History of Ben Affleck in Timeline
Ben Affleck is a prominent American actor and filmmaker, recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards and Golden Globes. He initiated his career in childhood with "The Voyage of the Mimi" and gained recognition in the 1990s through roles in films like "Dazed and Confused" and Kevin Smith comedies such as "Chasing Amy." He has since become a major figure in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera.
August 15, 1972: Ben Affleck's Birth
On August 15, 1972, Benjamin Géza Affleck was born. He is an American actor and filmmaker.
1981: 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: The Voyage of the Mimi
In 1984, Ben Affleck began his career as a child actor when he starred in the PBS educational series "The Voyage of the Mimi".
1986: Wanted: A Perfect Man
In 1986, Ben Affleck appeared in the ABC after school special "Wanted: A Perfect Man".
1987: Hands of a Stranger
In 1987, Ben Affleck appeared in the television film "Hands of a Stranger".
1988: The Second Voyage of the Mimi
In 1988, Ben Affleck starred in "The Second Voyage of the Mimi", produced for sixth-grade science classes.
1989: Burger King Commercial
In 1989, Ben Affleck appeared in a Burger King commercial.
1991: Daddy
In 1991, Ben Affleck played Patrick Duffy's son in the television film "Daddy".
1992: Registered to vote as a Democrat
Ben Affleck registered to vote as a Democrat in 1992.
1992: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and School Ties
In 1992, Ben Affleck made an uncredited appearance as a basketball player in the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" film and had a supporting role as a prep school student in "School Ties".
1992: Good Will Hunting Origins
In 1992, Matt Damon wrote a 40-page script for a playwriting class at Harvard University, which would become the basis for "Good Will Hunting".
1993: Dazed and Confused Appearance
In 1993, Ben Affleck appeared in the independent comedy "Dazed and Confused".
1993: 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 a high school bully in Richard Linklater's cult classic "Dazed and Confused".
1994: Good Will Hunting Sold
In 1994, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon sold the "Good Will Hunting" screenplay to Castle Rock when Affleck was 22 years old.
1994: 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: Glory Daze and Mallrats
In 1995, Ben Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art student in the college drama "Glory Daze", and he played a bully in Kevin Smith's comedy "Mallrats".
October 1997: Beginning Relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow
In October 1997, Ben Affleck began dating Gwyneth Paltrow after they met at a Miramax dinner.
1997: Good Will Hunting's Academy Award
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: Chasing Amy
In 1997, Ben Affleck appeared in several Kevin Smith comedies, including "Chasing Amy".
1997: Chasing Amy and Going All the Way
In 1997, Ben Affleck starred in Kevin Smith's "Chasing Amy" and starred as a Korean War veteran in "Going All the Way".
1997: Affleck wins Oscar for Good Will Hunting
In 1997, Ben Affleck won the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Good Will Hunting", co-written with Matt Damon. He became the youngest person to win a Best Original Screenplay Oscar at age 25.
1997: Rose McGowan's allegation against Harvey Weinstein and Affleck's response
In 1997, during the Sundance Film Festival, Rose McGowan alleges she met Ben Affleck after being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein and told him about the assault.
1997: 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: Met Hillary Clinton at Camp David
Ben Affleck first met Hillary Clinton at Camp David in 1998.
1998: Armageddon
In 1998, "Armageddon" was released, establishing Ben Affleck as a viable leading man for Hollywood studio films.
1998: Collaboration on Shakespeare in Love
In 1998, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow worked together on Shakespeare in Love.
1998: 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: Affleck's Sobriety
In 1998, Ben Affleck stated that alcohol was "dangerous" for him.
1998: Shakespeare in Love and Phantoms
Later in 1998, Ben Affleck had a supporting role in "Shakespeare in Love", which won seven Academy Awards, and appeared as a small-town sheriff in "Phantoms".
January 1999: First Breakup with Gwyneth Paltrow
In January 1999, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow first broke up.
