Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt on August 15, 1972, inBerkeley, California.[2][3] His family moved to Massachusetts when he was three,[4] living inFalmouth, where his brotherCasey was born, before settling inCambridge.[5] His mother, Christopher Anne "Chris" Boldt,[6] was aHarvard-educated elementary school teacher.[7][8] His father, Timothy Byers Affleck,[9] was an aspiring playwright[9] who was "mostly unemployed".[10] He worked sporadically as a carpenter,[11] auto mechanic,[4]bookie,[12] electrician,[13] bartender,[14] and janitor at Harvard.[15] In the mid-1960s, he had been an actor and stage manager with theTheater Company of Boston.[16]
During Affleck's childhood, his father had a self-described "severe, chronic problem with alcoholism",[17] and Affleck has recalled him drinking "all day ... every day".[18] His father was "very difficult",[19] and Affleck felt a sense of "relief" at the age of 11 when his parents divorced,[20][21] and his father exited the family home.[17][9] His father continued to drink heavily[7] and eventually became homeless, spending two years living on the streets of Cambridge.[12][22] When Affleck was 16, his father entered a rehabilitation facility inIndio, California. He lived at the facility for 12 years to maintain his sobriety[23] and worked there as an addiction counselor.[7][24]
Affleck was raised in a politically active, liberal household.[12][25] He and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who worked in the arts;[26] the boys regularly attended theater performances with their mother[27] and were encouraged to make their ownhome movies.[28]David Wheeler, a family friend, later remembered Affleck as a "very bright and intensely curious" child.[29] The brothers auditioned for roles in local commercials and film productions because of their mother's friendship with a Cambridge-area casting director,[14] and Affleck first acted professionally at the age of seven.[29] His mother saved his wages in a college trust fund[9] and hoped her son would ultimately become a teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession.[30] When Affleck was 13, he filmed a children's television program in Mexico. He learned to speak Spanish during a year spent traveling around the country with his mother and brother.[31][32]
As aCambridge Rindge and Latin high school student, Affleck acted in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca.[33][34] He became close friends with fellow studentMatt Damon, whom he had known since the age of eight.[35] Although Damon was two years older, the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to pursue acting careers.[35] They traveled to New York together for acting auditions[36] and saved money for train and airline tickets in a joint bank account.[37] While Affleck had highSAT scores,[9] he was largely an unfocused student with poor attendance.[7][38] He spent a few months studying Spanish at theUniversity of Vermont, chosen because of its proximity to his then-girlfriend,[13] but he left after fracturing his hip while playing basketball.[36] At 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles,[30] studying Middle Eastern affairs atOccidental College for a year and a half.[39][40]
Career
1981–1997: Child acting andGood Will Hunting
Affleck acted professionally throughout his childhood but, in his own words, "not in the sense that I had a mom that wanted to take me to Hollywood or a family that wanted to make money from me ... I kind of chanced into something."[41] He first appeared, at the age of seven, in an independent film,The Dark End of the Street (1981), directed by a family friend.[42] His biggest success as a child actor was as the star of thePBS children's seriesThe Voyage of the Mimi (1984) andThe Second Voyage of the Mimi (1988), produced for sixth-grade science classes. Affleck worked "sporadically" onMimi from the age of eight to fifteen in both Massachusetts and Mexico.[41] As a teenager, he appeared in theABCafter school specialWanted: A Perfect Man (1986),[43] the television filmHands of a Stranger (1987),[41] and a 1989Burger King commercial.[34]
After high school, Affleck moved briefly to New York in search of acting work.[41] Later, while studying at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Affleck directedstudent films.[12][44] As an actor, he had a series of "knock-around parts, one to the next".[41] He playedPatrick Duffy's son in the television filmDaddy (1991), made an uncredited appearance as a basketball player in theBuffy the Vampire Slayer film (1992), and had a supporting role as a prep school student inSchool Ties (1992).[45] He played a high school quarterback in theNBC television seriesAgainst the Grain (1993), and a steroid-abusing high school football player inBody to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story (1994). Affleck's most notable role during this period was as a high school bully inRichard Linklater's cult classicDazed and Confused (1993).[46] Linklater wanted a likable actor for the villainous role, and, while Affleck was "big and imposing", he was "so smart and full of life ... I just liked him."[47][48] Affleck later said Linklater was instrumental in demystifying the filmmaking process for him.[12]
Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art student in the college dramaGlory Daze (1995), with Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times remarking that his "affably mopey performance finds just the right balance between obnoxious and sad sack".[49] He then played a bully in filmmakerKevin Smith's comedyMallrats (1995) and became friends with Smith during the filming. Affleck had begun to worry that he would be relegated to a career of "throwing people into their lockers",[41] but Smith wrote him a lead role in the romantic comedyChasing Amy (1997).[4][41] The film was Affleck's breakthrough.[41]Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times praised Affleck's "wonderful ease" playing the role, combining "suave good looks with cool comic timing".[50] Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly described it as a "wholesome and quick-witted" performance.[51] When Affleck starred as a recently returned Korean War veteran in the coming-of-age dramaGoing All the Way (1997), Todd McCarthy ofVariety found him "excellent",[52] while Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times noted that his "flair for comic self-doubt made a strong impression."[53]
Affleck and Matt Damon attend aCamp David screening ofGood Will Hunting with PresidentBill Clinton in January 1998.
