Vernon Wells

Biography

Vernon Wells is an Australian character actor who moved from Australian television in the mid-1970s, with parts in series such as Homicide, Matlock Police and All the Rivers Run, into international film. Born in Rushworth, he made his cinema debut in a small role in Felicity (1979) before winning the part of the homicidal biker Wez in Mad Max 2 (1981), the role that made his name abroad. Hollywood followed, and he spoofed that biker image in Weird Science (1985) before playing Bennett opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando (1985), with further work in Innerspace (1987) and Circuitry Man (1990). He became a familiar villain on television as Ransik in Power Rangers Time Force, and from the 2010s worked steadily in American action B-movies, including the award-winning Trouble Is My Business (2018).

80years old

Turns 81 on December 31in 50 days

Born December 31, 1945Rushworth
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Vernon George Wells

Movie Career

Films: 51
Career span: 43 years1981 to 2024

Genres

Action45%, 23 films
Horror33%, 17 films
Thriller33%, 17 films
Sci-Fi29%, 15 films
Comedy27%, 14 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
After spoofing his mad biker role in Weird Science, the 1985 teen comedy produced by Joel Silver, Wells impressed Silver enough that he was immediately secured to play Bennett opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando.
A change of course
Before he became an actor, Wells held a series of jobs. He worked in a quarry, sold as a salesman, and spent time in theater and rock bands.
First role
In the 1970s, casting agents chose Wells for a theater play. He then began appearing in Australian TV commercials, print advertisements, local TV shows including Homicide and Matlock Police, and historical mini-series such as Against The Wind, Sara Dane and All The Rivers Run.

Vernon Wells movies on Netflix

Realm of Shadows2024IMDb rating 3.6as Cypress
Blood and Snow2023IMDb rating 3.6as The Professor
Showdown in Yesteryear2023IMDb rating 5.6as Orson Kane
The Price We Pay2023IMDb rating 4.9as The Doctor
Amber Road2022IMDb rating 4.2as Sheriff Taylor
American Bigfoot2022IMDb rating 6.9as Truman Shaw
No Name and Dynamite2022IMDb rating 3.7as Black Jack Bennett
Soul Cage2022IMDb rating 3.5as The Persuader
The Christmas Tapes2022IMDb rating 5.0as Santa
The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1as Doogie
Thor: God of Thunder2022IMDb rating 2.3as Odin
Werewolf Cabal2022IMDb rating 2.7as Captain Henry Sullivan
Red Snow2021IMDb rating 5.0as Julius King
Await the Dawn2020IMDb rating 3.6as Zed
Debt Collectors2020IMDb rating 5.8as Cyrus Skinner
Crossbreed2019IMDb rating 3.1as Murphy
In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Glass Jaw2018IMDb rating 5.2as Happy
Loss Prevention2018IMDb rating 4.3as CEO Reginald Bachman
The City of Gold2018IMDb rating 3.0as The Inquisitor
Trouble Is My Business2018IMDb rating 4.3as Detective Barry Tate
Alien Hunger2017IMDb rating 3.6as Sheriff Tom Baker
Death House2017IMDb rating 3.0as Nela
Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper2016IMDb rating 4.0as Walsh
The Horde2016IMDb rating 4.2as Earl
The Perfect Weapon2016IMDb rating 2.9as The Interrogator
Cowboys vs Dinosaurs2015IMDb rating 2.8as Marcus
Jurassic City2015IMDb rating 3.1as Agent LaFranco
Rise of the Dinosaurs2013IMDb rating 2.4as Agent Grimaldi
The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!2010IMDb rating 6.1as Network Head (voice)
World's End2010IMDb rating 3.6as Corvin
Green Street Hooligans 22009IMDb rating 4.7as Tankersley Governor
Someone's Knocking at the Door2009IMDb rating 4.0as Dr. Tolstoy
The Butcher2009IMDb rating 5.3as 1970's IRA Commander
ReVamped2007IMDb rating 3.1as Wes
King of the Ants2003IMDb rating 6.1as Beckett
Curse of the Forty-Niner2002IMDb rating 3.7as Jeremiah Stone
Space Truckers1996IMDb rating 5.4as Mister Cutt
Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II1994IMDb rating 3.5as Plughead
T-Force1994IMDb rating 4.8as Samuel Washington
Fortress1992IMDb rating 5.9as Maddox
Circuitry Man1990IMDb rating 4.7as Plughead
The Shrimp on the Barbie1990IMDb rating 5.6as Bruce
Undeclared War1990IMDb rating 6.2as Hannibal
Sunset1988IMDb rating 5.7as Australian Houseman
Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9as Mr. Igoe
P.I. Private Investigations1987IMDb rating 5.6as Detective North
Commando1985IMDb rating 6.7as Bennett
Fortress1985IMDb rating 7.0as Dabby Duck
Weird Science1985IMDb rating 6.6as Lord General
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior1981IMDb rating 7.6as Wez

