--- name: "Vernon Wells" canonical: "https://film.one/person/vernon-wells" fi1m_id: "vernon-wells" imdb_id: "nm0920460" tmdb_id: 26491 wikidata_id: "Q972991" roles: ["Actor"] born: "31 December 1945" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 81 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-10-04T19:05:49.763895+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Vernon Wells ## Identity Vernon Wells - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/vernon-wells - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** vernon-wells - **IMDb ID:** nm0920460 - **TMDB ID:** 26491 - **Wikidata ID:** Q972991 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Wells_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q972991, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26491 Actor. Born 31 December 1945 in Rushworth, Victoria, Australia. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 31 December 1945, Rushworth, Victoria, Australia - **Active:** 1981–1985 - **Also known as:** Vernon George Wells - **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 2 titles - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Wells_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q972991, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26491 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Commando*](https://film.one/film/commando.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Vernon Wells > Vernon Wells makes screen villains seem dangerously eager, with enough theatrical humour to keep them entertaining. We rate him most when a director gives that physical commitment something precise to do, as George Miller does in *Mad Max 2*. The mohawk identifies Wez in *Mad Max 2* (1981), but Wells's physical commitment is what makes him threatening. He plays the marauder pursuing Mel Gibson's Max with a ferocity that gives George Miller's precisely staged vehicle combat a recognisable human danger. We were frightened by Wez because his pursuit feels relentless, even when the action around him is so carefully organised. Miller gives less attention to the people than to the machinery, and Wells's expressive face has to do much of the work. This remains the place to start with him: a performance that suits a film with little time for explanation. *Commando* (1985) gives him a different task as Bennett, opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger's awkward, oddly endearing presence. Here the hint of humour in Wells's menace has more room, fitting a film whose violence is cheerfully excessive. He makes a useful opponent for Schwarzenegger because he commits to the confrontation without treating the material as a joke. The writing is conspicuously thin, and a forceful antagonist can only compensate for so much. We recommend it for an evening of action, not for a closer acquaintance with the people causing the damage. Wez was his first major screen part, and the Hollywood work that followed in 1985 soon found a comic use for that image. In John Hughes's *Weird Science* (1985), Lord General is a parody of the earlier marauder. *Innerspace* (1987) offers a useful contrast in the largely silent Mr Igoe, a part that relies on physical presence rather than talk. Those are two sensible ways of using an actor whose face can express menace and whose theatricality can also be funny. The later career extends through independent action and genre films, with Ransik in *Power Rangers Time Force* (2001) taking his antagonist work into children's television. His reputation remains tied to the early roles, and we would not mistake their familiarity for a verdict on everything that followed. A director who expects the casting alone to do the work is asking too much of him. Begin with Miller; save Bennett for an evening when subtlety is not a requirement. ## Biography Vernon George Wells is an Australian character actor. Born on 31 December 1945 in Rushworth, Victoria, he began appearing on Australian television in the mid-1970s in series including *Homicide*, *Matlock Police* and *All the Rivers Run*. His first cinema role was a minor part in *Felicity* (1979). Wells is best known internationally for his role as Wez in the 1981 film *Mad Max 2*. He subsequently appeared in Hollywood productions such as *Commando* (1985) as Bennett, *Weird Science* (1985) as the Lord General and *Innerspace* (1987) as Mr Igoe. In the 2000s he portrayed the villain Ransik in the television series *Power Rangers Time Force*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Commando* (1985), Fi1m 