Rocky Facts About Ben Affleck, Hollywood's Hot Mess
They say a lot of modern Hollywood stars are boring—but no one's saying that about Ben Affleck. From his meteoric rise to his tabloid infamy to his very-public downward spiral, there's always something with Boston's favorite son.
Say what you want about him, but you can't deny, there's no one quite like Ben Affleck.
1. He Wasn't Born In Boston
Think Ben Affleck is from Boston? Think again! Affleck was born on August 15, 1972, in sunny Berkeley, California. It was only when he was three that the family moved to Massachusetts, where brother Casey was eventually born.
First moving to Falmouth, the family eventually parked the car in Harvard yard and settled in Cambridge.
But despite the prestigious surroundings, life in the Affleck household was rough.
2. He Grew Up Around The Arts
Ben Affleck wasn't exactly a tough, Boston street kid. His mom was a Harvard-educated schoolteacher, and his father was an aspiring artist. He grew up in a liberal, creative household—but this wasn't exactly the sound of music.
His father Tim dreamed of being an artist, but saw very little success. He jumped from odd job to odd job, even working as, believe it or not, a janitor at Harvard.
The family made ends meet, but Tim's unfulfilled dreams sent him down a dark path.
3. His Father Drank
Affleck's father found solace in the bottle. As a boy, Ben can remember his father drinking all day, every day. As you can imagine, it put a strain on the entire family. When Affleck was 11, his parents finally divorced.
Even at that age, Affleck felt a sense of relief. Divorce is hard on most kids, but his father had made their home life a nightmare for years.
It may be sad to admit, but life for the Afflecks got better when dad moved out—but while they felt relieved, Tim only continued to spiral.
4. He Hit Rock Bottom
Unfortunately, divorce was not the wake-up call that Tim Affleck needed. He continued drinking until he finally hit rock bottom. He became homeless and spent two hard years living on the streets of Cambridge.
Thankfully, that was as low as he would go. When Affleck was 16, his father finally began to turn his life around.
