Ben Affleck, born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt on August 15, 1972, is a renowned American actor and filmmaker known for his diverse roles in action, drama, and comedy films. His career spans over three decades, marked by significant milestones and achievements in both acting and filmmaking.
Main Milestones
Birth
August 15, 1972
Ben Affleck was born in Berkeley, California, to Christine Anne Boldt and Timothy Byers Affleck. He grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he formed a lasting friendship with his neighbor Matt Damon.
Early Acting Career
1984
Affleck began his acting career as a child, appearing in the PBS educational program "The Voyage of the Mimi" and later in the TV movie "Hands of a Stranger" (1987) and "The Second Voyage of the Mimi" (1988).
Breakthrough Role
1993
Affleck gained attention for playing a high-school senior in Richard Linklater's cult film "Dazed and Confused", which marked a significant turning point in his career.
Critical Acclaim
1997
Affleck co-wrote the script and starred with Matt Damon in Gus Van Sant's drama film "Good Will Hunting", for which they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Blockbuster Success
1998
Affleck starred in Michael Bay's top-grossing science fiction film "Armageddon", which marked his transformation into a bona fide movie star and opened the door to bigger opportunities.
Production Company
2001
Affleck co-founded the production company LivePlanet, which produced the television series "Project Greenlight" (2001–05, 2015), providing training to first-time filmmakers.
Directorial Debut
2007
Affleck made his feature film directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone", a thriller adapted from the Dennis Lehane novel, which was critically praised.
Academy Award for Best Picture
2012
Affleck directed and starred in the political thriller "Argo", which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and he won the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Director.
Superhero Roles
2016
Affleck starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the superhero films "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Justice League", reprising the role in "Zack Snyder's Justice League" (2021).
Recent Notable Roles
2020-2021
Affleck gave praise-worthy performances in "The Way Back" (2020) as a recovering alcoholic, "The Last Duel" (2021) which he also co-wrote, and "The Tender Bar" (2021), earning a Golden Globe nomination.
Recent Directorial Work
2023
Affleck returned to direction with the acclaimed sports drama "Air" (2023), in which he also portrayed Phil Knight.
