Ben Shenkman
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Shenkman is an American television
, film
and stage actor
.
and raised in what he described as "the secular Eastern European Jewish tradition". He graduated from Brown University
, and obtained a Masters of Fine Arts in 1993 from New York University
. He began his professional acting career with a small role in the 1994 film Quiz Show
directed by Robert Redford
and a guest-starring role on Law & Order
, his first of seven appearances throughout the run of the show. He also began working in theatre, portraying Louis Ironson in Tony Kushner's play "Angels in America" at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre. The production wasn't the first or last time Shenkman took part in this award-winning piece: while still at New York University, Shenkman played the role of Roy Cohn
in a workshop production of the play, and he would reprise the role of Louis eight years later in the HBO miniseries adaptation, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Throughout the 1990s Shenkman combined work in Off-Broadway productions in NY with small roles in films such as Eraser (1996), The Siege
(1998), π
(1998), and Jesus' Son
(1999), Chasing Sleep
(2000), and Requiem for a Dream (2000).
In 2000 Shenkman gained success in the theatre, co-starring with Mary-Louise Parker
in the Manhattan Theatre Club
production of Proof
, for which he received a 2001 Tony nomination. After the release of HBO's Angels in America (TV miniseries) he returned to Manhattan Theatre club in 2004 in Sight Unseen
opposite Laura Linney
.
As his career continued Shenkman moved between studio films such as Must Love Dogs
(2005) and Just Like Heaven (2005), and indies like Then She Found Me
(2008), "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" (2008), and Breakfast with Scot
(2008) a gay-themed film made in Canada
for which the NHL notably endorsed the use of a team's logo and uniforms. 2010 saw him with Michael Douglas in Solitary Man
and the Sundance premiere Blue Valentine
.
He also kept busy in TV, as a series regular in the 2008 Julianna Margulies
legal drama Canterbury's Law
on Fox, and in recurring roles on Grey's Anatomy
, Burn Notice
, Damages
, Drop Dead Diva
and FX's Lights Out
.
Shenkman co-starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Paul Reiser Show
, which was a midseason replacement for the 2010-11 television season.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and stage actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Life and career
Shenkman was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and raised in what he described as "the secular Eastern European Jewish tradition". He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, and obtained a Masters of Fine Arts in 1993 from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He began his professional acting career with a small role in the 1994 film Quiz Show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
directed by Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
and a guest-starring role on Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, his first of seven appearances throughout the run of the show. He also began working in theatre, portraying Louis Ironson in Tony Kushner's play "Angels in America" at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre. The production wasn't the first or last time Shenkman took part in this award-winning piece: while still at New York University, Shenkman played the role of Roy Cohn
Roy Cohn
Roy Marcus Cohn was an American attorney who became famous during Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigations into Communist activity in the United States during the Second Red Scare. Cohn gained special prominence during the Army–McCarthy hearings. He was also an important member of the U.S...
in a workshop production of the play, and he would reprise the role of Louis eight years later in the HBO miniseries adaptation, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Throughout the 1990s Shenkman combined work in Off-Broadway productions in NY with small roles in films such as Eraser (1996), The Siege
The Siege
The Siege is a 1998 American thriller film directed by Edward Zwick. The film is about a fictional situation in which terrorist cells have made several attacks on New York City...
(1998), π
Pi (film)
Pi, also titled ,WorldCat gives the title as [Pi] and provides a note which states, "Title is the mathematical symbol for Pi." . Amazon gives the title as Pi with no notation concerning the math symbol . is a 1998 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky...
(1998), and Jesus' Son
Jesus' Son
Jesus' Son is a 1999 film that was adapted from a collection of short stories of the same name by Denis Johnson. It stars Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, Denis Leary, Will Patton, John Ventimiglia, Michael Shannon and Jack Black...
(1999), Chasing Sleep
Chasing Sleep
Chasing Sleep is a 2000 psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael Walker released to video in 2001. It depicts the reaction of a college professor who awakens to find his wife missing...
(2000), and Requiem for a Dream (2000).
