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Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley

Department: Acting

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).

Known For

Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Slevin

2006

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

2005

Schindler's List

Schindler's List

1993

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2001

Gandhi

Gandhi

1982

Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden

1994

Sneakers

Sneakers

1992

To Be Hamlet

To Be Hamlet

1985

A Sound of Thunder

A Sound of Thunder

2005

Joseph

Joseph

1995

C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia

C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia

2006

Bugsy

Bugsy

1991

What Planet Are You From?

What Planet Are You From?

2000

Lenin: The Train

Lenin: The Train

1988

Rules of Engagement

Rules of Engagement

2000

House of Sand and Fog

House of Sand and Fog

2003

The Confession

The Confession

1999

Dave

Dave

1993

Shutter Island

Shutter Island

2010

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

2007

Slipstream

Slipstream

1989

TransSiberian

TransSiberian

2008

Sexy Beast

Sexy Beast

2001

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

1999

Suspect Zero

Suspect Zero

2004

You Kill Me

You Kill Me

2007

Elegy

Elegy

2008

Fear Is the Key

Fear Is the Key

1972

The Love Guru

The Love Guru

2008

Maurice

Maurice

1987

Without a Clue

Without a Clue

1988

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

2010

War, Inc.

War, Inc.

2008

Species

Species

1995

Harem

Harem

1985

The Last Legion

The Last Legion

2007

Teen Patti

Teen Patti

2010

Desert Warrior

Desert Warrior

2026

The Triumph of Love

The Triumph of Love

2001

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

2002

The Wackness

The Wackness

2008

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993

Jules

Jules

2023

Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds

2004

The Children

The Children

1990

50 Films to See Before You Die

50 Films to See Before You Die

2006

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

1996

Hugo

Hugo

2011

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

2023

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Fifty Dead Men Walking

2008

Islam: Empire of Faith

Islam: Empire of Faith

2001

The Assignment

The Assignment

1997

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

2013

Ender's Game

Ender's Game

2013

The Killer's Game

The Killer's Game

2024

The Dictator

The Dictator

2012

A Force More Powerful

A Force More Powerful

1999

Mrs. Harris

Mrs. Harris

2006

Silas Marner

Silas Marner

1985

The Desert of Forbidden Art

The Desert of Forbidden Art

2011

Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust

Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust

2004

Turtle Diary

Turtle Diary

1985

Parting Shots

Parting Shots

1999

A Common Man

A Common Man

2013

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

1992

It Is No Dream: The Life Of Theodor Herzl

It Is No Dream: The Life Of Theodor Herzl

2012

Spooky House

Spooky House

2002

Testimony

Testimony

1988

No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds

No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds

2004

Pascali's Island

Pascali's Island

1988

The Mechanical Man at the Heart of 'Hugo'

The Mechanical Man at the Heart of 'Hugo'

2012

Shoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo'

Shoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo'

2012

The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès

The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès

2012

Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

2012

The Tale of Sweeney Todd

The Tale of Sweeney Todd

1998

Betrayal

Betrayal

1983

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

2014

Camille

Camille

1984

The Physician

The Physician

2013

BloodRayne

BloodRayne

2005

Aral, the Lost Sea

Aral, the Lost Sea

2010

The Boxtrolls

The Boxtrolls

2014

A Birder's Guide to Everything

A Birder's Guide to Everything

2013

The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough

The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough

2003

Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story

Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story

1989

Poison

Poison

2023

Liberation

Liberation

1994

Muse of Fire

Muse of Fire

2013

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

1979

Self/less

Self/less

2015

Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King

Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King

2014

Robot Overlords

Robot Overlords

2015

War Story

War Story

2014

Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra

1975

Unlikely Heroes

Unlikely Heroes

2003

Walking with the Enemy

Walking with the Enemy

2014

Exodus: Gods and Kings

Exodus: Gods and Kings

2014

William Tell

William Tell

2025

Photographing Fairies

Photographing Fairies

1997

Journey to Mecca

Journey to Mecca

2009

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book

2016

Learning to Drive

Learning to Drive

2014

The Fifth Monkey

The Fifth Monkey

1990

Stonehearst Asylum

Stonehearst Asylum

2014

Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry

Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry

2022

The Walk

The Walk

2015

Life

Life

2015

Weapons of Mass Distraction

Weapons of Mass Distraction

1997

Peace Is Every Step

Peace Is Every Step

2005

Deep Water

Deep Water

2026

Collide

Collide

2016

Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer's Curse

Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer's Curse

2015

Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film

Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film

2014

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

2005

The Making of ‘Sneakers’

The Making of ‘Sneakers’

