Ben Mendelsohn Biography: Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn born April 3, 1969 is an Australian actor best known for his breakthrough role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987), which launched his career in Australia. He later gained international fame for his role in the crime drama Animal Kingdom (2010).
Ben Mendelsohn Biography
Although Ben Mendelsohn is widely recognized in Hollywood for his roles as villains and criminals, he has been a leading man in Australia since his teenage years. Born Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn in Melbourne, Australia, to Carole Ann (Ferguson), a nurse, and Frederick Arthur Oscar Mendelsohn, a medical researcher, he began his career in television with roles in The Henderson Kids (1985) and the long-running soap opera Neighbours (1985).
Ben Mendelsohn Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn
3 April 1969 (age 56)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
|
| Occupation |
Actor |
| Years active |
1984–present |
| Works |
List of performances |
| Spouse |
Emma Forrest
(m. 2012; div. 2016)
|
| Children |
2 |
| Category |
Singers Bio |
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About Ben Mendelsohn
Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his break-out role in The Year My Voice Broke. He gained international attention for his starring role in the crime drama Animal Kingdom.
Ben Mendelsohn Achievements
Mendelsohn has appeared in numerous films, including The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Starred Up (2013), Lost River (2014), Mississippi Grind (2015), Rogue One (2016), Darkest Hour (2017), and Ready Player One (2018). He also starred in the Netflix drama series Bloodline (2015–2017), earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2016. Mendelsohn played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood (2018) and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Talos in Captain Marvel (2019) and the Disney+ series Secret Invasion (2023).
Ben Mendelsohn Personal Life
Mendelsohn gained widespread attention for his portrayal of a troubled juvenile delinquent in the critically acclaimed coming-of-age film The Year My Voice Broke (1987), earning his first Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor, one of eight nominations throughout his career. Mendelsohn quickly became one of Australia’s most popular teen and young adult stars, often rivaling his contemporaries like Russell Crowe, Noah Taylor, and Guy Pearce.
Ben Mendelsohn Wiki
- Born: 3 April 1969 (age 56 years), Melbourne, Australia
- Spouse: Emma Forrest (m. 2012–2016)
- Height: 1.8 m
- Upcoming movies: Roofman, Zero A. D.
- Awards: AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film ·
- Siblings: Tom Mendelsohn, David Mendelsohn
Early Life and Family
Mendelsohn was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to Carole Ann (née Ferguson) and Frederick Arthur Oscar Mendelsohn. His father is a renowned medical researcher and former head of the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne, where he remains Professor Emeritus. Ben, along with his two brothers, Tom and David, and their mother (who was a registered nurse and has since passed away), spent significant time living in Europe and the United States before returning to Melbourne during Ben’s primary school years.
He attended Mercersburg Academy in the U.S. before going on to Heidelberg Primary School, Eltham High School, and Banyule High (now Viewbank College). Initially, he chose drama because he thought it would be an easy class, but he was the only one in his group of friends to audition for a role with Crawford Productions, which marked the beginning of his acting career. Mendelsohn appeared on the Australian show Who Do You Think You Are?, which explored the ancestry of his paternal grandfather, Oscar Mendelsohn, a Jewish man from Prussia.
Ben Mendelsohn at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Actors
- Net Worth: $9 Million
- Birthdate: April 3, 1969 (56 years old)
- Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
- Gender: Male
- Profession: Actor
- Nationality: Australian
What is Ben Mendelsohn’s early life and education like?
Born as Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn on April 3, 1969, in Melbourne, Australia, Ben comes from a family with diverse ancestry, including German, British, Greek, and Prussian Jewish roots. He grew up in Europe and the United States before returning to Melbourne for high school, where he attended Eltham High School and Banyule High.
How did Ben Mendelsohn start his acting career in Australia?
Ben Mendelsohn made his film debut in 1986 with the Australian film The Still Point. His breakthrough came the following year with the coming-of-age film The Year My Voice Broke, where his performance earned him the AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Over the next few years, Mendelsohn starred in several notable Australian films, including Nirvana Street Murder (1990) and The Big Steal (1990).
What major roles did Ben Mendelsohn play in his later film career?
Mendelsohn’s career took a major leap forward with his role as Andrew Cody in the critically acclaimed Animal Kingdom (2010), for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor. He went on to appear in major films like The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Rogue One (2016), Ready Player One (2018), and Captain Marvel (2019), cementing his place in Hollywood.
What are some of Ben Mendelsohn’s TV roles?
Mendelsohn’s television career includes key roles in series like The Henderson Kids (1985) and Neighbours (1985), but his breakout TV role came in 2015 when he starred as Danny Rayburn in the Netflix drama Bloodline. His portrayal earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Mendelsohn has since starred in The Outsider (2020) and reprised his role as Talos in Secret Invasion (2023).
Has Ben Mendelsohn been involved in music videos?
Yes, beyond his acting career, Ben Mendelsohn has appeared in several music videos. He made his debut in the video for Full Moon, Dirty Hearts by the Australian rock band INXS and later appeared in videos for You Am I’s What I Don’t Know ‘Bout You, Jimmy Barnes’ Out in the Blue, Florence and the Machine’s Lover to Lover, and Sia’s Breathe Me.
What is Ben Mendelsohn’s Net Worth 2025?
Ben Mendelsohn has a net worth of $9 million. His career took off with his breakthrough role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987), and since then, he has appeared in several high-profile films such as Animal Kingdom, Starred Up, Rogue One, and Ready Player One. His acting career spans both film and television, including his Emmy Award-winning role in the Netflix series Bloodline.
FAQs
What is Ben Mendelsohn’s background in acting?
Ben Mendelsohn, born in Melbourne, Australia, began his acting career as a teenager. He initially appeared in television shows such as The Henderson Kids and Neighbours before gaining recognition for his role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987), which helped him establish himself as a talented actor in the Australian film industry.
What role did Ben Mendelsohn play in The Year My Voice Broke?
In The Year My Voice Broke (1987), Ben Mendelsohn portrayed a troubled juvenile delinquent, a role that earned him widespread acclaim. His performance in this coming-of-age film won him the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor, marking a significant milestone in his career.
How did Ben Mendelsohn become known in Hollywood?
While Ben Mendelsohn is renowned in Hollywood for playing villains and criminals, his rise to fame in Australia set the foundation. His breakout role in Animal Kingdom (2010) brought him international recognition, and subsequent roles in films like The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Rogue One (2016) solidified his status as a versatile character actor.
What is “the Mouse Pack” in Australian cinema?
“The Mouse Pack” was a term coined by Australian tabloids to describe a group of rising young actors in the Australian film scene during the 1980s and 1990s. This group included Ben Mendelsohn, Russell Crowe, Noah Taylor, and Guy Pearce, who were seen as the next generation of Australian stars in cinema, similar to Hollywood’s Rat Pack and the UK’s Brit Pack.
Has Ben Mendelsohn played romantic roles in films?
Yes, in addition to his portrayal of troubled young men, Ben Mendelsohn has also taken on romantic lead roles. He starred in comedies like The Big Steal (1990), Cosi (1996), and Amy (1997), demonstrating his ability to diversify his acting range.
What awards has Ben Mendelsohn won for his acting?
Ben Mendelsohn won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Year My Voice Broke (1987). He also earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2016 for his performance in the Netflix series Bloodline (2015–2017).