The success of 1997'sGood Will Hunting, which Affleck co-wrote and acted in, marked a turning point in his career. The screenplay originated in 1992 when Damon wrote a 40-page script for a playwriting class at Harvard University.[54] He asked Affleck to act out the scenes with him in front of the class and, when Damon later moved into Affleck's Los Angeles apartment, they began working on the script in earnest.[35] The film, which they wrote mainly during improvisation sessions, was set partly in their hometown of Cambridge and drew from their own experiences.[54][55] The screenplay was borne of their desire to create "an acting reel" for themselves.[56] They sold the screenplay toCastle Rock in 1994 when Affleck was 22 years old. During the development process, they received notes from industry figures, includingRob Reiner andWilliam Goldman.[57] Following a lengthy dispute with Castle Rock about a suitable director, Affleck and Damon persuadedMiramax to purchase the screenplay.[11] The two friends moved back to Boston for a year before the film finally went into production, directed byGus Van Sant, and co-starring Damon, Affleck,Minnie Driver, andRobin Williams.[54]
On its release, Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times praised the "smart and touching screenplay",[58] while Emanuel Levy ofVariety found it "funny, nonchalant, moving and angry".[59] Jay Carr ofThe Boston Globe wrote that Affleck brought "a beautifully nuanced tenderness" to his role as the working-class friend of Damon's mathematical prodigy character.[60] Affleck and Damon eventually won theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay.[12] Affleck has described this period of his life as "dreamlike": "It was like one of those scenes in an old movie when a newspaper comes spinning out of the black on to the screen. You know, '$100 Million Box Office! Awards!'"[36] He remains the youngest writer (at age 25) ever to win an Oscar for screenwriting.[54][61]
Armageddon, released in 1998, established Affleck as a viable leading man for Hollywood studio films.Good Will Hunting had not yet been released during the casting process and, after Affleck'sscreen test, directorMichael Bay dismissed him as "a geek". ProducerJerry Bruckheimer convinced Bay that Affleck would be a star,[30] but he was required to lose weight, become tanned, and get his teeth capped before filming began.[62] The film, where he starred oppositeBruce Willis as a blue-collar driller tasked byNASA with stopping an asteroid from colliding with Earth, was a box office success.[63] Daphne Merkin ofThe New Yorker remarked: "Affleck demonstrates a sexyPaul Newmanish charm and is clearly bound for stardom."[64]
Later in 1998, Affleck had a supporting role as an arrogant English actor in the period romantic comedyShakespeare in Love, starring his then-girlfriendGwyneth Paltrow. Lael Loewenstein ofVariety remarked that Affleck "does some of his very best work, suggesting that comedy may be his true calling,"[65] while Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times found him "very funny".[66]Shakespeare in Love won sevenAcademy Awards, includingBest Picture, while the cast won theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. Affleck then appeared as a small-town sheriff in the supernatural horror filmPhantoms.[41] Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times wondered why actors like Affleck andPeter O'Toole had agreed to appear in the "junky" film: "Affleck's thudding performance suggests he is reading his dialogue for the first time, directly from cue cards."[67]
Affleck and Damon had an on-screen reunion in Kevin Smith's religious satireDogma, which premiered at the1999 Cannes Film Festival. Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times remarked that the pair, playing fallen angels, "bring great, understandable enthusiasm to Mr. Smith's smart talk and wild imaginings".[68] Affleck starred oppositeSandra Bullock in the romantic comedyForces of Nature (1999), playing a groom whose attempts to get to his wedding are complicated by his free-spirited traveling companion.Joe Leydon ofVariety praised "his winning ability to play against his good looks in a self-effacing comic turn".[69] Affleck then appeared oppositeCourtney Love in the little-seen ensemble comedy200 Cigarettes (1999).[70]
Interested in a directorial career, Affleck shadowedJohn Frankenheimer throughout pre-production of the action thrillerReindeer Games (2000).[30][71] Frankenheimer, directing his last feature film, described Affleck as having "a very winning, likable quality about him. I've been doing this for a long time and he's really one of the nicest."[72] He starred oppositeCharlize Theron as a hardened criminal, with Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Times enjoying the unexpected casting choice: "Affleck often suggests one of theKennedys playingClark Kent ... He looks as if he has never missed a party or a night's sleep. He's game, though, and his slight dislocation works to the advantage ofReindeer Games."[73] He then had a supporting role as a ruthless stockbroker in the crime dramaBoiler Room (2000).[71]A.O. Scott ofThe New York Times felt Affleck had merely "traced over"Alec Baldwin's performance inGlengarry Glen Ross,[74] while Peter Rainer ofNew York Magazine said he "does a series of riffs on Baldwin's aria, and each one is funnier and crueler than the next".[75] He provided the voice of Joseph in the animatedJoseph: King of Dreams.[76] In his last film role of 2000, Affleck starred opposite his girlfriend Paltrow in the romantic dramaBounce. Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times praised the "understated intensity and exquisite detail" of his performance: "His portrait of a young, sarcastically self-defined 'people person' who isn't half as confident as he would like to appear is close to definitive."[77]
Affleck reunited with director Michael Bay for the critically derided war dramaPearl Harbor (2001).[78] Todd McCarthy ofVariety wrote "the blandly handsome Affleck couldn't convince that he'd ever so much as been turned down for a date, much less lost the love of his life to his best friend".[79] Affleck then parodiedGood Will Hunting with Damon and Van Sant in Kevin Smith'sJay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001),[80] made a cameo in the comedyDaddy and Them (2001),[81] and had a supporting role in the little-seenThe Third Wheel (2002).[29] He portrayed theCIA analystJack Ryan in the thrillerThe Sum of All Fears (2002). Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times felt he was miscast in a role previously played by bothHarrison Ford and Alec Baldwin: "Although Mr. Affleck can be appealing when playing earnest young men groping toward maturity, he simply lacks the gravitas for the role."[82] Affleck had an "amazing experience" making the thrillerChanging Lanes (2002),[41] and later citedRoger Michell as someone he learned from as a director.[71][83] Robert Koehler ofVariety described it as one of his "most thoroughly wrought" performances: "The journey into a moral fog compels him to play more inwardly and thoughtfully than he ever has before."[84]
Affleck became more involved with television and film production in the early 2000s. He and Damon had set upPearl Street Films in 1998,[85] named after the street that ran between their childhood homes.[86] Their next production companyLivePlanet, co-founded in 2000 withSean Bailey andChris Moore, sought to integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production.[86][87] LivePlanet's biggest success was the documentary seriesProject Greenlight, aired onHBO and laterBravo, which focused on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film.Project Greenlight was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in 2002, 2004 and 2005.[88]Push, Nevada (2002), created, written and produced by Affleck and Bailey,[89] was anABC mystery drama series that placed a viewer-participation game within the frame of the show.[90]Caryn James ofThe New York Times praised the show's "nerve, imagination and clever writing",[91] but Robert Bianco ofUSA Today described it as a "knock-off" ofTwin Peaks.[92] The show was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings.[93] Over time, LivePlanet's focus shifted from multimedia projects to more traditional film production.[87] Affleck and his partners signed a film production deal withDisney in 2002; it expired in 2007.[94][95]
2003–2005: Career downturn and tabloid notoriety
While Affleck had been a tabloid figure for much of his career,[29] he was the subject of increased media attention in 2003 because of his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. By the end of the year, Affleck had become, in the words ofGQ, the "world's most over-exposed actor".[96] His tabloid fame coincided with a series of poorly received films.
