Writer, actor, comedian and game show host Benjamin Jeremy Stein was born on November 25, 1944 in Washington D.C. His mother, Mildred, was a homemaker while his father, Herb, was a writer, economist and a presidential adviser. Ben was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He studied at Montgomery Blair High School and took up economics at Columbia University's Columbia College. During college, he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and the Philolexian Society. In 1970, he graduated as the class valedictorian from Yale Law School. He worked as a poverty and trial lawyer, a law professor and a White House speechwriter.
He was a Hollywood consultant first before he entered the acting world. In 1984, he made his big screen debut as a surplus salesman in The Wild Life. His other film credits include Ghostbusters II, Dennis the Menace, Son of the Mask, House Arrest and Casper.
Ben Stein 's notable TV appearance were playing the roles of Rabbi Goldberg on
Family Guy , Dr. Mopp on the Hughleys, Sam Hinkle on Total Security, Shellbach on
Seinfeld and Thomas on Married with Children to name a few.
He also did voice works for Rugrats, Hercules,
The Emperor's New School ,
King of the Hill and Santa vs. the Snowman 3D.
In 1997, he hosted Comedy Central's Win Ben Stein's Money, a game show wherein his actual talent fee for hosting the show was used as prize money for the winning contestants. His work on the show earned him an Outstanding Game Show Host Award at the 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards, alongside Jimmy Kimmel. Due to the success of his game show, Comedy Central entrusted him with another program, the Turn Ben Stein On talk show.
Ben Stein is a contestant on CBS' reality TV series
Secret Talents of the Stars , a show that pits celebrities against each other as they showcase their hidden abilities. His hidden talent is dancing the jitterbug.
(Photo courtesy of CBS and Ben Stein)