Ty Olsson (born January 28, 1974) is a Canadian actor and voice actor with over three decades of screen experience.
He is best known for playing the vampire Benny Lafitte in Supernatural and voicing the dragon Ord in Dragon Tales. Olsson has accumulated more than 180 acting credits across film, television, and voice work.
Who is Ty Olsson?
Ty Olsson is a Canadian actor whose career stretches from genre-defining sci-fi blockbusters to beloved animated children’s series. His full birth name is Tyler Victor Olsson.
He first gained wide recognition as the voice of Ord, the turquoise dragon in the long-running PBS Kids animated series Dragon Tales, which ran from 1999 to 2005.
Olsson later became a fan favourite in genre television by playing Benny Lafitte, a vampire, in Season 8 of the CW series Supernatural.
He also portrayed real-life 9/11 hero Mark Bingham in the A&E television film Flight 93 (2006), a role that brought him significant critical attention.
His IMDb page lists over 180 credits, placing him among the most prolific supporting actors in Canadian television and film.
Early Life of Ty Olsson
Ty Olsson was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His family later relocated to Ottawa, Ontario, where he grew up. Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly confirmed.
However, a schoolteacher in his early years reportedly guided him toward school plays, sparking his lifelong interest in performance. That early encouragement set his entire career in motion.
Ty Olsson Age
Ty Olsson is 52 years old as of June 25, 2026, born on January 28, 1974. His zodiac sign is Aquarius.
Olsson has maintained an active career well into his fifties, with credits appearing as recently as 2024 with the project Real Fights. He shows no sign of slowing down after more than 35 years in the industry.
Ty Olsson Ethnicity and Nationality
Ty Olsson holds Canadian nationality, born and raised in Nova Scotia and Ontario. His ethnicity includes Swedish Canadian ancestry, according to available sources.
He built his career primarily within the thriving Vancouver film and television production scene.
Ty Olsson Height and Weight
Ty Olsson stands at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall. His weight is reported at approximately 200 lbs (91 kg), though this figure is not publicly confirmed by Olsson himself.
His physical presence has consistently helped him land authoritative roles — military officers, tough guardians, and morally complex characters.
Ty Olsson Education
Olsson attended Canterbury High School in Ottawa, an arts-focused institution where he specialized in drama, dance, and music.
After high school, he enrolled at Studio 58 at Langara College in Vancouver in 1997, graduating as part of the 1997 class. Studio 58 is one of Canada’s most respected professional theatre training programs.
He also performed in George Bernard Shaw plays at the Shaw Festival following his graduation, building his stage craft before transitioning to screen roles.
Ty Olsson Career
Ty Olsson’s career in professional acting began in 1988. His early work was primarily in supporting roles across Canadian and American film and television productions.
He made his television debut with a guest role on The X-Files in 1998. From there, appearances in shows like Stargate SG-1 and Dark Angel followed in quick succession.
Career Start and Voice Acting Breakthrough
Olsson’s most significant early breakthrough came through voice acting. Starting in 1999, he voiced Ord — the timid, turquoise dragon — across all 94 episodes and three seasons of the PBS Kids animated series Dragon Tales.
The show ran until 2005 and became a staple of children’s television in North America.
He also reprised the Ord character in the 2003 educational video game Dragon Tales: Learn & Fly With Dragons.
During the same period, he voiced Herry in the Canadian animated series Class of the Titans (2005–2007) and Kyle, the older brother of the lead character, in the YTV animated series Being Ian.
Notable Film and Television Projects
Olsson appeared in the 2003 blockbuster X2: X-Men United as Mitchell Laurio, a prison guard. That same year, he landed the recurring role of Lt. Aaron Kelly in Battlestar Galactica (2003–2009).
His dramatic turn as real-life 9/11 passenger Mark Bingham in the A&E television film Flight 93 (2006) drew widespread praise.
He originated the role of Deputy Andy on the sci-fi series Eureka in 2006, though Kavan Smith later took over the part after two appearances.
Olsson also appeared in Defying Gravity (2009) as Rollie Crane, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Godzilla (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).
In 2016, he voiced Frank West in the Capcom video game Dead Rising 4.
Benny Lafitte in Supernatural
Olsson’s most celebrated television role came in Season 8 of the long-running CW series Supernatural (2013–2019).
He played Benny Lafitte, a vampire who saved the lead character Dean Winchester from Purgatory. The character first appeared briefly as a different vampire named Eli back in Season 2.
Benny became one of the most beloved recurring characters in the show’s history, and Olsson’s final appearances as the character came in Season 10.
