---
name: "Ben Cross"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ben-cross"
fi1m_id: "ben-cross"
imdb_id: "nm0002027"
tmdb_id: 29068
wikidata_id: "Q708256"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 December 1947"
died: "18 August 2020"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-23T13:38:43.172972+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ben Cross

## Identity

Ben Cross

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ben-cross
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ben-cross
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002027
- **TMDB ID:** 29068
- **Wikidata ID:** Q708256
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cross, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q708256, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002027/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29068

Actor. Born 16 December 1947 in London, England, UK. Died 18 August 2020.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 December 1947, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 18 August 2020
- **Active:** 1981–2013
- **Also known as:** 벤 크로스, Harry Bernard Cross
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (1), 2000s 81 (1), 2010s 72 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 76 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1, History 1, Science Fiction 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $446m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cross, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q708256, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002027/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29068

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek*](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md) (81)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Chariots of Fire*](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ben Cross

> Ben Cross gives driven outsiders a sense of the effort involved in getting through the day. *Chariots of Fire* remains the clearest reason to seek him out: he makes ambition wearing, urgent and worth caring about.

Ben Cross makes the need to prove oneself look exhausting in *Chariots of Fire* (1981). As Harold Abrahams, he gives the running an urgency that has little to do with the clock, while Ian Charleson’s Eric Liddell seems steadier in his convictions. We were moved by Cross’s struggle to keep Abrahams dignified, because he makes clear how much effort that composure costs. Hugh Hudson’s film can be too stately, but Cross keeps its central ambition from becoming something we are merely expected to applaud.

The English establishment in Colin Welland’s screenplay gives Abrahams and Liddell something concrete to push against. Cross takes that seriously: we can care about Abrahams without imagining that his determination would be easy to live with. Milena Canonero’s costumes clarify the social distinctions around him, though their formality also contributes to a sense of people being held in place. Hudson’s restraint suits Cross and Charleson when they show dignity under strain; it is less helpful to the surrounding characters, who do not always seem as fully considered.

After that breakthrough, Cross took leading roles in television’s *The Citadel* (1983) and *The Far Pavilions* (1984). He was repeatedly cast as determined outsiders, men not quite at home in the situations they found themselves in. It is easy to see why, though that fit also suggests the danger of repeatedly asking an actor to perform the same unease. His later work was more often in supporting parts in lower-profile films; Malagant, the villain of *First Knight* (1995), was a more conspicuous role.

J.J. Abrams’s *Star Trek* (2009) gave him a high-profile later appearance as Sarek, and we recommend its brisk adventure despite a thin villain and overworked action. There, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are the principal reason to stay with the crew, rather than an opportunity to see Cross in a substantial leading role. Allow for Hudson’s stately passages, and start with Abrahams.

## Biography

Ben Cross was an English actor. Born Harry Bernard Cross in London on 16 December 1947, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career on stage, including a notable performance as Billy Flynn in the original West End production of the musical Chicago.

He came to prominence with his leading role as Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Cross later appeared as Sarek in the 2009 Star Trek film, and took roles in films including First Knight (1995) and A Bridge Too Far (1977), as well as television series such as Banshee.

Cross died in Vienna on 18 August 2020.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, memory-alpha.fandom.com, variety.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Banshee* (2013), Fi1m 72, as Mr. Rabbit — [page](https://film.one/tv/banshee.md)
- *Star Trek* (2009), Fi1m 81, as Sarek — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md)
- *Chariots of Fire* (1981), Fi1m 78, as Harold Abrahams — [page](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md)

