Birth Name:
Benjamin G. Affleck
Birthdate: August 15, 1972
Birthplace: Berkeley, CA
Occupations: Actor, Director, Writer
Claim to Fame: Cowrote and starred in the Oscar-winning drama
Good Will Hunting (1987) with pal Matt Damon
Significant Other(s):
Fiancйe: Jennifer Lopez, actress, musician; met while filming
Gigli, also costars in Jersey Girl; announced engagement in
November 2002
Cheyenne Rothman: dated on and off since high school
Gwyneth Paltrow: actress; dated January 1998 to January 1999
Family:
Father: Tim Affleck, social worker, former actor; divorced from
Affleck's mother
Mother: Chris, teacher; divorced
Brother: Casey, actor; born 1975
Awards:
1998: Academy Award: Best Original Screenplay, Good Will Hunting
(cowritten with Matt Damon)
Factoids:
1993: Directed the short film I Murdered My Lesbian Wife, Hung
Her on a Meat Hook
Education:
University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
Occidental College, Eagle Rock, California (was attending when
he made School Ties in 1992)
Benjamin Geza Affleck was born on August 15th, 1972 in Berkeley,
California. HisFather works in a Drug rehabilitation hospital in
California and his mother is aTeacher in Cambridge. His younger
brother (and only sibling), Casey, is also anactor and
co-starred with Ben in Good Will Hunting.When Affleck was very
young his family relocated to the Boston area. This is wherehe
broke into acting. At the age of eight he starred in PBS’s
marine biology-themed''The Voyage of the Mimi.'' He also struck
up a friendship with Matt Damon, a boy twoyears older than
himself who lived down the street.After Graduating high school
the young Affleck dabbled in higher education at boththe
University of Vermont and California’s Occidental College. He
found it all toorestricting and opted to give Hollywood a try.
He landed parts in made-for-TV moviesand had a small role in
''School Ties'' in 1992 which also featured Matt Damon.
Benfollowed with work in ''Dazed and Confused'' (1993), and
''Mallrats'' in 1995.
Affleck began feeling frustrated with the lack of substantial
roles he found inTinseltown. He received a phone call from long
time friend Matt Damon. Damonwanted Ben to help him work on a
screen play he had started while at Harvard.Affleck agreed and
together they came up with a brilliant story that featured them
inthe lead characters. However, it was Afflecks brother, Casey,
who introduced the pairto director Gus Van Sant. Van Sant had
directed Casey in ''To Die For.'' Thanks toVan Sant’s interest
the script was picked up by Miramax and in 1997 ''Good
WillHunting'' was realized.The movie was a huge success and so
were Affleck and Damon. They won theOscar for Best Original
Screenplay. Ben became one of Hollywoods most promisingyoung
men. He also gained a lot of attention for his ongoing
relationship with GwynethPaltrow. |