Ben Stein Biography (1944-)

Full name, Benjamin Jeremy Stein; born November 25, 1944, in Washington, DC;son of Herb (an economist, presidential adviser, and writer) and Mildred (a homemaker; maiden name, Fishman) Stein; married Alexandra Denman (an entertainment lawyer), June 22, 1968 (divorced), remarried, 1977; children: Tommy (adopted). Addresses: Contact: c/o Lois Wallace, 177 East 70th St., New York, NY 10021.; Agent: Endeavor, 9701 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, writer
Birth Details: November 25, 1944; Washington, DC, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Surplus salesman, The Wild Life, Universal, 1984
Economics teacher, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Paramount, 1986
Wichita airport representative, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Paramount, 1987
Dr. Who, Frankenstein General Hospital, 1988
Public works official, Ghostbusters II, Columbia, 1989
Preacher, Easy Wheels, Fries, 1989
(As Benjamin Stein) Nitwit executive, Soapdish, Paramount, 1991
Walter, Honeymoon in Vegas, Columbia, 1992
Fred Herbert, Me and the Kid, 1993
Himself, Dave, Warner Bros., 1993
Boss, Dennis the Menace (also known as Dennis), Family Entertainment, 1993
Teacher, Richie Rich, 1994
(Uncredited) Voice of Eliott, Mr. Write, 1994
Stanley Rosenfeld, My Girl 2, Columbia, 1994
Curator, North, Columbia, 1994
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dr. Neuman, The Mask, 1994
Rabbi, Miami Rhapsody, Buena Vista, 1995
(In archive footage) The Speeches of Richard Nixon, 1995
Mr. Rugg, Casper, Universal, 1995
Ralph Doyle, House Arrest, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996
Grocer, Casper: A Spirited Beginning, Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 1997
Clinic video narrator, A Smile Like Yours, Paramount, 1997
Voice of desire fulfillment coordinator, Wakko's Wish (animated),Warner Bros. Animation, 1999
Doc, Osmosis Jones, Warner Bros., 2001
Voice of "Spunky" the Elf, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D (animated), IMAX Corp., 2002
Television Appearances
Series
Mr. Cantwell, The Wonder Years, ABC, 1989-1991
Voice of H. A. Futterman, Freakazoid! (animated), 1995
Voice of Dr. Arthur Neuman, The Mask (animated), CBS, 1995
Voice of Professor Wisenstein, Bruno the Kid, 1996
Voice of Dr. Ben Stein, Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1996-1997
Host, Win Ben Stein's Money, Comedy Central, 1997-2002
Panelist, Match Game, syndicated, 1998
Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999
Judge, Pet Star, 2002-2003
Judge, Star Search, syndicated, 2003-
Specials
Hollywood's Favorite Heavy: Businessmen on Primetime TV, PBS, 1987
Indecision '92: The Democratic National Convention, Comedy Central, 1992
Indecision '92: The Republican National Convention, Comedy Central, 1992
Kaldembach, The First Gentleman, CBS, 1994
Town Hall, Comedy Central, 1997
Voice of Spunky the Elf, Santa vs. the Snowman, ABC, 1997
Interviewee, Nixon Resignation (documentary), History Channel, 1999
Interviewee, Ben Stein's Brain (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Host, Starz! 10th Anniversary, 2001
World's Sexiest Athletes, ESPN, 2002
The Last Editor (documentary), PBS, 2002
Cohost, The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments, NBC, 2002
Episodic
Stanley Willard, "The Loan Arranger," Charles in Charge, 1987
Stanley Willard, "The Pickle Plot," Charles in Charge, 1988
Stanley Willard, "Daffy Doc," Charles in Charge, 1990
Stanley Willard, "La Cage Aux Fools," Charles in Charge, 1990

