Ben Mittleman

Ben Mittleman was raised in Wantagh, Long Island. While studying at Franklin and Marshall College, the theater seduced him to raise his voice and confront issues around the Vietnam War. His virgin exposure, a staged reading of “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine” revealed a passion and the potential to affect the social conscience. After graduating, he trained professionally as an actor in NYC and appeared in classical productions at The Circle in the Square Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, and Colorado Shakespeare Festival, as well as, in contemporary works off-Broadway and in regional theatre. He moved to Los Angeles working as a character actor in Hollywood for over 20 years on shows including "Cheers", "Frasier", "Cagney and Lacey", "L.A. Law", "Wings", "Hooperman", and "Remington Steele". He starred in the feature films "Moving Violations" for 20th Century Fox and HBO's "The Heist". Continuing to work on stage, relationships with playwrights Bernard Slade and John Herman Shaner, in productions of their plays "Return Engagements" and After Crystal Night", would allow him to fully realize the illumination of the human condition in his work. During this time, he created “Action for Kids” (AFK) to produce theatrical programs that cultivate positive values in children and families. AFK found acclaim in collaborations with the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance, The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, the U.S. Committee for UNICEF and the FBI. Mittleman first stepped behind the camera for AFK in a joint venture with Ruben Preuss on the documentary “The Youngest Guns” about two NBA rookies who jump to the pros foregoing further formal education. Sports Illustrated named that documentary one of the "Best Gifts to Give for Christmas in 2005." “Dying to Live - the journey into a man's open heart" marks his solo directorial debut.