Jonathan Bennett

Jonathan David Bennett (born June 10, 1981) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls, Bud McNulty in 2005's Cheaper by the Dozen 2, the title character in the 2009 direct-to-DVD comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year, and his recurring role as Casey Gant in the mystery drama Veronica Mars. He is the host of the Food Network series Halloween Wars, and he previously hosted Cake Wars.

Bennett made his Broadway debut in Spamalot on January 23, 2024, playing Sir Robin, Guard 1 and Brother Maynard.

Early life Bennett was born in Ohio,

Bennett attended Eagle Point Elementary School in Rossford, Ohio, and graduated from Rossford High School in 1999. Bennett attended Otterbein University.

Career After moving to New York, he was cast on the ABC soap opera All My Children as JR Chandler from 2001 to 2002. Since then, he has appeared in various television dramas, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Smallville, and Veronica Mars.

Bennett co-starred in the 2004 comedy movie Mean Girls as Aaron Samuels, the love interest of star Lindsay Lohan's character. In 2005, he co-starred in the family comedy movie Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and the romantic comedy movie Lovewrecked. In 2007, Bennett appeared in the direct-to-video prequel TV series The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning, in which he played Bo Duke. In 2009, he starred as the title character in Van Wilder: Freshman Year, Bennett and Holker were eliminated on Week 6 of the competition and finished in 9th place.

From 2015 to 2017, Bennett hosted the Food Network cooking competition show Cake Wars.

In 2016, Bennett played gay sports agent Lucas in two episodes of Hit the Floor.

In 2018, with celebrity chef Nikki Martin, he released a pop culture cookbook titled The Burn CookBook.

In 2019, he was featured in the filmed poem rendition Love Goes Never Alone, in support of the LGBT+ community, for the online theatre publication First Night Magazine, performing next to other film, television and theatre celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz, Debra Messing, Neil Gaiman, and Sharon Osbourne.

On January 13, 2019, it was announced that Bennett would be a houseguest on the second season of the reality competition show Celebrity Big Brother.

In 2021, Bennet played Jesus Christ - as an imaginary best friend to the eponymous Russian boy in Wes Hurley's Potato Dreams of America.

In 2022, Bennett starred in the first LGBTQ-led Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, The Holiday Sitter.

Bennett and husband Jaymes Vaughan appeared together on the July 8, 2022, wedding-themed episode of Trixie Motel entitled "Oh Honeymoon". They provide support and advice to the groom-to-be. In 2024, Bennett was announced as the host and the main judge of Hallmark's reality series Finding Mr. Christmas, which premiered on October 31, 2024.

On April 16, 2026, it was announced that Bennett had been cast as Joe Fitzpatrick in the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

Personal life On November 30, 2020, representatives for Bennett confirmed he was engaged to The Amazing Race contestant and current Celebrity Page host Jaymes Vaughan, who proposed on the set for The Christmas House with an original song. In 2021, Bennett and Vaughan became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the magazine The Knot. In March 2022, the couple got married at the Unico Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico.

Bennett's mother Ruthanne died November 30, 2012, aged 67. Host Sebastian Television film

Romantically Speaking Nathan Television film Christmas Cookie Challenge Host 2015–2017 Cake Wars Host

Hit the Floor Lucas Episodes: "Blocked" and "Good D" Awkward Ethan Recurring role (Season 5) Cupcake Wars Host 2016–2020, 2023–present Halloween Wars Host 2017 Love at First Glance Victor Television film

The Last Sharknado: It's About Time Billy the Kid Television film Christmas Made to Order Steven Television film 2018–2019 Entertainment Tonight Reporter

Celebrity Big Brother Contestant Season 2 Supergirl Quentin Episode: "Stand and Deliver" Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club Himself Episode: "After the Show" 2019–present Times Square Ball Host Annual live webcast

Station 19 Michael Episodes: "Ice Ice Baby" and "No One Is Alone" RuPaul's Drag Race Guest judge Episode: "Snatch Game" The Christmas House

Television film 2021 The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls Television film

Deadly Yoga Retreat Remy Television film Wedding of a Lifetime Jake Television film The Holiday Sitter Sam Television film

Fantasy Island Oliver Episode: "Forever and a Day" Christmas on Cherry Lane Mike Television film 2023–present Food Network's Battle of the Decades Host

The Groomsmen: First Look

The Groomsmen: Second Chances The Groomsmen: Last Dance Finding Mr. Christmas Host and judge Season's Greetings from Cherry Lane Mike Television film Happy Howlidays Troy Television film 2025 Doctor Odyssey Matt 2 episodes 2026 General Hospital Joe Fitzpatrick Music videos Year Title Artist 2018 "Thank U, Next" Ariana Grande