Ben and Kate

Ben and Kate is an American single camera situation comedy television series that ran on Fox from September 25, 2012, to January 22, 2013, as part of the 2012–13 television season. The show was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment. The show was created by Dana Fox who served as an executive producer alongside Peter Chernin, Katherie Pope, and Jake Kasdan.

Synopsis

The series focuses on a brother and sister who at first seem to be exact opposites: Ben is an over-the-top dreamer and professional underachiever, while younger sister Kate is a more practical single mother working as a bar manager. After visiting their home in Los Angeles, Ben realizes that his sister needs help with her life and taking care of her six-year-old daughter, Maddie. Because of this, he moves in with Kate so he can discover some of the things he has missed out on and Kate hopes to return the favor by bringing her brother back to reality. Along the way, they are surrounded by their close friends, B.J. and Tommy.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Mayi Johnson (born October 4, 1989) is an American actress and model. She played the lead role in the short-lived Fox sitcom Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and has appeared in films such as The Social Network (2010), Beastly (2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), Need for Speed (2014), Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), appeared in Chloe and Theo (2015), co-starred in the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass (2015) and the thriller A Bigger Splash (2015), and had a leading role in the romantic comedy How to Be Single (2016).

Early life

Johnson was born in Austin, Texas, to actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. On her mother's side, she is a granddaughter of advertising executive and former child actor Peter Griffith and Golden Globe-winning actress Tippi Hedren, and half-niece of actress Tracy Griffith and production designer Clay A. Griffith. Her former stepfather is actor Antonio Banderas. She has six half-siblings; four on her father's side and two on her mother's side.

A third-generation Hollywood actress, Johnson attended Aspen Community School in Aspen, Colorado. She later attended the Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California, for her freshman year of high school before transferring to New Roads School in Santa Monica, California. She was an avid dancer as a child. She became interested in modeling at age 12 after a photo shoot with children of other celebrities for Teen Vogue.

Nat Faxon

Nathaniel "Nat" Faxon (born October 11, 1975) is an American actor, comedian and Academy Award-winning screenwriter. Though a frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he is best known for winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011) and for his starring role in the FOX comedy series, Ben and Kate (2012-2013). He also co-wrote and co-directed the acclaimed The Way, Way Back (2013) with writing partner Jim Rash. Faxon starred in the FX comedy series Married which premiered in July 2014.

Early life

Faxon's early years started in the seaside community of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he attended the Brookwood School. He later graduated from the Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire and then Hamilton College in 1997.

Career

Acting

Faxon is an alumnus of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.

Faxon may be best known for his appearances in comedic films such as Orange County (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Bad Teacher (2011), and several Broken Lizard films including Beerfest (2006). He co-starred in Darren Star's semi-autobiographical satire Grosse Pointe and had recurring roles in several television series such as The Cleveland Show, Joey, Up All Night and Reno 911!.

Lucy Punch

Lucy Punch (born 30 December 1977) is an English film, stage and television actress. Her feature film credits include Hot Fuzz, Bad Teacher, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Dinner for Schmucks, and Into the Woods.

Early life

Punch was born in London. She was educated privately at Godolphin School and then Latymer Upper School. She performed with the National Youth Theatre from 1993 to 1997 and began a course at University College London before dropping out to become an actress. Since 2006 Punch has lived in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Career

Punch made her acting debut in a 1998 episode of The New Adventures of Robin Hood. Her other TV credits include the naive daughter of Alison Steadman's character in the short-lived series Let Them Eat Cake which starred French and Saunders. She starred as a football player in the kids TV show Renford Rejects, and played the role of victim Melissa Townsend in the 19th episode of Midsomer Murders. In 2000, she made her stage debut as Elaine in Terry Johnson's West End adaptation of The Graduate.