Ben Esler
{{short description|Australian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Ben Esler 2012.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Benjamin Esler
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1983}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2004–present
| death_date =
| death_place =
| website =
}}
Ben Esler (born 1982){{cite web|title=Melbourne actor Ben Esler: From The Pacific to AMC's Hell On Wheels|url=http://if.com.au/2012/02/24/article/Melbourne-actor-Ben-Esler-From-The-Pacific-to-AMCs-Hell-On-Wheels/JMADBXSBKI.html|website=if.com.au|accessdate=7 May 2017}} is an Australian actor and screenwriter, best known for playing Sean McGinnes in the AMC television series Hell on Wheels, as well as for his role as war hero Chuck Tatum in HBO's The Pacific. Esler is a writer and cast member of the 2023 NatGeo and Disney+ series A Small Light which tells the story of Miep Gies, the young woman who protected Anne Frank and her family during the Shoah.
Early life
Esler was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, the son of Rosemary and Murray Esler. He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, where he obtained a master's degree in Applied Ethics as well as a diploma in Professional Ethics.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} While a student at university, he wrote and performed sketch comedy for the long running University of Melbourne Law Revue.
Career
Esler began his career appearing in the popular Australian police drama Blue Heelers and the award-winning ABC Australia made-for-TV movie Curtin. In 2010 Esler appeared in HBO's Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Steven Spielberg-produced and Emmy Award-winning miniseries The Pacific as Private First Class Charles "Chuck" Tatum. After portraying Tatum, he was invited to contribute an afterword to Tatum's World War II memoir, Red Blood, Black Sand, which was used as source material for the series. The book, including Esler's contribution, was re-released by Penguin Publishing in May 2012.{{cite web | url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310681/red-blood-black-sand-by-chuck-tatum/9781101585061 | title=Red Blood, Black Sand By Chuck Tatum | publisher=Penguin Random House | accessdate=29 March 2019 }} He was a series regular for the first three seasons of Hell on Wheels, a Western focusing on the construction of the transcontinental railroad, on AMC,{{cite web|title=Q&A – Ben Esler (Sean McGinnes) and Phil Burke (Mickey McGinnes)|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/hell-on-wheels/talk/2011/11/ben-esler-phil-burke-interview|website=AMC|accessdate=7 May 2017}} Esler appeared in the role of Sean, an Irish immigrant and ruthless businessman, seeking his fortune in the American West.
In 2016 he appeared in The Jury in the role of Ernest.{{cite web|title='The Jury': ABC Pilot Casts Brandon Jay McLaren & Ben Esler|url=https://www.yahoo.com/tv/jury-abc-pilot-casts-brandon-013913039.html|website=yahoo.com|accessdate=7 May 2017}} That same year he played the role of Charlie Quinn in the SyFy Channel television series The Magicians,{{cite web|title='The Magicians' Season 1 Episode 3 Spoilers: Feb. 1 Episode To Feature More Spellbinding Drama|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-magicians-season-1-episode-3-spoilers-feb-1-episode-to-feature-more-spellbinding-drama-156399/|website=www.christianpost.com|accessdate=7 May 2017|language=en}} based upon the book series by author Lev Grossman. In 2017 Esler was a regular cast member in Welcome to OxBlood; a pilot from Executive Producer Marc Cherry and ABC, portraying the role of Hollis; "a shy, sweet and very odd guy taking care of his wheelchair-bound deaf grandmother who has no idea her grandson kidnaps women and keeps them prisoner in her attic."{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/marc-cherry-libby-malcolm-abc-pilots-cast-ben-esler-natalie-hall-caitlin-mcgee-1201900015/|title = Marc Cherry, 'Libby & Malcolm' ABC Pilots Cast Ben Esler, Natalie Hall, Caitlin McGee|date = February 2017}}
In 2019 he starred in the Kriv Stenders directed Australian Vietnam-era war movie Danger Close as Ken Deacon. In 2020 he played Jed in Endings, Beginnings for director Drake Doremus. He is a cast member and writer on the upcoming series A Small Light for Natgeo and Disney+.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" | ||
| Year
! Film/Series ! Role | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Winner | Warren |
| 2022 | A Small Light | Writer/Father Dirksen |
| 2020 | Blue Ridge | Thompson |
| 2019 | Endings, Beginnings | Jed |
| 2019 | Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan | Deacon |
| 2017 | SEAL Team | Erik |
| 2017 | Welcome to OxBlood | Hollis Polit |
| 2016 | The Jury | Ernest |
| 2016 | The Magicians | Charlie |
| 2015 | The Morning After | George |
| 2011–2013 | Hell on Wheels | Sean McGinnes, 28 Episodes |
| 2010 | The Pacific | Charles "Chuck" Tatum |
| 2007 | Curtin | John Curtin Jnr |
| 2004–2005 | Blue Heelers | Wayne Dixon/Bobbie Davies, 2 Episodes |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm2607858}}
- [http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781101585061,00.html Red Blood, Black Sand]
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