Ben Stein (Benjamin Jeremy Stein) is an American writer, actor, and lawyer who is best known as the host of the Emmy Award-winning game show The Ben Stein Show. He began his career as an economist at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., after earning a law degree. He then worked as a trial lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission and taught at the American University. His teaching career brought him to the University of California, where he taught constitutional political and civil rights. He later became a speechwriter and lawyer for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford with the assistance of his editorials. He eventually became a Hollywood consultant, assisting liberal writers in portraying a conservative family on television, before transitioning to commercials and feature films. He was known for his ability to play bland and emotionless characters and was consequently typecast in a variety of roles, primarily as a nerd. His deadpan monotone delivery style provided a novel and refreshing contrast to the typical overly excited commercial personalities. He is widely regarded as Hollywood’s funniest Republican. He is an American attorney, former game show host, actor, former political speechwriter, law professor, economist, author, and columnist.
Childhood & Adolescence
He was born in Washington, D.C., United States, on November 25, 1944, to Herbert Stein, an economist and presidential adviser, and Mildred Stein, a homemaker.
He has a sister who is also a writer, Rachel Stein. He began his education at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he graduated in 1962. He then enrolled at Columbia University in 1966, majoring in economics.
He later attended Yale Law School and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1970. While pursuing his law degree, he also studied drama and was an outspoken opponent of the US involvement in the Vietnam War.
Career of Ben
After graduating from law school, he worked as a poverty lawyer in New Haven, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., before joining the Federal Trade Commission as an attorney.
He relocated to California shortly thereafter to teach film and law classes at the University of California. He returned to Washington in 1973 and resumed his position at the FTC.
He wrote editorials defending President Richard Nixon as the Watergate scandal unfolded. When the articles attracted the attention of the Nixon administration, Pat Buchanan recruited him. He began his political career as a speechwriter and legal advisor to President Richard Nixon and later President Gerald Ford.
In 1984, he made his feature film debut as a surplus salesman in the film ‘The Wild Life.’ His film career took off after he appeared in the 1986 cult film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ as the colorless and boring economics teacher.
Among his other film credits are supporting roles in ‘Ghostbusters II’ (1989), ‘Dennis the Menace’ (1993), ‘Casper’ (1995), ‘House Arrest’ (1996), and ‘Son of the Mask’ (1996). (2005).
Additionally, he provided voice work for several films, including ‘Rugrats,’ ‘Hercules,’ ‘The Emperor’s New School,’ ‘King of the Hill,’ and ‘Santa vs. the Snowman 3D.
He is best known for his television appearances as Rabbi Goldberg on ‘Family Guy,’ Dr. Mopp on ‘Hughleys,’ Sam Hinkle on ‘Total Security,’ Shellbach on ‘Seinfeld,’ and Thomas on ‘Married with Children.’ He appeared on a number of occasions in the television series ‘The Wonder Years’ (1989-91).
He is also an accomplished author, having written both fiction and non-fiction books. On the Brink: A Novel’ (1978), ‘Dreemz’ (1978), and ‘Her Only Sin’ (1978) are among his fictional works (1986).
Among his non-fiction works are ‘The View from Sunset Boulevard: America as brought to you by the people who make television’ (1979), ‘How to Ruin Your Life’ (2002), ‘How to Ruin Your Financial Life’ (2004), ‘Yes, You Can Be a Successful Income Investor: Yielding in Today’s Market’ (2005), and ‘The Real Stars: Who Are the True Heroes in
Today’s America?’ (2007) and ‘How To Completely Destroy Your Financial Life and Portfolio’ (2007). (2012). He has since continued to write on a range of subjects, including politics, investing, and economics. He contributes a column to the conservative magazines ‘The American Spectator’ and ‘Newsmax’ on a regular basis. He has also contributed to a variety of publications, including ‘The Wall Street Journal,’ ‘The New York Times,’ ‘New York Magazine,’ and ‘Penthouse.’
Significant Works of Ben
He made an unforgettable cameo appearance in the 1986 classic film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ as a monotone Economics teacher who, while calling out students’ names for attendance, uttered one of the film’s most famous quotes: “Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?”
In 1997, Comedy Central offered him the opportunity to host his own game show, titled ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money.’ The show won seven Emmy awards during its run, which concluded in 2003.
Awards and Accomplishments
In 1999, he and his co-host, Jimmy Kennel, won the ‘Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host’ for their game show ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’.
In 2003, he received the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund’s Pro-Life Award for his efforts as an opponent of abortion legalization.
In 2008, he received the Entertainment Merchants Association’s Home Entertainment Awards’ ‘Freedom of Expression Award’ for “his outspoken economic and political beliefs.”
Personal History and Legacies
In 1968, he married Alexandra Denman, an Arkansas entertainment lawyer. However, the couple divorced in 1974 and remarried three years later in 1977. In 1987, the couple adopted a son, Tommy Stein.
Estimated Net Worth
Ben Stein is a 25-million-dollar-rich American lawyer, comedian, actor, and writer. Ben Stein began his career as a political and economic commentator before moving into acting and stand-up comedy.
Ben Stein initially gained notoriety as a speechwriter for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Later in life, Stein entered the world of entertainment as an actor, comedian, and Emmy Award-winning host of Comedy Central’s “Win Ben Stein’s Money.” He is most well-known for his cameo appearance in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”