Artists Equity is an American production company founded by actors and filmmakers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in November 2022.
105-580: In June 2022, It was announced that American actors and filmmakers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon would be launching a new production company with financial backing from American investor Gerry Cardinale through his investment management firm RedBird Capital . In November 2022, the company was founded by Affleck and Damon, who partnered with Cardinale and received financial backing from RedBird Capital. The company's management consists of Affleck as chief executive officer, co-founder and partner, Damon as co-founder and partner, Cardinale as partner, and Michael Joe as
210-586: A limited theatrical release on August 2nd, with a release on Apple TV+ on August 9th. Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards , two BAFTA Awards , and three Golden Globes . Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educational series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984–1988). He later appeared in
315-528: A "knock-off" of Twin Peaks . The show was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings. Over time, LivePlanet's focus shifted from multimedia projects to more traditional film production. Affleck and his partners signed a film production deal with Disney in 2002; it expired in 2007. While Affleck had been a tabloid figure for much of his career, he was the subject of increased media attention in 2003 because of his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. By
420-481: A "remarkable" effect on Affleck's acting: "I never thought I'd write these words, but he carries the movie. He's terrific." Justin Chang of Variety found Affleck "perfectly cast": "It's a tricky turn, requiring a measure of careful underplaying and emotional aloofness, and he nails it completely." In 2015, Affleck and Damon's Project Greenlight was resurrected by HBO for one season. Given Affleck's growing reputation as
525-427: A 2017 Guardian interview, he said: "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." Anthony Robles Anthony Robles (born July 15, 1988) is an American wrestler who won the 2011 NCAA individual wrestling national championship in the 125-pound weight class, despite being born with only one leg . He
630-472: A CIA operative, the film tells the story of the CIA plan to save six U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis by faking a production for a large-scale science fiction film. Anthony Lane of The New Yorker said the film offered "further proof that we were wrong about Ben Affleck". Peter Travers of Rolling Stone remarked: "Affleck takes the next step in what looks like a major directing career ... He directs
735-455: A Cambridge-area casting director, and Affleck first acted professionally at the age of seven. His mother saved his wages in a college trust fund and hoped her son would ultimately become a teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession. When Affleck was 13, he filmed a children's television program in Mexico. He learned to speak Spanish during a year spent traveling around
840-468: A Stranger (1987), and a 1989 Burger King commercial. After high school, Affleck moved briefly to New York in search of acting work. Later, while studying at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Affleck directed student films . As an actor, he had a series of "knock-around parts, one to the next". He played Patrick Duffy 's son in the television film Daddy (1991), made an uncredited appearance as
945-696: A basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film (1992), and had a supporting role as a prep school student in School Ties (1992). He played a high school quarterback in the NBC television series Against the Grain (1993), and a steroid-abusing high school football player in Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story (1994). Affleck's most notable role during this period was as
1050-483: A career break. The Los 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". Affleck began a career comeback in 2006 with his acclaimed performance as Superman actor George Reeves in the noir biopic Hollywoodland . Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised "an award-caliber performance ... This
1155-461: A child actor was as the star of the PBS children's series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) and The Second Voyage of the Mimi (1988), produced for sixth-grade science classes. Affleck worked "sporadically" on Mimi from the age of eight to fifteen in both Massachusetts and Mexico. As a teenager, he appeared in the ABC after school special Wanted: A Perfect Man (1986), the television film Hands of
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#17331156139211260-751: A detective in Robert Rodriguez 's action thriller Hypnotic , which was released in theaters in May 2023. He made a cameo appearance as Batman in the film The Flash released in June 2023 and was also set to reprise the role for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom before his scenes in the film were deleted. Artists Equity entered into a strategic partnership with Chris Hemsworth 's Wild State production company on film and television projects in December 2023. After traveling in
1365-507: A filmmaker, his decision to star as Batman in the 2016 superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was regarded by Dave Itzkoff of The New York Times as "a somewhat bewildering choice". Although the casting announcement was met with intense fan backlash, Affleck's performance ultimately earned a positive reception. Andrew Barker of Variety found him "a winningly cranky, charismatic presence," while Brian Truitt of USA Today enjoyed his "strong" and "surprisingly emotional" take on