1999: Dogma, Forces of Nature and 200 Cigarettes
In 1999, Ben Affleck had an on-screen reunion with Matt Damon in Kevin Smith's "Dogma", starred in the romantic comedy "Forces of Nature" opposite Sandra Bullock, and appeared in the ensemble comedy "200 Cigarettes".
October 2000: Final Separation from Gwyneth Paltrow
In October 2000, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow separated again.
2000: Supported Al Gore's presidential campaign
Ben Affleck supported Al Gore in the final weeks of the 2000 presidential campaign, attending rallies in California, Pennsylvania, and Florida. However, he was unable to vote due to a registration issue.
2000: LivePlanet Co-Founded
In 2000, Ben Affleck co-founded LivePlanet with Sean Bailey and Chris Moore.
2000: Reindeer Games, Boiler Room, and Bounce
In 2000, Ben Affleck shadowed John Frankenheimer during pre-production of "Reindeer Games" and starred opposite Charlize Theron. He then had a supporting role in "Boiler Room", provided the voice of Joseph in "Joseph: King of Dreams", and starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in "Bounce".
2000: Spoke at rally in support of increased living wage
In 2000, Ben Affleck spoke at a rally at Harvard University in support of an increased living wage for all workers on campus; his father worked as a janitor at the university.
2000: Reindeer Games
In 2000, Ben Affleck starred in the action crime thriller "Reindeer Games".
2000: Expressed pro-choice stance
In a 2000 interview, Ben Affleck stated that he believes "very strongly in a woman's right to choose".
2000: Hosting Saturday Night Live
Since 2000, Ben Affleck has hosted Saturday Night Live five times.
2000: Introduced Clinton at Cornell University rally
When Hillary Clinton was a Senate candidate in 2000, Ben Affleck introduced her at a Cornell University rally and helped fundraise for her campaign.
December 2001: Meeting Jennifer Lopez on the Set of Gigli
In December 2001, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez became friends on the set of Gigli, having previously encountered each other at industry parties.
2001: Filming of Pearl Harbor
In 2001, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner established a friendship on the sets of Pearl Harbor.
2001: Residential Treatment for Addiction
In 2001, Ben Affleck received residential treatment for addiction.
2001: Pearl Harbor and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
In 2001, Ben Affleck reunited with Michael Bay for "Pearl Harbor" and parodied "Good Will Hunting" with Damon and Van Sant in Kevin Smith's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back".
2001: Pearl Harbor Release
In 2001, Ben Affleck starred in the war drama "Pearl Harbor".
July 2002: Beginning of Romantic Relationship with Jennifer Lopez
In July 2002, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez began a romantic relationship when Lopez filed for divorce from her second husband, Cris Judd.
November 2002: Engagement to Jennifer Lopez
In November 2002, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez became engaged.
2002: Supported Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act
Ben Affleck appeared at a press conference with New York Senator Chuck Schumer in 2002, in support of a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act.
2002: Narrated documentary 'Occupation'
Ben Affleck narrated a documentary, 'Occupation', about a sit-in organized by the Harvard Living Wage Campaign in 2002.
2002: Donations to Political Campaigns
In 2002, Ben Affleck donated to Dick Gephardt's Congressional campaign, Robert Reich's campaign for Governor of Massachusetts, and appeared in campaign literature for Marjorie Decker's city councilor campaign.
2002: The Sum of All Fears and Changing Lanes
In 2002, Ben Affleck portrayed Jack Ryan in "The Sum of All Fears" and had an "amazing experience" making the thriller "Changing Lanes".
2002: The Sum of All Fears Release
In 2002, Ben Affleck starred in the thriller "The Sum of All Fears".
2002: Project Greenlight and Push, Nevada
In 2002, LivePlanet's biggest success was the documentary series Project Greenlight. Push, Nevada, created, written and produced by Affleck and Bailey, was an ABC mystery drama series.
September 14, 2003: Postponement of Wedding
On September 14, 2003, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's planned wedding was postponed with four days' notice because of "excessive media attention".
2003: Visited marines in the Persian Gulf
As part of USO-sponsored tours, Ben Affleck visited marines stationed in the Persian Gulf in 2003.
