Like many actors, William LeDent has followed “the road less traveled” and has a rich, storied background that contributes to his art, his acting, and his teaching and coaching. Born in Philadelphia, his unorthodox path through life began when, as a child, his family relocated to San Diego and he journeyed all the way across America ... by car ... with his entire family ... including the dog.

In a Pinto.

Having survived (and perhaps due to) this confinement, he threw himself into outdoor activities, including camping, beach volleyball and baseball. In high school, he majored in Fine Art while also developing his own personal training and weight lifting program. His love of theater took root when, in his senior year, he wrote one of three original works selected for a student musical program. He also won a lead acting role in all three pieces, and built the sets for the show. By the time he left high school, William was committed to the twin pursuits of art and acting.

For several years, he freelanced as a commercial artist and graphic designer in print media and photography, as well as in fine art including portraits and murals. (See artwork.) Anxious to further his other great love in theater, he started at a local college (Grossmont) where he took on several leading roles and a total of nine plays in three years, including Shakespeare (for which his studies included period dance), Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde and a variety of musicals.

William then transferred to the world-renowned theater program at UCLA, studying both acting and voice. He also focused heavily on movement training, and added martial arts to his repertoire, resulting in an intense, very physical brand of stagecraft. Furthering this interest, he continued his personal-training work, with clients including an NFL defensive back and Alexander professor Jean Louis Rodrigue, with whom he later worked to create the character movements for the morlocks in the 2002 remake of “The Time Machine” with Guy Pierce. (See production shots.) It was also at UCLA that he began to immerse himself specifically in Shakespearean theater. After a focused course of study, he completed a summer program in Stratford-on-Avon in the UK.

Following some post college work in student and independent films, he returned to the east coast to earn his MFA at the Academy for Classical Acting* (ACA) through George Washington University. At ACA, intense physical training continued, with movement class, stage combat and extensive weapons training. William can now (pretend to) kill you with a dizzying array of both medieval and modern weapons, and do so with expert skill, convincing fluidity, and historical accuracy.

Film/TV/Print/Voice-Over

American Haunting: Jason (Lead) Destination America (Discovery Channel)
Bare Knuckle: Billy (Lead) Joel David Santner, Yellow Bow Tie Productions
The Last Airbender: Assaulted Villager M. Night Shyamalan Paramount Pictures
Hearts Adrift: Background USA Original Movie
Renegade: Background USA Network
Environmental Protection Agency: Narrator (V/O) Kerri Sheehan Ventana Productions
AR Energy Manager Training: Narrator (V/O) Kerri Sheehan Ventana Productions

The Fix Background Adam Kane Prod. Chris Brinker
Print Work Fireman Noah Jones Rosetta Stone Inc.
What the Man Wants Jack (Lead) Jongwoo Lim Independent
Progeny John Smith (Lead) Wes Kobernick Independent
Education/Special Training
M.F.A. George Washington University, Academy for Classical Acting with The Shakespeare Theatre
B.F.A. UCLA Acting
A.A. Grossmont College Acting & Fine Art
Acting: Michael Kahn, Floyd King, Maria Aitken, Ed Gero, Catherine Weidner, Joe Oliveri, April Shawhan,
Henry Jordan, Roberta Jordan
Voice/Speech: Gary Logan, Ellen O’Brien
Stage Combat (SAFD): Brad Waller, Ed Monahan, David Leong
Alexander Technique: Jean-Luis Rodrigue, Chris Cherry Musical Theater: Carolyn Keith
Mask (LeCoq): Isabelle Anderson, Dody DiSanto Pantomime & Character Movement: Christopher Vened
Clown: Chris Bayes Dance & Movement: Jacque Heim, Tom Orth, Roberta Stiehm
Special Skills: SAFD Certified Stage Combat and Practical Use Of: Quarterstaff, Single Sword, Rapier & Dagger,
Unarmed, Compound and Long Bow, Fire Arms, Victorian Dance, Restoration Manners, Creature and
Character Movement, Gymnastics, Fencing, Ballet, Dialects and Impressions, Painting, Photography,
Volleyball, Personal Training / Weight Lifting

Theater Work

Richard III Catesby/Tyrell/Murderer Michael Carleton Baltimore Shakespeare Festival
King Lear Curan/The Knight Robert Falls Shakespeare Theatre Co., DC
Richard II Man 2 (murderer) Michael Kahn Shakespeare Theatre Co., DC
Henry V Bates/Grey David Muse Shakespeare Theatre Co., DC
Two Noble Kinsmen 3rd Counrtyman, Arcite Soldier Lise Bruneau Taffety Punk, Folger Theatre, DC
In the Flesh (S.R.) Lowell Joel David Santner Factory 449, DC
Titus Andronicus Lucius Katherine Weidner Illinois Shakespeare Company
Taming of the Shrew Grumio Katherine Weidner Illinois Shakespeare Company
Midsummer Night’s Dream Bottom Robert Quinlan Illinois Shakespeare Company
Don Giovanni Super/Fighter Placido Domingo National Opera/Kennedy Center
Ham/Thello (S.R.) Attendant/Player Gaurav Gopalan Kennedy Center, DC
Lear (S.R.) 4th Prisoner/Officer Stephen Fried Washington Shakespeare., DC
Edward III (S.R.) King Bohemia/Messenger Merry Alderman Shakespeare Theatre Co., DC
Much Ado About Nothing Don Pedro Michael Barakiva ACA/Shakespeare Theatre, DC
‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore Vasques Chris Grabowski ACA/Shakespeare Theatre, DC
Sweating Palms The Governator Phil Johnson Lyceum Theater, San Diego
The School for Scandal Sir Oliver Barry Bosworth Stage House Theater, CA
Of Mice and Men George Henry Jordan Stage House Theater, CA
Importance of Being Earnest Jack Henry Jordan Stage House Theater, CA
Fallen Angels Maurice Duclos Henry Jordan Stage House Theater, CA
Carnival Marco Henry Jordan Stage House Theater, CA
The Elephant Man Bishop Howe Clark Meyers Stage House Theater, CA
Henry V Constable/Montjoy Al Charlens S.A.A. Summer Shakes, San Diego
The Actor’s Nightmare George Spelvin Katy Bartlet-May LampLighterTheater, San Diego

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