Benjamin Koldyke(born March 27, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Don Frank onHow I Met Your Mother(2009–2010), Lee Standish inWork It(2012), and Greg Gibbon onGortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street(2014–2016).
Ben Koldyke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Benjamin Koldyke March 27, 1968 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse | [1] |
Early life and education
editKoldyke was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in nearby Kenilworth. His father, Martin J. "Mike" Koldyke, is a former investment banker who foundedFrontenac Companyin Chicago and is a life trustee ofNorthwestern University;[2]through his mother, Patricia Blunt Koldyke, he is a member of the family that controls Laird Norton Company, an investment company with roots in the timber industry of the Pacific Northwest.
After graduating from high school, he did a post-graduate year atChoate Rosemary Hall.He graduated in 1991 fromDartmouth College,where he earned a bachelor's degree in English and was a quarterback for the football team.[3]
Career
editKoldyke worked as a high school English teacher and football coach in Chicago. His acting career received a jump start after a chance encounter withIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphiacreator-star,Rob McElhenney.Regulars at the same Venice cafe, he covered Rob's tab with a note that said he "thought his show was fantastic," and this exchange led to Koldyke's first TV pilot,Boldly Going NowhereforFox,a few years later.[4]
AfterBoldlywas not picked up, Koldyke went on to recur as Dale Tomasson in theHBOseriesBig Loveand as Don Frank inHow I Met Your MotherforCBS.[5]
In 2012, Koldyke starred as the lead character in the short-livedABCcomedy seriesWork Itand later guest starred inHBO'sThe Newsroom.[6]2013 saw him star in anotherABCsitcom,Back in the Game,oppositeJames CaanandMaggie Lawson.[7]He had a significant arc onShowtime'sMasters of Sexas teacher and football coach Paul Edley,[8]and played male chauvinist Brent throughoutthe final season ofThe Good Place.[9]In 2021 he had a recurring role on season 1 ofPeacocksitcomRutherford Falls.[10]
Koldyke was seen on the big screen in 2016 in a supporting role forDisney'sThe Finest HoursalongsideChris Pine,Casey Affleck,Eric Bana,andBen Foster.
Personal life
editOn August 8, 2015, Koldyke married actressMaggie Lawsonin a ceremony at his family's ranch in Las Vegas, New Mexico. In early 2017, Lawson filed for divorce from Koldyke.[1]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Next Best Thing | Kelly's Boyfriend | |
| 2000 | Thirteen Days | RF-8 Pilot | |
| 2001 | Red Zone | Dutch Van Roble | Also writer and director |
| 2002 | Osama Bin Laden: Behind the Madness | Writer and director | |
| 2003 | Say I Do | Ben | |
| 2003 | Stuck on You | Officer Tommy Johnson | |
| 2008 | Jedi Gym | Master Flynn | Short film, also writer and director |
| 2016 | The Finest Hours | Sam |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 24 | LAPD Officer | Episode: "Day 2: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m." |
| 2009 | Boldly Going Nowhere | TV pilot | |
| 2009 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Sean | Episode: "The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis" |
| 2009 | The Big D | Will Dupree | TV pilot |
| 2009 | This Little Piggy | TV pilot | |
| 2010 | Big Love | Dale Tomasson | 5 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | How I Met Your Mother | Don Frank | 6 episodes |
| 2012 | Work It | Lee Standish | Series regular, 11 episodes |
| 2013 | The Newsroom | Cyrus West | Episode: "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" |
| 2013 | Back in the Game | Dick Slingbaugh | Series regular |
| 2014-2016 | Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street | Greg Gibbon | Recurring |
| 2015 | Mr. Robinson | Jimmy | Series regular |
| 2015 | Masters of Sex | Paul Edley | Recurring |
| 2017 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dave | Episode: "The Accidental Text on Purpose" |
| 2018 | Silicon Valley | Ben | Episode: "Chief Operating Officer" |
| 2019 | The Good Place | Brent Norwalk | Recurring (season 4) |
| 2021 | Rutherford Falls | Dudley 'Duz' Rutherford | Recurring |
References
edit- ^ab"Ben Koldyke Selling Updated 1920s Santa Monica Craftsman".Variety.February 9, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 10,2018.
- ^Lyon, Jeff (May 15, 1988)."Grabbing the Wheel".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedDecember 11,2019.
- ^"Ben Koldyke biography".TVGuide.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^Nellie Andreeva; AP (October 21, 2008)."Rookie takes lead in Fox's 'Boldly'".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJanuary 7,2016.
- ^Waterman, Lauren (January 30, 2001)."Ben Koldyke Talks Dale's Twist on Big Love".Vulture.RetrievedDecember 11,2019.
- ^Andriakos, Jacqueline (January 14, 2012)."Work it is cancelled by ABC".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedDecember 11,2019.
- ^Lacey Rose (August 4, 2013)."Cullen Brothers, James Caan Preview ABC's 'Back in the Game'".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJanuary 7,2016.
- ^Petski, Denise (July 28, 2015)."Brent Sexton Joins Amazon's 'Bosch'".Deadline.RetrievedJanuary 7,2016.
- ^Dan, Hamamura (November 8, 2019)."Ben Koldyke Forking Kills It (Plus Easter Eggs) In This Week's 'The Good Place'!".Pajiba.RetrievedFebruary 18,2020.
- ^"'Rutherford Falls': Ed Helms in a Culture Clash ".Rolling Stone. April 21, 2021.RetrievedMay 5,2021.