Benjamin Koldyke

Benjamin Koldyke, born March 27, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent American actor recognized for his versatile roles in television. He gained fame for portraying Don Frank in the beloved series "How I Met Your Mother" from 2009 to 2010, as well as Lee Standish in the 2012 comedy "Work It" and Greg Gibbon in "Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street" from 2014 to 2016.

Koldyke's upbringing in Kenilworth, Illinois, was deeply influenced by his family background. His father, Martin J. "Mike" Koldyke, is a notable investment banker and life trustee at Northwestern University, while his mother, Patricia Blunt Koldyke, connects him to the Laird Norton Company, a historic investment firm.

After high school, Koldyke attended Choate Rosemary Hall for a post-graduate year before earning a degree in English from Dartmouth College in 1991, where he also played quarterback for the football team. Prior to embarking on his acting journey, he worked as a high school English teacher and football coach in Chicago.

His career in acting took off following a serendipitous meeting with Rob McElhenney, the creator of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," leading to his first pilot, "Boldly Going Nowhere." He later appeared in significant roles in HBO's "Big Love," ABC's "Back in the Game," and Showtime's "Masters of Sex." In addition to his television success, Koldyke featured in the 2016 Disney film "The Finest Hours." Most recently, he had a recurring role in the Peacock sitcom "Rutherford Falls."