2003: Donations to Presidential Campaigns
In 2003, Affleck made donations to the presidential campaigns of Dennis Kucinich and Wesley Clark.
2003: Filming of Daredevil
In 2003, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner established a friendship on the sets of Daredevil.
2003: Criticized the Patriot Act
In 2003, Ben Affleck criticized the "questionable and aggressive" use of the Patriot Act and the resulting "encroachments on civil liberties".
2003: Mentioned Intention to Adapt Story
In 2003, Ben Affleck first mentioned his intention to adapt the story that would later become the film Gone Baby Gone.
2003: Daredevil, Gigli, and Paycheck
In 2003, Ben Affleck starred in three films. He played the lead role in "Daredevil," which was a commercial success but received mixed reviews. He also appeared in the poorly received "Gigli" and "Paycheck".
2003: Increased Media Attention
In 2003, Ben Affleck was the subject of increased media attention because of his relationship with Jennifer Lopez, becoming the "world's most over-exposed actor" by the end of the year.
2003: Inappropriate Behavior towards Hilarie Burton
In 2003, Hilarie Burton stated that Ben Affleck acted inappropriately toward her during an on-air appearance on TRL Uncensored.
January 2004: Calling Off Engagement
In January 2004, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez called off their engagement.
August 2004: Beginning of Relationship with Jennifer Garner
In August 2004, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner began dating, having established a friendship on the sets of Pearl Harbor and Daredevil.
2004: Held press conference pushing for minimum wage increase
Ben Affleck and Senator Ted Kennedy held a press conference on Capitol Hill in 2004, pushing for an increase in the minimum wage.
2004: Involved in John Kerry's presidential campaign
Ben Affleck was involved in John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, speaking to delegations, appearing on political discussion shows, attending fundraising events, and traveling with Kerry.
2004: Expressed support for legalizing gay marriage
In 2004, Ben Affleck expressed support for legalizing gay marriage, hoping to look back on the marriage debate "with some degree of embarrassment for how antiquated it was". He also remarked that it was "outrageous and offensive" to suggest members of the transgender community were not entitled to equal rights.
2004: Jersey Girl and Surviving Christmas
In 2004, Ben Affleck starred in "Jersey Girl" and "Surviving Christmas," both of which received negative reviews. Critical notices and negative press coverage negatively affected his career, leading to a break.
2004: California State Poker Championship Win
In 2004, Ben Affleck won the 2004 California State Poker Championship, taking home the first prize of $356,400 and qualifying for the 2004 World Poker Tour final tournament.
2004: Project Greenlight Emmy Nomination
In 2004, Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
June 29, 2005: Marriage to Jennifer Garner
On June 29, 2005, Ben Affleck married Jennifer Garner in a private Turks and Caicos ceremony.
2005: Appeared in PFLAG advertising campaign
Ben Affleck appeared alongside his gay cousin in a 2005 Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays print advertising campaign.
2005: Donation to Deval Patrick's Campaign
In 2005, Ben Affleck donated to the campaign fund of Deval Patrick, a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts.
2005: Project Greenlight Emmy Nomination
In 2005, Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
2005: Rumors of Senate Candidacy
In 2005, The Washington Post reported that Virginia Democrats were trying to persuade Affleck to run as a Senate candidate, but his publicist dismissed the rumor.
2006: Appeared at rally in support of Proposition 87
Ben Affleck appeared alongside then-Senator Barack Obama at a 2006 rally in support of Proposition 87, which sought to reduce petroleum consumption in favor of alternative energy.
2006: Appeared alongside Barack Obama at rally
Ben Affleck appeared alongside then-Senator Barack Obama 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".
2006: Contributions to Political Campaigns
In 2006, Affleck contributed to Cory Booker's Newark mayoral campaign and Eliot Spitzer's New York gubernatorial campaign, and introduced Congressmen Joe Courtney and Chris Murphy at rallies in Connecticut.
2006: Hollywoodland Volpi Cup
In 2006, Ben Affleck made a comeback by portraying 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".