1470-457: A freshman at Arizona State University , and finished 6th in the 2006 FILA Junior World Championships in the 55 kg Freestyle Wrestling category. He started his collegiate wrestling career in 2007–08, where he was nationally ranked and finished the year with a record of 25–11, falling just short of being named as an All-American . In his second competitive year as a collegiate wrestler (2008–2009), Robles earned All-American Honors, finishing
1575-466: 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". David Sims of The Atlantic praised the "subtlety", "vulnerability" and "lumbering physicality" of his performance, describing it as "the rawest and most natural" work of his career. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , cinemas closed in the second week of
1680-423: A heist thriller comedy film, The Instigators on Apple TV Plus , starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck (Ben's brother), directed by Doug Liman and written by Chuck Maclean and Casey. The film received mixed reviews on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes . The company's upcoming productions include, the action thriller film The Accountant 2 , a direct sequel to The Accountant (2016) which
1785-473: A high school bully in Richard Linklater 's cult classic Dazed and Confused (1993). 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." Affleck later said Linklater was instrumental in demystifying the filmmaking process for him. Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art student in
1890-509: A husband accused of murder in David Fincher 's psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014). 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." David Edelstein of New York Magazine noted that Fincher's controlled style of directing had
1995-462: A joint bank account. While Affleck had high SAT scores, he was largely an unfocused student with poor attendance. He spent a few months studying Spanish at the University of Vermont , chosen because of its proximity to his then-girlfriend, but he left after fracturing his hip while playing basketball. At 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles, studying Middle Eastern affairs at Occidental College for
2100-539: A kind of grizzled charisma, the gravitas of a frat boy facing down his own expiration date." He also made a cameo appearance in Smith's Clerks III . Affleck's fifth directorial project, Air , about Nike 's signing of Michael Jordan , premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim; it was given a wide theatrical release by Amazon Studios in April, then offered for streaming on Amazon Prime. Affleck portrayed
2205-413: A lead role in the romantic comedy Chasing Amy (1997). The film was Affleck's breakthrough. Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Affleck's "wonderful ease" playing the role, combining "suave good looks with cool comic timing". Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly described it as a "wholesome and quick-witted" performance. When Affleck starred as a recently returned Korean War veteran in
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#17331156139212310-482: A long time and he's really one of the nicest." He starred opposite Charlize Theron as a hardened criminal, with Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times enjoying the unexpected casting choice: "Affleck often suggests one of the Kennedys playing Clark 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 of Reindeer Games ." He then had
2415-611: A lot of sense." Later that year, in a New York Times interview, Affleck remarked that his views were closer to those of the Israeli Labor Party than Likud . Affleck criticized the Bush tax cuts on many occasions. In 2007, he filmed a public service announcement for Divided We Fail , a nonpartisan AARP campaign seeking affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Affleck expressed concern about conspiracy theories claiming Barack Obama
2520-533: 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". In October 2016, Affleck and Damon made a one-off stage appearance for a live reading of the Good Will Hunting screenplay at New York's Skirball Theater . The superhero film Justice League , in which Affleck returned as Batman,
2625-470: A playwriting class at Harvard University. 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. The film, which they wrote mainly during improvisation sessions, was set partly in their hometown of Cambridge and drew from their own experiences. The screenplay was borne of their desire to create "an acting reel" for themselves. They sold
2730-464: A recovering alcoholic in the sports drama The Way Back (2020) was widely praised. The themes of the movie were "close to home" for Affleck. He relapsed during pre-production in 2018 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. Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair said it was hard to avoid the movie's "meta angle": "Affleck handles his self-conscious task with
2835-438: A self-effacing comic turn". Affleck then appeared opposite Courtney Love in the little-seen ensemble comedy 200 Cigarettes (1999). Interested in a directorial career, Affleck shadowed John Frankenheimer throughout pre-production of the action thriller Reindeer Games (2000). Frankenheimer, directing his last feature film, described Affleck as having "a very winning, likable quality about him. I've been doing this for
