Profile of the Day: Benedict Cumberbatch

Happy birthday, Benedict Cumberbatch! Today the star turns 43.

Image: Benedict Cumberbatch / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cumberbatch was born on July 19, 1976 in London, England to actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. From a young age, Cumberbatch took an interest in acting and eventually went on to study drama at the University of Manchester and earn a Master’s degree in classical acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Cumberbatch rose to fame starring as the iconic private detective Sherlock Holmes in the acclaimed series, Sherlock, for which he has received multiple Emmy nominations and one win for his performance. The versatile actor has also found both commercial and critical success on the big screen. In 2014, he earned an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of English mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing in the film, The Imitation Game. Fun fact: Cumberbatch and Turing are 13th cousins twice removed! In addition to his dramatic works, Cumberbatch has found box office success as the Marvel superhero, Dr. Strange.

Explore Benedict Cumberbatch’s family tree and share how you’re connected to the actor.