2007: Appeared in global warming awareness video
Ben Affleck appeared in a global warming awareness video produced by the Center for American Progress Action Fund in 2007.
2007: Donated to Obama's presidential campaign
Ben Affleck donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2007.
2007: Supported unionization efforts for hospital workers
Ben Affleck spoke at a 2007 press conference at Boston's City Hall in support of SEIU's unionization efforts for the city's low-paid hospital workers.
2007: Disney Film Production Deal Expiration
In 2007, Affleck and his partners' film production deal with Disney expired.
2007: Filmed public service announcement for Divided We Fail
In 2007, Ben Affleck filmed a public service announcement for Divided We Fail, a nonpartisan AARP campaign seeking affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans.
2007: Gone Baby Gone
In 2007, Ben Affleck made his directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone", which he also co-wrote, and it was well-received.
2007: Directorial Debut with Gone Baby Gone
In 2007, Ben Affleck made his feature film directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone", a crime drama set in Boston, which received enthusiastic reviews.
2007: Keynote speaker at Joe Kindregan's High School graduation
In 2007, Ben Affleck was the keynote speaker at Joe Kindregan's high school graduation ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia.
2007: Denial of Political Ambitions
Since 2007, Ben Affleck has denied any political ambitions and spoken repeatedly about the need for campaign finance reform.
2008: Hosted fundraisers for Obama and urged voters to 'help make history'
Ben Affleck hosted two fundraisers for Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic Primary, urged voters to "help make history" in a MoveOn.org campaign, and made several appearances during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
2008: Appearance at Denver food bank
Ben Affleck made an appearance at a Denver food bank in 2008 as part of his involvement with Feeding America's Entertainment Council.
2008: Supported Obama in 2008 Democratic primary
Ben Affleck supported Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic Primary, noting that Hillary Clinton had "moved toward the center" during the campaign.
2008: Expressed concern about conspiracy theories regarding Barack Obama
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Ben Affleck expressed concern about conspiracy theories claiming Barack Obama was an Arab or a Muslim.
2008: Voiced support for Writers' Strike picketers
During the Writers' Strike in 2008, Ben Affleck voiced support for the picketers.
2008: Donation to Patrick Murphy's Congressional Campaign
In 2008, Affleck donated to the Congressional campaign of Pennsylvania's Patrick Murphy.
2008: Listing Gospel of Matthew as Influential Book
In 2008, Ben Affleck listed the Gospel of Matthew as one of the books that made a difference in his life.
December 2009: Arrest of Jennifer Garner's Stalker
In December 2009, Jennifer Garner's longtime stalker, Steven Burky, was arrested while trying to blend in with paparazzi outside their daughter's preschool.
2009: Filmed public service announcements for Paralyzed Veterans of America
Ben Affleck filmed public service announcements for the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization in 2009.
2009: Spoke at Feeding America rally in Washington D.C.
Ben Affleck spoke at a Feeding America rally in Washington D.C. in 2009 as part of his involvement with Feeding America's Entertainment Council.
2009: Roles in Three Films
In 2009, Ben Affleck acted in three films: "He's Just Not That Into You", "State of Play", and "Extract". His performances received mixed reviews.
2009: Expressed views on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In 2009, Ben Affleck denounced the Israeli invasion of Gaza at a Washington party, and later remarked that his views were closer to those of the Israeli Labor Party than Likud.
2009: Discovery of Relationship to Barack Obama
In 2009, the New England Historic Genealogical Society discovered that Ben Affleck is an 11th cousin of Barack Obama.
March 2010: Burky Ruled Insane
In March 2010, Steven Burky 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.
2010: Filmed public service announcement for Feeding America
Ben Affleck filmed a public service announcement for Feeding America in 2010 as part of his involvement with Feeding America's Entertainment Council.
2010: Directed and Starred in The Town
In 2010, Ben Affleck directed and starred in "The Town," which was a box office hit and received critical acclaim. It solidified his reputation as a director.
