Who is Ben Koldyke?
Ben Koldyke is an actor, probably best known for his roles in the TV series “How I Met Your Mother”, “Work It”, “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street”. He was born under the Zodiac sign Aries on 27 March 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, so holds American nationality; as of 2021, he is 53 years old.
Early life and Family
Ben was born to Martin and Patricia Blunt Koldyke. His father is a former investment banker who founded the Frontenac Company, while his mother worked as a teacher. He grew up in Kenilworth, alongside his three siblings Elizabeth, Karl and Laird.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTH7QkOF8sL/
Following his matriculation from New Trier, East High School, he enrolled at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, where he also played as a quarterback for the university’s team. He graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in the English Language.
Career
Prior to launching his acting career, Ben worked as a teacher of English and football coach at a high school in Chicago, meantime occasionally auditioning for acting roles, as he always carried an interest in the performing arts. He made his movie debut in 2000, in the comedy-drama movie “The Next Best Thing”, followed by his appearance in the political thriller “Thirteen days”.
In 2001, he wrote and directed the comedy film “Red Zone”, then after appearing in an episode of the action drama TV series “24”, he wrote and directed another project, “Osama Bin Laden: Behind the Madness”. In the following period he bounced between minor roles in movies such as “Say I do” and “Stuck on You”, and directing short films such as “Jedi Gym”.
In 2008, his career took a different turn after a chance meeting with Rob McElhenney, the creator of the hit sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Ben, a die-hard fan of the show, spotted Ben at a Venice Café and paid Rob’s tab with a side note that read: “I think your show is fantastic.” This seemingly insignificant event would later lead to Ben’s audition for the role of the captain Ron Teague for TV pilot “Boldly Going Nowhere”.
Even though the show never saw the light of the day, it served as a career booster for Ben, who in turn began landing various other roles.
After starring in an episode of the show “It’s All Sunny in Philadelphia”, in 2009 he landed his most recognized role, as Don Frank in the award-winning sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”. Despite appearing in only six episodes, his portrayal of a careless, presumptuous and insolent TV host and journalist shot him to stardom. During the same year, he appeared in TV pilots for two shows, “The Big D”, and “The Little Piggy”.
In 2010, he appeared as a recurring character, Dale Tomasson, in the drama series “Big Love”, and two years later, he was cast as a main character in the sitcom “Work It”, which became known for its overwhelmingly negative reception and criticism, aimed at the derivative plot and script, which centered on men laid-off from a fictional plant or the so-called “man-cession” comedy, and was canceled after the second episode.
In 2013 he appeared in an episode of the political drama series “Newsroom”, and landed the role as Dick Slingbaugh in the sitcom “Back in the Game”. The series aired for one season, receiving mixed reviews, with praise aimed at the writing and idea. However, the last three episodes of the first season weren’t aired, as ABC announced the cancelation of the show due to low ratings.
The following year he scooped the recurring role of Greg Gibbon in the live-action TV series “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street”. In 2015, he landed two recurring roles, as Jimmy in the sitcom “Mr. Robinson”, and Paul in the period drama series “Master of Sex”.
After making one-episode appearances in the shows “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Silicon Valley”, he starred as Brent Norwalk in four episodes of the fantasy/comedy series “The Good Place”. Regarding his latest role, in 2021 he was cast as Dudley Rutherford in the sitcom “Rutherford Falls”.
Personal life
While there isn’t much information available about his dating history, he was previously married to the actress Maggie Lawson, best recognized for her role in the series’ “Psych” and “Lethal Weapon”.
The former couple met in 2013 on the set for the series “Back in the Game”. Shortly afterwards they began their romantic relationship, and in 2015 the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Las Vegas. However, the marriage was not meant for a long run, and after less than two years, they officially called it quits. Even though neither of them disclosed any information pertaining to the reason for divorce, some rumors circulated that the couple parted due to different goals and aspirations in life. Reportedly, Ben wanted to settle down and have children, while Maggie was more focused on furthering her career.
Following the dissolution of marriage, Ben hasn’t been linked to anyone.
Even though he hasn’t confirmed or released any information, he’s posted several photos of a blonde woman named Charlotte Freund on his Instagram account. According to the captions, which read “My Girl”, it appears that the woman is his current girlfriend.
Would you like to know his net worth?
As of 2021, Ben’s estimated net worth is around $7 million, earned largely through his career as an actor over the past two decades.
Physical stats and hobbies
Ben is 5ft10ins (178cm) tall with weight around 165lbs (75kgs). His hair is black, and his eyes are blue.
Naturally, as an actor who mainly starred in sitcoms and comedy/shows, he’s always been a fan of stand-up shows and has even performed a couple of times.
Even though he is not active anymore, he always finds time to watch it – his favorite comedians are the late Robin Williams, and Chris Rock. His favorite actors include Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, while his favorite movies are “Catch Me If You Can” and “Pretty Woman”.
In his free time, he likes to travel, and thanks to his career, he’s seen several European countries, particularly England and France.
He enjoys physical activity, and trains several times a week at a gym. If he isn’t training at the gym, he is camping, hiking, and spending time in nature.
Is he active on social media?
When it comes to social media activity, he is seldom active on his Instagram account, which has over 800 followers. It appears that he does not use Twitter or Facebook.
Leave a Comment