Merlin Santana and Lamont Bentley were two vibrant African American actors who graced our television screens in the 1990s and early 2000s. Both found fame in popular sitcoms, showcased musical talents, and tragically, both were taken from us far too soon in the early 2000s. They are forever linked in the memories of fans who grew up watching them, especially for their roles in the hit show Moesha. While their careers were bright and full of potential, their lives were cut short, leaving behind legacies that continue to be remembered today, particularly in the context of the events surrounding Merlin Santana’s death and the involvement of Monique Mercedes King.
These are the stories of Merlin & Lamont.
Merlin Santana: A Life Cut Short
Born on March 14, 1976, in Upper Manhattan, New York City, Merlin Santana’s roots were in the Dominican Republic, the birthplace of his parents who immigrated to the United States. His mother revealed that Merlin was born prematurely and faced a life-threatening situation at birth. Growing up amidst the challenges of New York City streets, Santana’s mother encouraged him to pursue acting as a positive outlet, steering him away from potential dangers.
Lamont Bentley: Dreaming of Stardom
Artimus Lamont Gardison Bentley entered the world on October 25, 1973, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents, Loyce Bentley and Donald L. Gardison, raised him and his sister in Milwaukee’s north side. Bentley attended Webster Middle School, and even as a young boy of 12, he practiced autographs, confidently anticipating his future fame. His mother, Loyce, harbored aspirations of becoming a singer herself, perhaps influencing Lamont’s own artistic inclinations. He later dropped out of high school to fully dedicate himself to pursuing his entertainment career.
Early Careers in Acting
Merlin Santana’s acting journey began in childhood. He appeared in an impressive 15 commercials. At the age of nine, he made his uncredited film debut as an extra in Woody Allen’s 1985 movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo. His breakthrough came in 1991 when, at 15, he landed a recurring role on the iconic The Cosby Show. He played Stanley, Rudy Huxtable’s boyfriend, and his performance garnered attention and praise for his acting talent. In 1993, Santana secured a main role as Marcus Dixon in the sitcom Getting By. The show, initially on ABC and later NBC, unfortunately didn’t achieve high ratings and was canceled after a single season.
Fun Fact: Deon Richmond, known as Kenny (Rudy’s friend and Stanley’s rival) on The Cosby Show, also played Darren, Kenny’s brother, on the same show.
Lamont Bentley also started young, appearing in commercials and guest roles on television before landing a part in the critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series South Central in 1994. His first film role of note was in the 1995 horror anthology Tales from the Hood. Bentley portrayed Crazy K, a menacing gang member with a penchant for violence. His portrayal was particularly memorable and showcased his range as an actor even in darker roles.
Their Defining Roles in Moesha
Moesha emerged as a groundbreaking sitcom centered around Moesha Mitchell, a typical African American teenager navigating life with her upper-middle-class family in Los Angeles. R&B star Brandy Norwood, initially hesitant about taking on a TV role due to her music focus, eventually agreed to star as Moesha. The cast included Sheryl Lee Ralph as Dee Mitchell (Moesha’s stepmother), William Allen Young as Frank Mitchell (Moesha’s father), and Marcus T. Paulk as Miles Mitchell (Moesha’s younger brother). Following his role in Tales from the Hood, Lamont Bentley was cast as Hakeem Campbell, Moesha’s food-loving and loyal best friend, a role that would define his career for many.
Merlin Santana also appeared in Moesha, guest-starring in the first episode as Ohagi, Moesha’s first boyfriend, a poetic soul who ultimately breaks her heart. He would reappear in three episodes of the series. Moesha became a massive hit, resonating with a wide audience and becoming one of the most-watched sitcoms of its time.
Merlin’s Success on The Steve Harvey Show
While still making appearances on Moesha, Merlin Santana secured another significant role as Romeo Santana in The Steve Harvey Show. This sitcom aired on The WB Television Network for six successful years. The show revolved around Steve Harvey’s character, a former R&B singer turned music teacher and vice principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Chicago. Romeo Santana, played by Merlin, was one of Steve’s students and friends, alongside Stanley “Bullethead” (William Lee Scott) and Lydia (Lori Beth Denberg).
The ensemble cast also included Cedric the Entertainer as Coach Cedric Robinson, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Principal Regina “Piggy” Grier, Terri J. Vaughn as Lovita Jenkins-Robinson, and The Lady of Rage as Coretta “The Ox” Cox.
The Steve Harvey Show quickly became popular, earning Santana ALMA Award nominations and winning NAACP Image Awards.