In 2000 Shenkman gained success in the theatre, co-starring with Mary-Louise Parker
Mary-Louise Parker
Mary-Louise Parker is an American actress, known for her current lead role on Showtime's television series Weeds portraying Nancy Botwin, for which she has received several nominations and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2006...
in the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
production of Proof
Proof (play)
Proof is a play by David Auburn originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club on 23 May 2000. It then went to Broadway on 24 October 2000 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, and was directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, with Mary-Louise Parker as Catherine, Larry Bryggman as Robert, Ben Shenkman as Hal, and...
, for which he received a 2001 Tony nomination. After the release of HBO's Angels in America (TV miniseries) he returned to Manhattan Theatre club in 2004 in Sight Unseen
Sight Unseen (play)
Sight Unseen is a play by Donald Margulies. At its center is Jonathan Waxman, a Brooklyn Jew who has become a very wealthy critically acclaimed artist. Happily married, with a baby on the way, he travels to London for a retrospective of his work...
opposite Laura Linney
Laura Linney
Laura Leggett Linney is an American actress of film, television, and theatre. Linney has won three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has been nominated for three times for an Academy Award and once for a BAFTA Award...
.
As his career continued Shenkman moved between studio films such as Must Love Dogs
Must Love Dogs
Must Love Dogs is a 2005 romantic comedy film based on the book written by Claire Cook. It is the third film directed and written by Gary David Goldberg. The film, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, was produced on a budget of $30 million...
(2005) and Just Like Heaven (2005), and indies like Then She Found Me
Then She Found Me
Then She Found Me is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Helen Hunt. The screenplay by Hunt, Alice Arlen, and Victor Levin is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Elinor Lipman...
(2008), "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" (2008), and Breakfast with Scot
Breakfast with Scot
Breakfast with Scot is a 2007 Canadian comedy film. It is adapted from the novel by Tufts University professor Michael Downing.The screenplay was adapted by Sean Reycraft from the book by Michael Downing, and the film was directed by Laurie Lynd...
(2008) a gay-themed film made in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for which the NHL notably endorsed the use of a team's logo and uniforms. 2010 saw him with Michael Douglas in Solitary Man
Solitary Man (film)
Solitary Man is a 2009 American film co-directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The film stars Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Jenna Fischer, Jesse Eisenberg, Mary-Louise Parker and Danny DeVito.-Plot:...
and the Sundance premiere Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine (film)
Blue Valentine is a 2010 romantic drama film written and directed by Derek Cianfrance. The film premiered in competition at the 26th Sundance Film Festival. Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis wrote the film, and Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling played the lead roles...
.
He also kept busy in TV, as a series regular in the 2008 Julianna Margulies
Julianna Margulies
Julianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
legal drama Canterbury's Law
Canterbury's Law
Canterbury's Law is an American legal drama, which ran from March 10, 2008 to April 18, 2008 as a mid-season replacement on Fox. The show was created by Dave Erickson and executive produced by Denis Leary, Jim Serpico, Walon Green, John Kane, and Mike Figgis, who also directed the pilot...
on Fox, and in recurring roles on Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
, Damages
Damages (TV series)
Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...
, Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television...
and FX's Lights Out
Lights Out (2011 TV series)
Lights Out is an American television boxing drama series from the FX network in the United States. It stars Holt McCallany as Patrick "Lights" Leary, a New Jersey native, and former heavyweight champion boxer who is considering a comeback. The series premiered on January 11, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT. On...
.
Shenkman co-starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Paul Reiser Show
The Paul Reiser Show
The Paul Reiser Show is an American television series that aired on NBC. In May 2010, NBC announced that it had green-lit the series for the 2010–11 television season, with the half-hour comedy expected to premiere as a midseason replacement. The series premiered on April 14, 2011, at 8:30 pm...
