Ben Falcone

Though perhaps less well known to audiences than his wife, actress Melissa McCarthy, actor-writer Ben Falcone carved out a respectable career of his own on television and numerous films with and without his spouse, including "Bridesmaids" (2011), "The Heat" (2013), and "Enough Said" (2013). The Illinois native received his initial comedy training with Los Angeles' Groundlings troupe, where he met McCarthy. He labored largely in anonymity through the 2000s, before receiving his widest exposure alongside McCarthy in "Bridesmaids." His own comic talent soon elevated him to guest roles on numerous TV shows, as well as a notable turn away from McCarthy in the critically praised "Enough Said."

By that year, Falcone had expanded his CV to include writing, producing, and directing, which underscored his rapidly advancing status as the second bona fide comedy star in his household.

Born in Carbondale, Illinois on August 25, 1973, Ben Falcone began performing as a student at Carbondale Community High School and later in community theater in Southern Illinois. After receiving a degree in speech communication from the University of Illinois, Falcone headed to Los Angeles, where he waited tables between auditions. He made his screen debut in the little-seen independent drama "Rennie's Landing" (2001) with Peter Facinelli, and soon graduated to regular work as a bit player in various television comedies.

During this period, Falcone also honed his talents with the famed improvisational group The Groundlings, where he met McCarthy. After learning that they both hailed from Illinois, Falcone and McCarthy became romantically involved before marrying in 2005. By this point, Falcone had also worked his way up from minor roles to a recurring turn on the sitcom "Joey" (NBC, 2004-06), as the nervous neighbor of series lead Matt LeBlanc.

Though the show was short-lived, Falcone drew excellent reviews for his performance, and was soon a staple of primetime sitcoms, including "Up All Night" (NBC, 2011-12) and "Happy Endings" (ABC, 2011-13). He also shared in the overwhelmingly positive response to McCarthy's exuberant turn in "Bridesmaids" by playing the air marshal that arouses her desire during a flight.
The popularity of that film led to more substantial work for Falcone, including a supporting turn as Elizabeth Banks' husband in the broad comedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (2012). That same year, Falcone also began providing songs, as well as the voice of Henery Hawk, a minor Warner Bros. cartoon villain, for "The Looney Tunes Show" (Cartoon Network, 2011- ).

In 2013, he was featured in minor roles in McCarthy's hit vehicles "Identity Thief" and "The Heat," while also striking out on his own with a winning turn in Nicole Holofcener's "Enough Said." That same year, Falcone announced the launch of a production company with McCarthy called On the Day, as well as his debut as a director on the comedy "Tammy" (2014) with McCarthy in the lead.