2003

Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

1998

Mais Bastidores de Hollywood

Mais Bastidores de Hollywood

2006

Unity

Unity

2015

Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny

Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny

2010

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More

2024

Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

2015

The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club

2025

Knight of Cups

Knight of Cups

2015

Necessary Love

Necessary Love

1991

The Making of Sexy Beast

The Making of Sexy Beast

2001

The War That Never Ends

The War That Never Ends

1991

The King of Kings

The King of Kings

2025

Cellini: A Violent Life

Cellini: A Violent Life

1990

An Ordinary Man

An Ordinary Man

2017

Of Dogs and Men

Of Dogs and Men

2016

War Machine

War Machine

2017

The Ottoman Lieutenant

The Ottoman Lieutenant

2017

Hard Labour

Hard Labour

1973

Night Hunter

Night Hunter

2019

Mary

Mary

Security

Security

2017

The Red Sea Diving Resort

The Red Sea Diving Resort

2019

Backstabbing for Beginners

Backstabbing for Beginners

2018

Spielberg

Spielberg

2017

Intrigo: Death of an Author

Intrigo: Death of an Author

2018

Operation Finale

Operation Finale

2018

Spider in the Web

Spider in the Web

2019

Dalíland

Dalíland

2022

Romeo.Juliet

Romeo.Juliet

1990

Who Killed British Cinema?

Who Killed British Cinema?

2018

Falls the Shadow:  The Life and Times of Athol Fugard

Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard

2012

The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor

1982

Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

2018

Inside the Operation

Inside the Operation

2018

1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets

1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets

2010

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

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

2007

Locked Down

Locked Down

2021

The Way of the Wind

The Way of the Wind

The Medicine Buddha

The Medicine Buddha

2019

Mr. Attenborough and Mr. Gandhi

Mr. Attenborough and Mr. Gandhi

1983

The Life and Faith of CS Lewis

The Life and Faith of CS Lewis

2006

The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel

The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel

2006

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

2021

Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold

Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold

1994

Rabbit Ears - The Tiger and the Brahmin

Rabbit Ears - The Tiger and the Brahmin

1991

Rabbit Ears -  Moses the Lawgiver

Rabbit Ears - Moses the Lawgiver

1991

Helena: First Pilgrim to the Holy Land

Helena: First Pilgrim to the Holy Land

2003

The Making of Slipstream

The Making of Slipstream

1989

Schindler's List: 25 Years Later

Schindler's List: 25 Years Later

2018

Young Washington

Young Washington

2026

Moses

Moses

1995

An Oral History of: Schindler's List

An Oral History of: Schindler's List

2018

Fortitude

Fortitude

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

2027

Ben Kingsley Talks About "Gandhi"

Ben Kingsley Talks About "Gandhi"

2001

Pebble Mill at One

Pebble Mill at One

1972

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951

The Adventurer

The Adventurer

1972

The Secret of the Sahara

The Secret of the Sahara

1988

Islam: Empire of Faith

Islam: Empire of Faith

2001

Oxbridge Blues

Oxbridge Blues

1984

Marvel Studios Legends

Marvel Studios Legends

2021

Tut

Tut

2015

Marvel Studios Assembled

Marvel Studios Assembled

2021

Wetten, dass..?

Wetten, dass..?

1981

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005

Rove

Rove

1999

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014

Watership Down

Watership Down

2018

Joseph

Joseph

1995

CNN Millennium

CNN Millennium

1999

Lenin... The Train

Lenin... The Train

1988

Anne Frank: The Whole Story

Anne Frank: The Whole Story

2001

Lip Sync Battle

Lip Sync Battle

2015

Playing Shakespeare

Playing Shakespeare

1984

All or Nothing: Manchester City

All or Nothing: Manchester City

2018

Religion of the World

Religion of the World

2004

Perpetual Grace LTD

Perpetual Grace LTD

2019

Goldene Kamera

Goldene Kamera

1984

Bambi

Bambi

1948

The Oscars

The Oscars

1953

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

1981

Moses

Moses

1996

Inside the Actors Studio

Inside the Actors Studio

1994

The Sopranos

The Sopranos

1999

Garfunkel and Oates

Garfunkel and Oates

2014

Seitenblicke

Seitenblicke

1987

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

1944

Religions of the World

Religions of the World

1998

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

1944

Playhouse

Playhouse

1974

Dickens of London

Dickens of London

1976

The Love School

The Love School

1975

Wonder Man

Wonder Man

2026

Dispatches

Dispatches

1987

Wessex Tales

Wessex Tales

1973

HARDtalk

HARDtalk

1997

World in Action

World in Action

1963