Benjamin Koldyke

Birth Name:

Benjamin Koldyke

Birth Place:

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession

Actor

Graduated from Dartmouth College with an English degree and also played quarterback on the school's football team
Made his screen acting debut in the film "The Next Best Thing" in 2000
Once worked as a public school teacher and coach before taking on acting full-time
Quote: "I was interviewing to be a writer on a comedy pilot for Fox and they asked me to come in and read as an actor․ I did on a whim and I got the job․ That shifted everything․"
Quote: "It's a blast to play a goofball, but it would be nice to be the lead․"
Quote: "My college teammates did catch the man-on-man kiss [on 'Big Love'], but when I appeared naked on 'How I Met Your Mother,' that was by far the bigger splash․"
Best known for his role as Lee Standish in "Work It" and as Don Frank in "How I Met Your Mother․"
Initially interested in becoming a writer, he moved to Hollywood after selling a few scripts but was coaxed into auditioning in front of the camera after Fox executives said he would be perfect for the job
Wrote and directed "Red Zone" in 2001, "Osama Bin Laden: Behind the Madness" in 2002, and "Jedi Gym" in 2008
Admits that comedy is his first acting passion and only considered drama after his manager landed him an audition with HBO's "Big Love," a role that would end up being his breakout hit

Fast Facts