Ben Mendelsohn


































Ben Mendelsohn

Ben Mendelsohn by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Mendelsohn in 2017

Born
Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn


(1969-04-03) 3 April 1969 (age 49)

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Nationality Australian
Occupation Actor
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s)

Emma Forrest
(m. 2012; div. 2016)
Children 2

Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn (born 3 April 1969) is an Australian actor, who first rose to prominence in Australia for his role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987) and internationally for his role in the crime drama Animal Kingdom (2010).


Since then he has had roles in films such as The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Starred Up (2013), Mississippi Grind (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Darkest Hour (2017) and Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Ready Player One (2018).
In 2017, he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Talos, appearing in Captain Marvel (2019).


Mendelsohn starred in the Netflix series Bloodline (2015–2017), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series from two nominations, and received a Golden Globe nomination.




Contents






  • 1 Early life and family


  • 2 Career


  • 3 Depictions in art


  • 4 Personal life


  • 5 Filmography


    • 5.1 Film


    • 5.2 Television


    • 5.3 Video games




  • 6 Discography


  • 7 References


  • 8 Further reading


  • 9 External links





Early life and family


Mendelsohn was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Carole Ann (née Ferguson) and Frederick Arthur Oscar Mendelsohn.[1][2] His father is a prominent medical researcher who previously headed the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne, where he maintains the status of Professor Emeritus.[3] Ben and his two brothers, Tom and David, as well as his mother (deceased), a registered nurse, lived in Europe and the US for long periods of time, and returned to Melbourne when he was in high school. He attended Heidelberg Primary School and Eltham High and Banyule High schools. He took drama because he thought it was an easy class. Mendelsohn was the only one of his friends to follow up with an audition for Crawford Productions that was being advertised.[citation needed]


In October 2009, he was featured in an episode of the Australian series Who Do You Think You Are?, which traced the ancestry of his paternal grandfather, who was from a Jewish family, as well as of convicts on his mother's side. Searching for a connection to composer Felix Mendelssohn, which was eventually dismissed, he discovered links to 19th-century Prussia. His ancestors were among the first Prussian Jews to be naturalised in Schneidemühl in the province of Posen, now Piła in modern Poland.[4] He also has Greek, German, and British Isles ancestry.[5]



Career




Mendelsohn at a screening of Killing Them Softly in 2012


After several early television roles, including The Henderson Kids alongside Kylie Minogue, he attracted notice in his breakout film, The Year My Voice Broke (1987), and won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor.[6] His next major role was in The Big Steal (1990), and Spotswood (1992), co-starring with Anthony Hopkins;[7] this was followed in 1994 by Metal Skin[8] and in 1996 by Cosi and Idiot Box. In 2000, he was in two contrasting films, the Australian Mullet and the Hollywood Vertical Limit.[citation needed]


In 2005, he was preparing to play Mark Antony in the Sydney Theatre Company-produced Julius Caesar,[9] and he was in the Terrence Malick-directed film The New World.


In 2007, Mendelsohn starred in the third season of the TV series Love My Way and in 2008, he appeared in Baz Luhrmann's Australia. He filmed the 10-part Melbourne series Tangle, which premiered on Showcase in 2009. In 2009, he appeared in the American science fiction film Knowing directed by Alex Proyas. The same year, Mendelsohn starred as Ned in Beautiful Kate, directed by Rachel Ward, opposite Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths.


In 2010, he appeared in Animal Kingdom, starring in the film as Andrew "Pope" Cody, a criminal on the run from the law living in the notorious Melbourne Underworld. The role won him many awards, including IF Award's Best Actor and the AFI's award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He was also named by GQ Australia as Actor of the Year for 2010.[10]


Mendelsohn was selected as one of the subjects in the Who's Who in Australia 2012 edition.[11] In 2012, Mendelsohn played the supporting roles of John Daggett in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises and Robin Van Der Hook in Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines.


In 2012, he appeared in Florence + the Machine's music video for "Lover to Lover". The video was directed by Vincent Haycock. In 2013, he guest starred in the TV series Girls as the father of Jessa, played by Jemima Kirke.


