{{Short description|American actor (born 1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Ben Ahlers | image = | image size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|17}} | birth_place = Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S. | occupation = Actor | education = University of Michigan <small>(BFA)</small> | years_active = 2016–present | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Ben Ahlers''' (born August 17, 1996) is an American actor. He is known for playing Liam Kelly in the NBC drama series ''The Village'' (2019), Jack Trotter in the HBO historical drama series ''The Gilded Age'' (2022–present), and Burton in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series ''The Last of Us'' (2025).
== Early life and career == Ahlers was born on August 17, 1996,<ref name="Instagram Birthday"/><ref name="Messenger Marathon"/> in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He began singing and acting in community theatre from 6-years old, landing his first role as an orphan in a local production of ''Oliver!''.<ref name=":4" /> After graduating as valedictorian from Fort Dodge Senior High School, he attended the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Alyssa |date=December 9, 2018 |title=Hometown Storyteller Making His Way on Stage and TV |url=https://www.messengernews.net/life/local-lifestyle/2018/12/ben-ahlers/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=The Messenger |language=}}</ref>
In 2017, Ahlers starred in the short film ''Anna Garcia Does a One Woman Play''. He then landed a small role on the NBC drama ''The Village'', his first appearance on network television.<ref name=":4" /> In 2020, he starred in the Quibi miniseries ''When the Streetlights Go On'', playing the main role of Brad Kirchoff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=September 23, 2019 |title=Queen Latifah to Star in Quibi Drama 'When the Street Lights Go On' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/queen-latifah-star-quibi-drama-street-lights-go-1242457/ |access-date=June 11, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Foreman |first=Alison |date=April 6, 2020 |title=Quibi's 'When the Streetlights Go On' proves bite-sized drama can be satisfying |url=https://mashable.com/article/quibi-when-the-streetlights-go-on-review |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Mashable |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Kaitlin |date=April 15, 2020 |title=The Killer Reveal In "When The Streetlights Go On" Is More Disturbing That You Might Think |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9692151/who-killed-chrissy-monroe-when-the-streetlights-go-on-ending-explainer |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Refinery29 |language=en}}</ref> He also briefly appeared in ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' playing Lucas Hunt, a love interest of the main character.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bundel |first=Ani |date=December 31, 2020 |title=Here's What To Know About Sabrina's New Love Interest In 'CAOS' Part 4 |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/who-plays-lucas-in-chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-ben-ahlers-might-look-familiar-51912991 |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=Elite Daily |language=}}</ref>
In 2022, Ahlers was cast on the HBO series ''The Gilded Age'', playing the role of footman and clockmaker John "Jack" Trotter.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=December 10, 2020 |title='The Gilded Age': HBO Adds Seven To Cast Of Julian Fellowes' Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/the-gilded-age-cast-hbo-julian-fellowes-drama-1234653998/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Beginning as a recurring role, he was promoted to a series regular in the second season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Keefe |first=Meghan |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Who Invented the Alarm Clock on 'The Gilded Age'? |url=https://decider.com/2023/12/07/the-gilded-age-who-invented-the-alarm-clock/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Decider |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naas |first=Roberta |date=December 19, 2023 |title=The Horological Society of New York Takes Center Stage in HBO's The Gilded Age Season 2 |url=https://www.atimelyperspective.com/the-horological-society-of-new-york-takes-center-stage-in-hbos-the-gilded-age-season-2/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=ATimelyPerspective |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Emma |date=December 7, 2023 |title=The 'Gilded Age' Alarm Clock Plot Is So Silly and So Perfect |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-gilded-age-alarm-clock-plot-is-so-silly-and-so-perfect/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=The Daily Beast |language=}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Ben Ahlers {{!}} A Conversation with 'The Gilded Age' Actor |url=https://www.flaunt.com/blog/ben-ahlers |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Flaunt}}</ref> In preparation of the show's second season, Ahlers took watch-making classes with the Horological Society of New York.