Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley

Born December 31, 1943 (Age: 82) Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK

Biography

Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. Kingsley was appointed Knight Bachelor in 2002 for services to the British film industry. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and received the Britannia Award in 2013. Born to an English mother and an Indian Gujarati father with roots in Jamnagar, Kingsley began his career in theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 and spending the next 15 years appearing mainly on stage. His starring roles included productions of As You Like It (his West End debut for the company at the Aldwych Theatre in 1967), Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Also known for his television roles, he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story (1989), Joseph (1995), Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001), and Mrs. Harris (2006). In film, Kingsley is known for his starring role as Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), for which he subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Actor and BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. For his portrayal of Itzhak Stern in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), he received a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination. He was Oscar-nominated for Bugsy (1990), Sexy Beast (2000), and House of Sand and Fog (2003). His other notable films include Maurice (1987), Sneakers (1992), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), Death and the Maiden (1994), Twelfth Night (1996), Tuck Everlasting (2002), Elegy (2008), Shutter Island (2010), and Hugo (2011). Kingsley played the character of Trevor Slattery in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in Iron Man 3 (2013), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), and the upcoming Disney+ series Wonder Man. He also acted in the blockbusters Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) and Ender's Game (2013). Kingsley lent his voice to the films The Boxtrolls (2014) and The Jungle Book (2016).
Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. Kingsley was appointed Knight Bachelor in 2002 for services to the British film industry. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and received the Britannia Award in 2013. Born to an English mother and an Indian Gujarati father with roots in Jamnagar, Kingsley began his career in theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 and spending the next 15 years appearing mainly on stage. His starring roles included productions of As You Like It (his West End debut for the company at the Aldwych Theatre in 1967), Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Also known for his television roles, he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story (1989), Joseph (1995), Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001), and Mrs. Harris (2006). In film, Kingsley is known for his starring role as Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), for which he subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Actor and BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. For his portrayal of Itzhak Stern in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), he received a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination. He was Oscar-nominated for Bugsy (1990), Sexy Beast (2000), and House of Sand and Fog (2003). His other notable films include Maurice (1987), Sneakers (1992), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), Death and the Maiden (1994), Twelfth Night (1996), Tuck Everlasting (2002), Elegy (2008), Shutter Island (2010), and Hugo (2011). Kingsley played the character of Trevor Slattery in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in Iron Man 3 (2013), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), and the upcoming Disney+ series Wonder Man. He also acted in the blockbusters Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) and Ender's Game (2013). Kingsley lent his voice to the films The Boxtrolls (2014) and The Jungle Book (2016).
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Filmography

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

2027 as Age: 83
The King of Kings

The King of Kings

2025 as High Priest Caiaphas (voice) Age: 81
William Tell

William Tell

2025 as King Albrecht Age: 81
The Killer's Game

The Killer's Game

2024 as Zvi Rabinowitz Age: 80
Jules

Jules

2023 as Milton Robinson Age: 79
Dalíland

Dalíland

2022 as Dalí Age: 78
Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry

Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry

2022 as Self Age: 78
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

2021 as Trevor Slattery Age: 77
Night Hunter

Night Hunter

2019 as Cooper Age: 75
No Image

An Oral History of: Schindler's List

2018 as Self (archive footage) Age: 74
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

2018 as Self Age: 74
Schindler's List: 25 Years Later

Schindler's List: 25 Years Later

2018 as Self Age: 74
Operation Finale

Operation Finale

2018 as Adolf Eichmann Age: 74
War Machine

War Machine

2017 as President Karzai Age: 73
The Ottoman Lieutenant

The Ottoman Lieutenant

2017 as Woodruff Age: 73
Collide

Collide

2016 as Geran Age: 72
The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book

2016 as Bagheera (voice) Age: 72
Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

2015 as Self (archive footage) Age: 71
The Walk

The Walk

2015 as Papa Rudy Age: 71
Knight of Cups

Knight of Cups

2015 as Storyteller (voice) Age: 71
Life

Life

2015 as Jack Warner Age: 71
Self/less

Self/less

2015 as Damian Age: 71
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

2014 as Merenkahre Age: 70
Exodus: Gods and Kings

Exodus: Gods and Kings

2014 as Nun Age: 70
Stonehearst Asylum

Stonehearst Asylum

2014 as Silas Lamb Age: 70
The Boxtrolls

The Boxtrolls

2014 as Snatcher (voice) Age: 70
Learning to Drive

Learning to Drive

2014 as Darwan Age: 70
The Physician

The Physician

2013 as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Age: 69
Ender's Game

Ender's Game

2013 as Mazer Rackham Age: 69
Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

2013 as Trevor Slattery Age: 69
Falls the Shadow:  The Life and Times of Athol Fugard

Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard

2012 as Self Age: 68
The Dictator

The Dictator

2012 as Tamir Age: 68
Shoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo'

Shoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo'

2012 as Self Age: 68
Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

2012 as Self Age: 68
The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès

The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès

2012 as Self Age: 68
The Mechanical Man at the Heart of 'Hugo'

The Mechanical Man at the Heart of 'Hugo'

2012 as Self Age: 68
Hugo

Hugo

2011 as Georges Méliès Age: 67
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

2010 as Nizam Age: 66
Teen Patti

Teen Patti

2010 as Perci Trachtenberg Age: 66
Shutter Island

Shutter Island

2010 as Dr. Cawley Age: 66
Elegy

Elegy

2008 as David Kepesh Age: 64
The Wackness

The Wackness

2008 as Dr. Squires Age: 64
The Love Guru

The Love Guru

2008 as Guru Tugginmypuddha Age: 64
War, Inc.

