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Ben Mankiewicz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ben Mankiewicz
Mankiewicz in 2026
Born
Benjamin Frederick Mankiewicz

(1967-03-25) March 25, 1967 (age 59)[1]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
EducationTufts University (BA)
Columbia University (MS)
Occupations
  • Television host
  • podcast host
  • film critic
  • journalist
Political party
Democratic[2]
Spouses
Contessa Kellogg
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2009)​
Lee Russo
​
(m. 2013)​
Children1
Parent(s)Frank Mankiewicz
Holly Mankiewicz
FamilyMankiewicz

Benjamin Frederick Mankiewicz[3] (born March 25, 1967) is an American television journalist and host for Turner Classic Movies (TCM). He is a progressive political commentator for The Young Turks. He has served as a film critic for the 2008–2009 season for the TV program At the Movies and the web series What the Flick?![4]

A descendant of the Mankiewicz family, Ben Mankiewicz graduated from Tufts University, and earned a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. He subsequently worked as a news reporter and anchor, first for WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina and later for WAMI in Miami. Mankiewicz left news journalism, and auditioned as a television host for Turner Classic Movies.

Mankiewicz was hired in 2003 as an afternoon weekend host, second to Robert Osborne, who was the channel's primetime host. In 2013, for health reasons, Osborne delegated weekday primetime hosting appearances to Mankiewicz. In 2017, Osborne died at the age of 84, and Mankiewicz became the network's primetime host. Additionally, he hosts the TCM-produced podcast series, The Plot Thickens and Talking Pictures.

Early life

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Mankiewicz was born in Washington, D.C., to press secretary Frank Mankiewicz and Holly Mankiewicz (née Jolley).[5][6] His father was of German Jewish descent.[7] He is the cousin of screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz and filmmaker/television producer Nick Davis,[8] the grandson of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, the grand-nephew of screenwriter, producer, and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz,[8] and the brother of NBC News reporter Josh Mankiewicz.

Mankiewicz attended Georgetown Day School for his primary and secondary education. After graduating, he next enrolled into Tufts University. After his sophomore year, he interned at The George Michael Sports Machine, and "then came back the next year and worked for Glenn Brenner."[9] In 1992, he received a Master of Science degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.[4]

Career

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1993–2003: Journalism

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Mankiewicz was hired as a sports producer for WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., and next as a producer for the sports radio station WTEM. By 1993, he was working as an on-air reporter for WCSC-TV (a CBS affiliate) in Charleston, South Carolina.[10]

Mankiewicz joined WAMI in Miami, Florida, in 1998, where he served as anchor of The Times, a daily news magazine show and the station's highlight program.[11] On July 28, 1998, Mankiewicz was assaulted with a lead pipe across the upper left thigh when he arrived unannounced at Meir Vaknin's house to interview him about allegations that his family's Miami-Dade County moving company, Atlantic Express, was overcharging customers. Mankiewicz said at the time, "I thought he was going to show me some documents or something. I never thought he'd hit me. I'm not a brave man."[12] The incident was partially captured on videotape. WAMI turned over the tapes to Lauderhill police after they had aired the story. On August 4, Vaknin turned himself into the Broward County jail, where he was charged with felony battery.[13]

Mankiewicz left WAMI not wanting to work in television news any longer and was in search for another television job. "I auditioned for every show on television: reality shows, game shows," Mankiewicz stated. "I must have auditioned for 120 shows, including, I'm ashamed to say, Are You Hot? — and not as one of the judges."[14]

2003–present: Turner Classic Movies

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By the early 2000s, network executives at Turner Classic Movies (TCM) began noticing high viewership numbers during the afternoon weekend hours. In early 2003, they held auditions in Century City, Los Angeles for an on-air host to serve the time slot. Mankiewicz was given his first audition, which was to compare Seven Samurai (1954) and The Magnificent Seven (1960) following a screening with two other applicants. He passed, and his second audition was reading an introduction to The Bishop's Wife (1947) from a teleprompter.[15] He returned home, where he asked his then-girlfriend to watch TCM, which was airing The Barefoot Contessa (1954), directed by his grand-uncle Joseph L. Mankiewicz.[16]

