Ben Cross
A stage and screen actor whose intense portrayal of an Olympic runner in 'Chariots of Fire' became an enduring symbol of determination.
1947–2020 (age 73)·British actor·Birthday: December 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ben Cross trained as a cabinetmaker before finding his calling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His early career was firmly rooted in theatre, where he honed a commanding, classical presence. That training served him perfectly when he was cast as Harold Abrahams, the driven Cambridge student who runs to overcome prejudice, in the 1981 film 'Chariots of Fire'. Cross's performance, all contained fury and piercing focus, helped turn the film into a surprise Best Picture winner and an instant classic. While that role defined him for international audiences, Cross never settled into a single type. He moved seamlessly between major studio films, television miniseries like 'The Citadel', and prestigious stage work, including originating the role of the slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the London production of 'Chicago'. His later career was characterized by a steady output of character roles, often playing authoritative or aristocratic figures, his sharp features and precise delivery lending gravity to every part he undertook.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ben was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Died at 73
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Starred as Harold Abrahams in the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots of Fire', a role that brought him international recognition.
- Originated the role of Billy Flynn in the first West End production of the musical 'Chicago' in 1979.
- Played the villainous Mason in the 2009 blockbuster 'Star Trek', reintroducing him to a new generation of filmgoers.
- Portrayed the iconic figure of Barnabas Collins in the 1991 primetime revival of 'Dark Shadows'.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled sailor and competed in the 1979 Fastnet race, a dangerous ocean yacht race.
Before acting, he was an apprentice at the Bristol Old Vic theatre, working as a stagehand and set builder.
He turned down a role in the James Bond film 'Octopussy' due to prior stage commitments.
Cross was a trained singer, which aided his casting in musical theatre roles like 'Chicago'.
“I was a cabinetmaker; I learned to measure twice and cut once, on stage and off.”