War, Inc.

2008 as Walken / The Viceroy Age: 64
TransSiberian

TransSiberian

2008 as Grinko Age: 64
The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

2007 as Narrator (voice) Age: 63
I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal

I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal

2007 as Self Age: 63
The Last Legion

The Last Legion

2007 as Ambrosinus Age: 63
You Kill Me

You Kill Me

2007 as Frank Falenczyk Age: 63
C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia

C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia

2006 as Self Age: 62
The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel

The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel

2006 as Self Age: 62
Mais Bastidores de Hollywood

Mais Bastidores de Hollywood

2006 as Self Age: 62
50 Films to See Before You Die

50 Films to See Before You Die

2006 as Self Age: 62
Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Slevin

2006 as The Rabbi Age: 62
The Life and Faith of CS Lewis

The Life and Faith of CS Lewis

2006 as Age: 62
No Image

Peace Is Every Step

2005 as Narrator Age: 61
BloodRayne

BloodRayne

2005 as Kagan Age: 61
Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

2005 as Fagin Age: 61
A Sound of Thunder

A Sound of Thunder

2005 as Charles Hatton Age: 61
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

2005 as Self (archive footage) Age: 61
Suspect Zero

Suspect Zero

2004 as Benjamin O'Ryan Age: 60
No Image

No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds

2004 as Self Age: 60
Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds

2004 as The Hood Age: 60
House of Sand and Fog

House of Sand and Fog

2003 as Behrani Age: 59
Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

2002 as Man in the Yellow Suit Age: 58
Spooky House

Spooky House

2002 as The Great Zamboni Age: 58
No Image

Ben Kingsley Talks About "Gandhi"

2001 as Self - Interviewee Age: 57
The Making of Sexy Beast

The Making of Sexy Beast

2001 as Self Age: 57
A.I. Artificial Intelligence

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2001 as Specialist (voice) Age: 57
Rules of Engagement

Rules of Engagement

2000 as Ambassador Mourain Age: 56
What Planet Are You From?

What Planet Are You From?

2000 as Graydon Age: 56
Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

1998 as Magistrate Porfiry Age: 54
The Tale of Sweeney Todd

The Tale of Sweeney Todd

1998 as Sweeney Todd Age: 54
The Assignment

The Assignment

1997 as Amos Age: 53
Photographing Fairies

Photographing Fairies

1997 as Rev. Templeton Age: 53
Weapons of Mass Distraction

Weapons of Mass Distraction

1997 as Julian Messenger Age: 53
Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

1996 as Feste Age: 52
Moses

Moses

1995 as Moses Age: 51
Species

Species

1995 as Xavier Fitch Age: 51
Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden

1994 as Dr. Roberto Miranda Age: 50
Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold

Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold

1994 as Self Age: 50
Schindler's List

Schindler's List

1993 as Itzhak Stern Age: 49
Searching for Bobby Fischer

Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993 as Bruce Pandolfini Age: 49
Dave

Dave

1993 as Vice-President Nance Age: 49
Sneakers

Sneakers

1992 as Cosmo Age: 48
Freddie As F.R.O.7.

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

1992 as Freddie (voice) Age: 48
Bugsy

Bugsy

1991 as Meyer Lansky Age: 47
Necessary Love

Necessary Love

1991 as Age: 47
No Image

Rabbit Ears - Moses the Lawgiver

1991 as Narrator (voice) Age: 47
No Image

Rabbit Ears - The Tiger and the Brahmin

1991 as Narrator (voice) Age: 47
The War That Never Ends

The War That Never Ends

1991 as Pericles Age: 47
The Fifth Monkey

The Fifth Monkey

1990 as Cunda Age: 46
The Children

The Children

1990 as Martin Boyne Age: 46
Cellini: A Violent Life

Cellini: A Violent Life

1990 as Governor Age: 46
Lenin: The Train

Lenin: The Train

1990 as Lenin Age: 46
Romeo.Juliet

Romeo.Juliet

1990 as Father Capulet (voice) Age: 46
The Making of Slipstream

The Making of Slipstream

1989 as Age: 45
Slipstream

Slipstream

1989 as Avatar Age: 45
Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story

Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story

1989 as Simon Wiesenthal Age: 45
Testimony

Testimony

1988 as Dmitri Shostakovich Age: 44
Pascali's Island

Pascali's Island

1988 as Basil Pascali Age: 44
Without a Clue

Without a Clue

1988 as Dr. John Watson Age: 44
Maurice

Maurice

1987 as Lasker-Jones Age: 43
Silas Marner

Silas Marner

1985 as Silas Marner Age: 41
Turtle Diary

Turtle Diary

1985 as William Snow Age: 41
Harem

Harem

1985 as Selim Age: 41
To Be Hamlet

To Be Hamlet

1985 as Self Age: 41
Gandhi

Gandhi

1982 as Mahatma Gandhi Age: 38
Hard Labour

Hard Labour

1973 as Naseem Age: 29