In 2003, Mankiewicz was hired as a host for Turner Classic Movies, making his debut appearance on September 6.[17][18] At the time, he was the network's second host with Robert Osborne being the first. To avoid imitating Osborne's style, Mankiewicz chose a loose, more casual demeanor, including sporting a goatee.[19] According to Charles Tabesh, TCM's senior vice president of programming, this was encouraged. He reflected: "we really emphasized the differences [between them]. We asked him to have a goatee. We had him in a set that was a downtown loft, and his scripts were much less reverential."[20] Furthermore, Mankiewicz frequently uses sardonic humor in his on-air introductions; before a broadcast of Gigi (1958), he once joked the film was not to be confused with "Gigli, the 'Bennifer' disaster that won't get anywhere near the Oscars."[21] According to Vanity Fair, Mankiewicz's early appearances were disliked among older network audiences. Years since, he has worn more formal attire and adopted a clean-shaven image.[19]

In 2012, desiring a reduced schedule due to past health concerns, Osborne began delegating weekday primetime hosting appearances over to Mankiewicz by the following year.[22] Mankiewicz's on-air appearances were also expanded to host the weekend programming blocks: Silent Sunday Nights and TCM Imports. In 2019, Jacqueline Stewart and Alicia Malone, respectively, were made the latest hosts for each block.[23][24] In 2016, TCM partnered with The Criterion Collection to launch a streaming service, FilmStruck. In 2018, the service added a curated collection branded as the "TCM Select," which featured exclusive introductions by Mankiewicz.[25] In November of the same year, FilmStruck ceased operations.[26]

In March 2017, Osborne died at the age of 84. Mankiewicz commemorated him in a post: "All of us at TCM are better for having known him – I know I am. His legacy is reflected in the shared love and appreciation we all have for the movies he cared so deeply about."[27] He succeeded Osborne as the channel's primetime host.[19] As of 2026, Mankiewicz hosts the primetime lineup from Wednesdays to Sundays (his colleagues Dave Karger and Alicia Malone host the primetime lineup on Mondays and Tuesdays, respectively).[28]

In 2020, TCM and Mankiewicz launched an original podcast series titled The Plot Thickens, with the first season chronicling Peter Bogdanovich's filmmaking career.[29] A year later, the first season was named a Webby Honoree for Television & Film Podcasts,[30] and again in 2022 and 2023. The Plot Thickens was also awarded the Best Branded Podcast at the 2021 Adweek Podcast Awards.[31] The second season chronicled the tumultuous production of The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), the third profiled Lucille Ball, and the fourth season profiled Pam Grier.[32] On June 6, 2024, the series' fifth season, which chronicled film director John Ford's life and career, began streaming.[33] A sixth season chronicling the troubled production of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Cleopatra (1963) began streaming in July 2025.[34]

In 2023, Mankiewicz began hosting a second podcast series Talking Pictures, in which he interviewed several personalities, including Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers, and Patty Jenkins.[35] A second season has been renewed,[36] which began streaming in November 2024. It features interviews with Bill Murray, Margot Robbie, Carol Burnett, and Henry Winkler among others.[37]

Other ventures

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In 2008, Mankiewicz was hired to co-host the nationally syndicated television series At the Movies, alongside Ben Lyons.[38] While Lyons's credentials as a film critic were criticized, Mankiewicz received a favorable reception among television viewers.[39] Regardless, this incarnation was cancelled after one season, and they were replaced by A. O. Scott and Michael Phillips. In response, Mankiewicz stated: "I loved working on this show, every moment of it ... It was an honor to continue a broadcast legacy not merely started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, but created by them. No doubt the show is in good hands."[40]

