Ben Affleck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Affleck
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Affleck in 2023
|
|
| Born |
Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt
August 15, 1972 Berkeley, California, U.S.
|
| Education | University of Vermont Occidental College |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
|
Works
|
Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Casey Affleck (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has won many awards, including two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes. Ben Affleck started acting as a child in the PBS educational series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984–1988). He later appeared in the comedy Dazed and Confused (1993).
Affleck became widely known when he and Matt Damon won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for writing Good Will Hunting (1997). They also starred in this movie. He became a leading actor in big studio films like Armageddon (1998) and Pearl Harbor (2001). After a quiet period, Affleck made a strong return playing George Reeves in Hollywoodland (2006). For this role, he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
His first movie as a director was Gone Baby Gone (2007), which he also helped write. It was very well-received. He then directed and starred in The Town (2010) and Argo (2012). Both movies were very successful with critics and audiences. For Argo, Affleck won the BAFTA Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Picture. Affleck also starred in the thriller Gone Girl (2014) and played Batman in the DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). He continues to act and direct, often working with Matt Damon.
Affleck also helps lead the Eastern Congo Initiative. This group helps communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He supports the Democratic Party in politics. Affleck and Damon own a production company called Artists Equity.
Contents
Ben Affleck's Early Life and Education
Ben Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California. When he was three, his family moved to Massachusetts. They lived in Falmouth and then settled in Cambridge. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked many different jobs.
Ben's parents divorced when Ben was 11. Ben felt a sense of "relief" when his father left the family home.
Ben grew up in a family that cared about politics and the arts. He and his brother, Casey, often went to theater shows. They were encouraged to make their own home movies. Ben started acting professionally at age seven. His mother saved his earnings for college. She hoped he would become a teacher, as acting seemed uncertain. When Ben was 13, he filmed a children's TV show in Mexico. He learned Spanish while traveling there with his mother and brother.
At Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school, Ben acted in plays. He became close friends with Matt Damon, whom he had known since age eight. They both wanted to be actors. They traveled to New York for auditions and saved money together. Ben went to the University of Vermont for a few months but left after an injury. At 18, he moved to Los Angeles and studied at Occidental College for a year and a half.
Ben Affleck's Acting Career
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Ben Affleck acted throughout his childhood. He appeared in an independent film called The Dark End of the Street (1981). His biggest childhood role was starring in the PBS series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) and The Second Voyage of the Mimi (1988). These shows were made for science classes. As a teenager, he appeared in TV shows and a Burger King commercial.
After high school, Ben moved to New York briefly to find acting work. While studying in Los Angeles, he directed student films. He played many small roles. He was in the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and School Ties (1992). One of his most notable early roles was a high school bully in Dazed and Confused (1993).
His first main film role was in Glory Daze (1995). He then played a bully in Kevin Smith's comedy Mallrats (1995). He became friends with Smith, who later wrote him a lead role in Chasing Amy (1997). This film was a big step for Affleck's career. Critics praised his performance, calling it "wholesome and quick-witted."
Good Will Hunting and Major Success
The movie Good Will Hunting (1997) changed Ben Affleck's career. He co-wrote and acted in it. The idea for the script started in 1992 with Matt Damon. They worked on it together, setting parts of the story in their hometown of Cambridge. They sold the script in 1994. The film was directed by Gus Van Sant and also starred Damon, Minnie Driver, and Robin Williams.
When Good Will Hunting was released, critics loved the "smart and touching screenplay." Affleck and Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Affleck was 25 years old, making him the youngest person to win an Oscar for screenwriting.
Becoming a Leading Man
.jpg)
Armageddon, released in 1998, made Affleck a major Hollywood star. He played a driller who helps NASA stop an asteroid. The movie was a huge success at the box office. Critics noted his "Paul Newmanish charm."
In 1998, Affleck also had a role in the romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love. This film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The cast also won a Screen Actors Guild Award. Affleck then appeared in the horror film Phantoms.
Affleck and Damon reunited in Kevin Smith's film Dogma (1999). Affleck also starred with Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999). He was praised for his "winning ability to play against his good looks."