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2023 |title=HSNY Featured in Season 2 of HBO's "The Gilded Age" |url=https://hs-ny.org/news/2023/12/18/hsny-featured-in-season-2-of-hbos-the-gilded-age?srsltid=AfmBOoru7ekxQvzQ7UORjQlCaWR98-hgssvLVHjSHB7_NF1EB_3DwwZn |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Horological Society of New York |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NYT" >{{cite news |last1=Felder |first1=Rachel |last2=Sinha |first2=Ashok |title=From the ‘Gilded Age’ to Today, a Watch Society at 160 Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/fashion/watches-horological-society-new-york.html |access-date=25 March 2026 |work=The New York Times |date=9 February 2026}}</ref>
In 2025, Ahlers was cast in the second season of HBO series ''The Last of Us'' as Burton, a loyal soldier of the Seattle rebel militia group Washington Liberation Front (WLF).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=March 5, 2025 |title='The Last of Us' Adds Joe Pantoliano, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers and More for Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-last-of-us-season-2-joe-pantoliano-cast-1236327820/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Introduced during a flashback as a naïve rookie serving the government, he is recruited to the WLF by Jeffrey Wright's Isaac.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Keefe |first=Meghan |date=May 4, 2025 |title='The Last of Us' Reveals the Wolves' Brutal Origin Story (With the Help of a Josh Peck Cameo) |url=https://decider.com/2025/05/04/the-last-of-us-season-2-episode-4-wolves-josh-peck/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Decider |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=May 4, 2025 |title=Who is Isaac on 'The Last of Us'? Jeffrey Wright's expanded origin story, explained |url=https://ew.com/who-is-isaac-the-last-of-us-jeffrey-wright-explained-11727252 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2025, Ahlers played the titular role in ''John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only!'', a stage show from ''Mad Men'' screenwriter Matthew Weiner that premiered at Baltimore's Center Stage.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=2025-07-11 |title=Ben Ahlers on Being a 'Gilded Age' Tech Bro and His Fashion World Cred (He's 6-Foot-2!) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/ben-ahlers-gilded-age-fashion-interview-1236310259/ |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
In a July 2025 announcement, he was cast in ''Little Brother'', an upcoming comedy film on Netflix.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Stephan |first=Katcy |date=2025-07-14 |title=Chris Meloni, Ego Nwodim, Sherry Cola, Caleb Hearon and Ben Ahlers Join 'Little Brother' Netflix Comedy Feature (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/little-brother-netflix-chris-meloni-ego-nwodim-cast-1236453860/ |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> That December, it was announced that he would appear in ''Death of a Salesman'' in the Broadway revival being led by Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf to star in 'Death of a Salesman' on Broadway|url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/nathan-lane-laurie-metcalf-to-star-in-death-of-a-salesman-on-broadway|website=New York Theatre Guide|date=2025-12-01|access-date=2025-12-01|language=en|first=Gillian|last=Russo}}</ref>
== Personal life == Ahlers grew up Catholic, but is no longer a practicing Christian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahlers |first1=Ben |last2=Hadadi |first2=Roxana |title=What Ben Ahlers Watched, Read, and Listened to in 2025 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/culturati-50-2025-ben-ahlers-interview-questionnaire.html |website=Vulture |access-date=10 December 2025 |language=en |date=1 December 2025}}</ref>
Due to his ''The Gilded Age'' character's clock-making arc, Ahlers has been widely nicknamed "Clock Twink" by fans online, which he has embraced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nevins |first=Jake |date=2025-08-11 |title=“I'm the Clock Twink”: Ben Ahlers Tells Kiernan Shipka About Growing Up on The Gilded Age |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/television/ben-ahlers-tells-kiernan-shipka-about-growing-up-on-the-gilded-age |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2025-08-11 |title=Clock Twink Speaks! 'The Gilded Age' Star Ben Ahlers on Internet Nicknames, 'Absurd' High Society and His First Encounter With Christine Baranski |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/gilded-age-ben-ahlers-jack-clock-twink-nickname-1236486023/ |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Bernado |date=11 August 2025 |title=Here's why Gilded Age's Ben Ahlers was nicknamed Clock Twink |url=https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/the-gilded-age-clock-twink-explained |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=www.out.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the show, he retained an interest in clock-making, and began collecting vintage watches. He has remained involved with the Horological Society, attending their 2024 gala,<ref name="Rocks">{{cite web |last1=Thorley |first1=Ian |title=Stepping Out: Ben Ahlers on 'The Gilded Age', The American Dream and his love of watchmaking |url=https://somethingaboutrocks.com/article/stepping-out-ben-ahlers-on-the-gilded-age-the-american-dream-and-his-love-of-watchmaking/ |website=Something About Rocks |language=en}}</ref> and serving as co-chair of the Society's 2026 gala, alongside watchmakers Danièla Dufour (daughter of Philippe Dufour) and Roger W. Smith.<ref name="NYT" />
