Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Ben Kingsley Biography

Birth Name:Krishna Pandit Bhanji

Birth Place:Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010
Attended Pendleton College, which later came to house the Ben Kingsley Theater
Kingsley was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 and made a Knight Bachelor in 2002
Received the 2014 National Leadership Award from the U․S․ Holocaust Memorial Museum
Received the Padma Sri from the government of India in 1984
Sat as head of the jury at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival in 1998
Attended the University of Salford in Manchester
Has four children, Thomas Bhanji, artist Jasmin Bhanji, and actors Edmund Kingsley and Ferdinand Kingsley
Started acting with the National Theatre in 1971
Quote: "In an ideal way, in an ideal world, myself and the director are one․ And as you rightly say, in an ideal world, you can't see the horizon between sky and sea․"
Was encouraged by John Lennon to become a singer, but instead chose acting
Changed his name early in his career to avoid typecasting
Performed in a 1982 Australian production of "Death of a Salesman" with Mel Gibson
Voiced the role of Sabine in the video game "Fable III․"
Was a classmate of actor Robert Powell in grammer school

Awards

1982KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1982LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
1982NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1982NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1983Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1983BAFTA Film Award-Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles: winner
1983BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1983Golden Globe-New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Male: winner
1983Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1983NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1984Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1984Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1984ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
1986BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: nominated
1987ACE-Actor in a Dramatic Series: nominated
1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1990ACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1990Golden Camera-Best International Actor: winner
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1992Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1993ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1994BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1994Bambi-Film - International: winner
1995CableACE-Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1995Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1997CableACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2001ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2001BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2001British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2001European Film Award-European Actor: winner
2001LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2001NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2001OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2001SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2001SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2001TFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Male: winner
2002Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002AFI Award-Actor of the Year - Male - TV Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
2002Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2002CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2002Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2002DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2002FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2002Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2002NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2002OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2002PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama: winner
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2003ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2004Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2004INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2004OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2004VFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2005Stinker Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2006Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2007EDA Special Mention Award-Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest: nominated
2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2007Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2008EDA Special Mention Award-Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest: winner
2008EDA Special Mention Award-Best Depiction of Nudity or Sexuality: winner
2008Prism Award-Performance in a Feature Film: nominated
2009ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2009Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2010Scream Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011Ghanta Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2012Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
2013Festival Award-Best Lead Actor: winner
2013Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Villain: nominated
2014Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: winner
2015BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: winner
2015BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film: winner
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2024Saturn Award-Best Actor in a Film: nominated