In 2000, Affleck starred in the action thriller Reindeer Games. He also had a supporting role in the crime drama Boiler Room (2000). He voiced Joseph in the animated movie Joseph: King of Dreams. His last film of 2000 was the romantic drama Bounce.
Affleck worked with director Michael Bay again for the war drama Pearl Harbor (2001). He then played CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the thriller The Sum of All Fears (2002). He also starred in the thriller Changing Lanes (2002).
Career Challenges and Comeback
Around 2003, Affleck faced a lot of media attention due to his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. This period also saw some of his films not doing as well. He starred as the blind superhero in Daredevil (2003). He then appeared in the romantic comedy Gigli (2003) and the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003).
In 2004, he starred in the romantic comedy Jersey Girl and the holiday comedy Surviving Christmas. After these films, Affleck decided to take a break from acting.
His career made a strong comeback in 2006 with his role as Superman actor George Reeves in Hollywoodland. Critics praised his performance, calling it "award-caliber." He won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival.
Directing Success
In 2007, Affleck directed his first feature film, Gone Baby Gone. This crime drama was set in Boston and starred his brother Casey. Affleck also co-wrote the script. The film received excellent reviews.
Affleck continued to act, appearing in He's Just Not That Into You (2009) and State of Play (2009). In 2010, he starred in The Company Men. Critics said he gave his "best performance yet."
He then directed the crime drama The Town (2010), which he also starred in and helped write. The film was a box office hit and received more praise for Affleck's directing skills.
Affleck's next directing project was Argo (2012). He starred as a CIA agent in this political thriller about saving U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Argo was a major success. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Best Picture. Affleck won the Golden Globe, Directors Guild of America Award, and BAFTA for Best Director.
In 2013, Affleck starred in To the Wonder and Runner Runner. He then starred in David Fincher's psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014). Critics praised his performance, saying he "carries the movie."
Batman and Recent Work
In 2016, Affleck took on the role of Batman in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He also made a cameo as Batman in Suicide Squad (2016). He starred as an autistic accountant in the action thriller The Accountant (2016), which was a surprise success.
Affleck wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Live by Night, released in late 2016. He returned as Batman in Justice League (2017).
In 2019, Affleck starred in the thriller Triple Frontier. He also made a cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. In 2020, he played a supporting role in The Last Thing He Wanted.
His starring role in the sports drama The Way Back (2020) was highly praised. The movie's themes were very personal for Affleck. Critics called his performance "rawest and most natural." He received a Best Actor nomination for this role.
In 2021, Affleck had supporting roles in two films. He co-wrote and appeared in Ridley Scott's medieval drama The Last Duel. He also appeared in George Clooney's drama The Tender Bar. For this role, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2022, Affleck starred in the thriller Deep Water. He also made a cameo in Clerks III.
Affleck's fifth movie as a director, Air, premiered in 2023. It tells the story of Nike creating the Air Jordan shoe. Affleck played a supporting role as Phil Knight. This movie was the first release from Affleck and Damon's new production company, Artists Equity. Affleck also starred in the action thriller Hypnotic and made a cameo as Batman in The Flash in 2023.
In 2025, Affleck starred in The Accountant 2. He has two more films coming out on Netflix. He directed and starred in the thriller Animals. He and Matt Damon will also star in the crime thriller The Rip.
Ben Affleck's Philanthropy and Causes
Eastern Congo Initiative
After visiting the region, Ben Affleck co-founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) in 2010. ECI is a nonprofit group that gives grants to local charities in the Congolese region. It helps farmers and works with companies like Theo Chocolate and Starbucks. ECI also tries to raise awareness and encourage policy changes in the United States.
Affleck has written articles about issues in eastern Congo for various newspapers and magazines. He has also spoken at many events and testified before U.S. Congress committees to discuss the region's challenges.
Other Charitable Work
Affleck supports the A-T Children's Project. He became involved after befriending a child with a rare disease called ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). He has helped raise money for A-T research.