2010: The Town
In 2010, Ben Affleck directed and starred in the crime drama "The Town", which was a critical and commercial success.
2010: Donation to Kirsten Gillibrand's Senate Campaign
In 2010, Ben Affleck donated to the Senate campaign of Kirsten Gillibrand.
2010: Starred in The Company Men
In 2010, Ben Affleck starred in "The Company Men" as a sales executive affected by the 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). ECI acts as a grant maker for Congolese-led, community-based charities.
2011: Launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign
In 2011, Ben Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign.
2012: Supported Obama's reelection
Ben Affleck did not actively campaign for Barack Obama's reelection in 2012, though he still supported him.
2012: Fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren
In 2012, Affleck hosted a fundraiser for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, endorsed her in a Progressive Change Campaign Committee video, and made a campaign donation.
2012: Directed and Starred in Argo
In 2012, Ben Affleck directed and starred in "Argo", which was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2012: Argo's Awards
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: Affirmed support for Second Amendment
In 2012, Ben Affleck expressed his support for the Second Amendment, stating that he owned several guns for skeet shooting and family protection.
2012: Praised Senator John McCain's defense of Huma Abedin
In 2012, Ben Affleck praised Senator John McCain's leadership in defending Huma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks.
2012: Supported Draw the Line campaign
In 2012, Ben Affleck supported the Draw the Line campaign, describing reproductive rights as "fundamental".
2012: Speculation about Running for Senate
In 2012, political pundits speculated that Affleck was considering running for a Massachusetts Senate seat, but Affleck denied the rumor.
2012: Argo wins multiple awards
In 2012, the film "Argo", directed by and starring Ben Affleck, won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, and Directors Guild Award for Best Director. It also won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, the Producers Guild Award, and the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2013: Support for Bill Protecting Celebrities' Children
In 2013, Affleck and Garner hosted an event for lawmakers in support of a bill that would protect celebrities' children from harassment by photographers, with their daughter giving a speech.
2013: Fundraiser for Cory Booker
In 2013, Affleck hosted a fundraiser for Cory Booker and made donations to the Senate campaigns of both Booker and Alison Lundergan Grimes.
2013: Matched Donations to 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 "15 years of friendship with Joe and his family."
2013: Performed in To The Wonder and Runner Runner
In 2013, Ben Affleck played a romantic lead in Terrence Malick's "To the Wonder" and starred in "Runner Runner," where his performance was considered a highlight.
2014: Discussed relationship between liberal principles and Islam
Ben Affleck engaged in a discussion about the relationship between liberal principles and Islam during a 2014 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher.
2014: Filmed public service announcements for Paralyzed Veterans of America
Ben Affleck filmed public service announcements for the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization again in 2014.
2014: Donations to Political Campaigns
In 2014, Affleck donated to Bobby Shriver's Los Angeles County Supervisor campaign and to Prophet La'omar Walker's California State Assembly campaign.
2014: Accusation by Annamarie Tendler
In 2014, Annamarie Tendler said that Ben Affleck "grabbed my ass at a Golden Globes party".
2014: Appearance on Finding Your Roots
In 2014, Ben Affleck appeared on the PBS genealogy series Finding Your Roots and learned about an ancestor who had been a slave owner.
2014: Advocacy for UK-Style Legislation
In 2014, Ben Affleck argued in favor of United Kingdom-style legislation that requires media outlets to blur children's faces in published photos.
2014: Named 'a 1966 Chevelle' as guilty pleasure
In 2014, Ben Affleck named "a 1966 Chevelle" as his guilty pleasure, admitting he wasn't "particularly good at being green".
2014: Starred in Gone Girl
In 2014, Ben Affleck starred in David Fincher's "Gone Girl". His performance was highly praised, with critics noting his ability to convey emotional aloofness.
June 2015: Public Announcement of Separation
In June 2015, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner publicly announced their separation.
2015: Regular Church Attendance
From 2015, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and their children were regularly photographed at Methodist church services in Los Angeles.
2015: Donation to Kamala Harris's Senate Campaign
In 2015, Ben Affleck donated to the campaign of Senate candidate Kamala Harris.
