Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ben Affleck
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ben Affleck made an impact.
Ben Affleck is an American actor and filmmaker who started his career as a child actor on the PBS series *The Voyage of the Mimi*. He gained recognition through roles in independent films like *Dazed and Confused* and Kevin Smith comedies, such as *Chasing Amy*. Affleck has received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, and three Golden Globes, solidifying his place in the entertainment industry.
1981: First Appearance in "The Dark End of the Street"
In 1981, at the age of seven, Ben Affleck first appeared in an independent film, "The Dark End of the Street", directed by a family friend.
1984: Starring in "The Voyage of the Mimi"
In 1984, Ben Affleck began his career as a child actor, starring in the PBS educational series "The Voyage of the Mimi".
1986: Appearing in "Wanted: A Perfect Man"
In 1986, Ben Affleck appeared in the ABC after school special "Wanted: A Perfect Man".
1987: Appearing in "Hands of a Stranger"
In 1987, Ben Affleck appeared in the television film "Hands of a Stranger".
1988: Acting in "The Voyage of the Mimi"
In 1988, Ben Affleck continued his role in the PBS educational series "The Voyage of the Mimi", marking the end of his run on the show.
1989: Appearing in a Burger King commercial
In 1989, Ben Affleck appeared in a Burger King commercial.
1991: Appearing in "Daddy"
In 1991, Ben Affleck played Patrick Duffy's son in the television film "Daddy".
1992: Appearance in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
In 1992, Ben Affleck made an uncredited appearance as a basketball player in the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" film and had a supporting role in "School Ties".
1992: Damon Writes Script for Playwriting Class
In 1992, Matt Damon wrote a 40-page script for a playwriting class at Harvard University, which later became the basis for "Good Will Hunting".
1993: Appearance in "Dazed and Confused"
In 1993, Ben Affleck appeared in the independent comedy film "Dazed and Confused".
1993: Roles in "Against the Grain" and "Dazed and Confused"
In 1993, Ben Affleck played a high school quarterback in the NBC television series "Against the Grain" and appeared in Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused".
1994: Selling "Good Will Hunting" Screenplay
In 1994, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon sold their screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" to Castle Rock when Affleck was 22 years old.
1994: Acting in "Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story"
In 1994, Ben Affleck played a steroid-abusing high school football player in "Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story".
1995: Starring in "Glory Daze" and "Mallrats"
In 1995, Ben Affleck had his first starring film role in "Glory Daze" and also played a bully in Kevin Smith's comedy "Mallrats".
1997: Winning an Academy Award for "Good Will Hunting"
In 1997, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for writing "Good Will Hunting", in which they also starred.
1997: Good Will Hunting wins Academy Award
In 1997, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Good Will Hunting". At 25, Affleck became the youngest person to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
1997: Appearance in "Chasing Amy"
In 1997, Ben Affleck appeared in Kevin Smith's comedy film "Chasing Amy".
1997: Starring in "Chasing Amy" and "Going All the Way"
In 1997, Ben Affleck starred in Kevin Smith's "Chasing Amy", marking his breakthrough, and also appeared in "Going All the Way".
1997: Success of "Good Will Hunting"
In 1997, the success of "Good Will Hunting", which Ben Affleck co-wrote and acted in, marked a turning point in his career.
1998: Release of "Armageddon"
In 1998, "Armageddon" was released, establishing Ben Affleck as a viable leading man for Hollywood studio films.
1998: Founding Pearl Street Films
In 1998, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon set up Pearl Street Films, named after the street that ran between their childhood homes.
1998: Role in "Shakespeare in Love" and "Phantoms"
In 1998, Ben Affleck had a supporting role in the period romantic comedy "Shakespeare in Love" and appeared in the supernatural horror film "Phantoms".
1998: Befriended Joe Kindregan
In 1998, while filming "Forces of Nature", Ben Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan, who had ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and his family, leading to his active involvement in fundraising for A-T research.
1999: Roles in "Dogma", "Forces of Nature", and "200 Cigarettes"
In 1999, Ben Affleck reunited with Matt Damon in "Dogma", starred in "Forces of Nature" with Sandra Bullock, and appeared in "200 Cigarettes".
1999: Foreword for "Guardian Devil"
In 1999, Ben Affleck, a longtime comic book fan, wrote a foreword for Kevin Smith's "Guardian Devil" about his love for the character of Daredevil.
2000: Co-founding LivePlanet
In 2000, Ben Affleck co-founded LivePlanet with Sean Bailey and Chris Moore, aiming to integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production.
2000: Spoke at Harvard University rally
In 2000, Ben Affleck spoke at a rally at Harvard University in support of an increased living wage for all workers on campus, where his father had worked as a janitor.
