Happy 41st Birthday Ben Affleck
There are three keys to Ben Affleck's fame: solid acting skills, boy-next-door good looks, and a string of high-profile romances with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner.
Ben Affleck in a nutshell:
Born in California in 1972, Ben Affleck is an actor and screenwriter whose big break came with a role in the Academy Award-winning Good Will Hunting.
In 1998, he starred in the successful blockbuster Armageddon, and landed a part in the Academy Award-winning film Shakespeare in Love. He went on to star in the films Dogma and Forces of Nature.
In 2003, Affleck announced his engagement to Jennifer Lopez, with whom he co-starred in the film flop Gigli. Affleck and Lopez called off the wedding in early 2004, and the following year, Affleck wed actress Jennifer Garner.
Affleck's next three films, Paycheck, Jersey Girl and Surviving Christmas, were poorly received. In 2006, he starred in Smokin' Aces, Hollywoodland, Clerks II and Man About Town, and then directed and co-wrote the acclaimed film Gone Baby Gone.
In 2009, the actor starred in He's Just Not That Into You, State of Play and Extract. In 2012, he directed, co-produced and acted in the film Argo, which earned him a Golden Globe for best director and the 2013 Oscar for best picture.
Typical Affleck Trade Marks:
Frequently plays arrogant and ruthless characters
Opens his films with narration or title cards
Often works with brother Casey Affleck and friend Matt Damon
His films often feature corrupt but well-meaning law enforcement figures
His films often focus on characters caught in situations out of their depth
Frequently sets his films in his hometown of Boston
