Benedict Cumberbatch Biography

Born Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch, the English actor has demonstrated his talents on film, television radio and theater. Benedict Cumberbatch is the son of two professional actors — Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch — and received private education at Harrow School in England.

The British thespian continued his education at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Benedict enjoyed a successful career in theater that included an Olivier Award for his performance in Hedda Gabler and critical acclaim for playing both Victor Frankenstein and his monster on alternating days in a stage performance of Frankenstein. He then decided to move on to the small screen.

In 2004, his portrayal of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the TV movie Hawking earned him a BAFTA nomination, not to mention the public's attention. Taking advantage of the momentum, Benedict landed major roles in Atonement (2007) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

In 2010, he made his big return to TV by starring as Sherlock Holmes in the eponymously titled BBC series, earning multiple Emmy and BAFTA nominations and winning an Emmy in 2014. Benedict was also cast in some of the biggest movies of 2011, including War Horse and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The following year, Benedict played a role opposite his Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012).

In 2013 he was named British newspaper The Sun’s sexiest man of the year for the second time in a row. He starred as Starfleet agent John Harrison in the Star Trek sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). He then appeared in August: Osage County (2014), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) and The Imitation Game (2014), for which he received his first film Golden Globe nomination and his first Academy Award nomination. In 2016, he starred as the eponymous neurosurgeon with super powers in Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016), reprising his role in with a guest appearances in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Spider-Man: No Place But Home (2021).

Benedict received his second Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of cruel rancher Phil Burbank in the Netflix film, The Power of the Dog (2021), which received 12 nominations, more than any other film at the 94th Academy Awards.

He also voiced the title role in The Grinch (2018), starred in the Cold War thriller The Courier (2020), and appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023).

Benedict continues to balance blockbuster films with independent projects and stage work. He is also an executive producer on several of his recent films and series.

He married British actress Sophie Hunter in 2015. They have three sons: Christopher, Hal and Finn.

Filmography:

The Book of Clarence (2024)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The Courier (2020)
1917 (2019)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The Grinch (2018)
Patrick Melrose (2018)
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The Current War (2017)
Doctor Strange (2016)
Zoolander 2 (2016)
Black Mass (2015)
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
August: Osage County (2013)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
The Fifth Estate (2013)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
War Horse (2011)
Wreckers (2011)
Third Star (2010)
Four Lions (cameo) (2010)
Creation (2009)
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Atonement (2007)
Amazing Grace (2006)
Starter for 10 (2006)
To the Ends of the Earth (2005)
Hawking (2004)
Silent Witness (2002)
Fields of Gold (2002)