2940-482: A sense of thoughtful and willful individuality". Affleck's performance as a poker boss was considered a highlight of the poorly reviewed thriller Runner Runner (2013). Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times remarked that it was "one killer of a character, and Affleck plays him like a Bach concerto – every note perfectly played." He then pushed back production on his own directorial project to star as
3045-552: A serious director," while Roger Ebert of the Chicago 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." Also in 2010, Affleck and Damon's production company, Pearl Street Films, signed a first-look producing deal at Warner Bros. Affleck soon began work on his next directorial project, Argo (2012), for Warner Bros. Written by Chris Terrio and starring Affleck as
3150-543: A sit-in organized by the Harvard Living Wage Campaign. Affleck and Senator Ted Kennedy held a press conference on Capitol Hill in 2004, pushing for an increase in the minimum wage . He 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. During the Writers' Strike in 2008, Affleck voiced support for the picketers. Affleck
3255-638: A supporting role as a bartender in the little-seen comedy film Extract . Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described his performance as "a goofball delight", while Manohla Dargis of The New York Times declared it "a real performance". In 2010, Affleck starred in The Company Men as a mid-level sales executive who is made redundant during the financial crisis of 2007–2008 . David Denby of The New Yorker declared that Affleck "gives his best performance yet", while Richard Corliss of Time found he "nails Bobby's plunge from hubris to humiliation". Following
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3360-461: A supporting role as a ruthless stockbroker in the crime drama Boiler Room (2000). A.O. Scott of The New York Times felt Affleck had merely "traced over" Alec Baldwin 's performance in Glengarry Glen Ross , while Peter Rainer of New York Magazine said he "does a series of riffs on Baldwin's aria, and each one is funnier and crueler than the next". He provided the voice of Joseph in
3465-459: A supporting role in the little-seen The Third Wheel (2002). He portrayed the CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the thriller The Sum of All Fears (2002). Stephen Holden of The New York Times felt he was miscast in a role previously played by both Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin: "Although Mr. Affleck can be appealing when playing earnest young men groping toward maturity, he simply lacks the gravitas for
3570-415: A three-time All-American. Robles ranks 8th for most match wins by an Arizona State wrestler. Robles has stated that he wishes to become a motivational speaker, specifically for those who face similar challenges. “" My spirit is unconquerable...I don't care what's probable. Through blood, sweat, and tears, I am unstoppable." is the quote from Robles's book Unstoppable that he says is the overall message of
3675-462: A year and a half. 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." He first appeared, at the age of seven, in an independent film, The Dark End of the Street (1981), directed by a family friend. His biggest success as
3780-536: Is pro-choice . In a 2000 interview, he stated that he believes "very strongly in a woman's right to choose". In 2012, he supported the Draw the Line campaign, describing reproductive rights as "fundamental". Affleck was a longtime supporter of legalizing gay marriage , saying in 2004 that he hoped to look back on the marriage debate "with some degree of embarrassment for how antiquated it was". Also that year, he remarked that it
3885-553: Is directed by Gavin O'Connor , written by Bill Dubuque , and stars Affleck, the musical drama film Kiss of the Spider Woman , based on the novel and musical of the same name, directed by Bill Condon and starring Lopez, and the biographical sports drama film Unstoppable , based on the book of the same name by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy , directed by William Goldenberg , and starring Lopez. † The Instigators received
3990-523: Is feeling, nuanced work from an actor some of us had prematurely written off." Geoffrey Macnab of The Guardian said he "beautifully" captured "the character's curious mix of charm, vulnerability and fatalism". He was awarded the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor . Also in 2006, he made a cameo in Smith's Clerks II , starred in
4095-534: Is the author of the book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion (Gotham Books), which was published in September 2012. Robles was born with only one leg for unknown reasons, but refused to wear a prosthetic leg , removing it at the age of 3. Due to his leg missing all the way up to the hip, he has no stump to attach a prosthetic limb to. He endeavored to work around his missing leg, strengthening his body with various exercises. When Robles
4200-499: The 1999 Cannes Film Festival . Janet Maslin of The New York Times remarked that the pair, playing fallen angels, "bring great, understandable enthusiasm to Mr. Smith's smart talk and wild imaginings". Affleck starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999), playing a groom whose attempts to get to his wedding are complicated by his free-spirited traveling companion. Joe Leydon of Variety praised "his winning ability to play against his good looks in
