Ben Kingsley Biography

Four-time Oscar nominee Ben Kingsley is widely considered one of the best actors in the business. His most memorable roles include Gandhi, Bugsy, Schindler’s List, and House of Sand and Fog.

Krishna Bhanji, known popularly as Sir Ben Kingsley, was born December 31, 1943 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. His parents were Ann Lyna Mary and Rahimtulla Jarji Bhanji, an actress/model and doctor respectively. He spent his childhood in Pendlebury, Salford and studied at the University of Salford. He subsequently moved to Lancashire and pursued his studies at Pendleton College.

Aware he wanted to pursue acting, Kingsley began his entertainment career onstage at Machester Grammar School. Despite staying true to his stage roots, Kingsley transitioned into film and television as early as 1966 with a six episode stint on the show Orlando.

Although Kingsley is now attributed with emotionally complex and dramatic roles, he actually began his career with a recurring role on the soap opera Coronation Street. He also found steady work with Crown Court where he portrayed Jeremy Leigh.

While Kingsley took part in a series of bit roles and supporting characters, he took center stage in 1982. And he did so in a big way. Playing the title character in Richard Attenborough’s biopic Gandhi, the film swept the box office and the Oscars. The film took Best Picture and Best Director, and Kingsley walked with the golden statue for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film also featured Candice Bergen and Martin Sheen.

Riding high on his win and newfound popularity, Kingsley stayed true to his artistic vision and only took roles he thought were challenging and worthwhile. This included another celebrated performance as lead in Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe. Jim Broadbent and Jenny Agutter costarred.

He also had a memorable turn as Dr John Watson to Michael Caine’s Sherlock Holmes in 1988’s Without a Clue as well as a well received performance in Lenin: The Train in 1990.

In 1991, Kingsley found himself back at the Oscars when he was nominated for his supporting role opposite Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, and Harvey Keitel in Bugsy.

He appeared in more lighthearted fare with the comedy Dave in 1993 where he shared the screen with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. But he was right back to the drama with the Steven Spielberg tour de force Schindler’s List. Kingsley portrayed Itzhak Stern opposite Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

Proving versatile across genres, Kingsley even took a lead in 1995’s Species with all star cast Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina, Forest Whitaker, Marg Helgenberger, and Michelle Williams.

In 2000, Kingsley blew everyone away again with his lead in Sexy Beast, which earned him yet another Oscar nod. But his Oscar run wasn’t over yet. In 2003, Kingsley appeared with Jennifer Connelly and Ron Eldard in House of Sand and Fog, and he once again emerged with Oscar recognition.

Most recently, he appeared in You Kill Me with Tea Leoni and Luke Wilson. Showing no signs of slowing down, he has seven projects in varying stages of production.

In his personal life, Kingsley has been married four times. His first wife, with whom he had two children, was Angela Morant. He then married Alison Sutcliffe and had another two children. When they divorced, he wed Alexandra Christmann briefly before marrying his most recent wife, Daniela Lavender in 2007.