In 2014, Mendelsohn joined the cast of Bloodline, a Netflix original from the creators of Damages. The first season premiered on the site on 20 March 2015 and was well received. Mendelsohn's performance on the series was lauded by critics,[12][13][14] resulting in a Primetime Emmy Award win as well as a Golden Globe Award nomination. In September 2016, Netflix announced that the show had been cancelled, and that it would end after its third season in 2017. Season 3 of Bloodline received negative reviews, and Mendelsohn appeared in two episodes of it.[15][16]


In 2016, he appeared in video as an onstage "stand-in" during the Nostalgia For the Present concert tour of Australian singer Sia Furler for her song, "Breathe Me".[17]


In December 2016, he had a supporting role in the Star Wars franchise's Rogue One, portraying villain Director Krennic. He called the opportunity to act in a Star Wars film "a childhood dream come true".[18] Mendelsohn also narrated the virtual band Gorillaz' fifth album Humanz.



Depictions in art


While filming Adoration, Mendelsohn took time free to pose for artist Sally West, with whom he had been neighbours in Bondi in the 1990s. The resulting portrait has been nominated for several awards.[19]



Personal life


Mendelsohn married British author Emma Forrest in June 2012.[20] He has two daughters, one with Forrest, born in 2014, and one from a previous relationship.[21] He was divorced from Forrest in 2016.


He is an avid fan of video games, citing The Last of Us as his favourite game.[22]



Filmography



Film







































































































































































































































































































Year
Title
Role
Notes
1986

The Still Point
Peter

1987

The Year My Voice Broke
Trevor Leishman

AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1989

Lover Boy
Gazza

1990

Return Home
Gary


Nirvana Street Murder
Luke


The Big Steal
Danny Clarke
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Quigley Down Under
O'Flynn

1992

Spotswood
Carey
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Map of the Human Heart
Farmboy

1993

Say a Little Prayer
Nursery Manager

1994

Sirens
Lewis


Metal Skin
Dazey

Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor – Male
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1996

Cosi
Lewis Riley


Idiot Box
Kev

1997

True Love and Chaos
Jerry


Amy
Robert Buchanan

Camério Award for Best Actor
1999

Love Brokers


2000

Sample People
John


Vertical Limit
Malcolm Bench

2001

Mullet
Eddie "Mullet" Maloney
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor – Male
2002

Black and White

Rupert Murdoch

2005

The New World
Ben

2008

$9.99
Lenny Peck (voice)


Australia
Captain Dutton

2009

Knowing
Phil Beckman


Prime Mover
Johnnie


Beautiful Kate
Ned Kendall
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor – Male
2010

Animal Kingdom
Andrew "Pope" Cody

AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
IF Award for Best Actor
Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor – Male

Needle
Detective Meares

2011

Killer Elite
Martin


Trespass
Elias

2012

Killing Them Softly
Russell


The Dark Knight Rises

John Daggett


The Place Beyond the Pines
Robin Van Der Hook

2013

Two Mothers
Harold


Starred Up
Neville Love

BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Village Voice Film Poll for Best Supporting Actor
2014

Lost River
Dave


Exodus: Gods and Kings
Viceroy Hegep


Black Sea
Fraser

2015

Slow West
Payne


Mississippi Grind
Gerry
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead

Guns for Hire
Kyle Sullivan

2016

Una
Ray Brooks


Rogue One
Director Orson Krennic

2017

Darkest Hour

King George VI
Nominated—AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
2018

Ready Player One
Nolan Sorrento


Untogether
Martin


The Land of Steady Habits
Anders Hill


Robin Hood

Sheriff of Nottingham

2019

Captain Marvel

Talos


The King

King Henry IV

Post-production

Spies in Disguise

Voice role; In production


Television





































































































































































Year
Title
Role
Notes
1984

Special Squad

Episode: "Slow Attack"
1985

A Country Practice
Luke Dawson
2 episodes

The Henderson Kids
Ted Morgan
4 episodes
1986

Prime Time
Bartholomew "Bart" Jones


Fame and Misfortune
John

1986–1987

Neighbours

Warren Murphy
19 episodes
1987, 1989

The Flying Doctors
Brad Harris / Brian
2 episodes
1988

All the Way
Lindsay Seymour
3 episodes
1989

This Man... This Woman
Matthew Clarke
3 episodes
1989, 1994

G.P.
Max Fisher / Phillip Barton
2 episodes
1994

Roughnecks
Joe 90
Episode 1.4
1995

Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
Dale Banks
Episode: "High Country Justice"

Police Rescue
Dean Forman
Episode: "Wild Card"