4305-752: The House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights , the House Armed Services Committee , the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Projects . Affleck is a supporter of the A-T Children's Project. While filming Forces of Nature in 1998, Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan (1988–2015), who had
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4410-473: The Los Angeles Times found it "almost unfair" to critique Affleck, given that he "had such a rough year". Affleck's poor critical notices continued in 2004 when he starred as a bereaved husband in the romantic comedy Jersey Girl , directed by longtime collaborator Smith. Stephen Holden of The New York Times described Affleck as an actor "whose talent has curdled as his tabloid notoriety has spread." Later that year, he starred opposite James Gandolfini in
4515-477: The "growing percentage of the food insecure population that is not eligible for federal nutrition programs". During the COVID-19 pandemic , Affleck organized an online celebrity poker tournament to benefit the charity, made a personal donation and urged others to support the cause. Affleck is a supporter of the Los Angeles-based homelessness charity Midnight Mission , having volunteered at and donated to
4620-512: The "questionable and aggressive" use of the Patriot Act and the resulting "encroachments on civil liberties". A reporter for The Washington Post overheard Affleck denouncing the Israeli invasion of Gaza at a Washington party in 2009. Steven Clemons , a participant in the conversation, said Affleck listened "to alternative takes ... What Affleck spoke about that night was reasoned, complex and made
4725-500: The "smart and touching screenplay", while Emanuel Levy of Variety found it "funny, nonchalant, moving and angry". Jay Carr of The Boston Globe wrote that Affleck brought "a beautifully nuanced tenderness" to his role as the working-class friend of Damon's mathematical prodigy character. Affleck and Damon eventually won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay . Affleck has described this period of his life as "dreamlike": "It
4830-570: The A-T Children's Project. Affleck appeared in CinemAbility (2013), a documentary film which explores Hollywood's portrayals of people with disabilities. As part of USO -sponsored tours, Affleck visited marines stationed in the Persian Gulf in 2003, and troops at Germany's Ramstein Air Base in 2017. He is a supporter of Paralyzed Veterans of America . He filmed public service announcements for
4935-715: The Sad Affleck narrative and perhaps both director and actor lean into the idea." Later in 2019, Affleck made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot , having had little contact with Kevin Smith since the making of Clerks II in 2006. Affleck played a supporting role as a diplomat in Dee Rees 's political thriller The Last Thing He Wanted (2020). The Netflix movie, filmed in mid-2018, received negative reviews from critics, with Tomris Laffly of Variety describing Affleck's performance as "oddly removed". Affleck's starring role as
5040-821: The United States. Affleck has written op-eds about issues facing eastern Congo for the Washington Post , Politico , the Huffington Post , Time , The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times . He has appeared as a discussion panelist at many events, including at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , the Global Philanthropy Forum , and the Clinton Global Initiative . During visits to Washington D.C., Affleck has testified before
5145-432: The action crime thriller Reindeer Games (2000), the war drama Pearl Harbor (2001), and the thriller The Sum of All Fears (2002). After a career downturn, Affleck made a comeback by portraying George Reeves in the biopic Hollywoodland (2006), winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor . His directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone (2007), which Affleck also co-wrote, was well received. He then directed and starred in
5250-469: The animated Joseph: King of Dreams . In his last film role of 2000, Affleck starred opposite his girlfriend Paltrow in the romantic drama Bounce . Stephen Holden of The 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." Affleck reunited with director Michael Bay for
5355-506: The book. Anthony Robles has been a commentator of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships since 2012. Robles set the world record for most pull-ups in one minute, with 62, at halftime of a New York Jets game in November 2018. In March 2023, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon 's production company Artists Equity announced in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios that they would produce
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#17331156139215460-655: The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast . Affleck then appeared as a small-town sheriff in the supernatural horror film Phantoms . Stephen Holden of The New York Times wondered why actors like Affleck and Peter 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." Affleck and Damon had an on-screen reunion in Kevin Smith's religious satire Dogma , which premiered at
5565-424: The casting process and, after Affleck's screen test , director Michael Bay dismissed him as "a geek". Producer Jerry Bruckheimer convinced Bay that Affleck would be a star, but he was required to lose weight, become tanned, and get his teeth capped before filming began. The film, where he starred opposite Bruce Willis as a blue-collar driller tasked by NASA with stopping an asteroid from colliding with Earth,
