Ben Shenkman

Ben Shenkman, a highly regarded American actor, was born on September 26, 1968, and started his professional acting journey in 1993. Widely recognized for his roles in the comedy-drama series Royal Pains and the acclaimed HBO miniseries Angels in America, he received both Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for his acting prowess. Shenkman's life and artistry commenced in New York City, where he was born to a Jewish family. He is the son of Katherine, an associate at a law firm, and Shepard A. Sheinkman, who served in a consulting firm. After completing his education at Brown University, Shenkman pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts in 1993. His early career propelled with notable roles in the film Quiz Show and a guest-starring role on Law & Order. He also displayed his love for theatre with his spellbinding performance as Louis Ironson in Angels in America at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. His acting versatility soon led to diverse roles in studio films and independent movies, including Must Love Dogs, Just Like Heaven and Then She Found Me. He continued to leave his mark on television with remarkable roles in TV series like the Canterbury's Law, Grey's Anatomy, Burn Notice, and Damages. Since 2016, Shenkman has been astounding audiences with his recurring role of Ira Schirmer on the Showtime series Billions. In addition to his successful acting career, Shenkman is also featured in the tenth season of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and cast as defense counsel Leonard Weinglass in Aaron Sorkin's film The Trial of the Chicago 7.