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Ben Sinclair (actor)
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Ben Sinclair (born May 16, 1984) is an American actor, writer, director, and producer.
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Sinclair grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. His mother is a cantor at a Reform synagogue; his father is a public school teacher.[1] Sinclair attended Oberlin College.[2]
Career
[edit]Sinclair is the co-creator, writer, and star of High Maintenance, a Vimeo web series and HBO television series set in New York City. The series is partially inspired by experiences from his personal life,[3] and first aired in 2012.[4] His final performance as his High Maintenance character was as a small cameo on HBO's Betty, also filmed in New York City.
He also starred in the music video for "Meet Me In A House Of Love" by Cut Copy. [5]
He has also directed six episodes of FXX’s Dave and an episode of Interior Chinatown.
Personal life
[edit]Sinclair married his writing partner and High Maintenance co-creator Katja Blichfeld in 2010, after meeting at a 2009 party in Los Angeles.[6][7] They came up with the idea for the show while on a bicycle ride across the Williamsburg Bridge, and started the show in 2012.[7][8] Blichfield and Sinclair divorced amicably in 2016, prior to undertaking season two of High Maintenance.[2][7]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Safe | Angry Man | |
| 2013 | The Happy Sad | Ted | |
| 2015 | All Over It | Finn | |
| 2015 | Sisters | Construction Worker | |
| 2016 | No Pay, Nudity | Young Actor / Oswald | |
| 2017 | Fits and Starts | Parking Attendant | |
| 2017 | Home Again | Nate | |
| 2020 | Save Yourselves! | Raph | |
| 2022 | Spin Me Round | Craig | |
| 2024 | Night Swim | Pool Tech |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Mercy | Wild Eyed Guy | Episode: "There Is No Superwoman" |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jonas Rothenberg | Episode: "Branded" |
| 2011 | Onion News Network | Lunatic | Episode: "Stock Market Crash" |
| 2011 | 30 Rock | Brooklyn Idiot | Episode: "100: Part 1" |
| 2011 | The Big C | Homeless Guy | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | A Gifted Man | Drunk #1 | Episode: "In Case of Missed Communication" |
| 2012 | Delocated | Friend | Episode: "Friend" |
| 2012–2015 | High Maintenance | The Guy | 18 episodes; also co-creator, director, and writer |
| 2013 | Next Caller | Guy | Episode: "The Tude & the Prude" |
| 2018 | Maniac | Proxy Owen Milgrim | Episode: "Option C" |
| 2016–2020 | High Maintenance | The Guy | 34 episodes; also co-creator, director, and writer |
| 2020 | Betty | Biker | Episode: "Ladies on Fire" |
| 2020 | The Fungies! | Bacteria Monster | Episode: "The Fanciest Fungie" |
| 2021 | Dave | Atoms | Episode: "Enlightened Dave" |
| 2021–2023 | Teenage Euthanasia | Kirk/Dirk/Pete's Friend | Episodes: "Dada M.I.A." and "Viva La Flappanista" |
| 2022 | The Resort | Alex | |
| 2023 | Poker Face | Boss | Episode: "Exit Stage Death"; also director |
| 2024 | Interior Chinatown | N/a | Episode: "Delivery Guy"; director only |
References
[edit]- ^ Maron, Marc (30 March 2020). "WTF With Marc Maron". Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Kurutz, Steven (January 18, 2018). "Brooklyn's Favorite Pot Dealer Returns". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Ben Sinclair: High Maintenance And The Battle Of The Podcast Stars". NPR. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Max Cea (February 5, 2020). "How High Maintenance Became "Law & Order for Millennial Actors"". GQ. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ https://vimeo.com/94002889
- ^ Bromwich, Jonah (September 9, 2016). "Call It a Growing Family: 'High Maintenance' Moves to HBO". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c Mechling, Katja Blichfeld as told to Lauren (11 January 2018). "How Coming Out Made Me Whole: High Maintenance's Katja Blichfeld Tells Her Story". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ "How Katja Blichfeld Went From Anxious 'Super Christian' To Queer Stoner Icon". HuffPost Canada. 2018-02-23. Archived from the original on 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
External links
[edit]- Ben Sinclair at IMDb
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Ben Sinclair (actor)
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Early life and education
Family background
Ben Sinclair was born on May 16, 1984, in New York City and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona.[5][6] As the youngest of four siblings, Sinclair grew up in a household where parental attention was limited, fostering his early development of humor and a desire for the spotlight.[7] His mother served as a synagogue cantor, instilling a strong connection to Jewish heritage and traditions in the family.[7] This cultural influence was evident in Sinclair's active participation in Temple Kol Ami's youth group during his upbringing in Scottsdale, where he was the most engaged sibling in organized Jewish life, even serving as a counselor at a Jewish summer camp in California.[6] His father worked various jobs, including as a fourth-grade public school teacher, which contributed to a family environment that valued education and intellectual pursuits.[7] During his childhood in Arizona, Sinclair displayed early creative and performative inclinations tied to his family dynamics, such as filming a music video at age eight featuring his brother jumping off a roof, an activity that highlighted his interest in capturing real-life moments through performance.[6] These experiences, shaped by his siblings, further reinforced a blend of cultural, educational, and artistic influences in his formative years.[7]Education
