Ben Savage
Encyclopedia
Bennett Joseph "Ben" Savage (born September 13, 1980) is an American
film
and TV actor and child star
of late 1980s and 1990s. Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World
from 1993 to 2000.
, and his sister is actress/musician Kala Savage. His grandparents were Jewish and from Poland
, Ukraine
, Germany
, and Latvia
, and Savage was raised in Reform Judaism
.
(1989) and appeared in the feature films Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even
(1992), as Sam, the brainy little brother, and as a 10-year-old in Clifford
(1994), the latter starring Martin Short
. Savage's stage debut was in The Laughter Epidemic at the Pasadena Playhouse
.
Savage established himself more prominently on TV. His first major speaking role on network television was playing the recurring role of Matthew, son of the Judd Hirsch
character, on the comedy series Dear John
(1988). Then he was one of a family of orphans who con Robert Mitchum
into being their guardian in A Family For Joe (NBC, 1990).
Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV
sitcom Boy Meets World
from 1993 to 2000. Cory Matthews, a '90s-model Dennis the Menace
, was constantly at daggers drawn with authority figures — especially his sixth grade teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels
). At age 13, Savage once said: "I'd never talk to my teachers like Cory talks to Mr. Feeny. I mean, they're the ones who give you the grades." When Boy Meets World (BMW) premiered in the fall of 1993, advertising agencies predicted that the clever Cory Matthews character would succeed. Indeed, the sitcom became a staple of the ABC's "T.G.I.F." Friday schedule. Along with Rider Strong
, he is one of only two actors to appear in all 158 episodes of "Boy Meets World" (1993).
Savage's brother Fred appeared alongside him in one episode of Boy Meets World, guest starring as a lecherous college professor pursuing Cory's girlfriend. In the following season, December 17, 1999, Fred directed his brother and the cast of Boy Meets World in the episode "Family Trees," as Shawn (Rider Strong
) discovers that the woman who raised him is not his biological mother.
Ben has also worked in several TV-movies, including She Woke Up (1992) with Lindsay Wagner
, and McDonald's Family Theatre Presents: Aliens for Breakfast (1995), as a young teen whose breakfast cereal figure comes alive.
Savage received critical recognition for his portrayal of "Coty Wyckoff", an angel-faced boy with the soul of a killer, in the ABC
Event Series, Wild Palms
(1993).
In May 1998, Savage again received critical acclaim, this time for playing "Roddy Stern" in Tony Award
-winner Israel Horovitz
's rarely seen play Unexpected Tenderness at the Marilyn Monroe Theater. He received an Ovation Award for his performance.
In 2002, Savage starred in the PG-13 film Swimming Upstream playing the best friend who was slightly immature but very supportive to his terminally ill friend.
Savage took a break from acting in both film and television for three years, but he later made a guest appearance in Still Standing
as Seth Cosella, the boss of Bill Miller, played by Mark Addy
. That same year he starred as Ford Davis in the independent feature Car Babes
, which was shot on location in Los Gatos, California
, and also guest starred as himself in an episode of the Disney Channel
original series Phil of the Future
.
In 2006, he starred in the critically acclaimed independent film Palo Alto
, which first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007.
In 2007, he starred in the ABC pilot from Sachs/Judah Making it Legal alongside Scott Wolf and Robert Wagner.
In 2008, he starred as Mark Ratner in an episode of the NBC series Chuck
, as well as murder suspect 'Kirby Morris' in an episode of Without a Trace
.
(R-PA at the time) in 2003 as a requirement for completing his studies at Stanford University
, where he graduated in 2004 with a degree in Political Science
and as a member of Sigma Chi
Fraternity.
Young Artist Awards
YoungStar Awards
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and TV actor and child star
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
of late 1980s and 1990s. Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
from 1993 to 2000.
Early life
Savage was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joanne and Lewis Savage, who was an industrial real estate broker and consultant. His brother is actor Fred SavageFred Savage
Fredrick Aaron "Fred" Savage is an American actor, director and producer of television and film.He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years and as the grandson in The Princess Bride...
, and his sister is actress/musician Kala Savage. His grandparents were Jewish and from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, and Savage was raised in Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
.
Career
Savage made his film debut at the age of 8 in his brother Fred's hit Little MonstersLittle Monsters
Little Monsters is a 1989 comedy-drama film starring Fred Savage as Brian Stevenson, a sixth-grader who has recently moved to a new town, and Howie Mandel as Maurice, the monster under the bed....
(1989) and appeared in the feature films Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even
Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even
Big Girls Don't Cry...They Get Even - originally titled Stepkids in early promotional trailers - is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Joan Micklin Silver.-Plot:...
(1992), as Sam, the brainy little brother, and as a 10-year-old in Clifford
Clifford (film)
Clifford is a 1994 comedy film starring Martin Short, Charles Grodin, and Mary Steenburgen.The film was shot in 1990 and originally planned for release in the summer of 1991, but remained in limbo for several years due to Orion Pictures' bleak financial situation...
