Editing Ben Affleck (section)

==Early life==
Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt on August 15, 1972, in [[Berkeley, California]].<ref name=fullname>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2015/02/shonda-rhimes-scandal-quotes|title=You Won't Believe Shonda Rhime's Method for Knowing Whether a Story Works| first=Jessica|last=Radloff|work=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]| date=February 15, 2015|access-date=March 27, 2015 | archive-date=May 2, 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150502102530/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2015/02/shonda-rhimes-scandal-quotes | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Casey|first1=Nora Sørena|title=Ben Affleck – American actor, writer, and director| url= https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Affleck|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=August 23, 2017|language=en|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170823173733/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Affleck|archive-date=August 23, 2017}}</ref> His family moved to Massachusetts when he was three,<ref name="viewaskew1">{{Cite web| last1=McCarthy |first1=Kevin |title= Cinezine – Frank Discussions With Ben Affleck |url=http://viewaskew.com/chasingamy/benview.html |publisher=[[View Askew Productions]] |year=1997 |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054026/http://viewaskew.com/chasingamy/benview.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> living in [[Falmouth, Massachusetts|Falmouth]], where his brother [[Casey Affleck|Casey]] was born, before settling in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]].<ref name="Morris full">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/yourtown/boston/northend/articles/2010/09/15/with_new_film_affleck_ties_boston_knot_tighter/?page=full |title=With New Film, Affleck Ties Boston Knot Tighter |work=[[Boston Globe]] |date=September 15, 2010 |access-date=June 29, 2014 |first=Wesley |last=Morris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224355/http://www.boston.com/yourtown/boston/northend/articles/2010/09/15/with_new_film_affleck_ties_boston_knot_tighter/?page=full |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref> His mother, <!--- spelling is correct, it is "Christopher", not "Christine" --->Christopher<!--- spelling is correct, it is "Christopher", not "Christine" ---> Anne "Chris" Boldt,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tidbits, One Ringtailed |url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/03/tidbits-one-ringtailed |work=[[Harvard Magazine]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=March 1, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702140941/http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/03/tidbits-one-ringtailed |archive-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref> was a [[Harvard University|Harvard]]-educated elementary school teacher.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-thr-cover-argo-oscar-377611/ |title= Confessions of Ben Affleck |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date= November 17, 2011 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |first=Stephen |last=Galloway |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121014011947/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-thr-cover-argo-oscar-377611 |archive-date= October 14, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Christopher Anne Affleck – Events – 20th Anniversary Luminaries |url= http://www.breakthroughgreaterboston.org/christopher-anne-affleck.htm |work=[[Breakthrough Collaborative|Breakthrough Greater Boston]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170628062041/http://www.breakthroughgreaterboston.org/christopher-anne-affleck.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2017 }}</ref> His father, Timothy Byers Affleck,<ref name="nytimes2000">{{Cite news|last1=Lidz |first1=Franz |title=I Bargained With Devil for Fame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/10/movies/film-ben-affleck-shocker-i-bargained-with-devil-for-fame.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=September 10, 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518202112/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/10/movies/film-ben-affleck-shocker-i-bargained-with-devil-for-fame.html |archive-date=May 18, 2017 }}</ref> was an aspiring playwright<ref name="nytimes2000" /> who was "mostly unemployed".<ref>{{Cite news |title='Awards Chatter' Podcast – Ben Affleck ('The Way Back') |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/awards-chatter-podcast-ben-affleck-the-way-back-4115884/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514211140/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/awards-chatter-podcast-ben-affleck-the-way-back-4115884/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked sporadically as a carpenter,<ref name="highbeam1">{{Cite news |title=Playboy Interview: Ben Affleck| last1= Weinraub|first1=Bernard|date=December 1, 1999|work=[[Playboy]]}}</ref> auto mechanic,<ref name="viewaskew1"/> [[bookmaker|bookie]],<ref name= "kinja1">{{Cite web| url= http://playboysfw.kinja.com/ben-affleck-on-argo-his-distaste-for-politics-and-the-1508624335 |title=Ben Affleck on Argo, His Distaste For Politics and the Batman Backlash |first=Michael |last=Fleming |work= Playboy |access-date=June 5, 2014 |date=January 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702140423/http://playboysfw.kinja.com/ben-affleck-on-argo-his-distaste-for-politics-and-the-1508624335 |archive-date=July 2, 2014}}</ref> electrician,<ref name="washingtonpost1">{{Cite news|last1=Leiby |first1=Richard |title=The 'Sum' and The Substance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30687-2002May29.