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Commando1985 Action, Adventure, Crime, Thrilleras Bennett
IMDb rating 6.7190K votes
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior1981 Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Wez
IMDb rating 7.6215K votes
Innerspace1987as Mr. Igoe
IMDb rating 6.971K votes
Trouble Is My Business2018as Detective Barry Tate
IMDb rating 4.34.6K votes
Weird Science1985as Lord General
IMDb rating 6.6107K votes
Fortress1992as Maddox
IMDb rating 5.932K votes
Crossbreed2019as Murphy
IMDb rating 3.13.0K votes
Cowboys vs Dinosaurs2015as Marcus
IMDb rating 2.81.7K votes

Most often with

Stuart Gordon directed three of these films, Jesse V. Johnson three and Steven Lovy two. Two actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Eric Roberts

Rachel Riley

Hans Hernke

R.A. Mihailoff

Dave Shecter

Tom Sizemore

Stuart GordonDirector, 3 films

Jesse V. JohnsonDirector, 3 films Steven LovyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Eric Roberts5 films together, 2009 to 2022
Eric Roberts's page
- Soul Cage2022IMDb rating 3.5Wells as The PersuaderRoberts as Russ Hammer
- The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1Wells as DoogieRoberts as Mr. Manson
- In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2Wells as HimselfRoberts as Himself
- Cowboys vs Dinosaurs2015IMDb rating 2.8Wells as MarcusRoberts as Trent Walker
- The Butcher2009IMDb rating 5.3Wells as 1970's IRA CommanderRoberts as Merle Hench
Rachel Riley5 films together, 2013 to 2022
Rachel Riley's page
- Amber Road2022IMDb rating 4.2Wells as Sheriff TaylorRiley as Pauline
- The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1Wells as DoogieRiley as Rose
- Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper2016IMDb rating 4.0Wells as WalshRiley as Nora
- Jurassic City2015IMDb rating 3.1Wells as Agent LaFrancoRiley as Correctional Tech Officer
- Rise of the Dinosaurs2013IMDb rating 2.4Wells as Agent GrimaldiRiley as Soldier #1
Hans Hernke4 films together, 2022
Hans Hernke's page
- Amber Road2022IMDb rating 4.2Wells as Sheriff TaylorHernke as Jonas
- American Bigfoot2022IMDb rating 6.9Wells as Truman ShawHernke as Matt Scott
- The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1Wells as DoogieHernke as Father Andrew
- Werewolf Cabal2022IMDb rating 2.7Wells as Captain Henry SullivanHernke as Andy Russo
R.A. Mihailoff3 films together, 2007 to 2017
R.A. Mihailoff's page
- Alien Hunger2017IMDb rating 3.6Wells as Sheriff Tom BakerMihailoff as Big Frank
- Death House2017IMDb rating 3.0Wells as NelaMihailoff as Prison Badass Leader
- ReVamped2007IMDb rating 3.1Wells as WesMihailoff as Big Bad Bouncer
Dave Shecter3 films together, 2022
Dave Shecter's page
- Amber Road2022IMDb rating 4.2Wells as Sheriff TaylorShecter as Alan
- The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1Wells as DoogieShecter as Dispatch Dave
- Werewolf Cabal2022IMDb rating 2.7Wells as Captain Henry SullivanShecter as Ben Jackson
Tom Sizemore2 films together, 2022
Tom Sizemore's page
- Amber Road2022IMDb rating 4.2Wells as Sheriff TaylorSizemore as Pluto
- The Electric Man2022IMDb rating 3.1Wells as DoogieSizemore as Jace
Stuart GordonDirector, 3 films, 1992 to 2003
All films by Stuart Gordon
- King of the Ants2003IMDb rating 6.1Wells as Beckett
- Space Truckers1996IMDb rating 5.4Wells as Mister Cutt
- Fortress1992IMDb rating 5.9Wells as Maddox
Jesse V. JohnsonDirector, 3 films, 2009 to 2020
All films by Jesse V. Johnson