The first of these wasDaredevil (2003), in which Affleck starred as theblind superhero. Affleck was a longtime comic book fan, and, in 1999, had written a foreword for Kevin Smith'sGuardian Devil about his love for the character of Daredevil.[97] The film was a commercial success,[98] but received a mixed response from critics. Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Times said Affleck was "lost" in the role: "Affleck is shriveled by the one-dimensional role ... [Only his scenes withJon Favreau have] a playful side that allows Mr. Affleck to show his generosity as an actor."[99] In 2014, Affleck describedDaredevil as the only film he regretted making.[12] He next appeared as a low-ranking mobster in the romantic comedyGigli (2003), co-starring Lopez. The film was almost uniformly panned,[100][101] withManohla Dargis of theLos Angeles Times remarking that "Affleck doesn't have the chops or the charm to maneuver around (or past) bad material."[102] Rex Reed ofThe Observer criticized the co-stars, writing that the film reminds the world how "pathetically incompetent they both are in the only two things that matter in career longevity - craft and talent."[103] Yet Affleck has repeatedly defended directorMartin Brest since the film's release, describing him as "one of the really great directors".[71][104] In his last film role of 2003, Affleck starred as areverse engineer in the sci-fi thrillerPaycheck (2003). Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian remarked on Affleck's "self-deprecating charm" and wondered why he could not find better scripts.[105] Manohla Dargis of theLos Angeles Times found it "almost unfair" to critique Affleck, given that he "had such a rough year".[106]
Affleck's poor critical notices continued in 2004 when he starred as a bereaved husband in the romantic comedyJersey Girl, directed by longtime collaborator Smith. Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times described Affleck as an actor "whose talent has curdled as his tabloid notoriety has spread."[107] Later that year, he starred oppositeJames Gandolfini in the holiday comedySurviving Christmas. Holden noted inThe New York Times that the film "found a clever way to use Ben Affleck's disagreeable qualities. The actor's shark-like grin, cocky petulance and bullying frat-boy swagger befit his character."[108] At this point, the quality of scripts offered to Affleck "was just getting worse and worse", the negative press coverage "really started to affect" him,[109] and he decided to take a career break.[110] TheLos Angeles Times published a piece on the downfall of Affleck's career in late 2004. The article noted that, unlike film critics and tabloid journalists, "few industry professionals seem to be gloating over Affleck's travails".[111]
In 2007, Affleck made his feature film directorial debut withGone Baby Gone, a crime drama set in a working-class Boston neighborhood, starring his brother Casey as a private investigator searching for a young abductee. Affleck co‑wrote the screenplay, based on thebook byDennis Lehane, with childhood friend Aaron Stockard, having first mentioned his intention to adapt the story in 2003.[118][119] It opened to enthusiastic reviews.[120] Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times praised the film's "sensitivity to real struggle",[121] while Stephen Farber ofThe Hollywood Reporter described it as "thoughtful, deeply poignant, [and] splendidly executed".[122]
While Affleck intended to "keep a primary emphasis on directing" going forward in his career,[123] he acted in three films in 2009. In the ensemble romantic comedyHe's Just Not That Into You, the chemistry between Affleck andJennifer Aniston was praised.[124][125] Affleck played a congressman in the political thrillerState of Play. Wesley Morris ofThe Boston Globe found him "very good in the film's silliest role,"[126] but David Edelstein ofNew York Magazine remarked of Affleck: "He might be smart and thoughtful in life [but] as an actor his wheels turn too slowly."[127] He had a supporting role as a bartender in the little-seen comedy filmExtract.[128] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone described his performance as "a goofball delight",[129] while Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times declared it "a real performance".[130] In 2010, Affleck starred inThe Company Men as a mid-level sales executive who is made redundant during the2008 financial crisis.[131] David Denby ofThe New Yorker declared that Affleck "gives his best performance yet",[132] while Richard Corliss ofTime found he "nails Bobby's plunge from hubris to humiliation".[133]
Following the modest commercial success ofGone Baby Gone,Warner Bros. developed a close working relationship with Affleck and offered him his choice of the studio's scripts.[7] He decided to direct the crime dramaThe Town (2010), an adaptation ofChuck Hogan's novelPrince of Thieves. He also re-wrote the screenplay and starred in the film as a bank robber. The film became a surprise box office hit, and gained further critical acclaim for Affleck.[134][135] A.O. Scott ofThe New York Times praised his "skill and self-confidence as a serious director,"[136] while Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times noted: "Affleck has the stuff of a real director. Everything is here. It's an effective thriller, he works closely with actors, he has a feel for pacing."[137] Also in 2010, Affleck and Damon's production company, Pearl Street Films, signed afirst-look producing deal at Warner Bros.[138]
Affleck soon began work on his next directorial project,Argo (2012), for Warner Bros. Written byChris Terrio and starring Affleck as a CIA operative, the film tells the story of the CIA plan to save six U.S. diplomats during the 1979Iran hostage crisis by faking a production for a large-scale science fiction film. Anthony Lane ofThe New Yorker said the film offered "further proof that we were wrong about Ben Affleck".[139] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone remarked: "Affleck takes the next step in what looks like a major directing career ... He directs the hell out of it, nailing the quickening pace, the wayward humor, the nerve-frying suspense."[140] A major critical and commercial success,[141]Argo won theAcademy Award,Golden Globe Award, andBAFTA Award for Best Picture.[142] The cast won theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. Affleck himself won theGolden Globe Award,Directors Guild of America Award, andBAFTA Award for Best Director, becoming the first director to win these awards without a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Director.[143]