2015: Paltrow's Comments on Friendship
In 2015, Gwyneth Paltrow said that she and Ben Affleck were friends.
2015: Sony Email Hacking Scandal and Affleck's Reaction
In 2015, leaked emails from the Sony email hacking scandal showed that Ben Affleck felt uncomfortable about a segment on Finding Your Roots, leading to its omission from the final broadcast and subsequent investigation.
2015: Death of friend Joe Kindregan
Joe Kindregan, a friend of Ben Affleck who had the rare disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), passed away in 2015.
2016: Supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign
During the 2016 presidential election, Ben Affleck recorded a New Hampshire voter public service announcement, and was named by the Clinton campaign as a "Hillblazer" – one of 1,100 individuals who had contributed or raised at least $100,000.
2016: Donations to Congressional and Senate Campaigns
In 2016, Affleck donated to the Congressional campaign of Melissa Gilbert and the West Virginia Senate campaign of Corey Palumbo.
2016: Filmed endorsement for Rezpect Our Water
In 2016, Ben Affleck filmed an endorsement for Rezpect Our Water, an online petition to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
2016: DC Extended Universe and The Accountant
In 2016, Ben Affleck played the superhero Batman in the DC Extended Universe and starred in the thriller "The Accountant".
April 2017: Filing for Divorce
In April 2017, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner jointly filed for divorce, seeking joint custody of their children.
2017: Accusations of Inappropriate Behavior
During the Me Too movement in 2017, Ben Affleck was accused by two women of inappropriate behavior.
2017: Donations to Senate and Congressional Campaigns
In 2017, Ben Affleck donated to the Senate reelection campaigns of Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons, and to Adam Schiff's Congressional campaign.
2017: Return to Residential Treatment
In 2017, Ben Affleck returned to residential treatment for addiction.
2017: Visited troops at Ramstein Air Base
In 2017, Ben Affleck visited troops at Germany's Ramstein Air Base as part of USO-sponsored tours.
2017: Took Time off to Focus on Health
In 2017, amidst an alcoholism relapse, Ben Affleck did not work. He stepped down from directing and starring in The Batman and postponed filming Triple Frontier to accommodate treatment for health issues.
2017: Release of Justice League
In 2017, the superhero film Justice League was released, where Ben Affleck returned as Batman. The on-set experience was difficult due to various issues, and the film received mixed reviews.
2017: Stated belief against stereotyping based on race or religion
In a 2017 Guardian interview, Ben Affleck stated: "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."
2017: Relationship with Lindsay Shookus
In mid-2017, Ben Affleck began a long-distance relationship with New York-based television producer Lindsay Shookus.
October 2018: Finalization of Divorce
In October 2018, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's divorce was finalized.
2018: Contributions to Various Campaigns
In 2018, Affleck made contributions to the Congressional campaigns of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sharice Davids and Leann Jacobsen, and to Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
2018: End of Marriage to Jennifer Garner
In 2018, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's marriage ended.
2018: Public Relapse and Intervention
In 2018, Ben Affleck had a publicly documented relapse and intervention, followed by further outpatient treatment over the following year.
2018: End of Relationship with Lindsay Shookus
In mid-2018, Ben Affleck's long-distance relationship with Lindsay Shookus ended.
2019: Donations and Fundraiser for Political Campaigns
In 2019, Affleck donated to the presidential campaigns funds of both Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, and hosted a fundraiser for Booker, also contributing to the congressional campaign funds of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
2019: Affleck's support for Rose McGowan
In a 2019 interview, Ben Affleck stated that he believes Rose McGowan and supports her, while also respecting her right to share her story as she sees fit.
2019: Briefly Dated Lindsay Shookus Again
In early 2019, Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus briefly dated again.
2019: Public 'Slip' and Acknowledgment
In late 2019, Ben Affleck was filmed stumbling on a Los Angeles street and acknowledged the following day that he had a brief "slip" after over a year of sobriety.