Halifax f.p.
Peter Donaldson
Episode: "My Lovely Girl"
1996

Close Ups
Biz

1997

Good Guys, Bad Guys
Brian O'Malley
Episode: "Unfinished Business"
1999

Queen Kat, Carmel & St Jude
Vince McCaffery
4 episodes

Secret Men's Business
Doug Petersen
Television film
2001

Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story

Alexander Hall
Television film
2002

Farscape
Sko
Episode: "I-Yensch, You-Yensch "
2005

The Secret Life of Us
Rob
5 episodes

Second Chance
Dr. Larry Stewart
Television film
2006–2007

Love My Way
Lewis Feingold
15 episodes
Nominated—Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor (2007)
Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (2007)
Nominated—ASTRA Award Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male (2007–2008)
2009

Tangle
Vince Kovac
10 episodes
Nominated—Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor (2010)
Nominated—ASTRA Award Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male (2010)
2013

Girls
Salvatore Johansson
Episode: "Video Games"
2015–2017

Bloodline
Danny Rayburn
23 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2016)
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2016)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2015)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2017)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2016)
Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2015)
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film (2016)
2020

The Outsider
Det. Ralph Anderson
Miniseries


Video games















Year
Title
Role
Notes
2018

Squadron 42
Julian Wexler
Voice / Motion Capture


Discography















Year
Title
Role
Notes
2017

Humanz by Gorillaz
Narrator
Voice


References





  1. ^ "Ben Mendelsohn – Episode 3 – Season 2 – Who Do You Think You Are?". SBS. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ Sullivan, Leanne (2009). Who's Who in Australia. Crown Content. ISBN 978-1-74095-166-1. Retrieved 13 April 2014 – via Google Books.


  3. ^ "Professor Fred Mendelsohn". The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.


  4. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are?". SBS.


  5. ^ "Ben Mendelsohn: behind the bad guy mask". 26 June 2017.


  6. ^ "Film institute award winners". Canberra Times. 10 October 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 20 October 2018.


  7. ^ McDonald, Dougal (22 February 1992). "Feel-good movie, but lacks drama, tension". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 42. Retrieved 20 October 2018.


  8. ^ McDonald, Dougal (6 May 1995). "Probing young people's injured psyches". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 56. Retrieved 20 October 2018.


  9. ^ "Ben Mendelsohn: Mark Antony". Life Matters. ABC Radio National. 18 July 2005.


  10. ^ "Ben Mendelsohn". GQ. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2014.


  11. ^ Delany, Colin (8 December 2011). "Emile Sherman, Ben Mendelsohn and Lizzy Gardiner recognised in 2012's Who's Who". mumbrella.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2014.


  12. ^ McFarland, K. M. (24 March 2015). "Kyle Chandler Isn't Bloodline's Star. This Unknown Actor Is". Wired. Retrieved 26 March 2015.


  13. ^ Grozdanovic, Nikola (31 March 2015). "Netflix Neo-Noir 'Bloodline' Gives Viewers The Tragic Anti-Hero Television Has Been Waiting For Since Walter White". Indiewire. Retrieved 31 March 2015.


  14. ^ Fowler, Matt (24 March 2015). "Bloodline: Season 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 24 March 2015.


  15. ^ Travers, Ben. "Bloodline Season 3 Netflix Review: A Meaningless Ending — Spoilers". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2017-10-19.


  16. ^ Prudom, Laura. "'Bloodline' Ending After Season 3 on Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 14 September 2016.


  17. ^ Stevenson, Jane. "Crowd eats up pop star Sia's minimalistic show". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 6 November 2016.


  18. ^ Patterson, John. "Rogue One's Ben Mendelsohn: 'Star Wars is a childhood dream come true'". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 14 December 2016.


  19. ^ "Sally West: The Bird of Song with Claws of Paint". Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn. Art Aesthetics. Retrieved 2017-09-11.


  20. ^ Maddox, Garry (6 October 2012). "Killing Them Softly, How Hollywood Fell For Ben Mendelsohn". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2014.


  21. ^ Hornaday, Ann (5 April 2013). "Ben Mendelsohn is everywhere. Finally". Washington Post.


  22. ^ https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/59ab7z/ben-mendelsohn-really-wants-you-to-play-last-of-us




Further reading


  • Romei, Stephen. (2005). "The Face: Stephen Romei meets Ben Mendelsohn (actor)". Review liftout, p. 3, The Weekend Australian, 25–26 June 2005


External links







  • Ben Mendelsohn on IMDb









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