Brian Edward Benben (born June 18, 1956) is an American actor, best known for his role as Martin Tupper in the HBO comedy television series Dream On (1990–1996), and also known as Sheldon Wallace on ABC medical drama Private Practice (2008–2013), and as Larry in I Come in Peace (1990).
Early life and career Benben was born in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Gloria Patricia (née Coffman) and Peter Michael Benben Sr., a produce buyer.Profile, recordonline.com; accessed January 7, 2016.
He later lived and attended high school in Marlboro, New York, followed by two years at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, New York, after which he moved to New York City, where he had various jobs while auditioning and acting. In 1983 he appeared in the Broadway production of John Byrne's play Slab Boys with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, Val Kilmer and Jackie Earle Haley. The play ran on Broadway for 48 performances.
Although his first national exposure was in the 1981 NBC miniseries-then-series The Gangster Chronicles,The Gangster Chronicles details, IMDb.com; accessed January 7, 2016. he appeared in Matlock 'The Heiress' in 1988. Benben is perhaps best known for his leading role in the 1990–96 HBO television series, Dream On. He played a "by the book" FBI agent in the 1990 film Dark Angel (known in the U.S. as I Come in Peace).
He had a starring role in the 1994, film Radioland Murders playing Mary Stuart Masterson's estranged husband. In September 1998, he starred in an eponymous primetime CBS sitcom, The Brian Benben Show, which lasted only one month on the air. In the 2000s, he played Sheldon Wallace on Shonda Rhimes's Private Practice. His character was first introduced in December 2008,Private Practice details, IMDb.com; accessed January 7, 2015. later became a recurring character, and finally a series regular.Exclusive: "Private Practice" Upgrades Brian Benben, Entertainment Weekly, June 15, 2010 In 2014, he appeared in the television series Scandal, also produced by Rhimes.
Personal life In 1982, Benben married actress Madeleine Stowe, whom he met filming The Gangster Chronicles. Together they have one daughter, born in 1996. Benben and Stowe live in Pacific Palisades and prior to that lived west of Austin, near Johnson City, Texas.
Filmography +Television Year Title Role Other notes 1981 The Gangster Chronicles Michael Lasker Main role 1986 Kay O'Brien Mark Doyle Main role 1990–1996 Dream On Martin Tupper Main roleCableACE Awards for Actor in a Comedy Series (1993) 1998 The Brian Benben Show Brian Benben Lead role; also co-executive producer 2003 Kingpin Heywood Klein Main role 2005 Masters of Horror Dwight Faraday Episode: "Deer Woman" 2008–2013 Private Practice Sheldon Wallace Recurring role (Seasons 2–3)Main role (Seasons 4–6) 2014 Scandal Leonard Carnahan Episode: "An Innocent Man" 2015 Grace and Frankie Charlie Episode: "The Earthquake" 2016 Roadies Preston Recurring role 2017–2018Imposters Max Main role
+Film Year Title Role Other notes1981Gangster WarsMichael Lasker Based on The Gangster Chronicles1988Clean and SoberMartin Laux1989Mortal SinsNathan Weinschank1990I Come in PeaceSpecial Agent Arwood 'Larry' Smith was released as Dark Angel outside the US1994Radioland MurdersRoger Henderson2001The Flamingo Rising (Made for TV movie)Hubert T. LeeHubert Lee decides to open the world's largest drive-in movie theater across the street from a funeral parlor.
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