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=May 10, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412064334/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30687-2002May29.html |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref> bartender,<ref name="bostonmagazine2006">{{Cite news|last1=Atkinson |first1=Kim |title=Casey, the Other Affleck |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/the-other-affleck/ |work=[[Boston (magazine)|Boston]] |access-date=April 12, 2017 |date=May 15, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228044621/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/the-other-affleck/ |archive-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref> and janitor at Harvard.<ref name="harvard">{{Cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Alvin|title=Damon, Affleck Rally to Living Wage Cause| url=http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/05.11/rally.html|work=[[Harvard Gazette]]|access-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313234404/http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/05.11/rally.html|archive-date=March 13, 2005|date=May 11, 2000}}</ref> In the mid-1960s, he had been an actor and stage manager with the [[Theater Company of Boston]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Sorbello |first1=Donna |title=Father Of The Boston Theatre Scene |url= http://www.actorsequity.org/Newsmedia/news2012/jan17.DavidWheeler.asp |work=[[Actors' Equity Association]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date= January 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214431/http://www.actorsequity.org/Newsmedia/news2012/jan17.DavidWheeler.asp |archive-date=May 27, 2014 }}</ref>

During Affleck's childhood, his father had a self-described "severe, chronic problem with alcoholism",<ref name="people1">{{Cite magazine |last1=Schneider |first1=Karen |title= Cover Story: Good Time Hunting | volume= 53 | number= 7 |url= http://people.com/archive/cover-story-good-time-hunting-vol-53-no-7/ |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=April 12, 2017 |date= February 21, 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412144219/http://people.com/archive/cover-story-good-time-hunting-vol-53-no-7/ |archive-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> and Affleck has recalled him drinking "all day ... every day".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Shanahan |first1=Mark |title=Ben Affleck has Struggled with Alcohol for a Long Time |date=March 15, 2017 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/03/15/ben-affleck-has-struggled-with-alcohol-for-long-time/L7QELVyVHZqOXpbLWMAk6H/story.html |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412062105/https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/03/15/ben-affleck-has-struggled-with-alcohol-for-long-time/L7QELVyVHZqOXpbLWMAk6H/story.html |archive-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> His father was "very difficult",<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Spencer |first1=Amy |title=Ben Affleck Talks Raising Kids With His Ex, Facing His Demons and Tackling His Most Personal Movie Role Yet |url=https://parade.com/1001118/amyspencer/ben-affleck-the-way-back/ |access-date=February 29, 2020 |work=Parade |date=February 28, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223085523/https://parade.com/1001118/amyspencer/ben-affleck-the-way-back/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Affleck felt a sense of "relief" at the age of 11 when his parents divorced,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Drysdale |first1=Jennifer |title=Ben Affleck's History With Alcohol Addiction: A Timeline |url=https://www.etonline.com/news/212943_ben_affleck_history_with_alcohol_addiction_a_timeline_of_the_actor_struggles_and_road_to_recovery |access-date=November 6, 2019 |work=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030122502/https://www.etonline.com/news/212943_ben_affleck_history_with_alcohol_addiction_a_timeline_of_the_actor_struggles_and_road_to_recovery |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=mosaic>{{Cite news |title=An Interview With Erwin McManus and Ben Affleck |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a7jG-ATTYs | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/5a7jG-ATTYs| archive-date=November 14, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=March 11, 2020}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> and his father exited the family home.<ref name= "people1"/><ref name= "nytimes2000"/> His father continued to drink heavily<ref name="auto"/> and eventually became homeless, spending two years living on the streets of Cambridge.