Ben Foster

Benjamin A. "Ben" Foster (born October 29, 1980) is an American actor. He has had roles in films including The Laramie Project, Liberty Heights, Get Over It, The Punisher, Hostage, X-Men: The Last Stand, Alpha Dog, 30 Days of Night, The Messenger, Bang Bang You're Dead, The Mechanic, Contraband, Pandorum, and Lone Survivor. He received best supporting actor nominations from both the Saturn and Satellite Awards for his 2007 role in the film 3:10 to Yuma.

Early and personal life

Foster was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of restaurant owners Gillian Kirwan and Steven Foster. He has described his parents as "free-spirited, Vietnam-protesting hippies". He has a younger brother, Jon, who is also an actor. When Foster was four years old, his family relocated to Fairfield, Iowa, after their Boston home was broken into by robbers while they were present.

Foster was raised Jewish, and had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. His paternal grandparents were Celia (Segal) and Abraham Foster, who was a prominent judge and politician in Boston; their families emigrated from Russia. Foster practices Transcendental Meditation, and, while living in Fairfield, attended the Maharishi University of Management.