Trivia

At age 12, he won second place in an international competition for a play that he wrote and directed.

Risked his sight while filming Alpha Dog (2006) by adding glaucoma drops to his eyes for much of the shoot to dilate his pupils, making him appear to be high. He'd hide in the bushes at night and cover his eyes between takes to keep the lights from shining into them and also had to talk to director Nick Cassavetes with his eyes closed.

Was formerly engaged to Robin Wright from January 11, 2014 to November 12, 2014. They got back together on January 2015.

For his role in 3:10 to Yuma (2007) he was trained by renowned Hollywood gun coach Thell Reed, who also trained actors Russell Crowe, Kurt Russell, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Sam Elliot, Girard Swan and Val Kilmer for Tombstone (1993).

His favorite actress is Gena Rowlands, and his favorite actors are Philip Seymour Hoffman and Gary Oldman.

Engaged to Laura Prepon - 10/04/2016.

Has been practicing Transcendental Meditation since he was four years old.

Dropped out of high school his freshman year to move to Los Angeles, California.

Casting director Cecily Adams saw the homemade audition tape Foster had sent from his home in Iowa. She called his parents and told them that, while she could make no guarantees, they should put him on a plane to Los Angeles, immediately. They did so and he landed the lead role in the pilot she was casting, Flash Forward (1995).

Was originally offered the part of Eddie O'Hare in The Door in the Floor (2004), but he thought he was too old for the role and gave up the role to younger brother, Jon Foster because he thought it was better suited for him.

Older brother of actor Jon Foster.

His favorite bands are Radiohead, Miles Davis, Johnny Cash.

His paternal grandparents were both from Russian Jewish families that moved to Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, who is from Maryland, has English, French, Irish, and distant Welsh and Scottish, ancestry. Ben had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony.

His favorite movies are Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), The Jerk (1979) and Husbands (1970).

His paternal grandparents were Celia (Segal) and A. (Abraham) Frank Foster, who was a prominent judge in Boston.

Raised in Fairfield, Iowa

Was ranked #16 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' actors list. (2008).

Provided the voice on the tape reading of James Frey's "Bright Shiny Morning".

One of Variety Magazine's 10 Actors to Watch (2007).

Co-starred in two Marvel adaptations featuring Rebecca Romijn: The Punisher (2004) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

His favorite movies are Husbands (1970), The Jerk (1979), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), All That Jazz (1979) and The Iron Giant (1999).

Attended the 2007 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. (July 2007)

Attended the 59th Berlin Film Festival in Germany. (February 2009)

Attended the 2006 Cannes Film Festival in France. (May 2006)