Sinclair attended Oberlin College, a liberal arts institution in Ohio, during the early 2000s. Initially intending to major in international relations, he shifted his focus to theater and dance after becoming deeply engaged with the performing arts.[4] At Oberlin, Sinclair actively participated in theater productions, including a role in the 2005 staging of Tony Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day, directed by the college's Theater and Dance Program.[8] These experiences, combined with his coursework in theater and dance, deepened his engagement with the performing arts.[4] Sinclair graduated from Oberlin in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in theater and dance.[9] Following graduation, he relocated to New York City to pursue opportunities in the arts, marking the beginning of his professional immersion in the city's vibrant creative scene.[10]Career
Early career
After graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in theater and dance in 2006, Sinclair spent nine months in Los Angeles before returning to New York City in 2007 to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry.[10] There, he took on odd jobs while building his skills, including freelance film editing and participating in Off-Off-Broadway theater productions to hone his acting abilities.[10][11] Sinclair's initial acting appearances came around 2010, featuring minor roles such as a "wild-eyed guy" in an episode of the medical drama Mercy and Jonas Rothenberg in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[2] He also appeared in independent short films and continued with small theater work, gradually gaining experience in the competitive New York scene.[10] During this period, Sinclair began collaborating with casting director Katja Blichfeld, whom he met through her professional network; she was impressed by his on-screen energy during auditions and early interactions.[12] Their partnership extended to casting assistance on projects and initial writing endeavors, laying the groundwork for future creative work together.[13] An early notable credit for Sinclair was his starring role in Cut Copy's 2014 music video for "Meet Me in a House of Love," directed by Trouble Hands, which showcased his quirky persona in a psychedelic narrative.[14]High Maintenance
Ben Sinclair co-created the anthology series High Maintenance with his then-wife Katja Blichfeld in 2012, launching it as a low-budget web series on Vimeo that centered on "The Guy," a bicycle-riding marijuana dealer navigating vignettes of New York City life through his clients' diverse encounters.[15] The initial 19 short episodes, typically running 5 to 12 minutes, captured intimate, often eccentric stories of Brooklyn residents, emphasizing themes of connection, isolation, and urban eccentricity without relying on traditional plot arcs.[16] Sinclair not only co-wrote the scripts but also starred as the enigmatic "The Guy," a role that allowed him to embody a silent observer facilitating the series' character-driven narratives.[17] In 2015, HBO acquired the web series and ordered six new half-hour episodes for the first season, marking a significant transition that premiered the expanded format in September 2016 and ran for four seasons through 2020, producing a total of 34 episodes that deepened the vignette style into more interconnected tales.[18] The show earned critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of New York City's multicultural fabric, including strong representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and marginalized communities, often subverting expectations in stories that blended humor with poignant explorations of loneliness and resilience.[19] Sinclair continued as lead actor and co-writer, directing several episodes himself, which contributed to the series' raw, independent aesthetic even on a premium network.[20] Amid personal challenges, including Sinclair and Blichfeld's amicable divorce in 2016, they co-wrote seasons 2 and 3, channeling the upheaval into the show's evolving emotional depth and serving as a form of collaborative "exposure therapy" for their transition.[21] This period solidified Sinclair's multifaceted contributions, as his performance and writing helped maintain the series' cult appeal. The HBO deal dramatically boosted his career visibility, transforming High Maintenance from a niche web hit into a culturally resonant program often shorthand as a "show about weed" that masterfully encapsulated the complexities of contemporary NYC existence.[22]Later projects
