| Biography
Benjamin Geza Affleck was born on August 15th, 1972 in Berkeley, California. His Father works in a Drug rehabilitation hospital in California and his mother is a Teacher 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 where he broke into acting.
At the age of eight he starred in PBSs marine biology-themed ''The Voyage of the Mimi.'' He also struck up a friendship with Matt Damon, a boy two years older than himself who lived down the street.After Graduating high school the young Affleck dabbled in higher education at both the University of Vermont and Californias Occidental College. He found it all too restricting 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. Damon wanted 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 in the 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 to Van Sants 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 the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Ben became one of Hollywoods most promising young men. He also gained a lot of attention for his on going relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow.
He continued to keep busy with enormous success in Oscar winner ''Shakespeare in Love'' starring Gwyneth Paltrow and the block buster ''Armegedon'' (1999) opposite Liv Tyler and Bruce Willis.
He has continued with a dizzying pace, appearing in''Forces of Nature,'' ''Boiler Room,'' ''Daddy and Them'', and reuniting with Damon in''Dogma.''You can currently catch him in ''Deception'' co-staring Charlize Theron, as an ex-contrying to mend his ways.
He has also tried his hand at directing a short feature with theprovocative title I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meathook, and Now I have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney. | |