5670-553: The chance to direct a feature film. Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in 2002, 2004 and 2005. Push, Nevada (2002), created, written and produced by Affleck and Bailey, was an ABC mystery drama series that placed a viewer-participation game within the frame of the show. Caryn James of The New York Times praised the show's "nerve, imagination and clever writing", but Robert Bianco of USA Today described it as
5775-399: The character of Daredevil. The film was a commercial success, but received a mixed response from critics. Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times said Affleck was "lost" in the role: "Affleck is shriveled by the one-dimensional role ... [Only his scenes with Jon Favreau have] a playful side that allows Mr. Affleck to show his generosity as an actor." In 2014, Affleck described Daredevil as
5880-509: The character. Affleck reprised his role as Batman later that year, making a brief cameo appearance in Suicide Squad (2016). He starred as an autistic accountant in the action thriller The Accountant (2016), which was an unexpected commercial success. Peter Debruge of Variety 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" –
5985-402: The charity. He has also volunteered at Atlanta Mission. Affleck has described himself as "moderately liberal ." He was raised in "a very strong union household". In 2000, he 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. He later narrated a documentary, Occupation (2002), about
6090-450: The college drama Glory Daze (1995), with Stephen Holden of The New York Times remarking that his "affably mopey performance finds just the right balance between obnoxious and sad sack". He then played a bully in filmmaker Kevin Smith 's comedy Mallrats (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", but Smith wrote him
6195-458: The coming-of-age drama Going All the Way (1997), Todd McCarthy of Variety found him "excellent", while Janet Maslin of The New York Times noted that his "flair for comic self-doubt made a strong impression." The success of 1997's Good 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
6300-424: The company worked on the productions of The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024), a music documentary film about the making of the album This Is Me... Now by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez (the wife of Affleck ), and the historical drama film Small Things like These (2024), starring and produced by Cillian Murphy , which is based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Claire Keegan .They released
6405-468: The company's chief operating officer. Joe was the former chief operating officer of STX Films , and former executive vice president at Universal Pictures . The company is headquartered in Los Angeles County , California . In 2023, the company's first film, Air , directed by and starring Affleck as Phil Knight , and Damon as Sonny Vaccaro premiere at South by Southwest on March 18, 2023, and
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#17331156139216510-747: The company's first documentary film, Kiss the Future , documents the underground music scene in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War , and covers U2 's involvement in bringing attention to the Siege of Sarajevo and their 1997 concert in the city . The documentary film premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023, and was released cinematically by AMC Theatres in February 2024. In 2024,
6615-506: The country with his mother and brother. As a Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school student, Affleck acted in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca. He became close friends with fellow student Matt Damon , whom he had known since the age of eight. Although Damon was two years older, the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to pursue acting careers. They traveled to New York together for acting auditions and saved money for train and airline tickets in
6720-577: The crime drama The Town (2010) and the political thriller Argo (2012), both of which were critical and commercial successes. For the latter, Affleck won the BAFTA Award for Best Director , and the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Picture . Affleck then starred in the psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014) and played the superhero Batman in the DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). He starred in
6825-442: The critically derided war drama Pearl Harbor (2001). Todd McCarthy of Variety 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". Affleck then parodied Good Will Hunting with Damon and Van Sant in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), made a cameo in the comedy Daddy and Them (2001), and had
6930-535: The early 2000s. He and Damon had set up Pearl Street Films in 1998, named after the street that ran between their childhood homes. Their next production company LivePlanet , co-founded in 2000 with Sean Bailey and Chris Moore , sought to integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production. LivePlanet's biggest success was the documentary series Project Greenlight , aired on HBO and later Bravo , which focused on first-time filmmakers being given
7035-399: The end of the year, Affleck had become, in the words of GQ , the "world's most over-exposed actor". His tabloid fame coincided with a series of poorly received films. The first of these was Daredevil (2003), in which Affleck starred as the blind superhero . Affleck was a longtime comic book fan, and, in 1999, had written a foreword for Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil about his love for
