Ben Shenkman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ben Shenkman | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||
| Born | September 26, 1968  New York, New York, U.S. |
||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Lauren Greilsheimer (September 17, 2005 - present) | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Ben Shenkman (born September 26, 1968) is an American television, film and theatre actor.
Shenkman was born in New York City. Following his graduation from Brown University and a Masters program at New York University he began his acting career guest starring in the hit series Law & Order in 1993 and gaining a small role in the 1994 film Quiz Show directed by Robert Redford. He continued throughout the '90s performing small roles in films such as Eraser (1996), The Siege (1998), π (1998), Jesus' Son (1999), until his first leading role in the romantic comedy 30 Days (1999) as Jordan Trainer. The movie gained little success but it was Shenkman's first leading role. Additional films include the psychological thriller Chasing Sleep (2000), and the independent films Requiem for a Dream (2000) and Americanese (2008).
Shenkman continued his television appearances playing recurring roles in the hit television series Ed and Law & Order. His biggest television break was his role in HBO's adaptation of Tony Kushner's hit play Angels in America. Shenkman plays Louis Ironson, a gay Jew who upon discovering his partner is ill with AIDS decides that he can't cope with the suffering of his friend and thus leaves him. The movie wasn't the first time Shenkman took part in this award winning production. While still at New York University (NYU) Shenkman played the role of Roy Cohn (later played by Al Pacino in the 2003 miniseries), a homophobic Republican and closeted homosexual dying of AIDS. The HBO role gained Shenkman a Golden Globe nomination.
He also gained success in the theatre starring in Manhattan Theatre Club's critically acclaimed production of Proof alongside Mary-Louise Parker who also co-starred in Angels in America. In 2007, he co-starred in Breakfast with Scot a gay-themed film made in Canada. The film marked the first time major Canadian hockey teams had allowed a gay film to be made at their facilities.
