Benjamin O'Keefe

Benjamin O'Keefe is an actor, activist, and writer born July 1, 1994.Ben was born into very humble beginnings, growing up in Orlando, FL with his single mother, twin brother, and older sister. Quickly realizing his passion for performing he was involved in several commercials and educational films at a young age, but unfortunately his family could barely make ends meet let alone acquire the financial means to afford the expenses that went into pursuing a professional career.After enduring intense bullying in school, Ben turned to his school's theatre program as a safe haven. It was there, in searching for the voices of the characters that he portrayed, that he found his own.Ben attended school in Orlando, FL at Olympia High School but participated in the national award winning theatre program at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, FL. There, he worked under the direction of Ken Rush and was recruited by some of the most notable colleges in the country.Following high school, Ben moved to New York City. After a successful stint in the Big Apple he decided to move across the country to Los Angeles where he has begun a successful integration into film and television industry.Besides working as a performer, Ben has been extremely active in activism work, particularly in the topics of LGBT rights, Youth Rights, and Body Image. He has worked with organizations such as GLSEN, The Trevor Project, NEDA, Proud2Bme, and many more.In his activism work, Ben has been responsible for creating many major movements of change. Most notably he began a International Movement against Abercrombie & Fitch and the discriminatory actions of corporations at the age of 18, and is already considered to be an expert in the field of consumer relations.As a writer, Ben has contributed to some of the largest publications in the world including; The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The LA Times and many more. He has begun writing his first book "Our Stories: A Voiceless" Ben has also been featured in hundreds of publications around the world such as; The New York Times, People Magazine, NPR, Forbes, MTV, The New Yorker, BBC World, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.Ben likes to say that he has come from nothing and it has inspired him to reach for everything. When asked what he wishes to be when he is older he is often quoted as saying "Oprah" whom he sees as an incredible role model for creating success in the various ventures that he is involved in. Appearing on several 20 under 20 and 40 under 40 lists it is well known that is Ben is using his passions to make an impact on the world, one person at a time. Show less «