The following year, Affleck played a romantic lead inTerrence Malick's experimental dramaTo the Wonder. Malick, a close friend of Affleck's godfather, first met Affleck in the 1990s to offer advice about the plot ofGood Will Hunting.[144] Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian enjoyed "a performance of dignity and sensitivity,"[145] whileThe New Yorker's Richard Brody described Affleck as "a solid and muscular performer" who "conveys a sense of thoughtful and willful individuality".[146] Affleck's performance as a poker boss was considered a highlight of the poorly reviewed thrillerRunner Runner (2013).[147][148] Betsy Sharkey of theLos Angeles Times remarked that it was "one killer of a character, and Affleck plays him like aBach concerto – every note perfectly played."[149]
He then pushed back production on his own directorial project to star as a husband accused of murder inDavid Fincher's psychological thrillerGone Girl (2014).[150] Fincher cast him partly because he understood what it felt like to be misrepresented by tabloid media: "What many people don't know is that he's crazy smart, but since he doesn't want that to get awkward, he downplays it. I think he learned how to skate on charm."[151] David Edelstein ofNew York Magazine noted that Fincher's controlled style of directing had a "remarkable" effect on Affleck's acting: "I never thought I'd write these words, but he carries the movie. He's terrific."[152] Justin Chang ofVariety found Affleck "perfectly cast": "It's a tricky turn, requiring a measure of careful underplaying and emotional aloofness, and he nails it completely."[153] In 2015, Affleck and Damon'sProject Greenlight was resurrected by HBO for one season.[154]
Given Affleck's growing reputation as a filmmaker, his decision to star asBatman in the 2016 superhero filmBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was regarded by Dave Itzkoff ofThe New York Times as "a somewhat bewildering choice".[155] Affleck reprised his role as Batman later that year, making a brief cameo appearance inSuicide Squad (2016).[156] He starred as anautistic accountant in the action thrillerThe Accountant (2016), which was an unexpected commercial success.[157] Peter Debruge ofVariety felt Affleck's "boy-next-door" demeanor – "so normal and non-actorly that most of his performances feel like watching one of your buddies up on screen" – was "a terrific fit" for the role.[158] Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times wondered why Affleck, "looking appropriately dead-eyed and miserable," committed himself to the film.[159]
Live by Night, which Affleck wrote, directed, co-produced, and starred in, was released in late 2016.[160] Adapted fromDennis Lehane'snovel of the same name, theProhibition-era gangster drama received largely unenthusiastic reviews and failed to recoup its $65 million production budget.[161] David Sims ofThe Atlantic described it as "a fascinating mess of a movie" and criticized Affleck's "stiff, uncomfortable" performance. He noted that one of the last action scenes "is so wonderfully staged, its action crisp and easy to follow, that it reminds you what skill Affleck has with the camera".[162] In October 2016, Affleck and Damon made a one-off stage appearance for a live reading of theGood Will Hunting screenplay at New York'sSkirball Theater.[163] The superhero filmJustice League, in which Affleck returned as Batman, was released in 2017.[164] He later described it as a "difficult" on-set experience.[165]Zack Snyder stepped down during filming due to the death of his daughter,[166] the replacement directorJoss Whedon's treatment of actors was the subject of complaints,[167] and Affleck himself was struggling with addiction issues.[168] The film drew mixed opinions from critics; Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote that Affleck "looks like he'd rather be almost anywhere else but here."[169][170]
Amidst an alcoholism relapse, Affleck did not work in 2017.[171] He stepped down as director, writer and, ultimately, as the star ofThe Batman,[172] saying he "couldn't crack it"[173] and no longer felt "passionate" about the story.[174][175] Filming of the drug-trafficking thrillerTriple Frontier was postponed by six months in order to accommodate his treatment for "health issues".[176][171] UponTriple Frontier's release in 2019, Rodrigo Perez ofThe Playlist remarked that directorJ.C. Chandor "gets a lot of mileage out of the Sad Affleck narrative and perhaps both director and actor lean into the idea."[177] Later in 2019, Affleck made a cameo appearance inJay and Silent Bob Reboot, having had little contact with Kevin Smith since the making ofClerks II in 2006.[178][179] Affleck played a supporting role as a diplomat inDee Rees's political thrillerThe Last Thing He Wanted (2020). TheNetflix movie, filmed in mid-2018, received negative reviews from critics,[180][181] with Tomris Laffly ofVariety describing Affleck's performance as "oddly removed".[182]
Affleck's starring role as a recovering alcoholic in the sports dramaThe Way Back (2020) was widely praised.[183] The themes of the movie were "close to home" for Affleck.[184] He relapsed during pre-production in 2018[184] and the movie was shot in the days after he left rehab; Affleck agreed to put his salary in escrow and was accompanied to set by a sober coach.[185] Richard Lawson ofVanity Fair said it was hard to avoid the movie's "meta angle": "Affleck handles his self-conscious task with a generous humility—giving a performance built not out of histrionics or big actor moments, but instead from the messy details of a man in a plateaued distress".[186] David Sims ofThe Atlantic praised the "subtlety", "vulnerability" and "lumbering physicality" of his performance, describing it as "the rawest and most natural" work of his career.[187] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, cinemas closed in the second week of the movie's release and Warner Bros. made it available to view-on-demand earlier than scheduled.[188] He received a Best Actor nomination at the2021 Critics' Choice Awards.[189] Also in 2021, Snyder'sdirector's cut ofJustice League featured a newly filmed scene with Affleck.[190]
2020–present: Supporting roles and Artists Equity