(1994), the latter starring Martin Short
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
. Savage's stage debut was in The Laughter Epidemic at the Pasadena Playhouse
Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
.
Savage established himself more prominently on TV. His first major speaking role on network television was playing the recurring role of Matthew, son of the Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:...
character, on the comedy series Dear John
Dear John (US TV series)
Dear John is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1988 to 1992. The series was originally based on the British sitcom of the same name. Dear John was retitled Dear John USA when it was shown in the UK. During its four-season run, the series was bounced to and from various time periods on...
(1988). Then he was one of a family of orphans who con Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
into being their guardian in A Family For Joe (NBC, 1990).
Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
from 1993 to 2000. Cory Matthews, a '90s-model Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (U.S.)
Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham. It debuted on March 12, 1951 in 16 newspapers and was originally distributed by Post-Hall Syndicate...
, was constantly at daggers drawn with authority figures — especially his sixth grade teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels
William Daniels
William David Daniels is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild . He is known for his performance as Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate , as John Adams in 1776, as Carter Nash in Captain Nice, as Mr. George Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, as the voice of KITT in...
). At age 13, Savage once said: "I'd never talk to my teachers like Cory talks to Mr. Feeny. I mean, they're the ones who give you the grades." When Boy Meets World (BMW) premiered in the fall of 1993, advertising agencies predicted that the clever Cory Matthews character would succeed. Indeed, the sitcom became a staple of the ABC's "T.G.I.F." Friday schedule. Along with Rider Strong
Rider Strong
Rider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
, he is one of only two actors to appear in all 158 episodes of "Boy Meets World" (1993).
Savage's brother Fred appeared alongside him in one episode of Boy Meets World, guest starring as a lecherous college professor pursuing Cory's girlfriend. In the following season, December 17, 1999, Fred directed his brother and the cast of Boy Meets World in the episode "Family Trees," as Shawn (Rider Strong
Rider Strong
Rider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
) discovers that the woman who raised him is not his biological mother.
Ben has also worked in several TV-movies, including She Woke Up (1992) with Lindsay Wagner
Lindsay Wagner
Lindsay Jean Wagner is an American actress. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the 1970s television series The Bionic Woman , though she has maintained a lengthy career in a variety of other film and television productions since.-Early life:Wagner was born in Los...
, and McDonald's Family Theatre Presents: Aliens for Breakfast (1995), as a young teen whose breakfast cereal figure comes alive.
Savage received critical recognition for his portrayal of "Coty Wyckoff", an angel-faced boy with the soul of a killer, in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Event Series, Wild Palms
Wild Palms
Wild Palms is a six-hour mini-series, which first aired in May 1993 on the ABC network in the United States. Written by Bruce Wagner, who was also the executive producer, Wild Palms was a sci-fi drama about the dangers of brainwashing through technology and drugs...
(1993).
In May 1998, Savage again received critical acclaim, this time for playing "Roddy Stern" in Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winner Israel Horovitz
Israel Horovitz
Israel Horovitz is an American playwright and screenwriter.-Theatre career:An American dramatist, Horovitz has written more than 70 produced plays, many of which have been translated and performed in more than 30 languages worldwide . The 70/70 Horovitz Project was created by NYC Barefoot Theatre...
's rarely seen play Unexpected Tenderness at the Marilyn Monroe Theater. He received an Ovation Award for his performance.
In 2002, Savage starred in the PG-13 film Swimming Upstream playing the best friend who was slightly immature but very supportive to his terminally ill friend.
Savage took a break from acting in both film and television for three years, but he later made a guest appearance in Still Standing
Still Standing (TV series)
Still Standing is an American sitcom television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the United States syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and aired it until 2009...
as Seth Cosella, the boss of Bill Miller, played by Mark Addy
Mark Addy
Mark Addy Johnson is an English actor, best known for his roles as Detective Constable Gary Boyle in the UK sitcom The Thin Blue Line, Dave in the British film The Full Monty, father Bill Miller in the U.S...
. That same year he starred as Ford Davis in the independent feature Car Babes
Car Babes
CarBabes is a 2006 independent comedy film starring Ben Savage and directed by Nick Fumia and Chris Wolf.The title of producer Ben Rekhi's CarBabes comes from the term car salesmen use for each other...
, which was shot on location in Los Gatos, California
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
, and also guest starred as himself in an episode of the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
original series Phil of the Future
Phil of the Future
Phil of the Future is an American situation comedy that originally aired on Disney Channel from June 18, 2004, to August 19, 2006 for a total of two seasons. The series was created by Tim Maile and Douglas Tuber and produced by 2121 Productions, a part of Brookwell McNamara Entertainment...
.
In 2006, he starred in the critically acclaimed independent film Palo Alto
Palo Alto (film)
Palo Alto is a 2007 independent film that is set in Palo Alto, California and was produced by three locals of that city. The plot centers on four college freshmen on their last night of Thanksgiving Break, their first time back since leaving for school...