Outside of acting, Ahlers enjoys yoga and meditation;<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=MacDowell |first=Connor |last2=MacDowell |first2=Dylan |date=November 13, 2024 |title="The Clock Twink" with Ben Ahlers |url=https://www.the-dramapodcast.com/dramapodcast/clock-twink-ben-ahlers |access-date=June 11, 2025 |website=DRAMA. |language=en-US}}</ref> he worked as a personal trainer before his acting career became sustainable.<ref name=":6" />
He is a fan of directors Sean Baker, Chloé Zhao, Sam Mendes and Yorgos Lanthimos,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Kate |date=January 11, 2024 |title=SHINY DREAMS |url=https://www.behindtheblinds.be/love/shiny-dreams |access-date=June 11, 2025 |website=Behind The Blinds |language=EN}}</ref> and says his favorite author is David Foster Wallace.<ref name=":5" />
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" | style="background:#FFFFCC;" | {{dagger|alt=Denotes productions that have not yet been released}} | Denotes productions that have not yet been released. |}
=== Film === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Refh}} |- | scope="row" |2017 |''Anna Garcia Does a One Woman Play'' |Ben |Short film | style="text-align:center;" | |- | scope="row" |2019 |''Walk Off'' |Ben Larson |Short film; also associate producer | style="text-align:center;" | |- |2023 |''Smago'' |Charles |Short film | style="text-align:center;" | |- | scope="row" |2024 |''A Wonderful Way with Dragons'' |Gray | | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Jayabhuvaneshwari |date=May 15, 2023 |title=M3GAN-fame Violet McGraw boards A Wonderful Way With Dragons |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/news/2023/May/15/m3gan-fame-violet-mcgraw-boards-a-wonderful-way-with-dragons-43445.html |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> |- |2025 |''12 Hours in the Life of Jason Bruckner'' |Jason Bruckner | | style="text-align:center;" | |- |2026 | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| ''Little Brother'' {{dagger}} | |Post-production | style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":8" /> |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Refh}} |- | scope="row" |2016–2019 |''The University'' |Kyle Clark |Episodes: "What We Know" (2016), "Measures of Protection" (2019) | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2025 |title=The University: A Web Series |url=https://theuniversitywebseries.com/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=The University: A Web Series}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |''The Village'' |Liam Kelly |7 episodes | |- |''Instinct'' |Boyd Carter |Episode: "Big Splash" | style="text-align:center;" | |- | rowspan="2" scope="row" |2020 |''When the Streetlights Go On'' |Brad Kirchoff |Main role | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name=":1" /> |- |''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' |Lucas Hunt |Episode: "Chapter Thirty One: The Weird" | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name=":2" /> |- |2022–present |''The Gilded Age'' |John "Jack" Trotter |Main role (seasons 2 and 3); recurring (season 1) | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name=":0" /> |- | scope="row" |2025 |''The Last of Us'' |Burton |2 episodes ("Day One" and "Convergence") | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name=":3" /> |}
=== Stage === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Production ! scope="col" |Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Theater ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Refh}} |- |2018 |''The Closet'' |Jack O'Reilly |Williamstown Theatre Festival | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Closet {{!}} 2018 |url=https://www.wtfestival.org/main-events/the-closet/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Williamstown Theatre Festival |language=en}}</ref> |- |2019 |''Good Boys'' |Brandon Hardy |Pasadena Playhouse | style="text-align: center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Dino-Ray |date=July 8, 2019 |title=Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's 'Good Boys' Puts Blinding Spotlight On Toxic Masculinity: Review |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/roberto-aguirre-sacasa-good-boys-review-pasadena-playhouse-betsy-brandt-ben-ahlers-dylan-arnold-toxic-masculinity-1202642795/ |access-date=June 11, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2024 |''Tender Napalm'' |Man |Theaterlab, Off-Broadway | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2024 |title=Tender Napalm {{!