2020: Discussion of Addiction During Press for The Way Back
During press for The Way Back in 2020, Ben Affleck stressed that he felt "vulnerable" when talking about his addiction and did not intend to "go on talking about this issue forever".
2020: Expressed preference for Democratic candidates
During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Ben Affleck said he liked Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Elizabeth Warren, but disliked Donald Trump. When Biden became the Democratic candidate, he donated to his campaign fund.
2020: Relationship with Ana de Armas
From early 2020, Ben Affleck dated Cuban actress Ana de Armas, whom he met on the set of Deep Water.
2020: Affleck's Reflection on Divorce
In 2020, Ben Affleck described his divorce as "the biggest regret of my life".
2020: Expressed discomfort about past gun range trips
In 2020, Ben Affleck said trips to gun ranges as a young adult made him "uncomfortable to remember ... given the subsequent tragedies with young people and guns."
2020: Support for Whitney Williams' Gubernatorial Election
In 2020, Ben Affleck spoke at a virtual rally in support of Whitney Williams, a candidate in the 2020 Montana gubernatorial election, and donated to her campaign fund.
2020: Starred in The Way Back
In 2020, Ben Affleck starred in "The Way Back" as a recovering alcoholic, a role that resonated with his personal experiences. His performance received widespread praise.
2020: Garner's Support During Affleck's Struggles
In 2020, Jennifer Garner said that attending Al-Anon meetings empowered her to change "the dance" of their relationship, supporting Affleck's struggles with alcoholism.
2020: McGowan clarifies her comments about Affleck's involvement
In 2020, Rose McGowan clarified that her comments were not an attack on Ben Affleck, but rather to illustrate the broader issue of widespread awareness and participation, either knowingly or unknowingly, in the alleged misconduct.
2020: Regular Church Attendance
Until 2020, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and their children were regularly photographed at Methodist church services in Los Angeles.
April 2021: Rekindling Relationship with Jennifer Lopez
In April 2021, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez began dating again, 20 years after they had first met.
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: Golden Globe nomination for The Tender Bar
In 2021, Ben Affleck received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "The Tender Bar".
2021: End of Relationship with Ana de Armas
In early 2021, Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas ended their relationship.
April 2022: Second Engagement to Jennifer Lopez
In April 2022, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez announced their second engagement.
July 16, 2022: Marriage in Las Vegas
On July 16, 2022, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were married in a Las Vegas ceremony.
2022: Starring in 'Deep Water' and cameo in 'Clerks III'
In 2022, Ben Affleck starred alongside Ana de Armas in the thriller 'Deep Water', which was released on Hulu and received negative reviews. He also made a cameo appearance in 'Clerks III'.
May 2023: Starring in 'Hypnotic'
In May 2023, Ben Affleck starred as a detective in Robert Rodriguez's action thriller 'Hypnotic', which was released in theaters.
June 2023: Cameo Appearance as Batman in 'The Flash'
In June 2023, Ben Affleck made a cameo appearance as Batman in the film 'The Flash'.
October 2023: Signing of Artists4Ceasefire Open Letter
In October 2023, Affleck signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter calling for a ceasefire during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
December 2023: Artists Equity and Wild State Strategic Partnership
In December 2023, Artists Equity, Ben Affleck's and Matt Damon's production company, entered into a strategic partnership with Chris Hemsworth's Wild State production company on film and television projects.
2023: Air
In 2023, Ben Affleck had supporting roles in the drama "Air", which he also directed.
2023: Advice to Fellow Actors on Publicly Discussing Addiction
In 2023, Ben Affleck 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."
2023: Premiere and Release of 'Air'
In 2023, Ben Affleck's fifth directorial project, 'Air,' premiered at the SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim and was released in theaters in April, and then offered for streaming on Amazon Prime. Affleck also portrayed Phil Knight in the film.
April 26, 2024: Separation from Jennifer Lopez
On April 26, 2024, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez separated.
August 20, 2024: Lopez Files for Divorce
On August 20, 2024, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.
February 21, 2025: Divorce Finalized
On February 21, 2025, the divorce between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez was finalized.