Affleck had supporting roles in two 2021 releases.[191] He playedPeter II, Count of Alençon, a hedonistic aristocrat inRidley Scott's medieval dramaThe Last Duel; he also co-wrote the movie's screenplay with Damon andNicole Holofcener.[192][193] Bilge Ebiri ofNew York Magazine was impressed by Affleck's "imperious" performance as the "wonderfully skeezy Pierre, a marvelously out-there creation who shouldn't work at all and yet becomes an engine of uneasy delights."[194] Brian Truitt ofUSA Today said he "steals the movie": "He seems to have written the most entertaining character in the movie for himself, but we'll allow it."[195] Later that year, Affleck appeared as a substitute father figure inGeorge Clooney's coming-of-age dramaThe Tender Bar.[196] The film premiered at the London Film Festival, with Clooney remarking that he cast Affleck because he is "very intelligent, and he can also come off as the big goomba."[197] Pete Hammond ofDeadline described it as "a part he was born to play", writing that he "beautifully and knowingly" delivered "an unforgettable portrait of the uncle you wish you had."[198] Kevin Maher ofThe Times said he played the role with "extraordinary subtly and depth": "He dominates his every scene, with deftly delivered quips, comedy reaction shots or sheer hang-dog charisma alone."[199] For the role, Affleck was nominated for theGolden Globe Award andScreen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.[200][201]
In 2022, Affleck andAna de Armas starred inAdrian Lyne's thrillerDeep Water, an adaptation ofPatricia Highsmith's novel.[202] It was released on streaming service Hulu and received largely negative reviews.[203] Justin Chang of theLos Angeles Times said Affleck "excels at playing the emasculated dreamboat, the golden boy gone to seed."[204] Adam Nayman ofThe Ringer said the film "serves as an example of his formidable skill set within a very specific range": "What used to seem like the callow cockiness of a handsome front-runner has hardened—and deepened—into a kind of grizzled charisma, the gravitas of a frat boy facing down his own expiration date."[205] He also made a cameo appearance in Smith'sClerks III.[206][207]
Affleck's fifth directorial project,Air, aboutNike's creation of theAir Jordan, premiered in 2023 and was well-reviewed.[208] The movie starredMatt Damon andViola Davis, with Affleck playing a supporting role asPhil Knight.[209][210][211] It marked the first release from Affleck and Damon's independent production companyArtists Equity, which aims to share profits with all stakeholders. Affleck serves as the company's CEO and intends to work exclusively for Artists Equity as a filmmaker.[212][213] In a review ofAir forThe Ringer, Adam Nayman wrote that Affleck, while not a "masterful" filmmaker, "has a gift for pacing and working with actors ... He and Damon spend most of the time pumping each other up, and the chemistry between them is undeniable." David Sims ofThe Atlantic saidAir was "a great return to Affleck's original impulses as a director: It's a fun, well-made film for grown-ups that gives its actors room to flesh out their characters."[214] Also in 2023, Affleck starred as a detective inRobert Rodriguez's action thrillerHypnotic[215] and made a cameo appearance as Batman in the filmThe Flash.[216]
In 2025, Affleck starred in the action thrillerThe Accountant 2. He has two Netflix films in post-production. He directed and starred oppositeGillian Anderson in the kidnapping thrillerAnimals[217] while he and Damon will star as police officers in the crime thrillerThe Rip.[218]
After traveling in the region between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck andWhitney Williams co-founded the nonprofit organizationEastern Congo Initiative in 2010.[219][220] ECI acts as a grant maker forCongolese-led, community-based charities.[221] It offers training and resources to cooperatives of Congolese farmers while leveraging partnerships with companies includingTheo Chocolate andStarbucks.[222][223] ECI also aims to raise public awareness and drive policy change in the United States.[224]
Affleck is a supporter of the A-T Children's Project. While filmingForces of Nature in 1998, Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan (1988–2015), who had the rare diseaseataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and his family.[239] He became actively involved in fundraising for A-T,[240][241] and he and Kindregan testified before theHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education in 2001, asking senators to support stem-cell research and to double the budget of theNational Institutes of Health.[239] In 2007, Affleck was the keynote speaker at Kindregan's high school graduation ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia.[242] Kindregan appeared as an extra inArgo (2012).[243] In 2013, in celebration of Kindregan's 25th birthday and "15 years of friendship with Joe and his family," Affleck and Garner matched donations made to the A-T Children's Project.[244] Affleck appeared inCinemAbility (2013), a documentary film which explores Hollywood's portrayals of people with disabilities.[245]
Affleck is a member ofFeeding America's Entertainment Council.[251] He made an appearance at theGreater Boston Food Bank in 2007,[252] and at a Denver food bank in 2008.[253] Affleck spoke at a Feeding America rally in Washington D.C. in 2009,[254] and filmed a public service announcement for the charity in 2010.[255] Affleck andEllen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign in 2011.[256] Also that year, he andHoward Graham Buffett co-wrote an article forThe Huffington Post, highlighting the "growing percentage of the food insecure population that is not eligible for federal nutrition programs".[257] During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Affleck organized an online celebrity poker tournament to benefit the charity,[258] made a personal donation and urged others to support the cause.[259]
Affleck is a supporter of the Los Angeles-based homelessness charityMidnight Mission,[260][261] having volunteered at and donated to the charity.[262][263] He has also volunteered at Atlanta Mission.[264]
Politics
Political views
Affleck has described himself as "moderatelyliberal."[265] He was raised in "a very strongunion household".[266] In 2000, he spoke at a rally atHarvard University in support of an increased living wage for all workers on campus; his father worked as a janitor at the university.[15] He later narrated a documentary,Occupation (2002), about a sit-in organized by the Harvard Living Wage Campaign.[267] Affleck and SenatorTed Kennedy held a press conference on Capitol Hill in 2004, pushing for an increase in theminimum wage.[268] He spoke at a 2007 press conference at Boston's City Hall in support ofSEIU's unionization efforts for the city's low-paid hospital workers.[269] During theWriters' Strike in 2008, Affleck voiced support for the picketers.[270]
Affleck ispro-choice. In a 2000 interview, he stated that he believes "very strongly in a woman's right to choose".[25] In 2012, he supported theDraw the Line campaign, describing reproductive rights as "fundamental".[271]
Affleck was a longtime supporter of legalizinggay marriage, saying in 2004 that he hoped to look back on the marriage debate "with some degree of embarrassment for how antiquated it was".[272] Also that year, he remarked that it was "outrageous and offensive" to suggest members of thetransgender community were not entitled to equal rights.[273] He appeared alongside his gay cousin in a 2005Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays print advertising campaign.[274]
