Ben Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross on December 16, 1947, in London, England. He was the son of Catherine (O'Donovan), a cleaning woman, from Keelraheen, Dunmanway, Ireland, and Harry Cross, an English doorman and nurse. He began acting at a very young age and participated in grammar school plays -- most notably playing "Jesus" in a school pageant at age twelve.

Ben left home and school at age 15 and worked various jobs, including work as a window washer, waiter and carpenter. He was master carpenter for the Welsh National Opera and property master at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, England. Driven by his desire to be an actor, Ben accepted and overcame the enormous challenges and obstacles that came with the profession. In 1970, at age 22, he was accepted into London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) -- the alma mater of legendary actors such as SirJohn Gielgud,Glenda Jackson and SirAnthony Hopkins.

Upon graduation from RADA, Ben performed in several stage plays at Duke's Playhouse where he was seen in "Macbeth", "The Importance of Being Earnest", andArthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman". He then joined the Prospect Theatre Company and played roles in "Pericles", "Twelfth Night" and "Royal Hunt of the Sun". Ben also joined the cast in the immensely popular musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and played leading roles inPeter Shaffer's "Equus", "Mind Your Head" and the musical "Irma La Douce" -- all at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre.

In 1976, Ben's debut screen appearance came when he went on location to Deventer, Holland, to play Trooper Binns inJoseph E. Levine's World War II epicA Bridge Too Far (1977), which starred a very famous international cast -- namelyDirk Bogarde, SirSean Connery, SirMichael Caine andJames Caan. In 1977, Ben became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in the premier of "Privates on Parade" as Kevin Cartwright and played Rover in a revival of a Restoration play titled "Wild Oats".

Ben's path to international stardom began in 1978 with his extraordinary performance in the musical "Chicago" in which he played Billy Flynn, the slick lawyer of murderess Roxie Hart. During his performance in this musical, he was recognized and recommended for a leading role in the multiple Oscar-winningHonoo no rannâ (1981). The major success ofHonoo no rannâ (1981) opened the doors to the international film market. Ben followed upHonoo no rannâ (1981) with strong and successful performances, most notably in the Masterpiece Theatre miniseriesThe Citadel (1983), in which he played a Scottish physician, Dr. Andrew Manson, struggling with the politics of the British medical system during the 1920s, and his performance as Ash Pelham-Martyn, a British cavalry officer torn between two cultures in the Home Box Office miniseriesThe Far Pavilions (1984). During the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Ben appeared in a commercial for American Express withJackson Scholz, a sprinter for the 1924 American Olympic team whose character was featured in the filmHonoo no rannâ (1981). In 1986, he subsequently replacedJames Garner as the featured actor endorsing the Polaroid Spectra camera. Ben was also featured in GQ Magazine as one of the annual "Manstyle" winners in January 1985, followed by a featured photo shoot in March 1985.

Having stuck by his desire to choose quality roles over monetary potential, Ben enjoyed long-term success in the film industry, for over 40 years. He played several outstanding roles including his portrayal of Solomon, one of the most fascinatingly complex characters of the Bible, in the Trimark Pictures productionSolomon (1997). Other outstanding roles included his Barnabus in the MGM remake of the miniseriesDark Shadows (1991); Sir Harold Pearson in the Italian productionHoney Sweet Love (1994); Ikey Solomon in the Australian productionThe Potato Factory (2000); and his role asRudolf Hess in the BBC productionNuremberg: Nazis on Trial (2006).

Ben was a director, writer and musician, as well. Among many of his original works is the musical "Rage" aboutRuth Ellis, which was performed in various regional towns in the London area. He also starred in it and played the role of the hangman. Ben's first single as a lyricist was released by Polydor Records in the late 1970s and was titled "Mickey Moonshine". Other works include "The Best We've Ever Had" and "Nearly Midnight", both written by Ben and directed by his son,Theo Cross. In addition, the original soundtrack for "Nearly Midnight" was written, produced and performed by his daughter, Lauren Cross. These works were performed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2002 and 2003, respectively. "Square One", directed by Ben, was performed at the Etcetera Theatre in London in 2004.

Ben resided all over the world, including London, Los Angeles, New York, Southern Spain, Vienna and Sofia. He was familiar with the Spanish, Italian and German languages and enrolled in a course studying Bulgarian. When he was not filming, he wrote music, screenplays and articles for English language publications. Ben Cross died at age 72 of cancer on August 18, 2020 in Vienna, Austria.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Michelle Seitz