Mankiewicz co-hosted the online film review series What the Flick?! on The Young Turks Network, alongside fellow critics Christy Lemire, Matt Atchity, and Alonso Duralde.[41] In August 2018, Lemire posted on her website What the Flick?! had officially ended.[42] The series was reformatted into the web series and podcast Breakfast All Day hosted by Lemire and Duralde.[43]

Mankiewicz has made cameo appearances in the Lifetime television movie The Bling Ring (2011) and the action film White House Down (2013). He also appears regularly on other shows as a political and media commentator, including The Michael Brooks Show in 2017.[44] In 2019, he became a news contributor for CBS News Sunday Morning.[4] He was among the people interviewed for the documentary film Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019).

Personal life

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Mankiewicz married his second wife, Lee Russo, aboard the Disney Magic during the 2013 TCM Classic Cruise.[20] They live in Santa Monica, California with their daughter.[4][21] In December 2025, his daughter was the first featured guest of the TCM block "Kid Fans", where she picked the 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut.[45]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2011The Bling RingHostTV movie
2012Ten Years of the Young TurksHimself
2013White House DownReporter
The Screenwriters: The Stars Behind the CameraHimself
2014TCM: Twenty Classic MomentsHostTV movie
Mad as HellHimself
I Am Steve McQueenFilm critic
Hannibal: This Is My DesignHimself
2015Robert Osborne's 20th Anniversary TributeHimself
2017Faye Dunaway: Live from the TCM Classic Film FestivalHost
2018Michael Douglas: Live from the TCM Classic Film FestivalHost
The Great BusterHimself
The Producers: Q&A with Mel Brooks from the TCM Classic Film FestivalModerator/Interviewer
2019Memory: The Origins of AlienHost, Turner Classic Movies
2020MankBroadcaster, Academy AwardsVoice role
Stuntwoman: The Untold Hollywood StoryHimself
2021I Am Alfred HitchcockHimselfVoice role
Film, the Living Record of our MemoryHimself
2022Tis the Season: The Holidays on ScreenCommentatorTV special
2023Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms InHimselfTV movie
Remembering Gene WilderHimself
AFL Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary SpecialHostTV special

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003The PracticeNews AnchorEpisode: "Les Is More"
Summer Under the StarsHost
2004Cartoon AlleyHost
2006–2020The Young TurksHost/Himself/Guest18 episodes
2007–2008TMZ on TVHimself3 episodes
2007Big LoveNews presenterEpisode: "Good Guys and Bad Guys"
2008–2009At the MoviesCo-Host25 episodes
2009Who Wants to Be a MillionaireGuest Expert3 episodes
The Bonnie Hunt ShowHimself1 episode
2010–2015TYT SportsHost/Anchor21 episodes
2010–2017What the Flick?!Host154 episodes
2010Party DownSportscasterEpisode: "Cole Landry's Draft Day Party"
The Rotten Tomatoes ShowHimself4 episodes
2011; 2014The PointHimself2 episodes
AM NorthwestHimselfEpisode: "Ernest Borgnine"
Hot SetHostEpisode: "Alien Queen"
SAG Foundation ConversationsHostEpisode: "Illeana Douglas"
2013The War Room with Michael ShureGuest1 episode
2014–2019Jeopardy!Clue Giver/Video Clue Presenter4 episodes
2015Mad as Hell: The SeriesHimself4 episodes
AFI Life Achievement AwardHimselfEpisode: "AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steve Martin"
2016–2024TCM Guest Programmer42 episodes
2016The CowboyHimself2 episodes
2017TCM Spotlight: 50 Years of HitchcockHost10 episodes
TCM Co-HostHimselfEpisode: "George Pal Tribute"
The Michael Brooks ShowHimself1 episode
2018Good Day L.A.Himself1 episode
2019–2020The Very Very Best of the 70sHimself/Commentator2 episodes
2019–presentCBS News Sunday MorningHimself/CBS News Correspondent40 episodes
2019Private ScreeningsHostEpisode: "The Best of Private Screenings"
TCM Presents: Never Surrender - WWII in the MoviesHost27 episodes
TCM Presents: Out of This WorldHost3 episodes
The MoviesHimself6 episodes
TCM Spotlight: Gridiron Glory - College Football in the MoviesHost13 episodes
TCM Spotlight: Pets on SetsHost12 episodes
2020The SimpsonsHimselfEpisode: "Treehouse of Horror XXXI"[46]
Now ShowingHost48 episodes
AFI Movie ClubHimselfEpisode: "Ben Mankiewicz announces Ben Hur"
The EssentialsHost20 episodes
2021Cartoon Network's CartoonitoHimself
2023-2024AEW DynamitePresenter2 episodes
2024John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LACallerEpisode: "Earthquakes"
ASSSSCAT: Los AngelesMonologistEpisode: "Ben Mankiewicz"
AEW CollisionHimselfEpisode: "Countdown to AEW All In 2024"
SugarHimselfEpisode: "Starry-Eyed"
2025TodayHimself1 episode

