[1] He studied art with Los Angeles artist Martin Lubner (spouse of actress Joanna Merlin) and then went into acting "because it seemed like what I could do and make a living.

He directed the popular slasher film Child's Play 3 before becoming an executive producer and lead director on the ABC TV series Lost, directing 38 episodes of the show, including the series finale.

[2] Bender has also directed on other popular shows such as The Sopranos,[3] Carnivàle, Alias and Boston Public.

In recent years he was an executive producer and lead director on the TV series Under the Dome (2013) and The Last Ship (2014–15).

Bender is married to Rabbi Laura Owens of B’nai Horin of Los Angeles.