, notably with the 2016 short film “Dear Mr. President”. He splits his time between New York and Los Angeles.