Biography
Date of Birth
12 December 1975, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA
Birth Name
Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography
An accomplished and striking performer, Academy Award® winner Casey Affleck has established himself as a powerful leading man with performances in multiple projects.
Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. His mother, Chris Anne (née Boldt), is a school teacher, and his father, Timothy Byers Affleck, is a social worker; the two are divorced. Casey's brother is actor Ben Affleck, who was born in 1972. He is of mostly English, Irish, German, and Scottish ancestry.
Affleck was nominated for an Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and Screen Actors Guild® Award for his performance in the character drama The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Written and directed by Andrew Dominik ("Chopper"), the Warner Bros. film stars Affleck as 'Ford' opposite Brad Pitt's 'Jesse James.' The story follows 'Ford's' sycophantic obsession with 'James' that quickly turns into growing resentment after he joins the legendary outlaw's gang, leading to his subsequent plan to murder 'James' and claim his rightful glory.
Additionally, Casey garnered significant praise for his starring role in the Miramax film Gone, Baby Gone. Based on Dennis Lehane's novel of the same title, and adapted for the screen and featuring the directorial debut by Ben Affleck, the film is the story of two Boston detectives in search of a four-year-old girl who has been kidnapped. The film also stars Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman and Michelle Monaghan.
In 2014, Affleck and John Powers Middleton formed The Affleck/Middleton Project, a full service production company designed to develop and produce film and television content across a variety of genres. With a mission to produce quality films and television series that connect with audiences, The Affleck/Middleton Project looks to develop and produce a new wave of great American entertainment. It was recently announced that The Affleck/Middleton Project has secured the rights to Far Bright Star, the second in the book series of the same name by 'Robert Olmstead;' Affleck will direct a script by Damien Ober with three-time Academy Award® nominee Joaquin Phoenix set to star.
Affleck also directed I'm Still Here (2010), which he also wrote and produced starring Joaquin Phoenix. Affleck also co-wrote with and starred alongside Matt Damon in Gus Van Sant's independent road movie Gerry (2002). He has also appeared in Van Sant's Good Will Hunting and To Die For, Hamlet with Ethan Hawke and Julia Stiles, the Oceans trilogy and Tony Goldwyn's The Last Kiss with Zach Braff and Blythe Danner.
On stage, Casey appeared in Kenneth Lonergan's West End debut of his award winning play This is Our Youth. Affleck played the role of 'Warren' alongside Matt Damon and Summer Phoenix.
In 2016, Affleck starred opposite 'Michelle Williams' in Manchester by the Sea (2016). The film tells the story of an uncle (Affleck) who is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, the film will be released on November 18th by Amazon Studios.
Also that year, he was seen in Triple 9 (2016), opposite Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet. The film follows a gang of criminals and corrupt cops who plan to murder a police office in order to pull off their biggest heist yet. The film was released by Open Road in February. Additionally, Affleck starred in The Finest Hours (2016), opposite Chris Pine. The Disney film recounts the story of the Coast Guard's daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952.
Other credits include Christopher Nolan's Interstellar opposite Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, and Anne Hathaway; Out of the Furnace opposite Christian Bale; and Ain't Them Bodies Saints opposite Rooney Mara.
Trivia
Younger brother of actor Ben Affleck.
Attended Columbia University, majoring in Physics. During this time he lived with his grandma in Manhattan.
His ancestry is mostly English, Irish, German, Scottish, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and distant/remote Swiss-German, Swedish, French, and Welsh. His maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Raymond Boldt, was born in Rhode Island, to German immigrants, and his maternal great-grandmother, Anne Rita Lenihan, was Irish, born in County Down.
In the 2003 March issue of Nylon Magazine, admitted to not being proud of two movies in his career: Drowning Mona (2000) & Soul Survivors (2001).
Best friends with his former brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix.
Appeared with brother Ben Affleck in the movies Chasing Amy (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997) and 200 Cigarettes (1999).
His older brother, Ben Affleck, and his fiancée's older brother, River Phoenix, have both played versions of characters played by Harrison Ford. Ben Affleck played Jack Ryan in The Sum of All Fears (2002), and River Phoenix played the young Indy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Former brother-in-law of River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Jennifer Garner.
