Ephraim Benton, a driving force in Hollywood, has been fueled by his ambition to become a triple threat in the entertainment industry. Born in Brooklyn, New York, as the oldest of seven siblings, he has been constantly developing his own projects.
Benton has already executive produced, written, directed, and starred in two short films, "Brown Paper Bags" and "3 Quarters of Face Value". He also produced an animated documentary about the life of President Barack Obama, titled "HIStory", which was released for free virally.
In 2002, award-winning writer/director/producer cast Benton in her multi-award-winning directorial debut "Anne B. Real". Critically acclaimed, "Anne B. Real" went on to win over 30 awards and festivals around the world, including two Independent Spirit Award nominations.
Recently, Benton made an indelible mark with a small role in the Academy Award-nominated film "Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire", directed by the critically acclaimed Lee Daniels. Next, he gave an hilarious performance as Shawn in the film 'Shades of Brooklyn Vol.1', which debuted on HBO Shorts Series.
Benton also stars in the award-winning indie film, "Inside A Change", directed by BET Award video director of the year nominee, Rik Cordero. He gives a compelling performance as Chris Price, a teenager about to serve 180 days in prison for a first-time offense.
When his mother invites him home for dinner, he discovers his family is falling apart, Chris is forced to re-examine his life and how he can bring everyone together for his mother's birthday. His latest credits include "Gun Hill Road", "The 2-2", and "The Place Beyond The Pines", directed by Derek Cianfrance, which stars Ryan Gosling.
Ephraim Benton is a true talent that can't be denied. He has used his life experience and his success as a platform to give back to the neighborhood he was raised in with his non-profit organization and is a member of two community advisory boards.
In 2010, Benton received the 'Brooklyn Borough President's Creative Award' & 'Thomas R. Fortune Artistic Award' for his humanitarian efforts. This past spring, he created "Daddy Daughter Publishing" with his seven-year-old daughter to publish her first book.
So, keep watching as the bricks get cemented for a powerful empire that won't be flying under the radar for long.