, which first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007.
In 2007, he starred in the ABC pilot from Sachs/Judah Making it Legal alongside Scott Wolf and Robert Wagner.
In 2008, he starred as Mark Ratner in an episode of the NBC series Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
, as well as murder suspect 'Kirby Morris' in an episode of Without a Trace
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
.
Personal life
Savage interned for U.S. Senator Arlen SpecterArlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
(R-PA at the time) in 2003 as a requirement for completing his studies at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he graduated in 2004 with a degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and as a member of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Little Monsters Little Monsters Little Monsters is a 1989 comedy-drama film starring Fred Savage as Brian Stevenson, a sixth-grader who has recently moved to a new town, and Howie Mandel as Maurice, the monster under the bed.... |
Eric Stevenson | |
| 1992 | Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even Big Girls Don't Cry...They Get Even - originally titled Stepkids in early promotional trailers - is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Joan Micklin Silver.-Plot:... |
Sam | |
| 1994 | Clifford Clifford (film) Clifford is a 1994 comedy film starring Martin Short, Charles Grodin, and Mary Steenburgen.The film was shot in 1990 and originally planned for release in the summer of 1991, but remained in limbo for several years due to Orion Pictures' bleak financial situation... |
Roger | |
| 2002 | Swimming Upstream Swimming Upstream Swimming Upstream is a 2003 Australian film written by Tony Fingleton and directed by Russell Mulcahy. It stars Harry McKeon, Jesse Spencer, Geoffrey Rush, and Judy Davis. It shows the life of Fingleton from childhood to adulthood, and dealing with a topsy-turvy family... |
Teddy Benevides | |
| 2006 | Car Babes Car Babes CarBabes is a 2006 independent comedy film starring Ben Savage and directed by Nick Fumia and Chris Wolf.The title of producer Ben Rekhi's CarBabes comes from the term car salesmen use for each other... |
Ford Davis | |
| 2007 | Palo Alto Palo Alto (film) Palo Alto is a 2007 independent film that is set in Palo Alto, California and was produced by three locals of that city. The plot centers on four college freshmen on their last night of Thanksgiving Break, their first time back since leaving for school... |
Patrick | |
| 2010 | Closing Time | Jared | Short film |
| 2011 | Lake Effects | Carl | Post-production |
| 2011 | Peace and Riot | Scott | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-1990 | Dear John | Matthew Lacey | 5 episodes |
| 1990 | Curtis Hartsell | Episode: "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" | |
| 1990 | Hurricane Sam | Sam Kelvin | TV movie |
| 1990 | Chris Bankston | 9 episodes | |
| 1992 | She Woke Up | Andy | TV movie |
| 1993 | Wild Palms Wild Palms Wild Palms is a six-hour mini-series, which first aired in May 1993 on the ABC network in the United States. Written by Bruce Wagner, who was also the executive producer, Wild Palms was a sci-fi drama about the dangers of brainwashing through technology and drugs... |
Coty Wyckoff | TV miniseries |
| 1993-2000 | Boy Meets World Boy Meets World Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the... |
Cory Matthews | 158 episodes |
| 1994 | Aliens for Breakfast | TV movie | |
| 1996 | Maybe This Time Maybe This Time Maybe This Time is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from September 1995 to February 1996. Created by veteran TV creator Michael Jacobs and his longtime colleague, Bob Young.... |
Cory Matthews | Episode: "Acting Out" |
| 1996 | Party of Five Party of Five Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation... |
Stuart | Episode: "Close to You" Episode: "Christmas" |
| 2005 | Still Standing Still Standing (TV series) Still Standing is an American sitcom television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the United States syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and aired it until 2009... |
Seth Cosella | Episode: "Still the Boss" |
| 2007 | Making It Legal | Todd | TV movie |
| 2008 | Chuck Chuck (TV series) Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central... |
Mark Ratner | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Cougars" |
| 2008 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Kirby Morris | Episode: "Cloudy with a Chance of Gettysburg" |
| 2011 | Shake It Up Shake It Up (TV series) Shake It Up is an American television sitcom airing on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on November 7, 2010. Created by Chris Thompson and starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, the show follows the adventures of Cece Jones and Rocky Blue as they star as background dancers on... |
Andy Burns | Episode: "Review It Up" |
Awards and nominations
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice AwardsNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, also known as the KCAs or Kids Choice Awards, is an annual awards show that airs on the Nickelodeon cable channel, which airs live and is usually held and telecast live on a...
- 2000: Won, "Favorite Television Friends" - Boy Meets World (shared with Rider StrongRider StrongRider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
)
Young Artist Awards
- 1990: Nominated, "Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture" - Little Monsters
- 1994: Nominated, "Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Television Series" - Boy Meets World
- 1997: Nominated, "Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Television Series" - Boy Meets World
- 1998: Nominated, "Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Television Series" - Boy Meets World
YoungStar Awards
- 1998: Nominated, "Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy TV Series" - Boy Meets World