Ben Kingsley
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 31, 1943 in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
- Active Years
- 1944–2027 (84 Years)
- Total Credits
- 221 credits in database
Acting Born Dec 31, 1943 Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK 221 credits
Biography
Sir Ben Kingsley, born Krishna Pandit Bhanji on December 31, 1943, is an English actor. Born in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, he is the son of an English mother and a Kenyan-born medical doctor of Gujarati Indian descent. Throughout a career spanning several decades, Kingsley has earned numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. He has also received nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2002, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for his services to the British film industry, and in 2010, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received the Britannia Award in 2013.
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Career overview
Kingsley began his professional career in theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967. He is recognized for his ability to portray a wide range of roles across both film and television. His performance as the title character in the 1982 film Gandhi earned him an Academy Award for best actor. Throughout his extensive filmography, which includes 218 known credits, he has appeared in various critically acclaimed projects. Notable film appearances include his roles in the 1993 film Schindler's List and the 2000 film Sexy Beast.
His work has garnered significant industry recognition over the course of his career. Beyond his film contributions, he has maintained a consistent presence in the entertainment industry, with his professional history spanning between five and seven decades according to various archival records. His body of work remains a subject of reference for his versatility as a performer in British and international cinema.
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Frequent co-stars
Daniela Lavender
5 shared titles
Ralph Fiennes
3 shared titles
Sigourney Weaver
3 shared titles
Emily Mortimer
3 shared titles
Patricia Clarkson
3 shared titles
Richard Ayoade
3 shared titles
Nonso Anozie
3 shared titles
Edward Hardwicke
3 shared titles
Aaron Eckhart
2 shared titles
Ghassan Massoud
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Deep WaterDesert WarriorYoung WashingtonWonder ManThe Old Stories: Moses
The Thursday Murder ClubThe King of KingsWilliam Tell
The Killer's GameThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More
The Wonderful Story of Henry SugarPoisonJules
DalílandDalíland · Executive ProducerRobin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsMarvel Studios LegendsMarvel Studios AssembledLocked Down
Night HunterPerpetual Grace LTDThe Red Sea Diving ResortSpider in the WebThe Medicine Buddha
Operation FinaleWatership DownAll or Nothing: Manchester CityBackstabbing for BeginnersInside the Operation
War MachineSecurityThe Ottoman LieutenantSpielbergAn Ordinary Man
The Jungle BookCollideOf Dogs and Men
Lip Sync BattleSelf/lessTutThe WalkKnight of Cups
Late Night with Seth MeyersNight at the Museum: Secret of the TombExodus: Gods and KingsGarfunkel and OatesThe Boxtrolls
Iron Man 3Ender's GameThe PhysicianMuse of FireA Birder's Guide to Everything
The DictatorThe Cinemagician, Georges MélièsShoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo'Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a LifetimeIt Is No Dream: The Life Of Theodor Herzl
HugoThe Desert of Forbidden Art
Shutter IslandPrince of Persia: The Sands of TimeWinston Churchill: Walking with DestinyTeen PattiAral, the Lost Sea
Journey to Mecca
The Love GuruElegyTransSiberianFifty Dead Men WalkingWar, Inc.
The Last LegionThe Ten CommandmentsYou Kill MeI Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal
Lucky Number SlevinMais Bastidores de HollywoodMrs. Harris50 Films to See Before You DieThe Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonOliver TwistA Sound of ThunderNos Bastidores de HollywoodBloodRayne
ThunderbirdsSuspect ZeroReligion of the WorldReligion of the World · CreatorImaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust
House of Sand and FogThe Making of ‘Sneakers’Unlikely HeroesHelena: First Pilgrim to the Holy LandThe Many Lives of Richard Attenborough
Tuck EverlastingSpooky House
A.I. Artificial IntelligenceSexy BeastAnne Frank: The Whole StoryThe Triumph of LoveIslam: Empire of Faith
Rules of EngagementWhat Planet Are You From?