2000: Starring in Multiple Films
In 2000, Ben Affleck starred in "Reindeer Games", "Boiler Room", "Joseph: King of Dreams" and "Bounce".
2000: Starring in "Reindeer Games"
In 2000, Ben Affleck starred in the action crime thriller "Reindeer Games".
2001: Testified before House Appropriations Subcommittee
In 2001, Ben Affleck and Joe Kindregan testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education, advocating for stem-cell research and increased funding for the National Institutes of Health.
2001: Starring in "Pearl Harbor" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back"
In 2001, Ben Affleck starred in "Pearl Harbor" and made appearances in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "Daddy and Them".
2002: Narrated 'Occupation' documentary
In 2002, Ben Affleck narrated a documentary, "Occupation", about a sit-in organized by the Harvard Living Wage Campaign.
2002: Starring in "The Sum of All Fears" and "Changing Lanes"
In 2002, Ben Affleck starred in "The Sum of All Fears", "Changing Lanes", and also appeared in "The Third Wheel".
2002: Starring in "The Sum of All Fears"
In 2002, Ben Affleck starred in the thriller "The Sum of All Fears".
2002: Nomination for Primetime Emmy Award and Film Production Deal with Disney
In 2002, Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program. Affleck and his partners signed a film production deal with Disney, Affleck and Bailey created the ABC mystery drama series Push, Nevada.
2003: Initial Intention to Adapt Dennis Lehane's Story
In 2003, Ben Affleck first mentioned his intention to adapt Dennis Lehane's story for "Gone Baby Gone."
2003: Starring in "Daredevil", "Gigli" and "Paycheck"
In 2003, Ben Affleck starred in three films: "Daredevil" as a blind superhero, which was commercially successful but critically mixed; "Gigli", a romantic comedy co-starring Jennifer Lopez, which was almost universally panned; and "Paycheck", a sci-fi thriller where he played a reverse engineer.
2004: Press conference with Ted Kennedy
In 2004, Ben Affleck and Senator Ted Kennedy held a press conference on Capitol Hill to advocate for an increase in the minimum wage.
2004: Starring in "Jersey Girl" and "Surviving Christmas"
In 2004, Ben Affleck starred in "Jersey Girl" and "Surviving Christmas", both of which received poor critical reviews, and the negative press coverage began to affect him, leading to a career break. The Los Angeles Times published an article on the decline of Affleck's career in late 2004.
2004: Nomination for Primetime Emmy Award
In 2004, Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
2005: Nomination for Primetime Emmy Award
In 2005, Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
2006: Career Comeback and Awards
In 2006, Ben Affleck began a career comeback with his performance in "Hollywoodland", for which he won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe. He also appeared in "Clerks II", "Man About Town", and "Smokin' Aces".
2006: Winning the Volpi Cup for "Hollywoodland"
In 2006, Ben Affleck portrayed George Reeves in the biopic "Hollywoodland", winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
2006: Golden Globe Nomination for Hollywoodland
In 2006, Ben Affleck received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "Hollywoodland", marking recognition for his acting abilities.
2007: Traveled in Congo region before founding Eastern Congo Initiative
Between 2007 and early 2010, Ben Affleck traveled in the Congo region, which eventually led to co-founding the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010 with Whitney Williams.
2007: Expiration of Film Production Deal with Disney
In 2007, Ben Affleck and LivePlanet's film production deal with Disney expired.
2007: Directorial Debut with "Gone Baby Gone"
In 2007, Ben Affleck made his directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone", which he also co-wrote and which was well received.
2007: Supported SEIU's unionization efforts
In 2007, Ben Affleck spoke at a press conference at Boston's City Hall in support of SEIU's unionization efforts for the city's low-paid hospital workers.
2008: Appearance at Denver Food Bank
In 2008, Ben Affleck made an appearance at a Denver food bank to support Feeding America.
2009: Acting Roles in Three Films
In 2009, Ben Affleck acted in three films: "He's Just Not That Into You", "State of Play", and "Extract", receiving mixed reviews for his performances.
2009: Filmed PSA for Paralyzed Veterans of America
In 2009, Ben Affleck filmed public service announcements for Paralyzed Veterans of America.
2009: Spoke at Feeding America rally
In 2009, Ben Affleck spoke at a Feeding America rally in Washington D.C.
2010: Directing and Starring in "The Town"
In 2010, Ben Affleck directed and starred in the crime drama "The Town", which was a critical and commercial success.
2010: Filmed public service announcement for Feeding America
In 2010, Ben Affleck filmed a public service announcement for the charity Feeding America.
2010: Starring in "The Company Men"
In 2010, Ben Affleck starred in "The Company Men" as a sales executive affected by the 2008 financial crisis. His performance was highly praised.
2010: Co-founded Eastern Congo Initiative
In 2010, after traveling in the region between 2007 and early 2010, Ben Affleck and Whitney Williams co-founded the nonprofit organization Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI).