74, as Bennett — [page](https://film.one/film/commando.md) - *Mad Max 2* (1981), Fi1m 88, as Wez — [page](https://film.one/film/mad-max-2.md) ## Complete filmography (177) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Apex Predators Club* (2026), Actor - *Censor Addiction* (2026), as Wizard - *Mothman Vs Bigfoot* (2026), as Detective Thomas - *Valley of the Horntak* (2026), as Gordon - *Days of Sodom: A Crow Fan Film* (2026), as Mayor Minos - *Vanished* (2025), as Greg McBride - *We Meet Again* (2025), as Stone - *Clutch* (2025), as Fuentes - *A Reluctant Heart* (2025), as Stuart Knapp - *The Beast Inside* (2024), as Father Geoffrey - *Gladiators* (2024), as Avitus - *Apex Predators 2: The Spawning* (2024), as Bartender Wells - *The Charisma Killers* (2024), as The Old Man - *The Dead Rose* (2024), as Cypress - *Harvest* (2024), as Jim Mansfield - *Professor Kimmer's Initiation* (2024), as Cypress - *Bring Me A Skin For Dancing In* (2024), as Richard Daniels - *Road Wars: Max Fury* (2024), as Shane McIntosh - *Realm of Shadows* (2024), as Cypress - *The Blue-Eyed Boy and Mister Death* (2024), as George - *Blood and Snow* (2023), as The Professor - *Heartland Harmony* (2023), as Lemmy LaRoux - *I Can* (2023), as Doctor Wells - *Transmission* (2023), as Frank Tadross Roth - *Ghost* (2023), as Jeremiah - *Murder Syndicate* (2023), as Roddy - *End of Loyalty* (2023), as Rooker - *Root* (2023), as Scott - *The Price We Pay* (2023), as The Doctor - *Amber Road* (2022), as Sheriff Taylor - *The Christmas Tapes* (2022), as Santa · Producer - *Werewolf Cabal* (2022), as Henry Sullivan - *Frost* (2022), as Grant - *American Bigfoot* (2022), as Truman Shaw - *Forbearance* (2022), as Dr. George Ross - *Showdown in Yesteryear* (2022), as Orson Kane - *Of the Devil* (2022), as Father Bennet - *Soul Cage* (2022), as The Persuader - *Memoirs of a Fighter* (2022), as Pastor - *Thor: God of Thunder* (2022), as Odin - *Sally Floss: Digital Detective* (2022), as Papa · Associate Producer - *Tales from the Other Side* (2022), as William - *Shadows* (2022), as Cliff · Co-Producer - *No Name and Dynamite* (2022), as Black Jack Bennett - *The Electric Man* (2022), as Doogie - *Jack Be Nimble* (2022), as Jack - *Alien Danger 2! With Raven Van Slender* (2021), as The Shadow Knight - *Christmas Collision* (2021), as Ronan - *Kringle Time* (2021), as Herb - *Under the Palm Tree* (2021), as Det. Scott - *Bearry* (2021), as Detective Seahorn - *Red Snow* (2021), as Julius King - *Bird* (2020), as Fred - *7th Revelation* (2020), as Gil Oldman Jr. - *Charlie's Christmas Wish* (2020), as Hank Wentworth - *Camp Twilight* (2020), as Detective Bennett - *Fear of the Woods* (2020), as Father - *Social Distance* (2020), as Gil Oldman Jr. - *Await the Dawn* (2020), as Zed - *Kill Giggles* (2020), as Malcolm Fossor / Giggles - *Debt Collectors* (2020), as Cyrus Skinner - *Emerald Run* (2020), as Dodson - *No Chance* (2020), as Barrett Transformed - *The Silent Natural* (2019), as Sarah's Father - *Crossbreed* (2019), as Murphy - *The City of Gold* (2018), as The Inquisitor · Producer - *Loss Prevention* (2018), as CEO Reginald Bachman · Executive Producer - *Glass Jaw* (2018), as Happy - *Hide and Go Seek* (2018), as Bill - *Lilith* (2018), as Phillip - *Impact Event* (2018), as Ed - *Trouble Is My Business* (2018), as Detective Barry Tate - *Death House* (2018), as Nela - *Landfall* (2017), as Wexler - *Alien Hunger* (2017), as Sheriff Tom Baker - *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (2017), as Mr. Enfield - *Transmutation: Deep Water Horizon* (2016), as Robert - *? (Question-mark)* (2016), as Willkins - *The Perfect Weapon* (2016), as The Interrogator - *The Sector* (2016), as Shamrock - *Western X* (2016), as The General - *The Horde* (2016), as Earl - *Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper* (2016), as Walsh - *Timber the Treasure Dog* (2016), as Wolf (voice) - *Rum Runners* (2016), as Louie - *Caesar and Otto's Paranormal Halloween* (2015), as Guy Hunsinger - *Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs* (2015), as Marcus - *No Solicitors* (2015), as Sam - *Jurassic City* (2015), as Agent LaFranco - *Throwback* (2014), as Detective McNab - *Relentless Justice* (2014), as Jason Macendale - *Black Asylum* (2013), as Sheriff - *Like a Bat Outta Hell* (2013), as Simson - *Jurassic Attack* (2013), as Angent Grimaldi - *The Lackey* (2012), as Mr. Dechlan - *100,000 Zombie Heads* (2012), as Lubhoc - *The Dead Undead* (2010), as Raleigh - *Westbrick Murders* (2010), as Max - *The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!