He and his brother Ben Affleck have both had on-screen romances with Liv Tyler: Lonesome Jim (2005), Armageddon (1998) and Jersey Girl (2004).
His mother purchased work by Boston acclaimed photographer Brian Carroll as a gift to Casey, for the back-to-back premieres of Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007).
Has 2 sons: Indiana Affleck (b. May 31, 2004) & Atticus Affleck (b. January 12, 2008) with ex-wife, Summer Phoenix.
Graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in June 1993.
Uncle of Violet Affleck, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck and Samuel Garner Affleck.
As of 2017, he has appeared in 2 films that have been Oscar nominated for Best Picture: Good Will Hunting (1997) and Manchester by the Sea (2016).
The Afflecks are one of only two pairs of brothers to win Academy Awards in different categories. James Goldman won for adapted screenplay in 1968; the following year, William Goldman won for original screenplay.
Friends with Matt Damon, Kate Hudson, and Liv Tyler.
Separated from Summer Phoenix in November 2015. She filed for divorce in July 2017.
Appeared with Matt Damon in six films: Good Will Hunting (1997), Gerry (2002), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Ocean's Twelve (2004), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), & Interstellar (2014).
His great-great-grandfather Heinrich/Henry Boldt, as a twelve year-old, discovered the 10th century concave gold disc, the Curmsun Disc, at the Groß- Weckow village in Pomerania. He was playing with friends and found the door to the cellar crypt where the disc was located.
Former son-in-law of Heart Phoenix.
Longtime neighbor of Dax Shepard.
Born at 7:38 PM (EDT).
Trademarks:
Manipulates features to accurately express emotions
Wide blue eyes
Often plays inexperienced characters caught in situations out of their depth
Frequently plays characters with deep moral conflicts
Low mumbling voice reminiscent of Marlon Brando
Quotes
[on his family's support of his animal rights beliefs] My family would be supportive if I said I wanted to be a Martian, wear only banana skins, make love to ashtrays, and eat tree bark.
[2007 New York Magazine interview, on how he's avoided being typed so far] I don't think journalists have much impression of me. I haven't really done all that many interviews, partly by choice, and partly because no one's been all that interested. Now things are getting different [referring to the success of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)].
[on his working relationship with brother Ben Affleck] It was easy mostly because we kind of just spoke the same language and were very comfortable saying to each other, "I think that's a terrible idea . . . " or "That's a great idea but what if . . . ?" We could sort of build on each other's excitement. We had a kind of shorthand.
(About breaking his arm) The doctor operated for six hours and saved my arm. I mean, I can't speak for my arm. It might have rather been set free.
I believe veganism can be beneficial for the individual and the world, and of course the animal, but belief is like laying in the dark with someone and telling them you love them and hearing nothing back. So I've never had the confidence to get on a soapbox and tell someone else what to do
I love taking a risk. If I'm a little bit afraid of a part, that's the first indication that it's going to be good for me. If I can't find that element of risk in the material, I always hope that the director is going to be open to taking chances. With this movie ['Out of The Furnace'] I was lucky enough to have both elements. The material was different, difficult and a little bit scary. As a director Scott [Cooper] fostered an environment where risk was the common currency. We knew we were going to take risks, even if it meant making mistakes. And that's the best kind of experience.
[on working with Christopher Nolan in Interstellar] There is not much I can say except that it's pretty incredible to work with somebody who is on top of his game. He is not only very talented, but also very successful. He has the keys to the kingdom in a way. He's got every tool in his disposal; every tool he wants. It makes for a very interesting set. I kinda felt privileged just to be hanging out and watching him work. He sets a really nice tone on the set; everyone is very relaxed. It probably costs a million dollar a minute just to be there.
I'm tired of playing the brat.
For people who have... had curve balls thrown at them, it is easier to digest change and digest change in other people. Change only scares the small-minded. The small-minded and me.
I am in the process of starting a nonprofit organization that gives rescued animals a home in a simulated wild environment and, for those who have been tested on, who are disabled, aggressive, etc., their own space to live out their days.
