<P> James Wlcek (born February 22, 1964), sometimes credited as Jimmy Wlcek or Jim Wlcek, is an American actor born in New York City . </P> <P> He began his acting career in 1986 with an episode of Tales from the Darkside . In 1987, he auditioned for a part on All My Children; however he did not get the part because he was not old enough . After his audition tape was sent to the producers of Ryan's Hope, he landed the role of Ben Shelby . He was working for Keebler Cookies at the time, in the warehouse loading trucks on the graveyard shift . Wlcek was nominated for Outstanding Male Newcomer Daytime for his role as Ben Shelby on Ryan's Hope in 1988 . </P> <P> During the time he spent on Ryan's Hope he acted in the play Liars by Elliot Meyers directed by Shellen Lubin at the Producers Club Theatre . Eight months later, he was cast as Linc Lafferty on As the World Turns . He stayed there for the next two years . A year after he left As the World Turns, he came out to Los Angeles and acted in several commercials . In 1997 he got the role of Trent Malloy in a two - hour Walker, Texas Ranger movie called Sons of Thunder . The role became a recurring one for Jimmy, who went on to guest star in several more episodes of the long - running series . In 1999, a spin - off series called Sons of Thunder was created with Jimmy in one of the lead roles . Despite ratings higher than those of the show it replaced, the show was canceled after five episodes because CBS felt it was too expensive . </P> <P> His last name is pronounced "Will - Check"; the Slavic translation is "Little Wolf ." </P>

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