Recent Work
Olsson continued his genre television work with recurring roles in The 100 (2014–2017) as Nyko, a Grounder warrior, and in Wynonna Earp (2020–2021) as Sheriff Holt Clayborn.
He appeared in Brews Brothers (2020) and took part in Real Fights (2024). Olsson has also been a frequent presence at fan conventions over the years, connecting with audiences from Supernatural, The 100, and Battlestar Galactica.
Ty Olsson Filmography
A selection of notable credits across Olsson’s career:
- Dragon Tales (1999–2005) — Voice of Ord
- Lake Placid (1999) — State Trooper
- X2: X-Men United (2003) — Mitchell Laurio
- Battlestar Galactica (2003–2009) — Lt. Aaron Kelly
- Class of the Titans (2005–2007) — Voice of Herry
- Flight 93 (2006) — Mark Bingham
- Defying Gravity (2009) — Rollie Crane
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) — Supporting role
- Supernatural (2013–2019) — Benny Lafitte / Eli
- The 100 (2014–2017) — Nyko
- Godzilla (2014) — Supporting role
- Dead Rising 4 (2016, video game) — Frank West (voice)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) — Supporting role
- Wynonna Earp (2020–2021) — Sheriff Holt Clayborn
- Real Fights (2024)
Ty Olsson Awards and Recognition
Olsson won the 2017 Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Television Movie for his work in A Surrogate’s Nightmare.
He received a UBCP/ACTRA Award nomination for Best Actor for both A Surrogate’s Nightmare (2017) and UnREAL (2016).
TV Guide noted that he won the 2013 Best of TV Award for Best Guest Star.
He also earned a nomination at the GenreBlast Film Festival in 2017 for Best Actor in a Short Film for Faster Than Light.
Ty Olsson Fiancé
Ty Olsson is engaged to fellow Supernatural actor DJ Qualls. The engagement became public on May 17, 2024, when Qualls announced the news on his podcast Locked and Probably Loaded with DJ and Kelly.
The two met at a Supernatural fan convention and grew close over a decade of friendship that eventually became a romantic relationship.
Qualls played werewolf Garth on Supernatural, while Olsson played vampire Benny, making them a fan-favourite pairing both on screen and off.
Prior to this, Olsson was married to Leanna Nash from 2005 until their divorce in 2012. He then married Katherine Lohmeyer, a NICU nurse, in Las Vegas on September 7, 2019. They filed for divorce on September 8, 2021.
Ty Olsson Children
Ty Olsson has two daughters from his first marriage to Leanna Nash. Their names are Mackenzie and Dagan Hunter (born September 12, 2002).
Details about the daughters’ current lives remain private, consistent with Olsson’s generally guarded approach to family matters.
Ty Olsson Net Worth
Ty Olsson’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026.
His income comes from a long career of film and television roles, voice acting work, video game credits, and residuals from widely syndicated shows like Supernatural and Dragon Tales.
More than 35 active years in the industry, including franchise films like the Planet of the Apes series, have contributed to his financial standing.
Ty Olsson Social Media
Olsson is active on Instagram under the handle @ty.olsson, where he shares updates about his career and personal life.
He also maintains an account on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @TyOlsson, where he thanked fans publicly following his engagement announcement in May 2024.
His engagement to DJ Qualls generated a significant surge in social media attention from the Supernatural fan community worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ty Olsson’s net worth?
Ty Olsson’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026, built from over 35 years of work in film, television, and voice acting.
How old is Ty Olsson?
Ty Olsson is 52 years old as of June 25, 2026. He was born on January 28, 1974, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Who is Ty Olsson engaged to?
Ty Olsson is engaged to fellow Supernatural actor DJ Qualls. Their engagement was publicly announced on May 17, 2024.
What is Ty Olsson’s height?
Ty Olsson stands at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall.
What movies and projects has Ty Olsson been in?
His most notable projects include Supernatural (as Benny Lafitte), Dragon Tales (voice of Ord), X2: X-Men United, Battlestar Galactica, Flight 93, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes.
Where was Ty Olsson born?
Ty Olsson was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Bottom Line
Ty Olsson spent 35-plus years building one of the most consistent bodies of work in Canadian genre television, earning a 2017 Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance and amassing more than 180 credits.
His ability to move between voice acting for children’s TV, major blockbuster film roles, and emotionally complex television characters has kept him in steady demand across multiple decades.
His May 2024 engagement to Supernatural co-star DJ Qualls drew international media attention, and his project Real Fights appeared in 2024 as his most recent screen credit.
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