## Complete filmography (103)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Prey for the Devil* (2022), as Cardinal Matthews
- *The Last Letter from Your Lover* (2021), as Older Anthony O'Hare · In Memory Of
- *Rats in the Walls* (2021), as Narrator
- *The Rest Is Ashes* (2020), as Old George Smith
- *Once There Was a War* (2019), Actor
- *Jarhead: Law of Return* (2019), as USMC General Betz
- *Pandora* (2019), series, as Harlan Fried
- *Reign of Judges: Title of Liberty - Concept Short* (2018), as King Aaron
- *The Hurricane Heist* (2018), as Dixon
- *12 Monkeys* (2015), series, as Nicodemus
- *Another Love Building* (2014), as Stephen Anderson
- *Viking Quest* (2014), as King Orn
- *A Common Man* (2013), as DIG
- *Jack the Giant Killer* (2013), as Agent Hinton
- *Banshee* (2013), series, as Mr. Rabbit — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/banshee.md)
- *Banshee: Origins* (2013), series, as Mr. Rabbit
- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2012), series, as Dr. Mindstrong (voice)
- *Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja* (2012), series, as The Sorcerer (voice)
- *Black Forest* (2012), as Cazmar
- *William & Kate* (2011), as Prince of Wales
- *Super Tanker* (2011), as Jordan
- *Ice* (2011), as Stephen
- *Ice* (2011), series, as Stephan
- *The Guardian* (2010), as Sergeant
- *Ben Hur* (2010), series, as Emperor Tiberius
- *Hellhounds* (2009), as King Leander
- *Star Trek* (2009), as Sarek — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md)
- *Lost City Raiders* (2008), as Nicholas Filiminov
- *War, Inc.* (2008), as Medusa Hair
- *Hero Wanted* (2008), as Cosmo Jackson
- *Species: The Awakening* (2007), as Tom Hollander
- *Finding Rin Tin Tin* (2007), as Nikolaus
- *When Nietzsche Wept* (2007), as Josef Breuer
- *Grendel* (2007), as King Hrothgar
- *Wicked Little Things* (2006), as Aaron Hanks
- *Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil* (2006), as Cmdr. Tim Mackey
- *Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial* (2006), series, as Rudolf Hess
- *Hannibal: Rome's Worst Nightmare* (2006), as Fabius Maximus
- *Undisputed II: Last Man Standing* (2006), as Steven Parker
- *S.S. Doomtrooper* (2006), as Professor Ullman
- *The Russian Specialist* (2005), as William Burton
- *Frederick Forsyth's Icon* (2005), series, as Anatoly Grishin
- *Icon* (2005), as Anatoly Grishin
- *Exorcist: The Beginning* (2004), as Semelier
- *Spartacus* (2004), series, as Titus Glabrus
- *The Red Phone: Checkmate* (2004), as Nigel Ballister
- *Spartacus* (2004), as Titus Glabrus
- *She Me and Her* (2002), Actor
- *Meine Schwester das Biest* (2002), as David Greenbaum
- *The Red Phone: Manhunt* (2001), as Nigel Ballister
- *The Order* (2001), as Ben Ner
- *Young Blades* (2001), as Cardinal Richelieu
- *The Potato Factory* (2000), series, as Ikey Solomon
- *The Venice Project* (1999), as Rudy Mestry / Bishop Orsini
- *Tower of the First Born* (1998), as Michael Shannon / Zadick
- *Solomon* (1997), as Salomone
- *Solomon* (1997), series, as Solomon
- *The Invader* (1997), as Renn
- *The Corporate Ladder* (1997), as Jay Williams
- *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea* (1997), as Capt. Nemo
- *Turbulence* (1997), as Captain Samuel Bowen
- *Robert Rylands' Last Journey* (1996), as Cromer
- *Honey Sweet Love* (1996), as Pearson
- *Poltergeist: The Legacy* (1996), series, as Samuel Warden
- *Temptress* (1995), as Dr. Samudaya
- *First Knight* (1995), as Malagant
- *Hellfire* (1995), as Marius Carnot
- *The House that Mary Bought* (1995), Actor
- *The Ascent* (1994), as Major Farrell
- *The Criminal Mind* (1993), as Carlo Augustine
- *Deep Trouble* (1993), as Campagna
- *Cold Sweat* (1993), as Mark Cahill
- *The Diamond Fleece* (1992), Actor
- *Live Wire* (1992), as Mikhail Rashid
- *Eye of the Widow* (1991), as Nassiri
- *She Stood Alone* (1991), as William Lloyd Garrison
- *Dark Shadows* (1991), series, as Barnabas Collins
- *Nightlife* (1989), as Vlad
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Benjamin A. Polosky
- *The Jeweller's Shop* (1989), as Stephane
- *Twist of Fate* (1989), series, as Benjamin Grossman
- *Paperhouse* (1988), as Dad
- *Steal the Sky* (1988), as Munir Redfa
- *The Unholy* (1988), as Father Michael
- *Strong Medicine* (1986), as Martin Taylor
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as (segment "Devil's Alphabet")
- *The Assisi Underground* (1985), as Padre Rufino
- *Attention* (1985), as Alberto
- *The Far Pavilions* (1984), series, as Ashton Pelham-Martyn
- *The Citadel* (1983), series, as Dr. Andrew Manson
- *Coming Out of the Ice* (1982), as Gen. Tuchachevsky
- *Life After Death* (1982), as Simon
- *The Flame Trees of Thika* (1981), series, as Ian
- *Chariots of Fire* (1981), as Harold Abrahams — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md)
- *The Winkler* (1979), as Terry Jones
- *Strangers* (1978), series, as Nick Carmos
- *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Stuart
- *A Bridge Too Far* (1977), as Trooper Binns
- *Wessex Tales* (1973), series, as Matthaus Tina
- *The Reprieve* (1972), as Bolshevik
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Simon
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Terry Jones
- *Liberty*, as Dr. Boucher

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ben-cross