Heritage · Living legacy

Ben Affleck

Actor, writer, director and producer whose public work includes filmmaking, Artists Equity and support for locally led projects in eastern Congo.By Confinity Heritage Editorial · Updated 2026-10-15 · 4-minute read

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Ben Affleck works on both sides of the camera. He acts, writes, directs and produces, sometimes taking several of those roles on the same film. His two Academy Awards recognise different kinds of work: the screenplay he wrote with Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting, and his part in producing Argo. Outside film, he co-founded Eastern Congo Initiative with Whitney Williams. Academy, 1998, Academy, 2013, Eastern Congo Initiative

Good Will Hunting and a shared screenplay

Good Will Hunting was released in 1997. Gus Van Sant directed Affleck and Damon’s screenplay, with Damon playing Will Hunting and Affleck his friend Chuckie. Robin Williams and Minnie Driver are central to the cast. The story makes room for the friendships and loyalties of Will’s daily life alongside the possibility of a very different future. Miramax At the Academy Awards on 23 March 1998, Affleck and Damon won the award for an original screenplay. Williams won the supporting-actor Oscar for the same film. Academy award record

Moving behind the camera

Affleck made his feature directing debut with Gone Baby Gone in 2007. Adapted from Dennis Lehane’s novel, the film follows a search for a missing child in Boston. Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan play the investigators; Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Amy Ryan are also in the cast. Ben Affleck worked on the screenplay with Aaron Stockard. Artists Equity biography, Miramax’s film credits The film centres on more than finding out what happened. Its characters have to confront choices about a child’s welfare, authority and responsibility. Affleck’s principal roles here were writer and director rather than lead actor. In later films, including The Town and Live by Night, he combined writing and directing with acting. Miramax, Artists Equity

Argo

Affleck directed, produced and starred in Argo, released in 2012. At the Academy Awards on 24 February 2013, it won Best Picture. The Academy’s record names three recipients of that award: Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney. It also records wins for adapted screenplay, awarded to Chris Terrio, and film editing, awarded to William Goldenberg. Academy award record, Netflix’s career account Affleck’s directing recognition came from the Directors Guild of America, which awarded him its feature-film directing prize for Argo at the ceremony on 2 February 2013. DGA winners announcement

Writing and acting in The Last Duel

The Last Duel, released on 15 October 2021, was directed by Ridley Scott. Affleck co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Damon and Nicole Holofcener, and appeared in the cast alongside Damon, Jodie Comer and Adam Driver. The historical drama is set in medieval France. 20th Century Studios

Artists Equity and Air

Artists Equity was established in November 2022 by Affleck, Damon and Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital Partners. The company identifies Affleck as its chief executive and co-founder. The artist-led studio says its approach aims to widen access to financial participation in a production. Artists Equity’s account of the company, Affleck’s company biography Air followed on 5 April 2023. Written by Alex Convery and directed by Affleck, it tells the story of Nike’s pursuit of a partnership with Michael Jordan. Damon, Viola Davis and Affleck are among its cast. Artists Equity’s film page

Eastern Congo Initiative

Affleck and Whitney Williams founded Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010. The organisation describes its work as supporting locally led efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Congolese communities and organisations at the centre of its approach. Its board page identifies Affleck as co-founder and chair. ECI’s story, Board of directors On 26 February 2014, Affleck appeared as a witness at a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on prospects for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region. The committee’s record identifies his connection with Eastern Congo Initiative. US Senate hearing record

Recent films: The Accountant 2, The Rip and Animals

Affleck returned as Christian Wolff in The Accountant 2, which arrived on Prime Video on 5 June 2025. Jon Bernthal returned as Christian’s brother, Braxton. Amazon’s release account The Rip was released by Netflix on 16 January 2026. Joe Carnahan wrote and directed it, with Affleck and Damon in the cast. Artists Equity lists both men among its producers, alongside Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld. Its other performers include Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor. Netflix, Artists Equity’s credits In Animals, Affleck co-wrote, directed and starred. He plays Mark Kimball alongside Kerry Washington in a thriller about a political family responding to a kidnapping. The film began streaming on 9 October 2026. Netflix’s dated release account

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Timeline

1997Good Will Hunting is released, with a screenplay by Affleck and Matt Damon.
1998Affleck and Damon receive the Original Screenplay Oscar.
2007Makes his feature directing debut with Gone Baby Gone.
2010Co-founds Eastern Congo Initiative with Whitney Williams.
2013Argo wins Best Picture; Affleck shares the producing award with Grant Heslov and George Clooney.
2014Testifies at a US Senate hearing on peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Great Lakes region.
2022Artists Equity is established by Affleck, Damon and Gerry Cardinale.
2023Directs and appears in Air, written by Alex Convery.
2025Returns as Christian Wolff in The Accountant 2.
2026Appears in The Rip; co-writes, directs and stars in Animals, released in October.

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