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
August 15, 1972
Birth
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.
1984
Early Acting Career
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).
1993
Breakthrough Role
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.
1997
Critical Acclaim
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.
1998
Blockbuster Success
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.
2001
Production Company
Affleck co-founded the production company LivePlanet, which produced the television series "Project Greenlight" (2001–05, 2015), providing training to first-time filmmakers.
2007
Directorial Debut
Affleck made his feature film directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone", a thriller adapted from the Dennis Lehane novel, which was critically praised.
2012
Academy Award for Best Picture
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.
2016
Superhero Roles
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).
2020-2021
Recent Notable Roles
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.
2023
Recent Directorial Work
Affleck returned to direction with the acclaimed sports drama "Air" (2023), in which he also portrayed Phil Knight.