The SopranosRoveAlice in WonderlandParting ShotsThe Confession
Crime and PunishmentThe Tale of Sweeney ToddReligions of the World
HARDtalkThe AssignmentPhotographing FairiesWeapons of Mass Distraction
Full Filmography
221 titles- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (2027) as (voice)
- Deep Water (2026) as Rich
- Desert Warrior (2026) as Emperor Kisra II
- Young Washington (2026) as Robert Dinwiddie
- Wonder Man (2026) as Trevor Slattery
- The Old Stories: Moses (2026) as Moses
- The Thursday Murder Club (2025) as Ibrahim
- The King of Kings (2025) as High Priest Caiaphas (voice)
- William Tell (2025) as King Albrecht
- The Killer's Game (2024) as Zvi Rabinowitz
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024) as Imdad Khan / The Dealer / Dr. Ganderbai (archive footage)
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023) as Imdad Khan / Croupier
- Poison (2023) as Dr. Ganderbai
- Jules (2023) as Milton Robinson
- Dalíland (2022) as Dalí
- Dalíland (2022) Executive Producer
- Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry (2022) as Self
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) as Trevor Slattery
- Marvel Studios Legends (2021) as Trevor Slattery / The Mandarin (archive footage)
- Marvel Studios Assembled (2021) as Self
- Locked Down (2021) as Malcolm
- Night Hunter (2019) as Cooper
- Perpetual Grace LTD (2019) as Pastor Byron 'Pa' Brown
- The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) as Ethan Levin
- Spider in the Web (2019) as Adereth
- The Medicine Buddha (2019) as Narrator (voice)
- Operation Finale (2018) as Adolf Eichmann
- Watership Down (2018) as General Woundwort (voice)
- All or Nothing: Manchester City (2018) as Narrator (voice)
- Backstabbing for Beginners (2018) as Pasha
- Inside the Operation (2018) as Self
- Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) as Self
- An Oral History of: Schindler's List (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Intrigo: Death of an Author (2018) as Henderson
- Schindler's List: 25 Years Later (2018) as Self
- Who Killed British Cinema? (2018) as Self
- War Machine (2017) as President Karzai
- Security (2017) as Charlie
- The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017) as Woodruff
- Spielberg (2017) as Self
- An Ordinary Man (2017) as The General
- The Jungle Book (2016) as Bagheera (voice)
- Collide (2016) as Geran
- Of Dogs and Men (2016) as The Caller (voice)
- Lip Sync Battle (2015) as Self
- Self/less (2015) as Damian
- Tut (2015) as Ay
- The Walk (2015) as Papa Rudy
- Knight of Cups (2015) as Storyteller (voice)
- Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer's Curse (2015) as Drago (Voice)
- Robot Overlords (2015) as Robin Smythe
- Life (2015) as Jack Warner
- Unity (2015) as Narrator (voice)
- Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) as Merenkahre
- Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) as Nun
- Garfunkel and Oates (2014) as Ben Kingsley
- The Boxtrolls (2014) as Snatcher (voice)
- Der Medicus (2014) as Ibn Sina
- Stonehearst Asylum (2014) as Silas Lamb
- Learning to Drive (2014) as Darwan
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King (2014) as Trevor Slattery / The Mandarin
- Walking with the Enemy (2014) as Regent Miklos Horthy
- War Story (2014) as Albert
- Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film (2014) as Self
- Iron Man 3 (2013) as Trevor Slattery
- Ender's Game (2013) as Mazer Rackham
- The Physician (2013) as Ibn Sina
- Muse of Fire (2013) as Self
- A Birder's Guide to Everything (2013) as Lawrence Konrad
- A Common Man (2013) as The Man
- The Dictator (2012) as Tamir
- The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès (2012) as Self
- Shoot the Moon: The Making of 'Hugo' (2012) as Self
- Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime (2012) as Self
- It Is No Dream: The Life Of Theodor Herzl (2012) as Narrator
- The Mechanical Man at the Heart of 'Hugo' (2012) as Self
- Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard (2012) as Self
- Hugo (2011) as Georges Méliès
- The Desert of Forbidden Art (2011) as Voice
- Shutter Island (2010) as Dr. Cawley
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) as Nizam
- Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny (2010) as Narrator
- Teen Patti (2010) as Perci Trachtenberg
- Aral, the Lost Sea (2010)
- 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets (2010) as Al-Jazari / Librarian
- Journey to Mecca (2009) as Narrator
- The Love Guru (2008) as Guru Tugginmypuddha
- Elegy (2008) as David Kepesh
- TransSiberian (2008) as Grinko
- Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008) as Fergus
- War, Inc. (2008) as Walken / The Viceroy
- The Wackness (2008) as Dr. Squires
- The Last Legion (2007) as Ambrosinus
- The Ten Commandments (2007) as Narrator (voice)
- You Kill Me (2007) as Frank Falenczyk
- I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (2007) as Self
- Lucky Number Slevin (2006) as The Rabbi
- Mais Bastidores de Hollywood (2006) as Self
- Mrs. Harris (2006) as Herman Tarnower
- 50 Films to See Before You Die (2006) as Self
- The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel (2006) as Self
- C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia (2006) as Self
- The Life and Faith of CS Lewis (2006)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self - Guest
- Oliver Twist (2005) as Fagin
- A Sound of Thunder (2005) as Charles Hatton
- Nos Bastidores de Hollywood (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- BloodRayne (2005) as Kagan
- Peace Is Every Step (2005) as Narrator
- Thunderbirds (2004) as The Hood
- Suspect Zero (2004) as Benjamin O'Ryan
- Religion of the World (2004) as Narrator
- Religion of the World (2004) Creator
- Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (2004) as Self
