Benjamin Walker (actor)

For other people named Benjamin Walker, see Benjamin Walker (disambiguation).
Benjamin Walker

Walker in March 2012.
Born Benjamin Walker Davis
(1982-06-21) June 21, 1982
Cartersville, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation Actor, stand-up comedian
Years active 2004–present
Spouse(s) Mamie Gummer (m. 2011–13)
Kaya Scodelario (m. 2015)

Benjamin Walker Davis (born June 21, 1982),[1][2] known professionally as Benjamin Walker, is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He may be best known for his title role in the 2012 film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, as well as his appearances in the films Kinsey and Flags of Our Fathers, and his critically acclaimed role as Andrew Jackson in the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. As of May 2016 he is starring as Patrick Bateman in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film American Psycho.

Early life

Walker was born in Cartersville, Georgia,[3] the son of Jeannine (née Walker), a music teacher, and Greg Davis, who owned a movie rental store and works in financial services.[4][5] He took his mother's maiden name as his stage name because there was a Benjamin Davis already registered with the Screen Actors Guild.[6] He attended Cartersville High School in Cartersville, the Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, and the Juilliard School in New York City.[7] He graduated from the Juilliard Actor Training Program in 2004.[8]

Acting career

Stage

In February 2007, Walker portrayed Bertram Cates in the Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind.[9][10] The production opened at the Lyceum Theatre on April 12 and enjoyed a 10-week run to a full house. The show was nominated for four Tony awards, including Best Revival. In April 2008, Walker appeared as the Chevalier Danceny in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. He played the inexperienced lover who becomes the sex pawn of the pernicious La Marquise de Merteuil. Described as the "definitive battle of the sexes" by Broadway World,[11] the production enjoyed a full house and was nominated for six Tony awards.

In December 2007, Walker starred as Andrew Jackson in the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson during its world premiere at the Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. In 2010, he reprised his role in the musical, first off-Broadway at the Public Theater and then at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. The musical enjoyed a successful, but short, run. It was also a critical hit, but was only nominated for awards for set design. Walker starred in numerous incarnations of the show to great critical acclaim, including Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: The Concert Version (a four-week workshop run at Public Theater in March 2009), and the thrice-extended return at the Public Theater in March 2010.[12][13] The production closed on January 2, 2011.

From 2012 to 2013, Walker portrayed Brick in a revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His other stage credits include The Arrangements at the Atlantic Theatre Company (2005), the Lincoln Center Theater workshop of Spring Awakening (2005), Lady Windermere's Fan (2005), and Romeo and Juliet (2006).

Film

Walker getting into character as Abraham Lincoln in 2012

Walker starred in the short film All Saint's Day (2007), which was the Savannah College of Art and Design winner for the narrative short category. In 2009, he appeared in the independent films Coach and The War Boys.[14] In 2010, Walker was cast as Hank McCoy/Beast in X-Men: First Class, but dropped out of the role to star in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.[15] It was announced in January 2011 that Walker would star as Abraham Lincoln in the film adaptation of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.[16] The film was released in June 2012. Walker told Rolling Stone magazine that he read a number of biographies on Lincoln to prepare for the role.[17] He was cast as Archangel Michael in the film adaptation of Paradise Lost, but production was cancelled in 2012.[18] He starred as Kevin Connolly in the 2012 film Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight.[19]

Stand-up comedy career

Walker has performed stand-up comedy at Caroline's, Comedy Village, and The Comedy Store. His comedy show, Find the Funny, features comics and taped short narratives and skits, and is performed regularly in New York City.[20]

Personal life

Walker became engaged to actress Mamie Gummer in 2009,[1] and they were married in 2011.[21] They lived in an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In March 2013, it was announced that they had amicably separated and plan to divorce.[22]

Walker began dating his co-star, Kaya Scodelario, during the filming of The Moon and the Sun in April 2014. They became engaged on December 28, 2014.[23] He and Scodelario wed in late 2015.[24]

Filmography

Walker in March 2012

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Kinsey Kinsey aged 19
2005 The Notorious Bettie Page Jim
2006 My Favorite Fairy Tales: Volume 2 Voice role
2006 My Favorite Fairy Tales: Volume 4 Voice role
2006 Unconscious John Stradlater
2006 Flags of Our Fathers Harlon Block
2007 Wasted NYC Billy Short film
2007 All Saints Day Matthew Short film
2009 The War Boys David
2010 Coach Andy
2011 The Hot Potato Danny
2011 Wolfe with an E Record Store Clerk
2012 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Abraham Lincoln
2015 In the Heart of the Sea George Pollard, Jr.
2016 The Choice Travis Parker
2016 The Moon and the Sun Yves De La Croix

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 3 lbs Nick Ross 1 episode: "Heart Stopping"
2010 Westward! Jesse Boone TV movie
2013 The Missionary Roy TV movie
2013 Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Kevin Connolly TV movie

References

  1. 1 2 "Mamie Gummer Engaged to Stage Actor Ben Walker". BroadwayWorld.com. October 20, 2009.
  2. ↑ "30 Under 30 - Benjamin Walker". BroadwaySpace.com. 2011. Age: 28
  3. ↑ Brown, Scott. (2010-08-22) Benjamin Walker on Playing Andrew Jackson in Broadway's 'Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson' - Fall Preview 2010, nymag.com; retrieved 2013-08-25.
  4. ↑ Marchese, David (June 14, 2012). "Benjamin Walker, Sexypants Vampire Hunter". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ Lipworth, Elaine. (2012-06-13) Benjamin Walker: Meryl Streep is an intimidating mother-in-law, Metro.co.uk; retrieved 2013-08-25.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Benjamin Walker". Broadway.com. April 19, 2007.
  8. ↑ "The War Boys: Press Notes" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  9. ↑ Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Opening Night: Inherit the Wind, Video Feature: Broadway.com Buzz Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Photo Coverage: Arrivals for 'LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES'". BroadwayWorld.com. May 2, 2008.
  12. ↑ "BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON Plays The Public Theatre, Previews 3/23/2010". BroadwayWorld.com. October 22, 2009.
  13. ↑ "BLOODY BLOODY Opens at Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 10/13". BroadwayWorld.com. October 13, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Coach". Lightning Entertainment.
  15. ↑ "Benjamin Walker to Star in Broadway Transfer of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson". Broadway.com. July 15, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Ben Walker is Abe Lincoln, 'Vampire Hunter'". Variety.com. January 28, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  17. ↑ Gavin Edwards (May 2012). "Big Dead President: Benjamin Walker". Rolling Stone (Summer Bonus Issue): 51.
  18. ↑ "Legendary Pictures Scraps Alex Proyas' PARADISE LOST Starring Bradley Cooper". Collider.com. February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Gawking at the shoot of Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight". AllOverAlbany.com. May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  20. ↑ Widdicombe, Lizzie (May 24, 2010). "Finding The Funny". The New Yorker.
  21. ↑ "Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer marries". Entertainment Weekly. July 20, 2011.
  22. ↑ Yuan, Jada (January 6, 2013). "Benjamin Walker Returns to Broadway for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Vulture.com. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  23. ↑ "The Happiest Woman in the World". @kayascods. December 28, 2014.
  24. ↑ Guglielmi, Jodi (January 8, 2016). "Holiday Wedding! Benjamin Walker and Kaya Scodelario Tie the Knot". People.

External links

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