Ben Shenkman

Benjamin Shenkman (born September 26, 1968) is an American television, film and stage actor.

Life and career

Shenkman was born in New York City, graduated from Brown University, and obtained a Masters of Fine Arts in 1993 from New York University.^[1] He began his acting career guest-starring on Law & Order, and later secured a small role in the 1994 film Quiz Show directed by Robert Redford. He continued performing throughout the 1990s in small roles in films such as Eraser (1996), The Siege (1998), π (1998), and Jesus' Son (1999). His first leading role was in the romantic comedy 30 Days (1999) as Jordan Trainer, but the movie was not successful. Additional films include the psychological thriller Chasing Sleep (2000), and the independent films Requiem for a Dream (2000) and Americanese (2009).

Shenkman continued working on television as well, playing recurring roles in the television series Ed and Law & Order. His biggest television break was his role in HBO's adaptation of Tony Kushner's play, Angels in America. Shenkman played Louis Ironson, a gay Jew who, upon discovering his partner is ill with AIDS, decides that he can't cope with suffering and leaves him. The movie wasn't the first time Shenkman took part in this award-winning production: While still at New York University, Shenkman played the role of Roy Cohn in the play. Shenkman's role as Louis garnered him a nomination for a Golden Globe.

Shenkman also gained success in the theatre, starring in Sight Unseen opposite Laura Linney and in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Proof, co-starring Mary-Louise Parker. In 2007, he co-starred in Breakfast with Scot a gay-themed film made in Canada. The film marked the first time a professional sports league approved a team's logo and uniforms to be used in a gay-themed film.^[2]

Shenkman, most recently seen on USA’s Burn Notice, has been cast as the husband of Jennifer Westfeldt’s character on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, but he’s not dropping by Seattle Grace to keep vigil at his ailing wife’s bedside; he’s a patient in critical condition. Like Westfeldt, Shenkman is signed on for multiple episodes.^[3]

References

External links

• Ben Shenkman at the Internet Broadway Database
• Ben Shenkman at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Ben Shenkman by Beth Stevens on Broadway.com
• Ben Shenkman on Wainy Days