, which was a midseason replacement for the 2010-11 television season.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–2009 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Nick Margolis | 7 episodes |
| 1994 | Quiz Show Quiz Show Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s... |
Childress | |
| 1996 | New York Undercover New York Undercover New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to... |
Gabe Green | 1 episode: 'Sympathy for the Devil' |
| Eraser Eraser (film) Eraser is a 1996 American action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Caan and Vanessa L. Williams. It was directed by Chuck Russell. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Effects Editing in 1996.-Plot:... |
Reporter | ||
| 1997 | Camp Stories Camp Stories Camp Stories is an independent comedy film, written and directed by Herbert Beigel that takes a comic look at a Jewish summer camp in the 1950s. The film was released on April 18, 1997 in the United States-Plot synopsis:... |
Yehudah | |
| 1998 | Pi Pi (film) Pi, also titled ,WorldCat gives the title as [Pi] and provides a note which states, "Title is the mathematical symbol for Pi." . Amazon gives the title as Pi with no notation concerning the math symbol . is a 1998 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky... |
Lenny Meyer | |
| The Siege The Siege The Siege is a 1998 American thriller film directed by Edward Zwick. The film is about a fictional situation in which terrorist cells have made several attacks on New York City... |
INS Agent Howard Kaplan | ||
| 1999 | Thick as Thieves | Veterinarian | |
| Jesus' Son Jesus' Son Jesus' Son is a 1999 film that was adapted from a collection of short stories of the same name by Denis Johnson. It stars Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, Denis Leary, Will Patton, John Ventimiglia, Michael Shannon and Jack Black... |
Tom | ||
| 30 Days 30 Days (1999 film) 30 Days is a 1999 American independent film written and directed by Aaron Harnick. It stars Ben Shenkman and Arija Bareikis and premiered at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September... |
Jordan Trainer | ||
| 2000 | Table One | Scott | |
| Joe Gould's Secret Joe Gould's Secret (film) Joe Gould's Secret is a 2000 American drama film directed by Stanley Tucci. The screenplay by Howard A. Rodman is based on the magazine article Professor Sea Gull and the book Joe Gould's Secret by Joseph Mitchell.-Plot:... |
David | ||
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced... |
Max Knaack | 1 episode: 'Chat Room' | |
| Requiem for a Dream | Dr. Spencer | ||
| Chasing Sleep Chasing Sleep Chasing Sleep is a 2000 psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael Walker released to video in 2001. It depicts the reaction of a college professor who awakens to find his wife missing... |
Officer Stewart | ||
| Bed | Short film | ||
| 2001–2003 | Ed Ed (TV series) Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004.... |
Frank Carr/Andy Bednarik | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | Personal Velocity: Three Portraits Personal Velocity: Three Portraits Personal Velocity: Three Portraits is a 2002 American independent film written and directed by Rebecca Miller.- Plot :Personal Velocity is a tale of three women who have reached a turning point in their lives. Delia is a spirited, working-class woman from a small town in New York state who leaves... |
Max | |
| People I Know People I Know People I Know is a 2002 crime drama film directed by Daniel Algrant and stars Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, and Téa Leoni.-Plot:Eli Wurman is a Jewish publicist on the out, but all he knows is how to hustle and cajole, threaten and persuade. The hazy mania of his everyday life is fuelled by a steady... |
Radio announcer (voice) | ||
| Roger Dodger Roger Dodger (film) Roger Dodger is a 2002 American comedy-drama noir that explores the relationship between men, women, and sex. Directed by Dylan Kidd and starring Campbell Scott and Jesse Eisenberg, the film follows Roger Swanson and his nephew during a night on the town in search of sex.-Plot:After cynical New... |
Donovan | ||
| Stella shorts 1998-2002 Stella shorts The Stella shorts are a collection of short films by the comedy group Stella. The short films were produced and written by Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, David Wain, who also star in the shorts with a number of guest actors... |
Hans | ||
| 2003 | Angels in America | Louis Ironson | 6 episodes Nomination - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nomination - Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2004 | Waking Dreams Waking Dreams Waking Dreams is a short subject film made in 2004. The film was written and directed by John Daschbach.-Cast:* Ben Shenkman--Charles* Tina Holmes--Becky* Stephanie McVay--Mrs. Mills* Kevin Lageman--Patient-Plot:... |