.jpg)
He has visited U.S. military troops overseas as part of USO tours. He also supports Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Affleck is part of Feeding America's Entertainment Council. He has visited food banks and spoken at rallies to help fight hunger. He also helped launch Feeding America's Small Change Campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he organized an online poker tournament to benefit the charity.
Affleck supports charities that help people experiencing homelessness, such as the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles.
Ben Affleck's Political Involvement
Political Views
Affleck describes himself as "moderately liberal." He grew up in a family that supported unions. He has spoken out for increased wages for workers.
He supports a woman's right to choose. He also supported legalizing gay marriage for a long time. In 2004, he said it was "outrageous and offensive" to deny equal rights to transgender people.
.jpg)
Affleck has spoken about important global issues. He has discussed the relationship between liberal ideas and Islam. He signed a letter in 2023 calling for a ceasefire during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
He has also spoken about the Patriot Act and its impact on civil liberties. He has criticized certain tax policies. In 2007, he filmed a public service announcement for a campaign seeking affordable healthcare for all Americans.
Affleck owns guns for sports like skeet shooting and for family protection. He has also supported efforts to reduce petroleum use and promote alternative energy.
Democratic Party Support
.jpg)
Affleck registered as a Democrat in 1992. He has campaigned for several Democratic presidential candidates. He supported Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. During the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he spoke to many groups and attended fundraising events.
He campaigned for President Barack Obama. He introduced Obama at a rally in 2006. He also donated to Obama's campaign and appeared at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Affleck supported Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. He had met Clinton in 1998 and helped fundraise for her Senate campaign in 2000. He donated to her campaign fund in 2016.
He also supported Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Affleck has donated to many other Democratic campaigns for various offices over the years.
While Affleck has often expressed interest in politics, he has said since 2007 that he does not plan to run for office.
Ben Affleck's Personal Life
Marriage to Jennifer Garner
_(cropped).jpg)
Ben Affleck was married to actress Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018. They became friends while working on Pearl Harbor (2001) and Daredevil (2003). They started dating in 2004 and married in June 2005. They have three children together.
They announced their separation in June 2015 and finalized their divorce in October 2018. Affleck has called the divorce "the biggest regret of my life."
Affleck has spoken out about paparazzi attention on his children. He believes photographers should not take pictures at his private home or of his kids. In 2013, he and Garner hosted an event to support a bill protecting celebrities' children from harassment. This bill later became law in California.
Relationship with Jennifer Lopez
Affleck first dated Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004. They became friends while filming Gigli in 2001. Their relationship was very public, and tabloids called them "Bennifer." They appeared in her music video "Jenny from the Block" and the film Jersey Girl. They got engaged in 2002 but postponed their wedding due to media attention. They called off their engagement in 2004.
Affleck and Lopez remained in contact over the years. They started dating again in April 2021. They announced their second engagement in April 2022. They married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, and had a larger celebration later that summer. The couple separated in April 2024, and their divorce was finalized in February 2025.
Other Relationships
Affleck dated actress Gwyneth Paltrow from 1997 to 2000. They worked together on Shakespeare in Love and Bounce.
He also had relationships with TV producer Lindsay Shookus and Cuban actress Ana de Armas.
Hobbies and Beliefs
Affleck enjoys playing poker. He won the 2004 California State Poker Championship.
Affleck grew up in an Episcopalian family but was not raised strictly religious. He identifies as agnostic and finds some teachings of Buddhism helpful. He has said that faith has helped him in his recovery journey.
Ben Affleck's Filmography and Awards
Ben Affleck has appeared in over 50 films. He has won many awards as an actor, writer, and director. He first gained recognition for writing Good Will Hunting (1997) with Matt Damon. For this, he won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. At 25, he was the youngest person to win this Oscar.
As an actor, he was nominated for Golden Globes for his roles in Hollywoodland (2006) and The Tender Bar (2021). His film Argo (2012), which he directed, co-produced, and starred in, won him many top awards. These include the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Directors Guild Award for Best Director. Argo also won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Producers Guild Award for Best Picture.
Images for kids
-
Affleck visiting US Marines in Manama, Bahrain in 2003
See also
In Spanish: Ben Affleck para niños