Following the success of High Maintenance, which served as a launchpad for broader opportunities, Sinclair transitioned into more prominent behind-the-camera roles, establishing himself as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker. He served as an executive producer and director on the FXX comedy series Dave, helming six episodes across its run from 2020 to 2023, including season 3's "#RIPLilDicky."[23][24] This work highlighted his ability to blend sharp humor with character-driven storytelling, drawing on his experience with ensemble narratives. In acting, Sinclair achieved a notable milestone with his role as Proxy Owen Milgrim in the Netflix miniseries Maniac (2018), a surreal psychological drama that showcased his versatility in supporting parts and influenced his selection for subsequent projects blending indie sensibilities with mainstream appeal. This performance, alongside appearances in films like Night Swim (2024) and Good Time Charlie (2025), underscored his continued presence on screen while prioritizing directing.[25][26] Sinclair further diversified into episodic television direction with the 2023 episode "Exit Stage Death" of Peacock's Poker Face, where he crafted a taut mystery infused with theatrical flair.[27] By 2024, he directed the second episode, "Delivery Guy," of Hulu's Interior Chinatown, adapting Charles Yu's novel with a focus on meta-narrative elements and cultural satire.[28] These projects reflect Sinclair's evolving trajectory as of 2025, leaning toward independent television and film endeavors that emphasize innovative storytelling and collaborative production.[29]Personal life
Marriage and family
Ben Sinclair met Katja Blichfeld in 2009 at a party in Los Angeles, where she, working as a casting director, was immediately drawn to his charismatic personality and envisioned following him with a camera, an idea that later inspired their collaborative projects.[30] They married in 2010 and relocated together to New York City, where they established their creative partnership. Sinclair and Blichfeld divorced in 2017, shortly before they began writing the second season of High Maintenance for HBO, a period marked by the professional transition of their web series to the network.[21] The split was amicable, allowing them to maintain a collaborative relationship on the show despite the personal challenges.[31] In post-divorce interviews, Sinclair reflected on the experience as a catalyst for personal growth, emphasizing the importance of cultivating separateness and space in relationships, which he credited with improving the quality of their work on season two.[31] He described the process as a form of "exposure therapy," openly discussing the breakup in the writers' room to foster transparency.[21] As of 2025, Sinclair has not remarried, and their professional partnership has endured beyond the marriage, with continued joint credits on High Maintenance.[5]Spiritual pursuits
In 2022, Ben Sinclair relocated to Maui, Hawaii, for a personal retreat aimed at immersing himself in a community of spiritual seekers and deepening his practices.[32] This move, initially tied to a television project, evolved into an extended stay where he engaged in communal activities, including chants and service, to foster greater mindfulness and presence.[32] Sinclair's spiritual interests were profoundly shaped by the teachings of Ram Dass, whose book Be Here Now he discovered in 2018 and revisited during his time in Maui with the late guru's community.[32] He credits Ram Dass with inspiring "conversations with God"—dialogues with nature, deities, and higher powers—and lessons in self-love that encouraged him to embrace earnestness over cynicism.[32] These influences emphasized curiosity, presence, and self-compassion as core elements of his evolving philosophy. Following his 2022 retreat, Sinclair integrated these practices into his daily routine, incorporating meditation and mindful awareness to cultivate a sustained sense of presence without external fanfare.[32]Filmography
Film
Sinclair expanded his acting career into feature films following the success of the television series High Maintenance, taking on supporting roles in a range of comedic and dramatic productions.[2]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Safe | Supporting role as Angry Man[33] |
| 2013 | The Happy Sad | Supporting role as Ted[34] |
| 2015 | Sisters | Supporting role as Construction Worker[35] |
| 2016 | No Pay, Nudity | Supporting role as Young Actor / Oswald[36] |
| 2017 | Fits and Starts | Supporting role as Parking Attendant |
| 2017 | Home Again | Supporting role as Nate[37] |
| 2020 | Save Yourselves! | Supporting role as Raph[38] |
| 2022 | Spin Me Round | Supporting role as Craig |
| 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Supporting role as Science Friend[39] |
| 2024 | Night Swim | Supporting role as Pool Tech[40] |
| 2024 | The Bleacher | Voice role[41] |
| 2025 | Good Time Charlie | Charlie[26] |
Television
Sinclair's most prominent television role is as The Guy, a marijuana deliveryman, in the web series High Maintenance (2012–2015) and its HBO continuation (2016–2020), appearing in all episodes as the lead character.[42][43] His performance in the series, which he co-created with Katja Blichfeld, earned critical acclaim for its portrayal of diverse New York City lives.[44] He has also taken on guest and recurring roles in various other series, often playing quirky or supporting characters, while occasionally directing episodes.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Maniac | Proxy Owen Milgrim | 1 | Miniseries, guest star |
| 2020 | Betty | Biker | 1 | Guest star |
| 2020 | The Fungies! | Bacteria Monster (voice) | 1 | Guest star, voice role |
| 2021 | Dave | Atoms | 1 | Guest star, cameo |
| 2021–2023 | Teenage Euthanasia | Pete's Friend #2 / Kirk / Dirk (voice) | 2 | Recurring, voice role |
| 2022 | The Resort | Alex | 3 | Recurring guest star[45] |
| 2022 | Search Party | Helpless Man | 1 | Guest star |
| 2023 | Poker Face | Boss | 1 | Guest star; also directed the episode[27] |