Benedict Cumberbatch
Birthdate: Jul 19, 1976
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England, UK
A definitive leading man of contemporary cinema, Benedict Cumberbatch (birthname: Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch) has the kind of star power that even in the massive movie machinery of a Marvel Comics Universe vehicle like 2016’s Doctor Strange (and its 2022 sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), he is unquestionably the biggest (human) draw for audiences.
Almost unique among current movie stars, Cumberbatch has been able to command high critical praise and steady awards attention (he’s twice-nominated for the Best Actor Oscar), and at the same time be the top attraction at such fan-driven events as San Diego Comic-Con and command an intense, international following of female fans who go by the moniker “Cumberbitches.”
Benedict Cumberbatch was at the forefront of British theater in the early years of the 21st century, achieving great acclaim in classical and contemporary roles. One of his great coups was playing Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his creature (on alternating evenings) in the Royal National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein, which earned him the Oliver, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award, and the Evening Standard Award. He was part of the cast celebrating the National Theatre’s 50th anniversary and made a triumphant stage return as Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre in 2015.
By this point, Cumberbatch had established his star power on film and television, where he became the face of a new kind of Sherlock Holmes in the brilliant BBC series, Sherlock, earning him six British Academy Best Actor nominations. His breakout year in the movies was 2013, in which he appeared in no less than Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, The Fifth Estate (as a spooky Julian Assange), and as Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness.
Cumberbatch distinguished himself in a phenomenally wide range of supporting roles in major films, including (Smaug and The Necromancer) in The Hobbit film series (2012-14), Tomas Alfredson’s elegant adaptation of John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011), Steven Spielberg’s War Horse (2011), Joe Wright’s Atonement (2007) and Four Lions (2010).
Benedict Cumberbatch’s name may be a mouthful for some, but, in 2014, it took on global reach, with Sherlock reaching huge international popularity and an Oscar nomination for his affecting performance as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. He then took on the role of Doctor Strange in MCU in 2016, which brought him into the ensemble of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), two of the biggest box-office hits of all time.
After a brief but striking appearance in Sam Mendes’ ambitious World War I drama, 1917 (2019), Cumberbatch completed a string of wonderful vocal performances in several animated features, including The Grinch (2018) and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018). 2021 ended in more triumph, with his stunning turn as an emotionally conflicted cowboy in Jane Campion’s acclaimed The Power of the Dog.
Personal Details
Born in London to parents, actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, Benedict Cumberbatch comes from a distinguished family of British war veterans and diplomats. Cumberbatch attended Harrow School, where he was an art scholar and studied drama, then continued his studies at Manchester’s Victoria University, and earned a Masters in classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He is married to theater director-playwright-actor Sophie Hunter. The couple has three children. Cumberbatch’s height is 6’.
Filmography
actor
Previous (20)
- 2024 | The Book of ClarenceasBenjamin
The Book of Clarence
Struggling to find a better life, Clarence is captivated by the power of the rising Messiah and soon risks everything to carve a path to a divine existence.
- 2022 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessasDoctor Stephen Strange
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl from his dreams who can travel across multiverses, to battle multiple threats, including other-universe versions of himself, which threaten to wipe out millions across the mul...
- 2021 | Spider-Man: No Way HomeasDoctor Strange
Spider-Man: No Way Home
With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
- 2021 | The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.
- 2021 | The CourierasGreville Wynne
The Courier
Businessman Greville Wynne is asked by a Russian source to try to help put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- 2019 | The Current War: Director’s CutasThomas Alva Edison
The Current War: Director’s Cut
The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas A. Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world.
- 2019 | Hamlet: 2019 Re-releaseasHamlet - Prince of Denmark
Hamlet: 2019 Re-release
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his Uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans his revenge.
- 2019 | Avengers: EndgameasDoctor Strange
Avengers: Endgame
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.
- 2018 | Frankenstein: 2018 Re-releaseasThe Creature/Victor Frankenstein
Frankenstein: 2018 Re-release
Created by Victor Frankenstein, the one known only as 'The Creature' sets out to discover the world and the meaning of his life.
- 2018 | Avengers: Infinity WarasDoctor Strange
Avengers: Infinity War
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
- 2018 | Hamlet: 2018 Re-releaseasHamlet - Prince of Denmark
Hamlet: 2018 Re-release
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his Uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans his revenge.
- 2017 | Naples ’44asNorman Lewis
Naples ’44
A British Intelligence Officer in Naples at the end of World War II: Norman Lewis's acknowledged masterpiece about a war-torn city and its unforgettable humanity.
- 2017 | Thor: RagnarokasDoctor Strange
Thor: Ragnarok
Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.
- 2017 | Walk With MeasNarrator
Walk With Me
'Walk With Me' is a meditative film about a community of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns who have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of mindfulness with their world-famous teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.
- 2016 | Doctor StrangeasDr. Stephen Strange
Doctor Strange
While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
- 2015 | Black MassasBilly Bulger
Black Mass
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
- 2014 | The Imitation GameasAlan Turing
The Imitation Game
During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
- 2013 | Star Trek Into DarknessasKhan
Star Trek Into Darkness
After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.
- 2011 |
- 2007 |
Some Facts About Benedict Cumberbatch
Fan Club: Benedict Cumberbatch’s intense female following, especially during the run of Sherlock, gave themselves the tag name, ‘Cumberbitches.’ When asked what he thought, the actor said that it was flattering, but that he wished they had called themselves something more respectable, like ‘Cumberhumans.’
Family Tree: Cumberbatch’s great-great-great-grandfather was a slave owner in Jamaica, and he is the third cousin 16 times removed from King Richard III, whose re-burial he attended in 2015 and whose character he depicted in a U.K. television adaptation of Shakespeare’s play.
Stage Debut: Benedict Cumberbatch made his stage debut at age 12 as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in a school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