Major Snead, "Honest Abe," MacGyver, ABC, 1991
Loan officer, "My New Partner," Melrose Place, 1993
Elliot Warner, "Another Opening, Another No Show," Full House, ABC, 1993
Voice of Pip Pumphandle, "Chairman of the Bored," Animaniacs (animated; also known as Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs), 1993
Mr. Starnes, "The Great Depression," Hearts Afire, CBS, 1993
Mr. Starnes, "Prose and Condoms," Hearts Afire, CBS, 1994
Herb, "What Price Episode?," Live Shot, UPN, 1995
Hal, "Decisions, Decisons," Live Shot, 1995
Andrews, "Doctor of Horror," Tales from the Crypt, 1995
Voice of Dr. Ben Stein, "In the Name of the Father," Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1995
Pro lawyer, "Whine, Whine, Whine," Lois and Clark: The New Adventuresof Superman, ABC, 1995
Rosebud, "The Great Secret of the Universe," Earthworm Jim, 1995
Thomas, "Requiem for a Dead Briard," Married ... with Children, 1995
Ben, "Time Off for Clever Behavior," The Marshal, ABC, 1995
Williams, "How to Marry a Billionaire," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1996
Dr. Houston, "The Origin of Peter Puppy," Earthworm Jim, 1996
Sam Hinkle, "Citizen Canine," Total Security, ABC, 1997
Shellbach, "The Comeback," Seinfeld, NBC, 1997
Voice of Trivia, "Pool Party," Hercules (also known as Disney'sHercules), ABC and syndicated, 1998
Voice of Ernst Starose Blowfish, "I.H.R.F./Oatz," The Secret Files ofthe Spy Dogs (animated), 1998
"The Sad and Lonely Man That Science Has Left Dr. Honeydew," Muppets Tonight!, ABC, 1998
Voice of the Bingo caller, "Grandpa's Bad Bug/Lady Luck," Rugrats,Nickelodeon, 1998
Dr. Mopp, "I'm Shrinnnking," The Hughleys, ABC, 1998
"Adult Education," Shasta McNasty, UPN, 1999
"Running with Scissors," Al TV, 1999
Late Show with David Letterman, 1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Larry King Live, CNN, 2000
Juggy university professor, "X-Ray Specs," The Man Show, Comedy Central, 2000
"Ben Stein," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Heavenly guide, "Drew's in a Coma," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2001
Voice of ranger Wormy, "Caution: Wormhole!," Lloyd in Space (animated), ABC and The Disney Channel, 2001
"Television Hosts," The Weakest Link, NBC, 2001
"Osmosis Jones," Ozzy and Drix, 2001
"Man, You Don't Know Jack!," Rendez-View, 2001
Voice of Giggles the Clown, "Hypno Birthday to You," The Adventures ofJimmy Neurtron: The Boy Genius (animated), Nickelodeon, 2002
Teacher, "Joel Larsen's Day Off," Do Over, The WB, 2002
The View, ABC, 2002 and 2003
Voice of Rabbi, "When You Wish upon a Weinstein," Family Guy, Fox,2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live, 2003
Also appeared as Dr. Herbert Baxter, Love and War, CBS; voice of Funny Money the clown, The Adventures of Whammy; countdown voice, "YouOnly Scare Twice," Aaaahh! Real Monsters; and CATS, "A.D. 2101: War Was Beginning," Sonic X; guest, The Test, F/X; in Hollywood Unleashed, Animal Planet.
Movies
Marvin Rotweiler, Mastergate, Showtime, 1992
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dr. Lillianfarb, The Day My Parents Ran Away, Fox, 1993
Lawyer, Casper Meets Wendy, 1998
Jack, Breakfast with Einstein (also known as Fruehstueck mit Einstein), The Disney Channel, 1998
Man in Dr. Strangemeister's head, Men in White (also known as National Lampoon's Men in White), Fox Family, 1998
Television Executive Producer
Series
Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999
Television Work
Cocreator of the series Fernwood Tonight.
RECORDINGS
Video Games
Voice of Sam Schmaltz, Toonstruck, 1996
WRITINGS
Novels
As Benjamin J. Stein
(With father, Herbert Stein) On the Brink, 1977
The Croesus Conspiracy, Simon and Schuster, 1978
Her Only Sin: A Novel of Hollywood, St. Martin's Press, 1985
Books
Nonfiction
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Fernwood U.S.A.: An Illustrated Guide from theFolks Who Brought You Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, 1977
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dreemz, Harper, 1978
The View from Sunset Boulevard: America as Brought to You by the People Who Make Television, Basic Books, 1979
(With Herbert Stein) Moneypower: How to Make Inflation Make You Rich, 1980
Bunkhouse Logic: How to Bet on Yourself and Win, Avon, 1981
'Ludes: A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream, 1982
(As Benjamin J. Stein) The Manhattan Gambit, Doubleday, 1983
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Financial Passages, Doubleday, 1985
(As Benjamin J. Stein) Hollywood Days, Hollywood Nights: The Diary ofa Mad Screenwriter, Bantam, 1988
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, St. Martin's Press, 1991
(As Benjamin J. Stein) A License to Steal: The Untold Story of MichaelMilken and the Conspiracy to Bilk the Nation, Simon and Schuster, 1992
Tommy and Me: The Making of a Dad, Free Press, 1998
How to Ruin Your Love Life, Hay House, 2003
(With Phil DeMuth) Yes, You Can Time the Market!, John Wiley &Sons, 2003
How to Ruin Your Financial Life, Hay House, 2004
Also works as television scriptwriter. Author of "Ben Stein's Diary," a regular column in American Spectator, beginning in 1980; syndicated columnist, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, beginning in 1978; columnist forE! Online, Los Angeles, and New York. Contributor to magazines,including Barron's; contributing editor, GQ, beginning in 1984.
Television Series
(From story) The Marshal, 1995
Television Music
Series
(Theme) Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

The film The Boost, released in 1988, was based on the novel ' Ludes. The television movie Murder in Mississippi, broadcastby NBC in 1990, was based on a story by Stein.

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Newsmakers, Issue 1, Gale Group, 2001

Periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, June 19, 1998, p. 56; July 16, 1999, p. 18
Fortune, October 27, 2003, p. 206
People Weekly, September 29, 1997, p. 85
Time, December 6, 1999, p. 114

Electronic

Ben Stein Official Site, http://www.benstein.com, February 1, 2004

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:

forum