- No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds (2004) as Self
- House of Sand and Fog (2003) as Behrani
- The Making of ‘Sneakers’ (2003) as Self
- Unlikely Heroes (2003) as Narrator
- Helena: First Pilgrim to the Holy Land (2003) as Narrator
- The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough (2003)
- Tuck Everlasting (2002) as Man in the Yellow Suit
- Spooky House (2002) as The Great Zamboni
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) as Specialist (voice)
- Sexy Beast (2001) as Don Logan
- Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) as Otto Frank
- The Triumph of Love (2001) as Hermocrates
- Islam: Empire of Faith (2001) as Narrator
- The Making of Sexy Beast (2001) as Self
- Islam: Empire of Faith (2001) as Self - Narrator
- Ben Kingsley Talks About "Gandhi" (2001) as Self - Interviewee
- Rules of Engagement (2000) as Ambassador Mourain
- What Planet Are You From? (2000) as Graydon
- The Sopranos (1999) as Ben Kingsley
- Rove (1999) as Self
- Alice in Wonderland (1999) as Major Caterpillar
- Parting Shots (1999) as Renzo Locatelli
- The Confession (1999) as Harry Fertig
- CNN Millennium (1999) as Narrator
- A Force More Powerful (1999) as Narator
- Crime and Punishment (1998) as Magistrate Porfiry
- The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1998) as Sweeney Todd
- Religions of the World (1998) as Narrator
- HARDtalk (1997)
- The Assignment (1997) as Amos
- Photographing Fairies (1997) as Rev. Templeton
- Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997) as Julian Messenger
- Twelfth Night (1996) as Feste
- Moses (1996) as Moses
- Species (1995) as Xavier Fitch
- Joseph (1995) as Potiphar
- Joseph (1995) as Potiphar
- Death and the Maiden (1994) as Dr. Roberto Miranda
- Liberation (1994) as Narrator
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold (1994) as Self
- Schindler's List (1993) as Itzhak Stern
- Dave (1993) as Vice-President Nance
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) as Bruce Pandolfini
- The King and I: Recording a Hollywood Dream (1993)
- Sneakers (1992) as Cosmo
- Freddie As F.R.O.7. (1992) as Freddie (voice)
- Bugsy (1991) as Meyer Lansky
- The War That Never Ends (1991) as Pericles
- Necessary Love (1991)
- Rabbit Ears - The Tiger and the Brahmin (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- Rabbit Ears - Moses the Lawgiver (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- The Fifth Monkey (1990) as Cunda
- Romeo.Juliet (1990) as Father Capulet (voice)
- Cellini: A Violent Life (1990) as Governor
- The Children (1990) as Martin Boyne
- Slipstream (1989) as Avatar
- Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story (1989) as Simon Wiesenthal
- The Making of Slipstream (1989)
- Lenin: The Train (1988) as Lenin
- Pascali's Island (1988) as Basil Pascali
- The Secret of the Sahara (1988) as Sholomon
- Without a Clue (1988) as Dr. John Watson
- Lenin... The Train (1988) as Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin
- Testimony (1988) as Dmitri Shostakovich
- Dispatches (1987)
- Seitenblicke (1987) as Self
- Maurice (1987) as Lasker-Jones
- To Be Hamlet (1985) as Self
- Turtle Diary (1985) as William Snow
- Silas Marner (1985) as Silas Marner
- Harem (1985) as Selim
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Oxbridge Blues (1984) as Geoff Craven
- Playing Shakespeare (1984)
- Camille (1984) as Duval
- Mr. Attenborough and Mr. Gandhi (1983) as Self
- Betrayal (1983) as Robert
- Gandhi (1982) as Mahatma Gandhi
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982) as Frank Ford
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1979) as Ivanov
- The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) as Frank Ford
- Thank You, Comrades (1978) as Roberto Cibrario
- The Velvet Glove (1977) as Chakravarti
- Dickens of London (1976) as Dr. John Elliotson
- The Love School (1975) as Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- Antony and Cleopatra (1975) as Thidias
- Playhouse (1974) as Ivanov
- Wessex Tales (1973) as Lord Uplandtowers
- Hard Labour (1973) as Naseem
- Pebble Mill at One (1972)
- The Adventurer (1972) as Pierre
- Fear Is the Key (1972) as Royale
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- World in Action (1963) as Re-enactment
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Duval
- Bambi (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Audience Member
- The Way of the Wind
- Fortitude
- Mary as King Herod
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ben Kingsley best known for?
Ben Kingsley is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (2027), Deep Water (2026), Desert Warrior (2026), Young Washington (2026).
When and where was Ben Kingsley born?
Ben Kingsley was born on December 31, 1943 in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK.
How many credits does Ben Kingsley have?
Ben Kingsley has accumulated over 221 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2027.
What is Ben Kingsley's background in cinema and television?
Sir Ben Kingsley, born Krishna Pandit Bhanji on December 31, 1943, is an English actor. Born in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, he is the son of an English mother and a Kenyan-born medical doctor of Gujarati Indian descent. Throughout a career spanning several decades, Kingsley has earned numerous accolad...
Ben Kingsley by the numbers
221credits
172films
49TV series
1944–2027active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Playing Shakespeare (1984) — aged about 40
- Bambi (1948) as Self — aged about 4
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Duval — aged about 7
- The Sopranos (1999) as Ben Kingsley — aged about 55
- HARDtalk (1997) — aged about 53
- Schindler's List (1993) as Itzhak Stern — aged about 49
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