Casey Affleck is an Oscar-winning actor and the younger brother of Hollywood star Ben Affleck. While he saw his big brother soar to fame with blockbuster after blockbuster, Casey chose a different path. He steadily built his reputation with an eclectic range of roles, earning an Oscar nomination in 2008 after 12 years in the business. Born on August 12 1975, in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Casey was raised in Cambridge, along with Ben, by his mother Chris, a teacher. As kids the brothers both worked as extras in TV ads, leading to Casey making his first significant small-screen appearance in 1988's Lemon Sky. He followed this up two years later playing a teenage Bobby Kennedy in the miniseries The Kennedys Of Massachusetts.
Like Ben and their childhood buddy Matt Damon, Casey was inspired by his school's acting teacher, Gerry Speca. After leaving high school he headed for LA and considered going on to college, but his plans were interrupted when he was cast as a troublesome teen in 1995's To Die For. On the set, he became friends with co-star Joaquin Phoenix, through whom he would meet his future wife, Joaquin's sister Summer Phoenix. Filming completed, he went on to study at George Washington University before transferring to New York's Columbia University.
© GettyHe was two years into a physics and astronomy degree before being coaxed back onto the big screen by the role of smart-mouthed Morgan, the onscreen brother to real-life sibling Ben in 1997's Good Will Hunting, written by Ben and Matt Damon. The same year the brothers also shared the screen in comedy Chasing Amy, with Casey in a cameo role. While Good Will Hunting sent Ben's career stellar, Casey focused on strong character roles in independent productions.
He appeared opposite Kate Hudson in 1998 movie Desert Blue and the following year in the comedy 200 Cigarettes, which again featured Ben. He was recruited to join the A-list cast of heist caper Ocean's Eleven alongside Matt, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. and the hit franchise's subsequent sequels helped raise his profile further. Like Ben, he collaborated on a script with Matt, resulting in 2002's Gerry, in which he also starred. The same year he and Summer, whom he had started dating in 2001, went with Matt to London to appear in the West End production of This Is Our Youth.
© GettyCasey Affleck's family life
He and Summer became engaged at the end of 2003. They welcomed their first child, son Indiana August, the following May in Amsterdam, where Casey was shooting Ocean's Twelve. They married on June 3, 2006, and had a second child, a son, January 2008. Both lifetime vegans, they are actively involved in animal rights. In 2005 Casey earned critical plaudits for his title role in Lonesome Jim and following it up with Last Kiss. But it was 2007 that saw him became a bona fide star after he turned in a series of mesmerising performances.
© GettyAs well as returning in Ocean's Thirteen he was cast as wannabe outlaw Robert Ford opposite Brad Pitt in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. The role earned him an Oscar nod for best-supporting actor plus a clutch of prestigious awards, including Screen Actors Guild and Critics' Choice trophies.
Controversies
Also cementing his reputation as a leading man was his big brother's 2007 directorial debut Gone Baby Gone. However, the actor found himself embroiled in legal troubles from 2010, when settled two sexual harassment lawsuits out of court for an undisclosed amount.
