Benjamin Walker (actor)

Benjamin Walker Scodelario-Davis (né Davis; born June 21, 1982),[1][2][3] known professionally as Benjamin Walker, is an American actor, singer and stand-up comedian. He is 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 musical adaptation of the novel American Psycho. In 2019, he starred as Erik Gelden in the third and final season of Marvel's Jessica Jones from Netflix.

For other people with the same name, see Benjamin Walker.
Benjamin Walker
Walker in 2012
Born
Benjamin Walker Davis

(1982-06-21) June 21, 1982
Cartersville, Georgia, U.S.
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor, stand-up comedian
Years active2004–present
Spouse(s)
Children1

Early life

Walker was born in Cartersville, Georgia,[4] the younger of two boys born of Jeannine (née Walker), a music teacher, and Greg Davis, who owned a movie rental store and works in financial services.[5][6][7] He took his mother's maiden name as his stage name because there was a Benjamin Davis already registered with the Screen Actors Guild.[8] He attended Cartersville High School in Cartersville, the Interlochen Arts Academy near Traverse City, and the Juilliard School in New York City.[9] He graduated from the Juilliard Actor Training Program in 2004.[10]

Acting career

Stage

In February 2007, Walker portrayed Bertram Cates in the Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind.[11][12] 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,[13] 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 nominated for few awards. 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.[14][15] 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 (2005), Lady Windermere's Fan (2005), Romeo and Juliet (2006), and American Psycho (2016). He received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play nomination for his performance in the 2019 Broadway revival of All My Sons.

Film
Walker getting into character as Abraham Lincoln in 2012

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.[16] 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.[17] It was announced in January 2011 that Walker would star as Abraham Lincoln in the film adaptation of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.[18] 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.[19] He was cast as Archangel Michael in the film adaptation of Paradise Lost, but production was cancelled in 2012.[20] He starred as Kevin Connolly in the 2012 film Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight.[21]

Stand-up comedy career

Walker has performed stand-up comedy at 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.[22]

Personal life

Walker became engaged to actress Mamie Gummer in 2009,[1] and they were married in 2011.[23] They lived in an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In March 2013, it was announced that they had amicably separated and planned to divorce.[24]

Walker began dating his co-star, Kaya Scodelario, during the filming of The King's Daughter in April 2014. They became engaged on December 28, 2014.[25] He and Scodelario married in late 2015 and both adopted the surname “Scodelario-Davis”.[26] The couple had a son in November 2016.[27]

Filmography
Walker in March 2012

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 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 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 George Pollard, Jr.
2016 The Choice Travis Shaw
2017 Shimmer Lake Zeke Sikes
2019 Love Is Blind Farmer Smithson
TBA The King's Daughter Yves De La Croix Completed
TBA The Ice Road TBA Post-production

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
2019 Traitors Jimmy Derby 2 episodes
2019 Jessica Jones Erik Gelden 10 episodes
2021 The Lord of the Rings TBA

References
  1. "Mamie Gummer Engaged to Stage Actor Ben Walker". BroadwayWorld.com. October 20, 2009.
  2. "30 Under 30 - Benjamin Walker". BroadwaySpace.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Age: 28
  3. "Ben Walker Scodelario-Davis (@findthewalker) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  4. Levine, Daniel S. (2017-05-26). "Benjamin Walker, Kaya Scodelario's Husband: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  5. Brown, ScotCWWt. (2010-08-22) Benjamin Walker on Playing Andrew Jackson in Broadway's 'Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson' - Fall Preview 2010, nymag.com; retrieved 2013-08-25.
  6. Marchese, David (June 14, 2012). "Benjamin Walker, Sexypants Vampire Hunter". The New York Times.
  7. Lipworth, Elaine. (2012-06-13) Benjamin Walker: Meryl Streep is an intimidating mother-in-law, Metro.co.uk; retrieved 2013-08-25.
  8. "Times-Georgian - Abraham Lincoln star has local ties". Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  9. "INTERVIEW: Benjamin Walker". Broadway.com. April 19, 2007.
  10. "The War Boys: Press Notes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  11. Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Videos | Broadway Buzz | Broadway.com". www.broadway.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007.
  13. "Photo Coverage: Arrivals for 'LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES'". BroadwayWorld.com. May 2, 2008.
  14. "BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON Plays The Public Theatre, Previews 3/23/2010". BroadwayWorld.com. October 22, 2009.
  15. "BLOODY BLOODY Opens at Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 10/13". BroadwayWorld.com. October 13, 2010.
  16. "Coach". Lightning Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  17. "Benjamin Walker to Star in Broadway Transfer of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson". Broadway.com. July 15, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  18. "Ben Walker is Abe Lincoln, 'Vampire Hunter'". Variety.com. January 28, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  19. Gavin Edwards (May 2012). "Big Dead President: Benjamin Walker". Rolling Stone (Summer Bonus Issue): 51.
  20. "Legendary Pictures Scraps Alex Proyas' PARADISE LOST Starring Bradley Cooper". Collider.com. February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  21. "Gawking at the shoot of Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight". AllOverAlbany.com. May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  22. Widdicombe, Lizzie (May 24, 2010). "Finding The Funny". The New Yorker.
  23. "Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer marries". Entertainment Weekly. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-01-20.
  24. Yuan, Jada (January 6, 2013). "Benjamin Walker Returns to Broadway for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Vulture.com. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  25. "The Happiest Woman in the World". @kayascods. December 28, 2014.
  26. Guglielmi, Jodi (January 8, 2016). "Holiday Wedding! Benjamin Walker and Kaya Scodelario Tie the Knot". People.
  27. "Benjamin Walker and Kaya Scodelario Welcome Son • Dec 1, 2016 at 2:40pm EST". People. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
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