Music Aspirations
Both Santana and Bentley had a passion for music, venturing into rap careers, though they remained largely underrated in the music industry and were not signed to major labels. While no officially released music from Merlin Santana has surfaced, a video from 2001 captures him freestyle rapping at a gathering. He was cast in the musical drama Play’d: A Hip Hop Story, alongside Toni Braxton and Rashaan Nall, and had the opportunity to rap in the film, though a soundtrack was never released.
Lamont Bentley, driven by his mother’s singing background, actively pursued music. In Moesha, his character Hakeem, along with Q (Fredro Starr) and Kim (Countess Vaughn), formed a fictional hip-hop group called CPQ. The show often featured Hakeem and Q rapping, Kim singing, with Niecy (Shar Jackson) as their dancer and Moesha managing them.
Many fans wished for a Moesha soundtrack featuring CPQ’s songs.
After Moesha concluded, Bentley continued acting while simultaneously pursuing his rap career. In 2001, he appeared in The Wash with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and portrayed Tupac Shakur in the TV biopic Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story. He also reprised his role as Hakeem in the Moesha spin-off, The Parkers.
Final Projects and Untimely Deaths
Merlin Santana’s last television role was in an episode of Half & Half, and his final film appearance was in the comedy The Blues. Reportedly, he had auditioned for the role of Romeo in the film Romeo & Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio but did not get the part.
Lamont Bentley voiced Gary in The Proud Family episode “Hip Hop Helicopter,” alongside his Moesha co-star Shar Jackson. One of his final on-screen appearances was in Spike Lee’s crime drama Sucker Free City.
Bentley’s manager, Susan Ferris, mentioned that he had attended a screening for the independent film Shards just days before his death, expressing excitement about his role and future prospects. Tragically, this promising outlook was shattered on January 18, 2005.
November 10, 2002: The Tragic Death of Merlin Santana and the Involvement of Monique Mercedes King
The events leading to Merlin Santana’s death are deeply disturbing and involve Monique “Mercedes” King, now known for her role in this tragedy. On the night of November 10, 2002, Santana and his friend, former child actor Brandon Adams, were at a restaurant where they encountered 15-year-old Monique Mercedes King. King, a fan of Santana, approached him, and they engaged in conversation. Later that night, Santana and King were together at a friend’s house. King misrepresented her age, leading to a sexual encounter. Afterward, when Santana indicated he wasn’t interested in a relationship, King falsely accused him of rape to her friends Damien Gates and Brandon Bynes.
Fueled by King’s false accusation, Gates and Bynes ambushed Santana and Adams as they left a house party the following night. As Santana and Adams entered their car, a red laser sight appeared, followed by gunfire from Gates. Shots were fired, and Adams managed to drive away to safety, only to discover Santana had been fatally wounded. Despite Adams’ desperate plea for help, Merlin Santana was pronounced dead at the scene. He was only 26 years old.
January 18, 2005: Lamont Bentley’s Fatal Car Accident
Four years after Santana’s murder, tragedy struck again. On January 18, 2005, Lamont Bentley was driving on Highway 118 near Simi Valley, California, when his vehicle veered off the road, over an embankment. Bentley, the sole occupant, was ejected from the car and into oncoming traffic, where he was struck by multiple vehicles. He succumbed to multiple blunt-force injuries in the accident. The autopsy report confirmed there were no drugs or alcohol in his system. Lamont Bentley was 31 years old.
Aftermath and Legacy
Merlin Santana was laid to rest at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. Lamont Bentley was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, leaving behind his daughters, Brazil and Artesia Bentley, and his mother, Loyce. Information about Bentley’s family has remained private since his death.
In the legal aftermath of Santana’s murder, Damien Gates was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder, receiving three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years. Brandon Bynes pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 23 years.
Monique “Mercedes” King’s role in the events cannot be ignored. While she was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder, and received a ten-year sentence, she was acquitted on two murder charges and reportedly showed no remorse for her actions that instigated the tragic events leading to Merlin Santana’s death. The keyword “Monique Mercedes King Now” highlights the enduring infamy associated with her name in connection to this case.
Merlin Santana is survived by his daughter, Melinda, with his former girlfriend.
Melinda has since graduated college and lives a private life. It is unknown if she will follow in her father’s footsteps into the entertainment industry.
Merlin’s brother has a YouTube channel with his girlfriend called “Annie & Ish,” where he shares vlogs, stories, and previously unseen photos of Merlin.
Sixteen years after Moesha ended, the cast reunited on The Real, sharing memories of Lamont Bentley and Yvette Wilson, who passed away in 2012.
Sources:
https://biography.jrank.org/pages/2787/Bentley-Lamont
YouTube
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-21-me-bentley21-story