<ref name="kinja1"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview: Ben Affleck, Actor |url= http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-ben-affleck-actor-1-478196 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |access-date=April 10, 2017 |date=September 19, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401233332/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-ben-affleck-actor-1-478196 |archive-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> When Affleck was 16, his father entered a rehabilitation facility in [[Indio, California]]. He lived at the facility for 12 years to maintain his sobriety<ref name=wtf/> and worked there as an addiction counselor.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web| last1= McGinty| first1=Kate|title=Palm Springs Film Festival: Ben Affleck Spit on Me| url=http://blogs.mydesert.com/2013/01/05/palm-springs-film-festival-ben-affleck-spit-on-me/|work=[[The Desert Sun]] |access-date=April 12, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215548/http://blogs.mydesert.com/2013/01/05/palm-springs-film-festival-ben-affleck-spit-on-me/|archive-date=May 27, 2014|date=January 5, 2013}}</ref>

Affleck was raised in a politically active, liberal household.<ref name="kinja1"/><ref name= "salon.com">{{Cite web| url= http://www.salon.com/2000/11/08/reacts_ny/ |title=Ben Affleck: "I Hope Nader Can Still Sleep" |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |first=Amy |last=Reiter |page=6(7), 36–100 |date=November 8, 2000 |access-date=August 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085546/http://www.salon.com/2000/11/08/reacts_ny/ |archive-date= August 19, 2014}}</ref> He and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who worked in the arts;<ref>{{Cite magazine| last1=Berk| first1= Sheryl |pages=36–100|title=Ben Affleck on Stardom, Settling Down, and Working with Best Buddy Matt Damon| magazine=Biography Magazine| date= July 2002}}</ref> the boys regularly attended theater performances with their mother<ref>{{Cite web| last1= Roberts |first1=Sheila |title=Casey Affleck Talks Ain't Them Bodies Saints, Working with Rooney Mara, His Relationship with His Brother, I'm Still Here, and More |url=https://collider.com/casey-affleck-aint-them-bodies-saints-interview/ |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=August 12, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623200528/http://collider.com/casey-affleck-aint-them-bodies-saints-interview/ |archive-date=June 23, 2017 }}</ref> and were encouraged to make their own [[home movies]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Stern |first1=Marlow |title= Casey Affleck, Star of 'Out of the Furnace,' on His Hollywood Struggles |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/02/casey-affleck-star-of-out-of-the-furnace-on-his-hollywood-struggles.html |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=December 2, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314123334/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/02/casey-affleck-star-of-out-of-the-furnace-on-his-hollywood-struggles.html |archive-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref> [[David Wheeler (stage director)|David Wheeler]], a family friend, later remembered Affleck as a "very bright and intensely curious" child.<ref name="people2"/> The brothers auditioned for roles in local commercials and film productions because of their mother's friendship with a Cambridge-area casting director,<ref name="bostonmagazine2006"/> and Affleck first acted professionally at the age of seven.<ref name= "people2">{{Cite magazine |last1=Miller |first1=Samantha |title=Cover Story: Sexiest Man Alive...Ben Affleck | volume= 58 |number= 23 |url= http://people.com/archive/cover-story-sexiest-man-alive-ben-affleck-vol-58-no-23/ |magazine=People |access-date= April 12, 2017 |date=December 2, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412224408/http://people.com/archive/cover-story-sexiest-man-alive-ben-affleck-vol-58-no-23/ |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref> His mother saved his wages in a college trust fund<ref name="nytimes2000"/> and hoped her son would ultimately become a teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{Cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/07/entertainment/ca-14633/3 |title=Opportunity Knocked at Every Turn |first=Amy |last=Wallace |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 7, 1999 |access-date=March 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208004536/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/07/entertainment/ca-14633/3 |archive-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> When Affleck was 13, he filmed a children's television program in Mexico. He learned to speak Spanish during a year spent traveling around the country with his mother and brother.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/miami-com-news/article240470801.html|title=Ben Affleck just spoke perfect Spanish in Miami and now your single tía wants an intro|date=February 20, 2020|first=Madeleine|last=Marr|work=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=August 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821051506/https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/miami-com-news/article240470801.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last1=Garratt |first1=Sheryl |title=Casey Affleck's Time to Shine |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3673779/Casey-Afflecks-time-to-shine.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=May 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110004137/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3673779/Casey-Afflecks-time-to-shine.html |archive-date=January 10, 2016}}</ref>