2011: Launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign
In 2011, Ben Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign. That same year, he co-wrote an article for The Huffington Post, highlighting food insecurity issues.
2012: Directing and Starring in "Argo"
In 2012, Ben Affleck directed and starred in "Argo", which won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Affleck himself won Best Director at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
2012: Winning Awards for "Argo"
In 2012, Ben Affleck directed and starred in the political thriller "Argo", winning the BAFTA Award for Best Director, and the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Picture.
2012: Joe Kindregan appeared as an extra in Argo
In 2012, Joe Kindregan appeared as an extra in the film "Argo".
2012: Argo Wins Accolades
In 2012, the film "Argo", directed by, co-produced by, and starring Ben Affleck, achieved significant acclaim. Affleck won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, and Directors Guild Award for Best Director. Additionally, the film won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, the Producers Guild Award, and the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2013: Matched donations for A-T Children's Project
In 2013, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner matched donations made to the A-T Children's Project in celebration of Joe Kindregan's 25th birthday and their 15 years of friendship. Affleck also appeared in the documentary "CinemAbility".
2013: Roles in "To the Wonder" and "Runner Runner"
In 2013, Ben Affleck played a romantic lead in "To the Wonder" and a poker boss in "Runner Runner", with his performance in the latter being considered a highlight.
2014: Filmed PSA for Paralyzed Veterans of America
In 2014, Ben Affleck filmed public service announcements for Paralyzed Veterans of America, marking his second involvement with the organization.
2014: Starring in "Gone Girl"
In 2014, Ben Affleck starred in David Fincher's psychological thriller "Gone Girl" as a husband accused of murder. His performance was critically acclaimed.
2015: "Project Greenlight" resurrected by HBO
In 2015, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's "Project Greenlight" was revived by HBO for a season.
October 2016: Live reading of "Good Will Hunting" screenplay
In October 2016, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon made a one-off stage appearance for a live reading of the "Good Will Hunting" screenplay at New York's Skirball Theater.
2016: Playing Batman in the DC Extended Universe
In 2016, Ben Affleck played the superhero Batman in the DC Extended Universe and starred in the thriller "The Accountant".
2017: Release of Justice League
In 2017, Ben Affleck returned as Batman in "Justice League", which received mixed reviews and was a difficult on-set experience for him due to various issues.
2017: Stepping Down From "The Batman"
In 2017, amidst an alcoholism relapse, Ben Affleck did not work. He stepped down as director, writer, and star of "The Batman" and postponed filming of "Triple Frontier" for health treatment.
2018: Filming of "The Last Thing He Wanted"
In mid-2018, Ben Affleck filmed his part in "The Last Thing He Wanted".
2019: Release of "Triple Frontier" and Cameo in "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot"
In 2019, "Triple Frontier" was released, and Ben Affleck made a cameo in "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot", having had little contact with Kevin Smith since 2006.
2020: Release of "The Last Thing He Wanted"
In 2020, Ben Affleck played a supporting role in "The Last Thing He Wanted", which received negative reviews.
2020: Starred in "The Way Back"
In 2020, Ben Affleck starred in "The Way Back" as a recovering alcoholic, receiving widespread praise. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. made the movie available to view-on-demand earlier than scheduled.
2021: Supporting Roles in "The Last Duel" and "The Tender Bar"
In 2021, Ben Affleck had supporting roles in the dramas "The Last Duel" and "The Tender Bar".
2021: Critics' Choice Awards Nomination and Justice League Scene
In 2021, Ben Affleck received a Best Actor nomination at the Critics' Choice Awards for "The Way Back." Also in 2021, Snyder's director's cut of Justice League featured a newly filmed scene with Affleck.
2021: Golden Globe Nomination for The Tender Bar
In 2021, Ben Affleck received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "The Tender Bar", further acknowledging his acting talent.
2022: Starred in 'Deep Water' and cameo in 'Clerks III'
In 2022, Ben Affleck starred alongside Ana de Armas in Adrian Lyne's thriller "Deep Water", which was released on Hulu and received largely negative reviews. He also made a cameo appearance in Smith's "Clerks III".
2023: Supporting Role and Directing "Air"
In 2023, Ben Affleck had a supporting role in the drama "Air", which he also directed.
2023: Premiere of 'Air' and roles in 'Hypnotic' and 'The Flash'
In 2023, Ben Affleck's fifth directorial project, "Air," premiered to positive reviews. He also starred as a detective in Robert Rodriguez's action thriller "Hypnotic" and made a cameo appearance as Batman in the film "The Flash".
2025: Starring in 'The Accountant 2'
In 2025, Ben Affleck is set to star in the action thriller "The Accountant 2".
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