In 2008, Affleck expressed concern aboutconspiracy theories claiming Barack Obama was an Arab or a Muslim: "This prejudice that we have allowed to fester in this campaign ... the acceptance of both of those things as a legitimate slur is really a problem."[275][276] A reporter forThe Washington Post overheard Affleck denouncing theIsraeli invasion of Gaza at a Washington party in 2009.[277]Steven Clemons, a participant in the conversation, said Affleck listened "to alternative takes ... What Affleck spoke about that night was reasoned, complex and made a lot of sense."[278] Later that year, in aNew York Times interview, Affleck remarked that his views were closer to those of theIsraeli Labor Party thanLikud.[279]In 2012, he praised SenatorJohn McCain's leadership in defendingHuma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks.[280][281] Affleck engaged in a widely-shared discussion about the relationship between liberal principles and Islam during a 2014 appearance onReal Time with Bill Maher.[282] In a 2017Guardian interview, he reflected on the viral moment: "I strongly believe that no one should be stereotyped on the basis of their race or religion. It's one of the most fundamental tenets of liberal thought."[283] In 2023, Affleck signed theArtists4Ceasefire open letter calling for a ceasefire during theIsraeli bombardment of Gaza.[284]
Affleck appeared at a press conference with New York SenatorChuck Schumer in 2002, in support of a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act.[285] In 2003, he criticized the "questionable and aggressive" use of thePatriot Act and the resulting "encroachments on civil liberties".[286] Affleck criticized theBush tax cuts on many occasions.[286][287][288] In 2007, he filmed a public service announcement forDivided We Fail, a nonpartisanAARP campaign seeking affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans.[289]
Affleck expressed support for theSecond Amendment in 2004,[265] and said in 2012 that he owned several guns, both forskeet shooting and for the protection of his family.[7] In 2020, he said trips to gun ranges as a young adult made him "uncomfortable to remember ... given the subsequent tragedies with young people and guns."[290]
Affleck appeared alongside then-SenatorBarack Obama at a 2006 rally in support ofProposition 87, which sought to reduce petroleum consumption in favor of alternative energy.[291] He appeared in a global warming awareness video produced by theCenter for American Progress Action Fund in 2007.[292] Also that year, Affleck admitted he was not "particularly good at being green" while, in 2014, he named "a1966 Chevelle" as his guilty pleasure.[293][12] In 2016, Affleck filmed an endorsement for Rezpect Our Water, an online petition to stop construction of theDakota Access Pipeline.[294]
Democratic Party involvement
Affleck registered to vote as aDemocrat in 1992, and has campaigned on behalf of several Democratic presidential nominees. He supportedAl Gore in the final weeks of the2000 presidential campaign, attending rallies in California,[295] Pennsylvania,[296] and Florida.[297] However, Affleck was unable to vote due to a registration issue in New York City, where he was residing at the time, and later joked, "I'm going to vote twice next time, in true Boston fashion."[298]
Affleck was involved in the2004 presidential campaign ofJohn Kerry. During the Democratic National Convention in Boston, he spoke to many delegations, appeared on political discussion shows, and attended fundraising events.[299][300] Affleck took part in a voter registration public service announcement,[301] and traveled with Kerry during the opening weekend of his Believe in America Tour, making speeches at rallies in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.[302]
Affleck campaigned for PresidentBarack Obama. He appeared alongside the then-Senator at a 2006 rally, introducing him as "the most galvanizing leader to come out of either party, in my opinion, in at least a decade".[291] He donated to Obama's presidential campaign in 2007,[303] and hosted two fundraisers for the candidate during the2008 Democratic Primary.[304][305] Affleck urged voters to "help make history" in aMoveOn.org campaign,[306] and made several appearances during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[307] In the week of the presidential election, he appeared onSaturday Night Live to jokingly endorse SenatorJohn McCain.[308] Affleck did not actively campaign for Obama's reelection in 2012, though he still supported him.[7]
Affleck supportedHillary Clinton's2016 presidential election campaign. He first met Clinton atCamp David in 1998,[309] and, when she was a Senate candidate in 2000, he introduced her at aCornell University rally and helped fundraise for her campaign.[310] Affleck pointed to the First Lady's work with children, women and "working families".[311] He supported Obama during the 2008 Democratic Primary, noting that Clinton had "moved toward thecenter" during the campaign.[293] Affleck donated to Clinton's campaign fund during the2016 Democratic Primary.[312] During the 2016 presidential election, Affleck recorded aNew Hampshire voter public service announcement,[313] and was named by the Clinton campaign as a "Hillblazer" – one of 1,100 individuals who had contributed or raised at least $100,000.[314]OpenSecrets reported that he raised $149,028.[315]
During the latter stages of the2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Affleck said during an interview conducted in Spanish: "I likeBernie, I likeBiden, I likeWarren but the thing is that most of all; I don't like Trump."[316] When Biden became the Democratic candidate, he donated to his campaign fund.[317]
In the early 2000s, Affleck often expressed an interest in running for political office one day,[298] but since 2007, he has denied any political ambitions and spoken repeatedly about the need forcampaign finance reform.[283][293][338] In 2005,The Washington Post reported that Virginia Democrats were trying to persuade Affleck to run as a Senate candidate.[339] His publicist dismissed the rumor.[340] In 2012, political pundits and Democratic strategists includingBob Shrum andTad Devine speculated that Affleck was considering running for a Massachusetts Senate seat.[341] Affleck denied the rumor,[342] and joked that he "also won't be throwing my hat in the ring to run the UN".[343]
