Tom J. Benedict (aka Toms Liepajnieks) was born in Tukums, Latvia. He moved to Riga, Latvia to study acting in Latvian Academy of Culture and graduated in 2011. Then he travelled to London, UK to do a masterclass at "Method Acting Classes" by Sam Rumbelow. In 2016 and 2017 Toms flew to Los Angeles, USA to do a masterclass at "Studio4 James Franco's Acting and Film School". He is currently living in Riga, LV.
Toms is fluent in English and Latvian. Also basics knowledge of Russian language.
He is an actor, who works in Films, Theatre and Television.
In 2012 he was nominated at Latvian Theatre Awards as Best Young Actor.
In 2017 he won at Latvian Theatre Festival "The Patriarch's Autumn" in category of Best Actor.
Toms Liepajnieks has played a supporting role Young Father Joseph in an American feature film "Welcome to Mercy", set in the 19 century castle Zvartava on the border of Latvia and Estonia. The production was directed by Tommy Bertelsen (USA), produced by Carry Granat (USA), Daren Goldberg (USA) and filmed in January and February 2017.
In 2016 he played supporting role Irving Berlin in American feature film "Paris Song” (aka “Amre”), dir. Jeff Vespa (USA) filmed in America, Latvia and Kazakhstan;
Supporting role Kaspars in Latvian TV series "House near the lake" dir. Armands Zvirbulis (LV), supporting role Kaspars in Latvian Feature Film "Exiled", director Davis Simanis Jr., starring Ulrich Matthes and supporting role Lars Hendrickson in Russian TV-series "Endless Summer" dir. Valentina Vlasova (RU).
In 2015 supporting role Kheskuld in Russian feature film "VIKING" dir. Andrey Kravchuk filmed in Russia; Supporting role Leka in Russian TV-series "DED 005" director Mger Mkrtchan (RU); Supporting role Chesnok in Russian TV-series "QUEST" dir. Aleksandr Danilov (RU).