Charles | Short film |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an American television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It was the third spin-off from the long-running Law & Order. The show's almost exclusive focus was on the criminal trial of the accused, showing both the prosecution's and defense's preparation... |
Irv Kressel | 2 episodes |
| Must Love Dogs Must Love Dogs Must Love Dogs is a 2005 romantic comedy film based on the book written by Claire Cook. It is the third film directed and written by Gary David Goldberg. The film, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, was produced on a budget of $30 million... |
Charlie | ||
| Stella | Carl | 1 episode 'Meeting Girls' | |
| Just Like Heaven | Brett | ||
| 2006 | Twenty Questions | Brian | |
| Americanese Americanese Americanese is a 2006 American independent film acquired by IFC Films but not yet released. It is a romantic drama about the break-up of a couple, about love and memory, and how race plays into the lives of contemporary Asian Americans and Hapa/mixed-race Americans.- Background :The film was... |
Steve | ||
| Love Monkey Love Monkey Love Monkey is a television series created by Michael Rauch and based on a book of the same name, by Kyle Smith. It starred Tom Cavanagh as a 30-something, single, record executive who navigated the tumultuous and highly amusing waters of work and dating in New York City.Its first episode aired on... |
Scott | 6 episodes | |
| 2007 | The Key Man | Martin | |
| Wainy Days Wainy Days Wainy Days is an internet video series starring David Wain that is hosted on the website, My Damn Channel. It is currently running in its fourth season. The web series follows a fictionalized version of Wain through his everyday life as he tries to form relationships with numerous women and... |
Clovie | 1 episode: 'My Turn' | |
| Then She Found Me Then She Found Me Then She Found Me is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Helen Hunt. The screenplay by Hunt, Alice Arlen, and Victor Levin is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Elinor Lipman... |
Dr. Freddy Epner | ||
| Breakfast with Scot Breakfast with Scot Breakfast with Scot is a 2007 Canadian comedy film. It is adapted from the novel by Tufts University professor Michael Downing.The screenplay was adapted by Sean Reycraft from the book by Michael Downing, and the film was directed by Laurie Lynd... |
Sam | ||
| 2008 | Canterbury's Law Canterbury's Law Canterbury's Law is an American legal drama, which ran from March 10, 2008 to April 18, 2008 as a mid-season replacement on Fox. The show was created by Dave Erickson and executive produced by Denis Leary, Jim Serpico, Walon Green, John Kane, and Mike Figgis, who also directed the pilot... |
Russell Krauss | 6 episodes |
| 2009 | Body Politic Body Politic Body Politic is a television pilot starring Minka Kelly, Gabrielle Union, Jason Dohring, and Brian Austin Green. It is produced by CBS Television Studios for The CW.... |
Jim Sperlock | |
| Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (film) Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski, based on a short story collection of the same name by David Foster Wallace.-Plot:... |
Subject 14 | ||
| Private Practice | Rob Harmon | 1 episode: 'Ex-Life' | |
| Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Rob Harmon | 3 episodes | |
| Burn Notice Burn notice A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons... |
Tom Strickler | 4 episodes | |
| Solitary Man Solitary Man (film) Solitary Man is a 2009 American film co-directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The film stars Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Jenna Fischer, Jesse Eisenberg, Mary-Louise Parker and Danny DeVito.-Plot:... |
Pete Hartofilias | ||
| 2010 | Lights Out Lights Out (2011 TV series) Lights Out is an American television boxing drama series from the FX network in the United States. It stars Holt McCallany as Patrick "Lights" Leary, a New Jersey native, and former heavyweight champion boxer who is considering a comeback. The series premiered on January 11, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT. On... |
Mike Fumosa | 5 episodes |
| Blue Valentine Blue Valentine (film) Blue Valentine is a 2010 romantic drama film written and directed by Derek Cianfrance. The film premiered in competition at the 26th Sundance Film Festival. Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis wrote the film, and Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling played the lead roles... |
Sam Feinberg | ||
| Damages Damages (TV series) Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own... |
Curtis Gates | 11 episodes | |
| Love Shack | Skip Blitzer | Completed | |
| The Paul Reiser Show The Paul Reiser Show The Paul Reiser Show is an American television series that aired on NBC. In May 2010, NBC announced that it had green-lit the series for the 2010–11 television season, with the half-hour comedy expected to premiere as a midseason replacement. The series premiered on April 14, 2011, at 8:30 pm... |
Jonathan | Series regular | |
| 2011 | Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television... |
Dr. Bill Kendall | Recurring role |