Rob Benedict

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Rob Benedict plays the author and prophet Chuck Shurley, who was confirmed by Rob to be God at the Jus In Bello Italy convention in 2011, a popular fan theory which was later proven to be canon in the episode 11.20 Don't Call Me Shurley.

Rob benedict.jpg

Biography

Full name: Robert Patrick Benedict

Born: September 21, 1970 in Columbia, Missouri

Parents: Vivien Benedict

Siblings: Two older sisters Nancy & Amy, older brother Matt

Partners: Mollie Benedict (1995–2019), Ruth Connell

Children: Calvin and Audrey


Rob's Stroke

In October of 2013 Rob suffered a stroke at a Toronto Supernatural convention. In the afternoon on Sunday Rob began having trouble speaking. It came and went, so both he and (friend and convention host) Richard Speight Jr. laughed it off, assuming it was con fatigue. Rob went ahead with his Q & A and autographs, but the speech issues returned. He finished his line but was feeling like he “...was having a panic attack.” Phone calls were made and a trip to the hospital was decided on.

Upon arriving at the hospital Rob had a CAT scan. Rob was informed he was having a stroke and they needed to act quickly. Rob's carotid artery had split, causing a blood clot in his brain which lead to aphasia. The doctors gave him a clot busting shot in the emergency room. He spent the next 10 days in the hospital in Canada and took off the rest of the year to focus on speech therapy.

Optimistically, Rob says he looks back on his recovery time well, appreciating how “in the moment” his time was. He refers to life “before the stroke and after the stroke” admitting life is never going to be the same, but he is always excited for what's to come. He speaks with love about the support from his family, friends, and the Supernatural family.

If you would like to get the story in Rob's words you can read SuperWiki's interview with Rob, you can hear Rob speak candidly about his experience on Discover the Road and on Supernatural: The Crossroads, and you can watch him tell his story at BurCon, at TorCon, and on One Question Interviews.

Career

Louden Swain at the launch of their new album "No Time Like the Present". photo posted by Billy Moran

Singing

Louden Swain

Rob also fronts an Indie Rock band called Louden Swain for which he provides the lead vocals, plays guitar, and writes lyrics. This four piece band has also become a highlight and memorable attraction at the Supernatural Conventions and were also known as Elastic Waste Band to many fans who are familiar with the Supernatural Convention's activities.

The Station Breaks

In 2015, Rob, Billy Moran and Jason Manns formed a side band called The Station Breaks. Rob Humphreys and Cooper Appelt are also members of the band.

Solo album

In 2021 Rob recorded his first solo album called Leave the Light On. It was released in January 2022.

Official album description: Leave The Light On is actor Rob Benedict’s first solo album after three decades as lead singer of the LA based indie band Louden Swain. The songs were written during a personal tumultuous time, which found Rob rebalancing himself after the devastation of the divorce of a twenty-four year marriage. The album was composed over the last 5 years and completed during lockdown. To record the songs, Rob traveled to Nashville and enlisted producer/musician Tyler James (Escondido, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) to produce and help orchestrate. The result is a 9 song record that shows a side of Rob that few people have heard - a deeply introspective and sonically rich atmosphere filled with discovery and ultimately, hope.

Writing

The Sidekick

Rob Benedict's comedic short film The Sidekick was released on July 18, 2013 via iTunes, Vimeo, Amazon, and Hulu. Watch a trailer here.

Kings of Con

Rob and Rich wrote, starred in and produced a web series titled Kings of Con that takes a comedic look at the convention world. They describe their roles as “caricatures” of themselves. The 10 episode series debuted on November 15, 2016 on a short-lived streaming service Comic-Con HQ.
They also made and hosted Kings of Con after-show called "Kings of Conversation."


Podcasts

Kings of Con: The Podcast

In March 2020, Rob and Rich were bored, so they started a comedy podcast called ...and my guest is Richard Speight. It has since evolved into Kings of Con: The Podcast, named after their show Kings of Con.

It's mostly just Rob and Rich talking about their lives. Occasionally, they also have one of their friends on.

Supernatural: Then and Now

Rob and Rich also host a weekly Supernatural podcast called Supernatural: Then and Now. They revisit every episode with the show's cast & crew as guests.


Episodes

Rob in Fandom

Rob's Role in Supernatural conventions

A Louden Swain group hug, featuring Misha Collins and Richard Speight Jr.

Rob has always been a fan favorite for his role as Chuck Shurley, which is why he's been invited to – and attended – many cons over the years. His role has grown from merely a guest to having major stage presence. This rings especially true for Creation Entertainment events. He takes on everything from comedy sidekick to host Richard Speight Jr, to bandleader for Louden Swain's full length rock show. At any given convention Rob can be found doing the following:

  • Listed on Creation Entertainment's site as “Rich's Comedy Cohort and Bandleader for Louden Swain” Rob helps open the show each day, running through Rules & Regulations in an often comedic and musical fashion.
  • Front man for the House band – Rob and the Louden Swain guys welcome and play out each guest, frequently exchanging stories and jokes with them.
  • On Stage Guest – Rob has his own panel as well a shared panel with fellow con-regulars, and crowd favorites, Richard Speight Jr. & Matt Cohen. This is where stories are told (and made!), laughs are had, and Q & A sessions are lined up.
  • Karaoke Kings featured guest – Rob is a karaoke regular. He always gets the crowd dancing with a familiar tune! He also usually shows up in costume for whatever theme Rich & Matt have decided on before hand. Karaoke is a MUST for any Rob fan.
  • Saturday Night Special – Rob is the bandleader for Louden Swain. The SNS is a full length concert featured after the day's events. The band runs through their own tracks, fan favorites, and a massive collection of cover songs. They often have a few friends stop by to sing along.

This is all in addition to autograph sessions and multiple photo op choices. As you can see, Rob is one of the hardest working guys in the con circuit. But what makes Rob special is the energy he brings – to the stage and in every interaction with guests, volunteers, and fans alike. He helps amplify the community feeling in the Supernatural fandom. As much as it felt right to have him narrate the 10th Anniversary Retrospective, it feels right to have him involved in every aspect of these conventions. He seems to have a lot of fun doing them, and we certainly appreciate his hard work.

Convention Appearances

See also

External links

Official Links

Clips, Articles and Interviews

Fan Links

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