There is a great deal more to Ben Affleck than meets the eye. Some looks at him and just want to write him off as a smug pretty boy, but as he has proven over time, he has so much more to offer than just his shiny veneer. A writer, actor, director, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. A few of us around the office are Boston guys, so this got us to talking about Ben Affleck.
First, we talked about the stuff everyone knows. The many, many lovely women in Hollywood he has dated. For awhile, Affleck had quite the reputation as a ladies man. A rumor that seemed to dissipate once he settled down with Jennifer Garner and started a family of his own. This got us talking more and more, which led to us looking up some random facts about the Bostonian. It shocked us how much we didn’t know about Ben Affleck.
Which, ofcourse, led to a list. Some of these are cool and will make you jealous, and a few are absurd, but here they are. The twelve things you didn’t know about Ben Affleck.
Ben Is An Honorary Graduate from Brown University
That is one thing that is really cool about being famous. Sometimes, your old college (or a college in a town you grew up in) will hit you up with an “honorary degree”. What that means is basically, they can say you went there and you can say you graduated, even if those two things didn’t actually happen.
That is just what happened when Ben Affleck was given an honorary degree by Brown University in 2013. Look how proud he is in that pic!
(Photo by Mike Cohea/Brown University via Getty Images)
Ben Is Heavily Involved With U.S Politics
So into politics, in fact, many people thought he might be lining himself for a presidential run at some point down the line. Though it is too early to tell if that is the case, Ronald Reagan proved that to be completely possible.
So did the Governator, though he has not taken it all the way to the presidency due to issues with being born a U.S citizen. Well, guess who is a U.S citizen and could run if he wanted?
Ben Affleck.
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Got Kicked Out Of Most of Their L.A Apartments
In other words, before winning an Oscar for Good Will Hunting, these two could not get a good landlord reference to save their lives. Why? Because the rumor is they trashed most of their places with week-long parties.
Look how far they have both come now?
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Spike TV)
Ben Affleck Was Gwyneth Paltrow’s Rebound After Brad Pitt
Another interesting fact you didn’t know about Ben Affleck: he was Gwyn’s go-to guy after her engagement to Brad Pitt fell through. Honestly, was there a woman in Hollywood Ben Affleck didn’t date at one point?
That seems a more reasonable question at this point.
(Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck Stopped Smoking Using Hypnotism
Okay, this one kind of surprises us. Generally, people who can get hypnotized are those who are also more open to suggestion. In that sense, I guess hypnotism working on an actor actually does makes sense.
Still, we bet you didn’t know he used hypnotherapy to quit smoking in 2005 before his daughter was born? We sure didn’t, and we do this for a living.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck’s Favorite Team Won A Game On His Birthday
In 1998, when Goodwill Hunting debuted, Ben’s home team won a game on his birthday. Yes, the Red Sox won a game on Ben Affleck’s birthday in 1998. They haven’t won a game on his birthday since, unfortunately.
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck Has A Strange Middle Name
Mark this one under things you definitely didn’t know about Ben Affleck. His middle name is Geza. I am sorry, but in Boston, they call an old man a “geezer”, pronounced geezah. Is there some hidden meaning here?
Are they saying he is too old to play Batman?
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck Lived in Mexico For A Year During His Teens
We know that sounds sort of cool and nomadic, but he did not live on his own in Mexico. He still lived with his family. But still, a dashing young American living out in Mexico for a year?
Sounds like an idea for a script. Better get on that, Affleck!
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are Related
Most don’t seem to know this, but not only are Ben Affleck and Matt Damon BFF’s, but they are also related. Don’t get too excited, they are tenth cousins.
But still, tenth cousin BFF’s! How many people can claim that?
Also, note to self. Real journalists don’t use the term BFF.
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
His First Acting Gig Was Uncredited
Crazy to think, but the first time Ben Affleck got paid to act, it was only thirty dollars. On top of that, there was no actual acting involved. He was simply playing a baseball fan at Fenway in the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams.
As anyone who knows Ben Affleck knows, him playing a Boston fan is not acting.
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
He Has A Private Celtics Basketball Court at His House
Granted, he had it built and paid for it, but still. How many Boston fans are foaming with jealousy about that?
I will give you a hint? At least one, and he is writing this, right now. Those are just some of the cool perks you get being a famous superstar, I guess.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Spike TV)
Ben Affleck Has A Panic Room (Hidden Behind a Book Shelf)
So, in essence, the guy who is playing the next Batman actually has a real-life bat-cave of sorts. It is in a panel hidden in his office, and opens up to a secret room that cannot be entered from the outside. Okay, the nerd in me really appreciates that.
So what did we learn today that we didn’t know about Ben Affleck? The main things that stand out to me are the fact that he has a Celtics court and a panic room in his house. I mean, all the other stuff is pretty cool, but that is really cool. Like, superhero cool.
Maybe he was a good choice for Batman, after all.
(Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images)
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