Anecdotes

Stated in an interview on the DVD of There Be Dragons (2011) that his sobriety was inspired during filming by someone else on the set who had been sober for two years. He stopped drinking and doing drugs during filming with this person's help, and experienced a whole spiritual renewal in his life. He has been sober ever since.

In 2010, told The New York Times that he spent most of the 2000s seriously addicted to drugs, including cocaine and heroin, and that he only took the few acting roles that he did so that he would have money to buy drugs.

Was discovered at an open cattle call for the film "Rent". A casting director spotted him and asked him to read for his film. Seven callbacks later, he was given the role but the movie was never made.

While filming Three Below Zero (1998), director Simon Aeby forbade Bentley from skateboarding to the set in New York City because he was the principal talent and needed to be on set every day of filming. But Bentley ignored the director's advice and continued to arrive each day via skateboard.

Attended The Juilliard School in New York City.

Cast as Sonny in Le bal du monstre (2001) before dropping out and being replaced by Heath Ledger.

Cast as Lestat in La reine des damnés (2002) before dropping out and being replaced by Stuart Townsend.

Both of his parents are United Methodist ministers.

Grew up in Mountain Home, Arkansas, where he played the drums at his local junior high school. During his sophomore year at school, he moved to Sherwood, Arkansas. He then attended Sylvan Hills high school from his sophomore to senior year.

Wes and his wife welcomed their second child, a daughter, Brooklyn, in 2014.

Brother was a youth minister in Topeka, Kansas.

The third of four sons, which included older brothers Jamey and Philip and younger brother Patrick Bentley.

Previously shared a home in L.A. with Brad Rowe and Chad Lindberg.

Was considered for the role of Danny Walker in Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor (2001).

Attended Sylvan Hills high school in Sherwood, Arkansas.

Attended the same high school as actor Russell Taylor, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, before Bentley transferred to high school in Sherwood, Arkansas, before his junior year.