Ben Feldman
An up-and-coming supporting actor in film and television, Ben Feldman rose quickly from bit parts in "Cloverfield" to major supporting roles in the television series "Drop Dead Diva" (Lifetime, 2009-2014) and "Mad Men" (AMC, 2007-2015). Born May 27, 1980 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of a Jewish father who worked in advertising and a non-Jewish mother. He gave his first acting performance at the age of six when a camp counselor convinced him to join a production of the musical Annie. The acting bug bit hard and Feldman pursued roles in school productions through his formal education. However, he failed to secure any parts until he was tapped to host the annual talent show at Winston Churchill High School, where he won rave reviews for his comedy routines between performances. Feldman later studied acting at Ithaca College, where he appeared in an acting showcase for agents and casting directors from New York. One attendee referred him to an agent, which led to an audition to replace Jason Biggs in the Broadway production of The Graduate. Though he failed to land the role, Feldman served as Biggs' understudy while playing several small parts in the play.
