You probably know him as the guy who swung an axe at vampires while wearing a stovepipe hat. Or maybe you’ve seen him lately draped in gold as a High King of the Elves. Honestly, Benjamin Walker has one of the weirdest, most interesting resumes in Hollywood right now. He’s not your typical leading man. He’s a Juilliard-trained theater geek who happens to look like a movie star but often chooses the strangest, most demanding roles he can find.
Whether you’re catching up on Benjamin Walker movies and TV shows because of Middle-earth or you remember him from that 2012 action flick, there’s a lot more to the guy than meets the eye. He doesn't just act; he does stand-up, sings rock-and-roll versions of history, and survives the brutal world of Broadway.
From The Great Emancipator to High King Gil-galad
The jump from American history to Tolkien’s Second Age isn't as big as you’d think. At least, not for him. In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Walker plays High King Gil-galad. He’s regal. He’s stoic. He wears about 50 pounds of gold-leaf armor like it’s a bathrobe. But if you look closely at his career, he’s been preparing for this "weight of the world" vibe for decades.
A lot of people first saw him in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. That movie was... a choice. It was a stylized, bloody, Timur Bekmambetov fever dream. Walker took it seriously, though. He read biographies. He learned to spin that axe. He played Lincoln from a young man to an old president, and he actually made you believe in the absurdity of it.
The Television Grind: More Than Just Elves
Most fans don’t realize how much TV he’s actually done before Prime Video came knocking. Remember the final season of Jessica Jones on Netflix? He played Erik Gelden. Basically, a guy who gets literal migraines whenever he’s near "evil" people. It was a gritty, messy role that showcased he could handle the Marvel universe without needing a cape or a hammer.
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Then there’s The Underground Railroad. It’s a hard watch. It’s a masterpiece by Barry Jenkins, but it’s brutal. Walker plays Terrance Randall, and he is terrifying. It’s a complete 180 from the heroic roles people expect from him. It shows he’s not afraid to be the most hated person on screen if the story matters.
The Broadway Legend You Didn’t See
If you only know his films, you’re missing the best part. Benjamin Walker is a theater beast. He famously turned down the role of Beast in X-Men: First Class (the part that eventually went to Nicholas Hoult) just so he could stay on Broadway. Why? To play Andrew Jackson in a rock musical called Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
It was emo-rock. It was political satire. He wore tight leather pants and sang about the Trail of Tears. It was controversial, loud, and brilliant.
- All My Sons: He got a Tony nomination for this.
- American Psycho: He played Patrick Bateman in the musical version. Yes, he sang while covered in blood.
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: He played Brick opposite Scarlett Johansson.
His stage presence is massive. When you see him as Gil-galad, that stillness and authority come from years of having to command a live audience in New York.
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Recent Hits and What's Next
Lately, he’s been busy. In 2024, he appeared in September 5, a film about the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, playing the legendary ABC News broadcaster Peter Jennings. It’s a sharp, tense drama that reminds everyone he’s a fantastic character actor when he’s not swinging swords or axes.
He’s also popped up in:
- The Ice Road – A Liam Neeson trucker movie. It’s exactly what you think it is.
- The King’s Daughter – A weird fantasy movie with Pierce Brosnan that sat on a shelf for years before finally coming out.
- Shimmer Lake – A Netflix crime thriller told backwards. It’s actually really good, and you should watch it.
Honestly, the best way to enjoy his work is to look for the projects where he seems slightly out of place. He’s a "thespian" who loves genre fiction. He brings a level of craft to "popcorn movies" that most actors wouldn't bother with.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
We’re in an era where actors are often just "IP delivery systems." But Walker feels like a throwback. He’s a guy who cares about the text. Whether he’s voicing a hill troll named Damrod (yeah, he did that in Rings of Power too) or leading a Broadway revival, he’s always doing something unexpected.
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If you’re looking for a starting point, skip the blockbusters for a second. Go find Shimmer Lake or clips of his Andrew Jackson days. It’ll give you a much better idea of why he’s one of the most respected guys in the industry right now.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive deeper into the Benjamin Walker filmography, don't just stick to the hits. Start with The Underground Railroad on Prime Video to see his dramatic range, then pivot to Shimmer Lake for something lighter but clever. If you can find a bootleg or soundtrack for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, listen to it immediately. It’s the definitive "Ben Walker" experience.
Check out his recent interview on September 5 to see how he transitioned into playing a real-life news icon. It’s a masterclass in subtlety that feels worlds away from the High King of the Elves.