“I was personally moved to get involved with the outstanding work that Feeding America does. I feel very lucky to be able to visit food banks in Feeding America’s network, pack boxes of food for them and make a real difference.”
Ben Affleck received the 2007 Best Directorial Debut award from the National Board of Review for his directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone.
He first came to prominence in 1997 with the acclaimed "Good Will Hunting," which he starred in and co-wrote with Matt Damon. For their work, they won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay, as well as the Golden Globe Award and Humanitas Prize.
He has since starred in films including John Madden's Academy Award® winning "Shakespeare In Love," Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor," Roger Michell's "Changing Lanes" and Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl." In 2009 Affleck appeared alongside Russell Crowe in “State of Play”, and part of the ensemble casts of “Extract” and Warner Bros’ “He’s Just Not That Into You”. He was previously seen in Joe Carnahan's stylish thriller "Smokin Aces" and in the critically acclaimed "Hollywoodland," in the role of George Reeves, for which he garnered numerous accolades including the Venice Film Festival's coveted Golden Lion Award for Best Actor in 2006 and a 2007 Golden Globe nomination. This past fall Affleck completed filming "The Town”, which he co-wrote, directed, and acted in. Ben will appear alongside Tommy Lee Jones in “The Company Men”, due out this year.
Some of his additional film credits include Ben Younger's "Boiler Room," Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused," the screen adaptation of Marvel Comics' "Daredevil," "The Sum of All Fears," "Armageddon" and "Forces of Nature."
In addition to being a successful actor, writer and director, Ben is a longtime political activist and strong supporter of many charitable organizations Feeding America, ONEXONE, A-T Children's Project, the Jimmy Fund, and the ONE Campaign.
Ben is a passionate advocate who travels the world to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues facing Africa today. In the last year alone he has made four separate trips to numerous countries on the African continent, with a focus on the Great Lakes region. Ben has focused on understanding the causes and consequences of conflict in Africa, along with learning specifically about African solutions to the problems affecting the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa.
Ben traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo where he directed the short film and public service announcement, 'Gimme Shelter', which focuses on the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In partnership with the UNHCR, this film is part of the international campaign to aid those displaced by violence.