* (2010), as Network Head (voice) - *World's End* (2010), as Corvin - *Shadows in Paradise* (2010), as General Ruth - *Silent Night, Zombie Night* (2009), as Paul Irwin - *Someone's Knocking at the Door* (2009), as Dr. Tolstoy - *The Butcher* (2009), as 1970's IRA Commander - *Green Street Hooligans 2* (2009), as Tankersley Governor - *Charlie Valentine* (2009), as Broad - *Tru Loved* (2008), as Coach Wesley - *Hollywood Confidential* (2008), as Lt. Stone - *ReVamped* (2007), as Wes - *Vagabond* (2006), as Ivan - *Curse of Pirate Death* (2006), as Vernon · Associate Producer - *Blood Ranch* (2006), as Shotgun - *The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (2006), as Dr. Dennis Lanyon - *Saurian* (2006), as Alester Carvel - *Meet Me in Miami* (2005), as Mr. Abbott - *King of the Ants* (2004), as Beckett - *Looney Tunes: Back in Action* (2003), as Acme VP, Child Labor - *Devil's Knight* (2003), as Frank - *Curse of the Forty-Niner* (2002), as Jeremiah Stone - *Power Rangers Time Force: The End of Time* (2002), as Ransik - *Power Rangers Time Force: Dawn of Destiny* (2002), as Ransik - *Power Rangers Time Force: Quantum Ranger - Clash for Control* (2001), as Ransik - *Beneath Loch Ness* (2001), as Constable - *Power Rangers Time Force: Force from the Future* (2001), as Ransik - *The Education of a Vampire* (2001), as Captain Andrew Collins - *Starforce* (2000), as Squad Leader - *Never Look Back* (2000), as Nick - *Wasteland Justice* (1999), as Tarnak - *Billy Frankenstein* (1998), as Otto - *The Bad Pack* (1997), as Biker - *Vulcan* (1997), as Greg Mitchum - *Conan* (1997), as Morga - *Kick of Death* (1997), as Paulie - *Misfit Patrol* (1996), as Captain Cook - *Space Truckers* (1996), as Mister Cutt - *JAG* (1995), series, as Toohey - *Hard Justice* (1995), as Galaxy 500 - *T-Force* (1994), as Samuel Washington - *Manosaurus* (1994), as Professor Sorenson - *Ultimatum* (1994), as Gerard - *Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II* (1994), as Plughead - *2002: The Rape of Eden* (1994), as Mercenary Soldier - *Stranglehold* (1994), as Gerald Richter - *Power Rangers* (1993), series, as Ransik - *Fortress* (1992), as Maddox - *Sexual Response* (1992), as Philip - *Undeclared War* (1990), as Hannibal - *The Shrimp on the Barbie* (1990), as Bruce - *Crossing the Line* (1990), as Steve Sinclair - *Circuitry Man* (1990), as Plughead - *American Eagle* (1989), as Johnny Burke - *Nam Angels* (1989), as Chard - *Circle of Fear* (1989), as Allan Bainbridge - *Enemy Unseen* (1989), as Steiger - *The Gamble* (1988), as First Brother Podestà - *Sunset* (1988), as Australian Houseman - *Last Man Standing* (1987), as Roo Marcus - *Innerspace* (1987), as Mr. Igoe - *P.I. Private Investigations* (1987), as Detective North - *Fortress* (1985), as Dabby Duck - *Commando* (1985), as Bennett — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/commando.md) - *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Catlin, Paul Donnay - *Weird Science* (1985), as Lord General - *Hunter* (1984), series, as Sonny Zajak - *Knight Rider* (1982), series, as Wilson - *Mad Max 2* (1981), as Wez — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/mad-max-2.md) - *Wine Thief*, as Winston T Graham - *LeapFrog*, as General Irving - *Cheer Bloody Murder*, as Yanny - *Escape from Paradise*, as Gus - *Island in the Stars*, as Argentum · Producer - *Cursed Waters*, as Prosecutor - *Alien Horde*, as Senator Latta - *The Damnation*, as The Major (voice) - *Survive the End*, as The President - *Heavy Weapon*, as Cypress - *Area 5150*, as Rocco ## Gallery - ![Vernon Wells at convention (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/117607/gallery-4ece9ea48dcc.jpg) Vernon Wells at convention (2016) — CelebHeights.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Vernon-wells.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Vernon Wells](https://film.one/media/person/117607/gallery-94a091ea7526.jpg) Vernon Wells — Egon Eagle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Vernon_Wells%2C_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Vernon Wells](https://film.one/media/person/117607/gallery-f82414767049.jpg) Vernon Wells — Image via TMDB - ![Vernon Wells](https://film.one/media/person/117607/gallery-863d857d239e.jpg) Vernon Wells — Image via TMDB - ![Vernon Wells](https://film.one/media/person/117607/gallery-58743463bd2f.jpg) Vernon Wells — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/vernon-wells