Affleck was married to actressJennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018. They began dating in August 2004,[344] having established a friendship on the sets ofPearl Harbor (2001) andDaredevil (2003).[345] They were married on June 29, 2005, in a privateTurks and Caicos ceremony.[346]Victor Garber, who officiated the ceremony, and his partner, Rainer Andreesen, were the only guests.[347] Affleck and Garner have three children together.[348][349][350]
They publicly announced their separation in June 2015,[351] with Affleck continuing to live in a guesthouse at the family home until mid-2017.[352] They jointly filed for divorce in April 2017, seeking joint physical and legal custody of their children.[353] They jointly hired a mediator to help them negotiate a financial settlement[354] and the divorce was finalized in October 2018.[355] In 2020, Affleck described the divorce as "the biggest regret of my life"[356] and "a painful experience, even if you're on the best possible terms and you agree it's the best choice."[357]
While Affleck believes paparazzi attention is "part of the deal" of stardom, he has spoken out against photographs taken at his private residence[358] and paparazzi interest in his children specifically, who he says became the "big money" draw for photographers waiting outside his home.[359] In 2013, Affleck and Garner hosted an event for lawmakers at their home in support of a bill that would protect celebrities' children from harassment by photographers; their six-year-old daughter made a speech about her personal experiences.[360] Garner also testified before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee in support of the bill,[361] which later became law. Despite the legislation, photographers still regularly waited outside their children's school and police assistance was sometimes required.[362] In 2014, Affleck argued in favor of United Kingdom-style legislation that requires media outlets to blur children's faces in published photos.[12] He has said there are "real practical dangers" involved in paparazzi attention, citing Garner's longtime stalker, Steven Burky,[363] who was arrested in December 2009 while trying to blend in with paparazzi outside their daughter's preschool.[364] Burky was charged with two counts of stalking, to which he pleadednot guilty by reason of insanity. In March 2010, he was ruled insane, sent to California's state mental hospital, and ordered to stay away from the Affleck-Garner family for 10 years if released.[365]
Relationship with Jennifer Lopez
Affleck first datedJennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004. They became friends on the set ofGigli in December 2001,[366] having previously encountered each other at industry parties.[367] They began a romantic relationship in July 2002 when Lopez filed for divorce from her second husband,Cris Judd. Their relationship was extensively publicized,[368] with tabloids referring to the couple asBennifer, the first celebrity portmanteau of its kind.[369] They appeared together in the music video for her song "Jenny from the Block" and the filmJersey Girl.[370][371] Lopez's albumThis Is Me... Then was dedicated to and inspired by Affleck. They became engaged in November 2002[372] but their planned wedding on September 14, 2003, was postponed with four days' notice because of "excessive media attention".[373] They called off the engagement in January 2004.[374]
Affleck and Lopez remained in occasional contact in the years after their breakup and spoke highly of each other in public.[c] According to Lopez, Affleck's discomfort with the media scrutiny was one reason for their split[380] and, years later, she described it as her "first real heartbreak": "I think different time, different thing, who knows what could've happened but there was a genuine love there."[381]Both during the relationship[382] and in the months after the breakup, Affleck characterized some of the media commentary as rooted in racism,classism, andsexism: "We were thought of as two different kinds of people."[366][383] In subsequent years, he pushed back against the "curious notion" that he should view the relationship as a mistake, and reflected on the prevailing tabloid culture at the time.[384] Affleck acknowledged that "there were ways I did contribute to it",[385] citing the "Jenny from the Block" music video and a joint promotional interview forGigli.[386] He said neither of them "anticipated" the degree of attention they would receive: "I think Jen and I made a mistake in that we fell in love, we were excited and maybe too accessible."[387]
Affleck and Lopez began dating again in April 2021, 20 years after they had first met.[388] They announced their second engagement in April 2022[389] and were married in a Las Vegas ceremony on July 16, 2022,[390][391] hosting a larger celebration for family and friends at Affleck's Georgia house later that summer.[392] The couple separated in April 2024, with Lopez filing for divorce in August of that year.[393] The divorce was finalized in February 2025.[394] Affleck later said there was "no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue" involved in their divorce.[395]
Other relationships
Affleck was in a relationship with Cheyenne Rothman from 1990 to 1997.[396] Affleck began dating actressGwyneth Paltrow in October 1997 after they met at aMiramax dinner,[397] and they later worked together onShakespeare in Love (1998). Although they first broke up in January 1999, months later, Paltrow persuaded Affleck to co-star with her inBounce (2000) and they soon resumed their relationship.[398] They separated again in October 2000.[399] In 2015, Paltrow said they were friends.[397]
Affleck had a long-distance relationship with New York-based television producerLindsay Shookus from mid-2017 to mid-2018;[400][401] they briefly dated again in early 2019.[402] Shookus served as the head ofSaturday Night Live's talent department at the time,[403][404] a show which Affleck has hostedfive times since 2000.[405] Affleck dated Cuban actressAna de Armas, whom he met on the set ofDeep Water in the fall of 2019, from early 2020 to early 2021.[406][407]
Health
Affleck has both anxiety and depression,[408] and has takenantidepressants since age 26.[409] He is a recovering alcoholic and follows a12-step program.[21] He said he used alcohol to alleviate a constant feeling of "discomfort" and remarked that it "took me a long time to fundamentally, deeply, without a hint of doubt, admit to myself that I am an alcoholic."[410]
