Ben Foster is an American actor who is best known for portraying somber and complicated characters. His filmography includes “The Punisher,” “The Mechanic,” and “Lone Survivor.” Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he made his acting debut in the television series ‘Flash Forward’ at the age of sixteen. In the crime-thriller film “Kounterfeit,” he made his film debut with a small role. In the teen comedy film ‘Get Over It,’ which is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ he portrayed his first leading role. His performance garnered him a nomination for a Teen Choice Award. In the years that followed, he garnered popularity for portraying complex and sinister characters. In the action film Punisher, he played a supporting role. The film was based on the same-named Marvel comic book character. In addition to the main role in the war drama film “The Messenger,” he has played other significant roles in his career. His recent works include ‘Hell or High Water,’ a crime thriller in which he played a pivotal character, and ‘Rock n Roll,’ a French comedy film. He also portrayed the lead role in the critically acclaimed drama film Leave No Trace.
Youth and Early Life
Ben Foster was born on October 29, 1980, in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents Steven Foster and Gillian Kirwan. His parents own a restaurant. His sibling became an actor as well. He was brought up as a Jew. He attended the Maharishi University of Management for his education.
Ben Foster’s Career
Ben Foster’s acting career began in 1996 with the main role in the television series Flash Forward. He won the Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series for his work. In 1996, he made his film debut in the crime thriller “Kounterfeit,” in which he played a minor role. John Mallory was the director of the film. Next, he appeared in the television films “I’ve Been Waiting For You” and “Breakfast With Einstein.”
His next major film role was in the 1999 comedy-drama “Liberty Heights.” The film was a commercial failure despite receiving favorable reviews. In 2001, he portrayed one of the principal characters in Tommy O’Haver’s teen comedy film “Get Over It.” The film garnered him a Teen Choice Award nomination.
In the subsequent years, he proceeded to appear in a number of films, including “Big Trouble” (2002), “11: 14” (2003), “The Punisher” (2004), “Hostage” (2005), and “Alpha Dog.” (2006). He played a significant role in the 2006 superhero film X-Men: The Last Stand. Based on the same-named superhero team from Marvel Comics, the film was a tremendous financial success. He had a supporting role in the television series ‘Six Feet Under’ from 2003 to 2005. The program received widespread acclaim and numerous awards.
In the 2007 film “3:10 to Yuma,” he portrayed the role of a cold-blooded killer and outlaw. The film was directed by James Mangold and starred Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. The film was a moderate commercial success and received favorable reviews. In the same year, he had a significant role in the horror film ’30 Days of Night’. It was an economic triumph.
In 2009, he starred as the protagonist in the military drama film The Messenger. The film, directed by Oren Moverman, was a commercial catastrophe. However, it received widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards and nominations. Numerous critics ranked it among the ten best films of the year.
In 2009, he starred in the sci-fi horror film “Pandorum.” The film was unsuccessful at the box office and received divided reviews. In 2011, he played the lead character in the adventure-drama film Here. He then appeared as one of the leading characters in the action-thriller film The Mechanic. The movie was a financial success.
In the years that followed, he appeared in films such as “Rampart,” “Contraband,” “Kill Your Darlings,” “Lone Survivor,” and “The Finest Hours.” (2016). In 2016, he starred in the crime-thriller feature “Hell or High Water.” The film, directed by David Mackenzie, was about two brothers who commit a series of bank robberies while the Texas Rangers pursue them.
The movie was a financial success. It also received four Oscar nominations and received critical acclaim. His most recent works consist of “Inferno” (2016), “Leave No Trace” (2018), and “Galveston.” (2018). Ben Foster’s early accomplishments include the 2004 action film The Punisher, which was directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. The film was based on the same-named Marvel comic book character.
There were also Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, and Laura Harring in the film. The film was a commercial success but received mostly negative to divided reviews. Foster played a significant part in the biographical war drama film “Lone Survivor.” The film, directed by Peter Berg, was set during the Afghanistan conflict. Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emilio Hirsch, and Eric Bana were among the other actors featured in the film.
The movie was a commercial and critical success. It received two Oscar nominations and was named one of the best ten films of the year by the National Board of Review. In the crime thriller film “Hell or High Water,” in which two brothers commit a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch while being pursued by the Texas Rangers, he portrayed one of the leading roles.
The film was directed by David Mackenzie and featured Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Katy Mixon, and Gil Birmingham. The film was a commercial triumph, grossing more than three times its budget. It was critically acclaimed and nominated for a number of prestigious awards.
Foster’s Personal Life
Since June 2018, Ben Foster has been married to Laura Prepon. The couple has one daughter, Ella, who was born in August 2017. Foster had previously dated the actresses Antje Trau and Robin Wright before tying the knot.
Estimated Net Worth
Ben Foster is an American actor with a $12 million net worth. Ben Foster is primarily recognized for his roles in the films “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “The Messenger,” “Leave No Trace,” and “Hell or High Water.” He earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the most recent film.