7140-452: The ensemble romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You , the chemistry between Affleck and Jennifer Aniston was praised. Affleck played a congressman in the political thriller State of Play . Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe found him "very good in the film's silliest role," but David Edelstein of New York Magazine remarked of Affleck: "He might be smart and thoughtful in life [but] as an actor his wheels turn too slowly." He had
7245-655: The first director to win these awards without a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director . The following year, Affleck played a romantic lead in Terrence Malick 's experimental drama To the Wonder . Malick, a close friend of Affleck's godfather, first met Affleck in the 1990s to offer advice about the plot of Good Will Hunting . Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian enjoyed "a performance of dignity and sensitivity," while The New Yorker ' s Richard Brody described Affleck as "a solid and muscular performer" who "conveys
7350-501: The hell out of it, nailing the quickening pace, the wayward humor, the nerve-frying suspense." A major critical and commercial success, Argo won the Academy Award , Golden Globe Award , and BAFTA Award for Best Picture. The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast . Affleck himself won the Golden Globe Award , Directors Guild of America Award , and BAFTA Award for Best Director, becoming
7455-494: The holiday comedy Surviving Christmas . Holden noted in The 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." 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, and he decided to take
7560-413: The independent comedy Dazed and Confused (1993) and several Kevin Smith comedies, including Chasing Amy (1997). Affleck gained wider recognition when he and Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for writing Good Will Hunting (1997), which they also starred in. He established himself as a leading man in studio films, including the disaster film Armageddon (1998),
7665-478: The little-seen Man About Town and had a minor role in the crime drama Smokin' Aces . In 2007, Affleck made his feature film directorial debut with Gone 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 the book by Dennis Lehane , with childhood friend Aaron Stockard, having first mentioned his intention to adapt
7770-533: The modest commercial success of Gone Baby Gone , Warner Bros. developed a close working relationship with Affleck and offered him his choice of the studio's scripts. He decided to direct the crime drama The Town (2010), an adaptation of Chuck Hogan 's novel Prince 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. A.O. Scott of The New York Times praised his "skill and self-confidence as
7875-618: The movie for himself, but we'll allow it." Later that year, Affleck appeared as a substitute father figure in George Clooney 's coming-of-age drama The Tender Bar . 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." Pete Hammond of Deadline described it as "a part he was born to play", writing that he "beautifully and knowingly" delivered "an unforgettable portrait of
7980-520: The movie's release and Warner Bros. made it available to view-on-demand earlier than scheduled. He received a Best Actor nomination at the 2021 Critics' Choice Awards . Also in 2021, Snyder's director's cut of Justice League featured a newly filmed scene with Affleck. Affleck had supporting roles in two 2021 releases. He played Peter II, Count of Alençon , a hedonistic aristocrat in Ridley Scott 's medieval drama The Last Duel ; he also co-wrote
8085-405: The movie's screenplay with Damon and Nicole Holofcener . Bilge Ebiri of New 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." Brian Truitt of USA Today said he "steals the movie": "He seems to have written the most entertaining character in
8190-415: The only film he regretted making. He next appeared as a low-ranking mobster in the romantic comedy Gigli (2003), co-starring Lopez. The film was almost uniformly panned, with Manohla Dargis of the Los Angeles Times remarking that "Affleck doesn't have the chops or the charm to maneuver around (or past) bad material." Rex Reed of The Observer criticized the co-stars, writing that the film reminds
8295-726: The organization in both 2009 and 2014. He has also volunteered on behalf of Operation Gratitude . Affleck is a member of Feeding America 's Entertainment Council. He made an appearance at the Greater Boston Food Bank in 2007, and at a Denver food bank in 2008. Affleck spoke at a Feeding America rally in Washington D.C. in 2009, and filmed a public service announcement for the charity in 2010. Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Campaign in 2011. Also that year, he and Howard Graham Buffett co-wrote an article for The Huffington Post , highlighting
8400-677: The production company Artists Equity and were also co-owners of Pearl Street Films . Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California . His family moved to Massachusetts when he was three, living in Falmouth , where his brother Casey was born, before settling in Cambridge . His mother, Christopher Anne "Chris" Boldt, was a Harvard -educated elementary school teacher. His father, Timothy Byers Affleck,
8505-915: The rare disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and his family. He became actively involved in fundraising for A-T, and he and Kindregan testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education in 2001, asking senators to support stem-cell research and to double the budget of the National Institutes of Health . In 2007, Affleck was the keynote speaker at Kindregan's high school graduation ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia. Kindregan appeared as an extra in Argo (2012). 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