}} November 27 – December 15, 2024 |url=https://theaterlabnyc.com/tender-napalm-nov-27-dec-15-2024/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Theaterlab |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2025 |''John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only!'' |John Wilkes Booth |Baltimore Center Stage | style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2025 |title=Review {{!}} From the creator of 'Mad Men,' a thrilling new play about John Wilkes Booth |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater/2025/05/28/john-wilkes-booth-matthew-weiner-baltimore-center-stage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530114215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater/2025/05/28/john-wilkes-booth-matthew-weiner-baltimore-center-stage/ |archive-date=May 30, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |2026 |''Death of a Salesman'' |Happy Loman |Winter Garden Theater | style="text-align: center;" |<ref>{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Gillian |title=Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf to star in 'Death of a Salesman' on Broadway |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/nathan-lane-laurie-metcalf-to-star-in-death-of-a-salesman-on-broadway |website=New York Theatre Guide |access-date=10 December 2025 |language=en |date=1 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Broadway's 'Death Of A Salesman' Sells Out, 'Every Brilliant Thing' Passes $1M |url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/broadway-box-office-death-of-a-salesman-daniel-radcliffe-1236748861/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=25 March 2026 |date=10 March 2026}}</ref> |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !Year !Award !Category !Nominee(s) !Work !Result !{{Refh|multi=no}} |- |{{center|2024}} |Screen Actors Guild Awards |Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |Various{{efn|Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson, Christine Baranski, Denée Benton, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Michael Cerveris, Carrie Coon, Kelley Curran, Taissa Farmiga, David Furr, Jack Gilpin, Ward Horton, Louisa Jacobson, Simon Jones, Sullivan Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Nathan Lane, Matilda Lawler, Robert Sean Leonard, Audra McDonald, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Cynthia Nixon, Kelli O'Hara, Patrick Page, Harry Richardson, Taylor Richardson, Blake Ritson, Jeremy Shamos, Douglas Sills, Morgan Spector, John Douglas Thompson, and Erin Wilhelmi}} | ''The Gilded Age'' | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-30th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr|title=Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards|publisher=Screen Actors Guild |date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024}}</ref> |- |{{centre|2026}} |Theatre World Award |{{centre|—}} |Ahlers |''Death of a Salesman'' |{{won}} | align="center" | <ref>{{citation|title=Ben Ahlers, Adrien Brody, Ayo Edebiri, Alden Ehrenreich, More Are 2026 Theatre World Award Winners|date=2026-05-07|language=en-US|work=Playbill|access-date=2026-05-12|url=https://playbill.com/article/ben-ahlers-adrien-brody-ayo-edebiri-alden-ehrenreich-more-are-2026-theatre-world-award-winners}}</ref> |}
==See also== {{Portal|Biography|Film|Iowa|Michigan|New York City|Television|Theatre}} * List of American actors * List of people from Iowa * List of University of Michigan alumni {{Clear}}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == <references>
<ref name="Instagram Birthday">{{cite Instagram |postid=ChXd5z7uESp |title=Another one down |last=Ahlers |first=Ben |user=benahlers |date=August 17, 2022 |accessdate=June 12, 2025 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250612021614/https://www.instagram.com/p/ChXd5z7uESp/ |archivedate=June 12, 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Messenger Marathon">{{cite web |url=https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2021/11/nyc-marathon-serves-a-purpose-for-ahlers/ |title=NYC Marathon serves a purpose for Ahlers |last=Pratt |first=Eric |work=The Messenger |date=November 26, 2021 |accessdate=June 12, 2025 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126064117/https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2021/11/nyc-marathon-serves-a-purpose-for-ahlers/ |archivedate=November 26, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
</references>
== External links == * {{IMDb name|nm8935806}} * {{IBDB name|545045}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahlers, Ben}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male actors Category:21st-century people from Iowa Category:American male film actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male television actors Category:Broadway theatre people Category:Male actors from Iowa Category:People from Fort Dodge, Iowa Category:Theatre World Award winners Category:University of Michigan alumni