Affleck became sober in his mid-twenties, stating in a 1998 interview that alcohol was "dangerous" for him.[411] He received residential treatment for addiction in 2001 and maintained his sobriety for a "couple of years" afterward.[412][413] In subsequent years, he refused to discuss his alcoholism in press interviews[7] and later described it as a period where he "drank relatively normally".[410] "I thought, 'I want to just drink like a normal person. I want to have wine at dinner.' And I was able to for about eight years."[409] Affleck gradually began to drink "more and more" and, eventually, was drinking until he "passed out" on a nightly basis.[409] Garner supported Affleck's struggles with alcoholism during and after their marriage and said in 2020 that attendingAl-Anon meetings empowered her to change "the dance" of their relationship.[414] Affleck received residential treatment in 2017[415][416] and, following a publicly documented relapse and intervention, again in 2018.[417] He completed further outpatient treatment over the following year.[418] In late 2019,TMZ filmed him stumbling on a Los Angeles street; he acknowledged the following day that he had a brief "slip" after over a year of sobriety.[419] He later described the incident as "embarrassing": "I wish it didn't happen. I really wish it wasn't on the internet for my kids to see."[410]
During press forThe Way Back (2020), in which he plays an alcoholic, Affleck stressed that he felt "vulnerable" when talking about his addiction[420] and did not intend to "go on talking about this issue forever": "I think the value, if there is value in me talking about being a recovering alcoholic, is that that doesn't have to be who you are. That doesn't have to be the label on your head."[421] In 2023, he said he often advises fellow actors to avoid speaking publicly about their addiction issues where possible: "You don't need to be anybody's poster child."[56]
Affleck won the 2004 California State Poker Championship, taking home the first prize of $356,400 and qualifying for the 2004World Poker Tour final tournament.[422] He was one of many celebrities, along withLeonardo DiCaprio andTobey Maguire, who took part inMolly Bloom's high-stakes poker games in the mid-2000s.[423] Affleck has repeatedly denied tabloid reports of a gambling addiction.[424][425]
Religious beliefs
Affleck came from anEpiscopalian family,[426][7] but was not raised in a religious household.[427] In 2008, he listed theGospel of Matthew as one of the books that made a difference in his life.[428] As infants, each of his three children were baptized as members of theUnited Methodist Church[429] and, from 2015 to 2020, Affleck, Garner and their children were regularly photographed at Methodist church services in Los Angeles.[430]
Affleck is agnostic[7] and has described faith as a "struggle": "But thetwelve-step program is faith-based ... Faith has served me well in recovery as an alcoholic."[21] He identifies more with the teachings ofBuddhism: "I have a difficult time with the theistic aspects ofAA ... One of the things I like about Buddhism is it's like, believe what you believe."[431]
Ancestry
Affleck's ancestry is English, Welsh, Scottish and German, along with some Irish.[432]
Affleck appeared on the PBS genealogy seriesFinding Your Roots in 2014. When told that an ancestor had been aslave owner in Georgia, Affleck responded: "God. It gives me kind of a sagging feeling to see a biological relationship to that. But, you know, there it is, part of our history ... We tend to separate ourselves from these things by going like, 'It's just dry history, and it's all over now'."[433] Leaked emails from the2015 Sony email hacking scandal showed that, after filming, Affleck felt uncomfortable about the segment, which was not included in the final broadcast.[434] The show's host, professorHenry Louis Gates Jr., stated: "We focused on what we felt were the most interesting aspects of his ancestry."[434] An internal investigation by PBS concluded that Affleck had exerted "improper influence" over the editorial process and that the producers of the show, including Gates, had violated PBS standards by improperly withholding information. The show was temporarily postponed, resuming after a fact-checker and an "independent genealogist" were added to the show's staff. Affleck's episode was removed from the show's online archive.[435][436]
MeToo allegations
During theMeToo movement in 2017, Affleck was accused by two women of inappropriate behavior. ActressHilarie Burton stated that, during an on-air appearance onTRL Uncensored in 2003, Affleck "wraps his arm around me, and comes over and tweaks my left boob". Affleck responded on Twitter: "I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize."[437]Annamarie Tendler, a makeup artist, said that Affleck "grabbed my ass at a Golden Globes party in 2014 ... He tried to play it like he was politely moving me out of the way."[438]
In response to theallegations of sexual assault againstHarvey Weinstein, Affleck pledged to donate any future profits from his early Miramax films to charities supporting victims ofsexual assault,[439] and said he had only been aware that Weinstein "was sleazy and a bully".[440] In a tweet, actressRose McGowan responded: "You lie."[441] She said she met Affleck after being sexually assaulted by Weinstein during theSundance Film Festival in 1997 and told him, while crying, that she had "just come from Harvey's and he said, 'Goddamnit, I told him to stop doing that.'"[442] In a leaked email regarding McGowan's case, Affleck stated: "I never saw Rose at any hotel in Sundance. She never told me nor did I ever infer that she was attacked by anyone."[443] In a 2019 interview, Affleck said: "I don't really want to get into other people's individual stories because I feel like those are their stories and they're entitled to tell as much or as little of those as they want. I believe Rose. I support her. I really like and admire her tenacity and I wish her the best."[444] In 2020, McGowan clarified her comments: "It's not like I'm raging at Ben Affleck. I never said to him, 'I was just raped.' It's just more to illustrate the point of this continual thing of everybody knowing and everybody being part of it, unwittingly or proactively."[442]
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^Maslin, Janet (December 11, 1998)."Shakespeare in Love (1998)".The New York Times.Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. RetrievedOctober 7, 2014.
^abcdNashawaty, Chris (September 9, 2010)."Ben Affleck Calls The Shots".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. RetrievedOctober 7, 2014.
^Peretz, Evgenia. "Let's Try It Ben's Way".Vanity Fair. No. October 1999. p. 262.
^Gleiberman, Owen (February 4, 2009)."He's Just Not That Into You".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. RetrievedApril 12, 2017.
^Affleck, Ben; Buffett, Howard Graham (March 31, 2011)."Hometown Hunger USA".HuffPost.Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. RetrievedOctober 8, 2014.
^abO'Reilly, Bill (July 28, 2004)."Ben Affleck Talks Politics".Fox News Channel.Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. RetrievedOctober 8, 2014.
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