- Debt Collectors2020IMDb rating 5.8Wells as Cyrus Skinner
- Green Street Hooligans 22009IMDb rating 4.7Wells as Tankersley Governor
- The Butcher2009IMDb rating 5.3Wells as 1970's IRA Commander
Steven LovyDirector, 2 films, 1990 to 1994
All films by Steven Lovy
- Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II1994IMDb rating 3.5Wells as Plughead
- Circuitry Man1990IMDb rating 4.7Wells as Plughead
Also two films together42 more actors
- Dee WallaceAwait the Dawn (2020) and Death House (2017)
- Scott AdkinsDebt Collectors (2020) and In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)
- Tony ToddRealm of Shadows (2024) and Death House (2017)
- Stephen DorffThe Price We Pay (2023) and Space Truckers (1996)
- Bill MoseleyDeath House (2017) and The Horde (2016)
- Robert LaSardoAmber Road (2022) and Jurassic City (2015)
- Martin KoveReVamped (2007) and Curse of the Forty-Niner (2002)
- George WendtKing of the Ants (2003) and Space Truckers (1996)
- Michael BerrymanDeath House (2017) and Weird Science (1985)
- Daniel BaldwinCrossbreed (2019) and King of the Ants (2003)
- Courtney GainsAmerican Bigfoot (2022) and Await the Dawn (2020)
- Felissa RoseDeath House (2017) and Jurassic City (2015)
- Nils Allen StewartThe Horde (2016) and The Butcher (2009)
- Bill DukeIn Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019) and Commando (1985)
- Marina SirtisDebt Collectors (2020) and Green Street Hooligans 2 (2009)
- Billy DragoWorld's End (2010) and ReVamped (2007)
- Bruce SpenceThe Shrimp on the Barbie (1990) and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
- Timothy V. MurphyGreen Street Hooligans 2 (2009) and The Butcher (2009)
- Matthias HuesIn Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019) and Green Street Hooligans 2 (2009)
- Dennis ChristopherPlughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II (1994) and Circuitry Man (1990)
- Devanny PinnCrossbreed (2019) and Glass Jaw (2018)
- Elissa DowlingAmber Road (2022) and The Electric Man (2022)
- Jim MetzlerPlughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II (1994) and Circuitry Man (1990)
- Paul WillsonPlughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II (1994) and Circuitry Man (1990)
- David 'Shark' FralickWorld's End (2010) and ReVamped (2007)
- Carolyn Purdy-GordonSpace Truckers (1996) and Fortress (1992)
- Elina MadisonSomeone's Knocking at the Door (2009) and Curse of the Forty-Niner (2002)
- Jed RowenAmber Road (2022) and The Electric Man (2022)
- Mariano 'Big Dawg' MendozaNo Name and Dynamite (2022) and Debt Collectors (2020)
- Eva CejaAmerican Bigfoot (2022) and Thor: God of Thunder (2022)
- Kelcey WatsonCowboys vs Dinosaurs (2015) and Jurassic City (2015)
- Lisa HindsAmber Road (2022) and Werewolf Cabal (2022)
- Walter ScottNo Name and Dynamite (2022) and Commando (1985)
- BJ MezekAmber Road (2022) and Werewolf Cabal (2022)
- Jordan LawsonRise of the Dinosaurs (2013) and Someone's Knocking at the Door (2009)
- Emilien De FalcoThe Perfect Weapon (2016) and World's End (2010)
- Tasha TacosaAmber Road (2022) and American Bigfoot (2022)
- Dana MelanieGlass Jaw (2018) and Jurassic City (2015)
- Matt O'NeillAwait the Dawn (2020) and Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper (2016)
- Sabina MachThe Price We Pay (2023) and The Perfect Weapon (2016)
- Ames TiedemanAmber Road (2022) and The Electric Man (2022)
- Kasey BrownAmber Road (2022) and The Electric Man (2022)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.