Stein, Ben 1944– (Benjamin Stein, Benjamin J. Stein)

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STEIN, Ben 1944–
(Benjamin Stein, Benjamin J. Stein)

PERSONAL

Full name, Benjamin Jeremy Stein; born November 25, 1944, in Washington, DC; son of Herb (an economist, presidential adviser, and writer) and Mildred (a homemaker; maiden name, Fishman) Stein; married Alexandra Denman (an entertainment lawyer), June 22, 1968 (divorced), remarried, 1977; children: Tommy (adopted). Education: Columbia University, B.A. (with honors), economics, 1966; Yale University, LL.B. (law), 1970. Politics: Republican. Religion: Jewish.

Addresses: Contact —c/o Lois Wallace, 177 East 70th St., New York, NY 10021. Agent —Endeavor, 9701 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Career: Actor and writer. Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC, trial lawyer, 1970–73; speech writer at the White House during the administrations of Richard N. Nixon, 1973–74, and Gerald Ford, 1974; Wall Street Journal, New York City, columnist, 1974–76, member of editorial page staff, 1976; practiced as a poverty lawyer in New Haven, CT, and Washington, DC; testified before U.S. Congress; consultant to LAACO, Inc. Member of adjunct faculty at American University, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Pepperdine University. Committee on the Present Danger, member, beginning in 1982. Made television commercials, including advertisements for Clear Eyes, Oldsmobile, the board game Sorry!, and Office Max.

Member: International Society for Animal Welfare (member of Los Angeles board of directors, 1978–80), Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Animal Alliance (member of Los Angeles board of directors, 1983–86), Los Angeles Athletic Club, Riviera Country Club (Los Angeles).

Awards, Honors: Gold Medal, Freedoms Foundation, 1978; Daytime Emmy Awards (with others), outstanding game show host, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003, for Win Ben Stein's Money.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Surplus salesman, The Wild Life, Universal, 1984.

Economics teacher, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Paramount, 1986.

Wichita airport representative, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Paramount, 1987.

Dr. Who, Frankenstein General Hospital, 1988.

Public works official, Ghostbusters II, Columbia, 1989.

Preacher, Easy Wheels, Fries, 1989.

(As Benjamin Stein) Nitwit executive, Soapdish, Paramount, 1991.

Walter, Honeymoon in Vegas, Columbia, 1992.

Fred Herbert, Me and the Kid, 1993.

Himself, Dave, Warner Bros., 1993.

Boss, Dennis the Menace (also known as Dennis ), Family Entertainment, 1993.

Teacher, Richie Rich, 1994.

(Uncredited) Voice of Eliott, Mr. Write, 1994.

Stanley Rosenfeld, My Girl 2, Columbia, 1994.

Curator, North, Columbia, 1994.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dr. Neuman, The Mask, 1994.

Rabbi, Miami Rhapsody, Buena Vista, 1995.

(In archive footage) The Speeches of Richard Nixon, 1995.

Mr. Rugg, Casper, Universal, 1995.

Ralph Doyle, House Arrest, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1996.

Grocer, Casper: A Spirited Beginning, Twentieth Century–Fox Home Entertainment, 1997.

Clinic video narrator, A Smile Like Yours, Paramount, 1997.

Voice of desire fulfillment coordinator, Wakko's Wish (animated), Warner Bros. Animation, 1999.

Doc, Osmosis Jones, Warner Bros., 2001.

Voice of "Spunky" the Elf, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D (animated), IMAX Corp., 2002.

Television Appearances; Series:

Mr. Cantwell, The Wonder Years, ABC, 1989–1991.

Voice of H. A. Futterman, Freakazoid! (animated), 1995.

Voice of Dr. Arthur Neuman, The Mask (animated), CBS, 1995.

Voice of Professor Wisenstein, Bruno the Kid, 1996.

Voice of Dr. Ben Stein, Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1996–1997.

Host, Win Ben Stein's Money, Comedy Central, 1997–2002.

Panelist, Match Game, syndicated, 1998.

Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999.

Judge, Pet Star, 2002–2003.

Judge, Star Search, syndicated, 2003—.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Hollywood's Favorite Heavy: Businessmen on Prime-time TV, PBS, 1987.

Indecision '92: The Democratic National Convention, Comedy Central, 1992.

Indecision '92: The Republican National Convention, Comedy Central, 1992.

Kaldembach, The First Gentleman, CBS, 1994.

Town Hall, Comedy Central, 1997.

Voice of Spunky the Elf, Santa vs. the Snowman, ABC, 1997.

Interviewee, Nixon Resignation (documentary), History Channel, 1999.

Interviewee, Ben Stein's Brain (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Host, Starz! 10th Anniversary, 2001.

World's Sexiest Athletes, ESPN, 2002.

The Last Editor (documentary), PBS, 2002.

Cohost, The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments, NBC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Stanley Willard, "The Loan Arranger," Charles in Charge, 1987.

Stanley Willard, "The Pickle Plot," Charles in Charge, 1988.

Stanley Willard, "Daffy Doc," Charles in Charge, 1990.

Stanley Willard, "La Cage Aux Fools," Charles in Charge, 1990.

Major Snead, "Honest Abe," MacGyver, ABC, 1991.

Loan officer, "My New Partner," Melrose Place, 1993.

Elliot Warner, "Another Opening, Another No Show," Full House, ABC, 1993.

Voice of Pip Pumphandle, "Chairman of the Bored," Animaniacs (animated; also known as Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs ), 1993.

Mr. Starnes, "The Great Depression," Hearts Afire, CBS, 1993.

Mr. Starnes, "Prose and Condoms," Hearts Afire, CBS, 1994.

