 | |
| Benjamin Walker | |
| Role | Abraham Lincoln |
| Born | June 21, 1982 (age 29) |
Benjamin Walker is an American actor most known for his roles in Kinsey and War Boys. Walker got the lead role as Abraham Lincoln in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (film), which will be is second time playing a U.S. President. In 2010, he turned down the role as Beast in X-Men: First Class in favor of starring as President Andrew Jackson in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
Benjamin Walker Scodelario-Davis (born June 21, 1982), 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. In 2016, he starred as Patrick Bateman in the Broadway American Psycho musical adaptation of the film American Psycho.
Early life[]
Walker was born the younger of two boys, with an older brother, in Cartersville, Georgia, the second son of Jeannine (née Walker), a music teacher, and Greg Davis, who owned a movie rental store and works in financial services. He took his mother's maiden name as his stage name because there was a Benjamin Davis already registered with the Screen Actors Guild. He attended Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia, the Interlochen Center for the Arts near Traverse City, Michigan, and the Juilliard School in New York City. He graduated from the Juilliard Actor Training Program in 2004.
Acting career[]
Stage[]
In February 2007, Walker portrayed Bertram Cates in the Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind. 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, 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. 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 (musical) (2005), Lady Windermere's Fan (2005), Romeo and Juliet (2006), "The Choice (2016), American Psycho (musical) (2016).
Film[]
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. 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.
It was announced in January 2011 that Walker would star as Abraham Lincoln in the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (film) film adaptation of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (novel).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. He was cast as Archangel Michael in the film adaptation of Paradise Lost, but production was cancelled in 2012. He starred as Kevin Connolly in the 2012 film Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight.
Stand-up comedy career[]
Walker has performed stand-up comedy at Carolines on Broadway|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.
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kinsey (film)|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 (film)|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 (film)|In the Heart of the Sea | George Pollard, Jr. | |
| 2016 | The Choice (2016 film)|The Choice | Travis Shaw | |
| 2017 | Shimmer Lake | Zeke Sikes | |
| 2019 | Beautiful Darkness (film)|Beautiful Darkness | Farmer | |
| TBA | The King's Daughter (upcoming film)|The King's Daughter | Yves De La Croix |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Nick Ross | Episode: "Heart Stopping" |
| 2010 | Westward! | Jesse Boone | TV movie |
| 2013 | The Missionary | Roy | Pilot |
| 2013 | Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight | Kevin Connolly | TV movie |