Celebrity never really served me that well; it serves other people well.
I have a very bad relationship with mice.
What is acceptable in our culture, I think, is really detrimental. I think we ought to have a little more ownership over the kind of material and the content that we put in front of people, especially young people.
They wanted me to do Scream 2 (1997), and I hate talking about movies I turned down, because it sounds judgmental. There's nothing wrong with horror movies. I enjoy watching them. The main reason I turn a part down is if I think I won't be good.
In my movies, there has been little to do in the way of animal rights. I have never worked in a movie with animals. No horse-riding, no trained dogs, lions, bears. A few actors, but what could I do? We had to have them.
In a movie we try to deceive. In theaters, as they say, the deceived are the wisest.
All cultures are different. Some commit genocide. Some are uniquely peaceful. Some frequent bathhouses in groups. Some don't show each other the soles of their shoes or like pictures taken of them. Some have enormous hunting festivals or annual stretches when nobody speaks. Some don't use electricity.
I have friends who remember seeing fish hauled onto a boat's deck and beaten to death.
My mom has a good way of engaging me in a conversation about the choices I make, listening, being objective and open-minded, and respecting those choices so long as they don't put me in danger.
The first movie was mostly about George and Julia. This one is mostly about me and Catherine and our love story and our whole history. So it's a very different movie.
People should try eating no animal products for just one day a week.
The way people appear in the gossip papers, as they're depicted as celebrities, it's not often much like who they are. The more people I meet, the more that's true. Sometimes, they're worse.
When I like someone a lot, I get scared that I'll let them down. My fear of sucking is worst when I feel like someone thinks I'm good.
I don't really care that much about being a matinee idol.
We obsess about celebrities. We create them, build myths around them, and then hunt them and destroy them. I don't know where it's taking us or what it means, but I know we do it. I have seen a lot of it myself.
The four movies I can remember seeing as a kid were 'The Elephant Man (1980), The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and Mad Max (1979). Two of those are westerns. So the western genre is emblazoned on my memory from childhood, and those are two great movies.
You sleep with people all the time that you hate.
It seems like they never say anything bad about actors, they just pump them up.
The first dog I had was owned by an abusive couple. He was very skittish. He wouldn't let me hold him. It was explained to me that it was because of how he was treated.
I moved out to LA, got an agent, started auditioning. I didn't know anything about how it worked. And since I was really bad, luckily, I didn't get any of those parts.
I get offered a lot of the same type of thing... The teenage slasher movies.
After I left LA... it was like waking up. And so I moved back east and stopped auditioning.
If I can't see the humor in it, how am I going to be funny?
I love getting ready to do a scene, and thinking about it, and talking about it. But the rest of the time, I'm so nervous and obsessed. I'm just tearing my hair out in the trailer. The whole time I'm really tense.
I didn't have to audition. That's common, but it had never happened to me before. Normally, I hate auditioning. I need to stew and think... let the character develop and grow inside me.
When a performance isn't working, it's usually because the actor is trying to do something and they're not able to express their idea very well. It's a muddled expression.
Why can't people just say they were moved? Why do they have to say it's sappy?
I like studio movies; I love big commercial movies.
I had a public school education - 3,000 kids when I was there. And there were a lot of teachers who would just sit there. You'd come in and sign your name and the teacher would just sit there at the head of the class and you would literally just have to stay in your seat for 40 minutes and that was the only thing you'd have to do in class.
I don't want to be known as someone who is deliberately trying to do things that are not commercial! That is not a good reputation to have when you're trying to be a working actor.
If you look at the paths of other actors, most people have a curve where you hit it and there's a time where you make a lot of money and they let you make your movies, and then they take it away and it's gone.
I think David Letterman is a genius. Night after night he is funny and smart. He seems to really enjoy his jokes. They seem connected to who he really is. I like watching him, and there is no one better at turning an awkward moment into something very funny.
[on the past allegations against him that were settled out of court] I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else. (...) There's really nothing I can do about it. Other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time. [March 2017]
