Brian Benben
| Brian Benben | |
|---|---|
 Benben in 2002 | |
| Born |
Brian Edward Benben June 18, 1956 Winchester, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film, stage and television actor |
| Spouse(s) | Madeleine Stowe (1982–present) |
| Children | May Benben |
Brian Edward Benben (born June 18, 1956) is an American actor, best known for his role as Martin Tupper in the HBO comedy television series Dream On (1990–1996), and also known as Dr. Sheldon Wallace on ABC medical drama Private Practice (2008–2013). Benben is married to Madeleine Stowe.
Life and career
Benben was born in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Gloria Patricia (née Coffman) and Peter Michael Benben, Sr., a produce buyer.[1][2]
He later lived and attended high school in Marlboro, New York, followed by two years at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, New York, after which he moved to New York City, where he worked various jobs while auditioning and acting. In 1983 he appeared in the Broadway production of John Byrne's play Slab Boys with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, Val Kilmer and Jackie Earle Haley. The play ran on Broadway for 48 performances.[3]
Although his first national exposure was in the 1981 NBC miniseries-then-series The Gangster Chronicles,[4] Benben is perhaps best known for his leading role in the 1990–96 HBO television series, Dream On. He played a "by the book" FBI agent in the 1990 film Dark Angel (known in the U.S. as I Come in Peace). He had a starring role in the 1994 film Radioland Murders playing Mary Stuart Masterson's estranged husband. In September 1998, he starred in an eponymous primetime CBS sitcom, The Brian Benben Show, which lasted only one month on the air. In the 2000s, he played Dr. Sheldon Wallace on Shonda Rhimes' Private Practice. His character was first introduced in December 2008,[5] later became a recurring character, and finally a series regular.[6] In 2014 he appeared in the television series Scandal, also produced by Rhimes.[7]
Family
In 1982, Benben married actress Madeleine Stowe,[1] whom he met filming The Gangster Chronicles. Together they have one child, daughter May Theodora Benben (born 1996). Benben and Stowe have a home in South Texas.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Gangster Chronicles | Michael Lasker | TV mini-series |
| 1986 | Kay O'Brien | Dr. Mark Doyle | 13 episodes |
| 1990–1996 | Dream On | Martin Tupper | 119 episodes |
| 1998 | The Brian Benben Show | Brian Benben | also co-executive producer |
| 2003 | Kingpin | Dr. Heywood Klein | TV mini-series |
| 2005 | Masters of Horror | Dwight Faraday | Episode: "Deer Woman" |
| 2008–2013 | Private Practice | Dr. Sheldon Wallace | Recurring (Seasons 2-3), Main Cast (Seasons 4-6) |
| 2014 | Scandal | Leonard Carnahan | Episode: "An Innocent Man" |
| 2015 | Grace and Frankie | Charlie (Grace's Internet date) | Episode: "The Earthquake" |
| 2016 | Roadies | Preston | Episode: "What Would Phil Do?" |
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Gangster Wars | Michael Lasker | Based on The Gangster Chronicles |
| 1988 | Clean and Sober | Martin Laux | |
| 1989 | Mortal Sins | Nathan Weinschank | |
| 1990 | Dark Angel | Special Agent Arwood 'Larry' Smith | |
| 1994 | Radioland Murders | Roger Henderson |
References
- 1 2 "Brian Benben profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
- ↑ Profile, recordonline.com; accessed January 7, 2016.
- ↑ The Broadway League. "Slab Boys details". Ibdb.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
- ↑ The Gangster Chronicles details, IMDb.com; accessed January 7, 2016.
- ↑ Private Practice details, IMDb.com; accessed January 7, 2015.
- ↑ Exclusive: "Private Practice" Upgrades Brian Benben, Entertainment Weekly, June 15, 2010
- ↑ Abrams, Natalie (September 16, 2014). "'Private Practice' alum Brian Benben heads to 'Scandal'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 17, 2014.