Herb, "What Price Episode?," Live Shot, UPN, 1995.

Hal, "Decisions, Decisons," Live Shot, 1995.

Andrews, "Doctor of Horror," Tales from the Crypt, 1995.

Voice of Dr. Ben Stein, "In the Name of the Father," Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1995.

Pro lawyer, "Whine, Whine, Whine," Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, ABC, 1995.

Rosebud, "The Great Secret of the Universe," Earthworm Jim, 1995.

Thomas, "Requiem for a Dead Briard," Married … with Children, 1995.

Ben, "Time Off for Clever Behavior," The Marshal, ABC, 1995.

Williams, "How to Marry a Billionaire," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1996.

Dr. Houston, "The Origin of Peter Puppy," Earthworm Jim, 1996.

Sam Hinkle, "Citizen Canine," Total Security, ABC, 1997.

Shellbach, "The Comeback," Seinfeld, NBC, 1997.

Voice of Trivia, "Pool Party," Hercules (also known as Disney's Hercules ), ABC and syndicated, 1998.

Voice of Ernst Starose Blowfish, "I.H.R.F./Oatz," The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (animated), 1998.

"The Sad and Lonely Man That Science Has Left Dr. Honeydew," Muppets Tonight!, ABC, 1998.

Voice of the Bingo caller, "Grandpa's Bad Bug/Lady Luck," Rugrats, Nickelodeon, 1998.

Dr. Mopp, "I'm Shrinnnking," The Hughleys, ABC, 1998.

"Adult Education," Shasta McNasty, UPN, 1999.

"Running with Scissors," Al TV, 1999.

Late Show with David Letterman, 1999.

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.

Larry King Live, CNN, 2000.

Juggy university professor, "X–Ray Specs," The Man Show, Comedy Central, 2000.

"Ben Stein," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Heavenly guide, "Drew's in a Coma," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2001.

Voice of ranger Wormy, "Caution: Wormhole!," Lloyd in Space (animated), ABC and The Disney Channel, 2001.

"Television Hosts," The Weakest Link, NBC, 2001.

"Osmosis Jones," Ozzy and Drix, 2001.

"Man, You Don't Know Jack!," Rendez–View, 2001.

Voice of Giggles the Clown, "Hypno Birthday to You," The Adventures of Jimmy Neurtron: The Boy Genius (animated), Nickelodeon, 2002.

Teacher, "Joel Larsen's Day Off," Do Over, The WB, 2002.

The View, ABC, 2002 and 2003.

Voice of Rabbi, "When You Wish upon a Weinstein," Family Guy, Fox, 2003.

Jimmy Kimmel Live, 2003.

Also appeared as Dr. Herbert Baxter, Love and War, CBS; voice of Funny Money the clown, The Adventures of Whammy; countdown voice, "You Only Scare Twice," Aaaahh! Real Monsters; and CATS, "A.D. 2101: War Was Beginning," Sonic X; guest, The Test, F/X; in Hollywood Unleashed, Animal Planet.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Marvin Rotweiler, Mastergate, Showtime, 1992.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dr. Lillianfarb, The Day My Parents Ran Away, Fox, 1993.

Lawyer, Casper Meets Wendy, 1998.

Jack, Breakfast with Einstein (also known as Fruehstueck mit Einstein ), The Disney Channel, 1998.

Man in Dr. Strangemeister's head, Men in White (also known as National Lampoon's Men in White ), Fox Family, 1998.

Television Executive Producer; Series:

Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999.

Television Work:

Cocreator of the series Fernwood Tonight.

RECORDINGS

Video Games:

Voice of Sam Schmaltz, Toonstruck, 1996.

WRITINGS

Novels; As Benjamin J. Stein:

(With father, Herbert Stein) On the Brink, 1977.

The Croesus Conspiracy, Simon and Schuster, 1978.

Her Only Sin: A Novel of Hollywood, St. Martin's Press, 1985.

Books; Nonfiction:

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Fernwood U.S.A.: An Illustrated Guide from the Folks Who Brought You Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, 1977.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Dreemz, Harper, 1978.

The View from Sunset Boulevard: America as Brought to You by the People Who Make Television, Basic Books, 1979.

(With Herbert Stein) Moneypower: How to Make Inflation Make You Rich, 1980.

Bunkhouse Logic: How to Bet on Yourself and Win, Avon, 1981.

'Ludes: A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream, 1982.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) The Manhattan Gambit, Doubleday, 1983.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Financial Passages, Doubleday, 1985.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) Hollywood Days, Hollywood Nights: The Diary of a Mad Screenwriter, Bantam, 1988.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, St. Martin's Press, 1991.

(As Benjamin J. Stein) A License to Steal: The Untold Story of Michael Milken and the Conspiracy to Bilk the Nation, Simon and Schuster, 1992.

Tommy and Me: The Making of a Dad, Free Press, 1998.

How to Ruin Your Love Life, Hay House, 2003.

(With Phil DeMuth) Yes, You Can Time the Market!, John Wiley & Sons, 2003.

How to Ruin Your Financial Life, Hay House, 2004.

Also works as television scriptwriter. Author of "Ben Stein's Diary," a regular column in American Spectator, beginning in 1980; syndicated columnist, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, beginning in 1978; columnist for E! Online, Los Angeles, and New York. Contributor to magazines, including Barron's; contributing editor, GQ, beginning in 1984.

Television Series:

(From story) The Marshal, 1995.

Television Music; Series:

(Theme) Turn Ben Stein On, Comedy Central, 1999.

ADAPTATIONS

The film The Boost, released in 1988, was based on the novel 'Ludes. The television movie Murder in Mississippi, broadcast by NBC in 1990, was based on a story by Stein.