8610-449: The region between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck and Whitney Williams co-founded the nonprofit organization Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010. ECI acts as a grant maker for Congolese -led, community-based charities. It offers training and resources to cooperatives of Congolese farmers while leveraging partnerships with companies including Theo Chocolate and Starbucks . ECI also aims to raise public awareness and drive policy change in
8715-444: The role." Affleck had an "amazing experience" making the thriller Changing Lanes (2002), and later cited Roger Michell as someone he learned from as a director. Robert Koehler of Variety 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." Affleck became more involved with television and film production in
8820-639: The screenplay to Castle Rock in 1994 when Affleck was 22 years old. During the development process, they received notes from industry figures, including Rob Reiner and William Goldman . Following a lengthy dispute with Castle Rock about a suitable director, Affleck and Damon persuaded Miramax to purchase the screenplay. The two friends moved back to Boston for a year before the film finally went into production, directed by Gus Van Sant , and co-starring Damon, Affleck, Minnie Driver , and Robin Williams . On its release, Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised
8925-413: The star of The Batman , saying he "couldn't crack it" and no longer felt "passionate" about the story. Filming of the drug-trafficking thriller Triple Frontier was postponed by six months in order to accommodate his treatment for "health issues". Upon Triple Frontier 's release in 2019, Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist remarked that director J.C. Chandor "gets a lot of mileage out of
9030-406: The story in 2003. It opened to enthusiastic reviews. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times praised the film's "sensitivity to real struggle", while Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter described it as "thoughtful, deeply poignant, [and] splendidly executed". While Affleck intended to "keep a primary emphasis on directing" going forward in his career, he acted in three films in 2009. In
9135-418: The supporting role of Phil Knight , while other cast members include Matt Damon , Viola Davis , Chris Tucker , and Jason Bateman . It marked the first release from Affleck and Damon's independent production company Artists 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. Affleck starred as
9240-563: The thriller The Accountant (2016) and the sports drama The Way Back (2020). Affleck had supporting roles in the dramas The Last Duel (2021), The Tender Bar (2021) and Air (2023), the latter of which he also directed. Affleck is the co-founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative , a grantmaking and advocacy-based nonprofit organization. He is a supporter of the Democratic Party . Affleck and Damon are co-owners of
9345-605: The uncle you wish you had." Kevin Maher of The 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." For the role, Affleck was nominated for the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2022, Affleck and Ana de Armas starred in Adrian Lyne 's thriller Deep Water , an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel . It
9450-586: The world how "pathetically incompetent they both are in the only two things that matter in career longevity - craft and talent." Yet Affleck has repeatedly defended director Martin Brest since the film's release, describing him as "one of the really great directors". In his last film role of 2003, Affleck starred as a reverse engineer in the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003). Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian remarked on Affleck's "self-deprecating charm" and wondered why he could not find better scripts. Manohla Dargis of
9555-655: The year 29–8, winning the Pacific-10 Conference championship at 125 pounds and finishing fourth in the NCAA Championship's 125 pound weight class tournament. In 2009–10, Robles again earned All-American honors, finishing seventh in the NCAA 125 pound weight class, going 32–4 on the season, and repeating as the Pac-10 125 pound wrestling champion. In Robles' final year of eligibility (2010–11), he went undefeated, going 36–0 on
9660-493: The year, becoming a three-time Pac-10 champion (defeating Jason Lara from Oregon State in the final, and a national champion, defeating the defending 125-pound NCAA Champion, Iowa's Matt McDonough , 7–1 in the final. For his efforts, Robles was voted the Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. The 5'8" Robles concluded his Arizona State wrestling career with a record of 122–23, a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion as well as
9765-598: Was "a terrific fit" for the role. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wondered why Affleck, "looking appropriately dead-eyed and miserable," committed himself to the film. Live by Night , which Affleck wrote, directed, co-produced, and starred in, was released in late 2016. Adapted from Dennis Lehane 's novel of the same name , the Prohibition -era gangster drama received largely unenthusiastic reviews and failed to recoup its $ 65 million production budget. David Sims of The Atlantic described it as "a fascinating mess of
