✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Ben Affleck Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthAugust 15, 1972

Age52 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceBerkeley, California, U.S.

ProfessionActor, Film Maker

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusSeparated

SpouseJennifer Garner (m. 2005; div. 2018); Jennifer Lopez (m. July 2022)

FamilyFather - Timothy Byers Affleck; Mother - Christine Anne Boldt; Brother - Casey Affleck

Ben Affleck Biography

An actor, screenwriter and director whose career began in childhood and who rose to widespread recognition with Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck has workedas

Early life and background
Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt was born on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California. He grew up in a family with a complex household background; his father held a variety of jobs while his parents divorced when Affleck was twelve. As a child he formed a close friendship with Matt Damon, who lived nearby. Affleck attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and later enrolled at college—first at the University of Virginia and then at the University of Vermont, where he took Spanish classes.

Career
Affleck’s screen career began very early. He first appeared in a local independent film at age seven and went on to star in PBS children’s educational series produced for classroom use. As a young performer he built on that early exposure and moved into mainstream film work.

His breakthrough as a writer came with Good Will Hunting (1997), a project he co-wrote with Matt Damon that earned both of them the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Following that recognition, Affleck established himself as a leading actor in studio features, including a high-profile role in Armageddon (1998).

In the mid-2000s he began to pursue directing. His feature directorial debut was Gone Baby Gone (2007), a film he also co-wrote. Later he wrote, directed and starred in the political thriller Argo (2012), which brought him major awards as a filmmaker: the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Director and multiple honors for Best Picture, including the Academy Award. As an actor he continued to take on varied roles; his portrayal of the superhero Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a notable example.

Public profile
Affleck’s public image encompasses acting, writing and directing. He has received critical recognition across those roles, with award wins and nominations that reflect both his screenwriting and directing work. Outside of film, Affleck has interests that include baseball—he is a noted fan of the Boston Red Sox—and poker, having trained with recognized players and winning the 2004 California State Poker Championship.

Personal life
Affleck’s family includes his parents, Timothy Byers Affleck and Christine Anne Boldt, and his brother Casey Affleck. He has three children: Violet, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, and Samuel. His marital history in the excerpt lists marriages to Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez; the excerpt also notes a separation and later a divorce filing by Jennifer Lopez in August 2024 after two years of marriage. The profile here characterizes him as a member of the Democratic Party who has described himself as moderately liberal.

Latest updates
The most recent personal update in the excerpt records that Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, following their marriage in July 2022. Other contemporary facts include continued public recognition for his filmmaking and occasional headlines tied to his personal life.
◈

Recent Work

Argo

Political thriller that Affleck wrote, directed and starred in; received multiple awards including Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Director and awards for Best Picture

2012
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Portrayed the superhero Batman in this 2016 film

2016
Gone Baby Gone

Directorial debut (also co-writer) that marked Affleck’s transition into directing feature films

2007
Good Will Hunting

Co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Damon; won Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

1997
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Won Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting (1997)
  2. Directed Gone Baby Gone (2007)
  3. Directed and starred in Argo (2012), receiving Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Director and awards for Best Picture
  4. Portrayed Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
  5. Won the 2004 California State Poker Championship
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ben Affleck born?

August 15, 1972

What is Ben Affleck known for?

Actor, Film Maker

What is Ben Affleck’s marital status?

Separated

Who is Ben Affleck married to?

Jennifer Garner (m. 2005; div. 2018); Jennifer Lopez (m. July 2022)