Audio

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Year Title Role Notes
2020–presentThe Plot ThickensHost47 episodes
2020Give Them LalaGuestEpisode: "and Ben Mankiewicz"
Well, This Isn't NormalHimselfEpisode: "Ben Mankiewicz Has a Voice for Storytelling"
2021Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal PodcastGuestEpisode: "Ben Mankiewicz"
2022The Big LieNarrator
2024–presentTalking Pictures: A Movie Memories PodcastHost30 episodes
2024Julian Schlossberg's Movie TalkGuest2 episodes
The Movies That Made MeGuestEpisode: "TALKING PICTURES podcast Host Ben Mankiewicz"
2025The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin MysteryNarrator8 episodes

References

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  1. ↑ Turner Classic Movies (March 25, 2021). "Join us in wishing our host Ben Mankiewicz a very happy birthday!". Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Facebook.
  2. ↑ Hond, Paul (Fall 2022). "How the Mankiewicz Family Got Their Hollywood Ending". Columbia Magazine. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ Broadcasting – Google Books. 1957. Retrieved July 11, 2013 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ben Mankiewicz". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  5. ↑ Mankiewicz, Josh. "What Mom taught me... – Inside Dateline". MSNBC. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Ted (September 24, 2020). "'Dateline' Veteran Josh Mankiewicz & TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz On Growing Up With A Hollywood Name – Without The Showbiz Trappings – Q&A". Deadline. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ Friedman, Gabe (December 4, 2020). "The real story behind 'Mank,' the new movie about the Jewish screenwriter who brought us 'Citizen Kane'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Bonnett, Margie (May 24, 1982). "Frank Mankiewicz". People. ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ Fraley, Jason (December 4, 2020). "Ben Mankiewicz reflects on grandfather writing 'Citizen Kane' in Netflix's 'Mank'". WTOP-TV. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ Carmody, John (November 4, 1993). "The TV Column". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Ben Mankiewicz profile". Tv.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  12. ↑ Klein, Allison (July 31, 1998). "Whammo! WAMI reporter whacked". The Miami Herald. p. 3B. Retrieved June 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ↑ "In Brief: Man charged with whacking reporter". The Miami Herald. August 5, 1998. p. 2B. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ↑ Sanford, James (October 18, 2003). "Mankiewicz hosts TCM on weekends". Star Tribune. p. E8. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ↑ Goetz, Kevin (host) (February 7, 2024). "Ben Mankiewicz (Host of Turner Classic Movies) on Cinema Classics & Growing Up in a Legendary Family". Don't Kill the Messenger (Podcast). No. 36. Event occurs at 12:08. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Turner Classic Movies (July 18, 2017). Ben Mankiewicz talks about his TCM Audition. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ "Interview With Ben Mankiewicz, TCM's Daytime Weekend Host". Turner Classic Movies (Interview). Archived from the original on December 14, 2003. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 9, 2019). "TCM at 25: Ben Mankiewicz on How to Make the Perfect Introduction". Variety. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 Keegan, Rebecca (April 6, 2017). "How TCM Is Navigating a Post–Robert Osborne World". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  20. 1 2 King, Susan (August 1, 2015). "Classic Hollywood: TCM host Ben Mankiewicz's path from snarky newbie to a classic in his own right". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  21. 1 2 Bernstein, Adam (June 14, 2013). "Grandson of 'Citizen Kane' co-writer continues a family tradition as a TCM host". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  22. ↑ Osborne, Robert (October 1, 2012). "A Note from Robert Osborne to his fans". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  23. ↑ "TCM Imports with Host Alicia Malone". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  24. ↑ Bitran, Tara (September 9, 2019). "Jacqueline Stewart Becomes First African American Host at Turner Classic Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  25. ↑ Spangler, Todd (February 26, 2018). "Turner's FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Classic Films, As Warner Archive Service Winds Down". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ Spangler, Todd (October 26, 2018). "WarnerMedia's FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service to Shut Down". Variety. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  27. ↑ Calvarino, Liz (March 6, 2017). "Robert Osborne dies, Hollywood reacts to TCM host death". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  28. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 9, 2019). "How Turner Classic Movies Built a Marquee Brand by Catering to Film Fans". Variety. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  29. ↑ "TCM Launches Podcast 'The Plot Thickens' in April" (Press release). WarnerMedia Podcast Network. March 30, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Television & Film Podcasts—2021". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  31. ↑ Collins, Kennyatta (December 13, 2021). "Here Are 2021's Adweek Podcast of the Year Winners". Adweek. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  32. ↑ Barnes, Mike (April 20, 2022). "TCM's Next 'Plot Thickens' Podcast: Pam Grier". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  33. ↑ "TCM's Acclaimed Podcast The Plot Thickens Returns for Season Five Focusing on John Ford" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. April 17, 2024. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  34. ↑ Barnes, Mike (April 23, 2025). "TCM's 'The Plot Thickens' Podcast Takes on 'Cleopatra' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  35. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 16, 2023). "TCM's Ben Mankiewicz Sets New Podcast Series Interviewing Filmmakers Including Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers, Patty Jenkins (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  36. ↑ Spangler, Todd (March 19, 2024). "Ben Mankiewicz's 'Talking Pictures' Movie Interview Podcast Renewed for Season 2 at TCM and Max". Variety. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Coming Soon: Season 2 Talking Pictures". Apple Podcasts. October 30, 2024. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  38. ↑ Thompson, Anne (July 22, 2008). "Lyons, Mankiewicz to host 'Movies'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  39. ↑ Lee, Chris (December 28, 2008). "Dumbing Down the Film Critic". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  40. ↑ Rosenthal, Phil (August 5, 2009). "Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips, N.Y. Times' A.O. Scott take over 'At the Movies'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  41. ↑ "What the Flick?!". TYT Network. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  42. ↑ Lemire, Christy (August 30, 2018). "What the Flick?! Podcast 8/30/18". ChristyLemire.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Breakfast All Day movie reviews" (Podcast). Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Apple Podcasts.
  44. ↑ The Majority Report with Sam Seder (November 14, 2017), TMBS - Ep. 15 – Why Evangelicals Can't Quit Roy Moore ft. Ben Mankiewicz & Sarah Jones, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved January 9, 2018
  45. ↑ Murry, Quatoyiah (December 1, 2025). "TCM December Round Up". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved December 16, 2025. The 12-year-old [daughter] picked Christmas in Connecticut (1945), a film she's watched with her parents every year since she was born.
  46. ↑ "(SI-3117) "Treehouse of Horror XXXI"". The Futon Critic. October 20, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
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