As a [[Cambridge Rindge and Latin School|Cambridge Rindge and Latin]] high school student, Affleck acted in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Booth |first1=William |title=Bond of Brothers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101602302.html?noredirect=on| newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=October 17, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412064253/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101602302.html |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="cbsnews1">{{Cite news|last1=Mitchell |first1=Russ |title=Ben Affleck: Insecurity, Fear Good Motivators |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ben-affleck-insecurity-fear-good-motivators/ |work=[[CBS News]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=September 12, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620034700/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ben-affleck-insecurity-fear-good-motivators/ |archive-date=June 20, 2017}}</ref> He became close friends with fellow student [[Matt Damon]], whom he had known since the age of eight.<ref name="interviewmagazine1">{{Cite web|last1=Sischy |first1=Ingrid |title=New Again: Ben Affleck |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/new-again-ben-affleck/ |work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=April 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619233859/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/new-again-ben-affleck/ |archive-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref> Although Damon was two years older, the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to pursue acting careers.<ref name="interviewmagazine1"/> They traveled to New York together for acting auditions<ref name="Parade">{{Cite news|last1=Rader|first1=Dotson|title=Ben Affleck: 'I Have a Strong Sense of Where I Want to Go'| url= http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=279087|work=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade Magazine]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411040258/http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=279087| date=October 10, 2007|archive-date= April 11, 2008|access-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> and saved money for train and airline tickets in a joint bank account.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview With 'The Adjustment Bureau' Star Matt Damon |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1103/03/pmt.01.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=April 12, 2017 |date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191024/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1103/03/pmt.01.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> While Affleck had high [[SAT]] scores,<ref name="nytimes2000"/> he was largely an unfocused student with poor attendance.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite news| url= https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132331&page=1&singlePage=true |title=PrimeTime: The Real Ben Affleck |work= abcnews.go.com | publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=August 27, 2014 |date=November 16, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821175727/http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132331&page=1&singlePage=true |archive-date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> He spent a few months studying Spanish at the [[University of Vermont]], chosen because of its proximity to his then-girlfriend,<ref name="washingtonpost1" /> but he left after fracturing his hip while playing basketball.<ref name="Parade"/> At 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles,<ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> studying Middle Eastern affairs at [[Occidental College]] for a year and a half.<ref>{{Cite magazine| last1= Edwards |first1=Sian |title=Enter Ben's World |url=http://global-citizen.com/enter-bens-world/ |magazine=Global Citizen Magazine| access-date=April 11, 2017 |date=October 29, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120112110/http://global-citizen.com/enter-bens-world/ |archive-date=November 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Singh |first1=Ajay |title=Did Ben Affleck Major in Middle Eastern Studies From Oxy? |url=https://patch.com/california/eaglerock/did-ben-affleck-major-in-middle-eastern-studies-from-oxy |work= Eagle Rock Patch| publisher= [[Patch Media]] |access-date=April 12, 2017 |date= January 15, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170413070712/https://patch.com/california/eaglerock/did-ben-affleck-major-in-middle-eastern-studies-from-oxy |archive-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>