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Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt - Benjamin Géza 'Ben' Affleck-Boldt was born in Berkeley, California on August 15, 1972.

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Childhood - His family moved to Massachusetts when Affleck was three years old (pictured is his childhood home in Cambridge). He and his younger brother Casey were surrounded by people who worked in the arts.

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Early career - Affleck's first screen appearance was a minor part in the independent film 'The Dark End of the Street' (1981). He subsequently appeared in several TV shows, including the 'The Voyage of the Mimi' (1984) and 'The Second Voyage of the Mimi' (1988).

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Meeting Matt Damon - Affleck in his yearbook photo at Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school in 1990, where fellow Oscar-winner, Matt Damon, was also a student.

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Matt Damon - Matt Damon in his senior yearbook photo at Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school in 1988, where he was two years ahead of fellow actor, Ben Affleck.

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His start on the big screen - Other early screen appearances include 'Dazed and Confused' (1993), 'Mallrats' (1995), 'Chasing Amy' (1997), and 'Going all the Way' (1997).

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'Good Will Hunting' (1997) - Affleck's breakout film was this drama, which he wrote with Damon. The two were costars.

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Oscar winners - The pair won a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. Robin Williams won Best Supporting Actor.

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International recognition and leading man status - Affleck won international recognition for a string of films including 'Shakespeare in Love' (1998), 'Armageddon' (1998),  'Pearl Harbor' (2001), 'Changing Lanes' (2002), 'The Sum of All Fears' (2002), 'Daredevil' (2003), 'Hollywoodland' (2006) and 'State of Play' (2009).

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'Shakespeare in Love' (1998) - Affleck plays Ned Alleyn in this romantic period comedy-drama, which depicts an imaginary love affair between William Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps. A big hit, the film went on to win seven Academy Awards.

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'Pearl Harbor' (2001) - Despite generally negative reviews, this heavily fictionalized take on the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a box-office hit.

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Romance with Jennifer Lopez - Affleck had an 18-month relationship with actress/singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004. Their planned wedding was postponed with just four day's notice apparently due to unprecedented media attention.

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'Daredevil' (2003) - Affleck met Jennifer Garner while on the set of 'Pearl Harbor.' But the pair didn't start dating until they both appeared in the superhero action film 'Daredevil.'

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Marriage and divorce to Jennifer Garner - The couple married in 2005 and had three children together: Violet Anne, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, and Samuel Garner. They separated in 2015 and divorced in 2018.

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Emergence as a director - In 2007, Affleck made his feature film directorial debut with 'Gone Baby Gone' (2007), winning the National Board of Review Award for Best Directorial Debut, among other accolades.

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Success behind the camera - He also directed the well-received 'The Town' (2010), in which he also stars. And he triumphed again with 'Argo' (2012), which won an Oscar for Best Picture as well as numerous other awards.

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... and action! - Affleck also won the Golden Globe, Directors Guild of America Award, and a BAFTA Award for Best Director for 'Argo.'

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Academy Award for Best Picture - Hoisting the Academy Award for Best Picture for 'Argo.'

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The business of friendship - School buddies Affleck and Matt Damon remain great friends and are also business partners, having established their own movie production company, Pearl Street Films.

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Brotherly love - Affleck's younger brother Casey is also an actor. The siblings have worked together on several movies, including 'Good Will Hunting' (1997) and 'Gone Baby Gone' (2007).

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Humanitarian causes - In addition to his film work, the actor is involved in humanitarian and political causes. He is the co-founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative. Here he's pictured meeting with community-based healthcare leaders and survivors of sexual violence at HEAL Africa in 2010 in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Professional gambling - Affleck's penchant for taking business risks lends him a thick skin at the poker table: in 2004 he won the California State Poker Championship, taking home the first prize of US$356,400 and qualifying for the 2004 World Poker Tour final tournament.

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Cigarettes and alcohol - The actor has had a troubled relationship with alcohol. He has admitted to receiving treatment for alcohol addiction on several occasions. A former smoker, Affleck gave up cigarettes after the birth of his first daughter.

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Driving fine - The actor was once fined US$135 for driving with a suspended license in Massachusetts.

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Sports - A passionate sports enthusiast, Affleck supports the Boston Celtics basketball team and the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

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'Gone Girl' (2014) - Received well by critics and a commercial success, 'Gone Girl' saw Affleck back on form, ably directed by David Fincher. But...

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'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' (2016) - ... the choice of Affleck for Bruce Wayne/Batman did not please movie fans, and a petition was even drawn up on the internet to find a replacement! The actor reprised the role for 2017's 'Justice League,' which was a box-office bomb.

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'Live by Night' (2016) - Written, produced, directed, and starring Affleck, this crime drama received mix reviews and died at the box office. The actor currently has three films in post-production.

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Bringing up the rear -

The internet exploded when Affleck's phoenix tattoo was revealed (and proven to be real). Here's a rare glimpse of at least some of the ink.

See also: Celebrities who have been to rehab.

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