Ben Mankiewicz

Benjamin Frederick Mankiewicz, born on March 25, 1967, is a prominent American television journalist and the face of Turner Classic Movies (TCM). In addition to his work at TCM, he serves as a progressive political commentator for The Young Turks. Mankiewicz has also made a name for himself as a film critic on the acclaimed TV show At the Movies during the 2008–2009 season, and he participated in the web series What the Flick?!

Hailing from the illustrious Mankiewicz family, Ben graduated from Tufts University and later obtained a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. His career began in news journalism, where he reported and anchored at WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina, and later at WAMI in Miami. However, he transitioned to entertainment journalism, successfully auditioning for a role as a host at Turner Classic Movies.

In 2003, Mankiewicz joined TCM as a weekend afternoon host, working alongside the legendary Robert Osborne, who held the primetime position. Following health issues in 2013, Osborne entrusted Mankiewicz with weekday primetime hosting duties. After Osborne's passing in 2017, Mankiewicz officially took over as the network's primetime host. He also hosts the TCM podcast series, The Plot Thickens, as well as Talking Pictures, further solidifying his influence in the realm of classic cinema.