9870-411: Was "outrageous and offensive" to suggest members of the transgender community were not entitled to equal rights. He appeared alongside his gay cousin in a 2005 Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays print advertising campaign. Affleck appeared at a press conference with New York Senator Chuck Schumer in 2002, in support of a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act. In 2003, he criticized
9975-535: Was "very difficult", and Affleck felt a sense of "relief" at the age of 11 when his parents divorced, and his father exited the family home. His father continued to drink heavily and eventually became homeless, spending two years living on the streets of Cambridge. When Affleck was 16, his father entered a rehabilitation facility in Indio, California . He lived at the facility for twelve years to maintain his sobriety and worked there as an addiction counselor. Affleck
10080-670: Was a box office success. Daphne Merkin of The New Yorker remarked: "Affleck demonstrates a sexy Paul Newmanish charm and is clearly bound for stardom." Later in 1998, Affleck had a supporting role as an arrogant English actor in the period romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love , starring his then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow . Lael Loewenstein of Variety remarked that Affleck "does some of his very best work, suggesting that comedy may be his true calling," while Janet Maslin of The New York Times found him "very funny". Shakespeare in Love won seven Academy Awards , including Best Picture , while
10185-445: 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." In 2012, he praised Senator John McCain 's leadership in defending Huma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks. Affleck engaged in a discussion about the relationship between liberal principles and Islam during a 2014 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher . In
10290-509: Was an aspiring playwright who was "mostly unemployed." He worked sporadically as a carpenter, auto mechanic, bookie , electrician, bartender, and janitor at Harvard. In the mid-1960s, he had been an actor and stage manager with the Theater Company of Boston . During Affleck's childhood, his father had a self-described "severe, chronic problem with alcoholism", and Affleck has recalled him drinking "all day ... every day". His father
10395-667: Was in the sixth grade, he set a record for the most pushups by a member of his school. He began wrestling in the eighth grade, joining in while watching one of his older cousins practice. As a freshman in high school Robles had a record of 5–8 and ranked last in the city of Mesa, Arizona , disadvantaged by being 10 pounds underweight for his weight class . Robles benefited, however, from tremendous grip strength from his use of crutches. After intensive training, Robles found that he could use his unusually high center of gravity to defend against attack, and became skilled at several offensive moves including one he created. In his second year, Robles
10500-406: 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! ' " He remains the youngest writer (at age 25) ever to win an Oscar for screenwriting. Armageddon , released in 1998, established Affleck as a viable leading man for Hollywood studio films. Good Will Hunting had not yet been released during
10605-482: Was raised in a politically active, liberal household. He and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who worked in the arts; the boys regularly attended theater performances with their mother and were encouraged to make their own home movies . David Wheeler , a family friend, later remembered Affleck as a "very bright and intensely curious" child. The brothers auditioned for roles in local commercials and film productions because of their mother's friendship with
10710-474: Was ranked sixth in Arizona, and won two state wrestling championships going 96–0 in his junior and senior years combined at Mesa High School . Robles won a national championship as a senior, finishing his high school wrestling career with a record of 129–15. Despite Robles' great high school success, none of his top choices for college— Iowa , Oklahoma State , and Columbia —recruited him. Robles redshirted as
10815-587: Was released in 2017. He later described it as a "difficult" on-set experience. Snyder stepped down during filming due to the death of his daughter, the replacement director Joss Whedon 's treatment of actors was the subject of complaints, and Affleck himself was struggling with addiction issues. The film drew mixed opinions from critics; Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Affleck "looks like he'd rather be almost anywhere else but here." Amidst an alcoholism relapse, Affleck did not work in 2017. He stepped down as director, writer and, ultimately, as
10920-434: Was released on streaming service Hulu and received largely negative reviews. Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times said Affleck "excels at playing the emasculated dreamboat, the golden boy gone to seed." Adam Nayman of The 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
11025-491: Was released worldwide on April 5, 2023. The film is based on true events about the origin of Air Jordan , a basketball shoeline by professional basketball player Michael Jordan and Nike, Inc. The film grossed $ 90 million worldwide on a budget of $ 70–90 million, and received positive reviews from critics, earning Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Damon's performance. Also in 2023,
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