Two men, same name, wildly different careers. One is a hulking English goalkeeper who faced Lionel Messi in the Champions League; the other is an intense American actor who has starred alongside Brad Pitt in Hell or High Water. If you have ever searched for Ben Foster and wondered whether you found the right person, this article is for you. We’ll lay out the facts on both men so you never mix them up again.
Ben Foster (footballer) born: 3 April 1983 ·
Ben Foster (actor) born: 29 October 1980 ·
Footballer height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) ·
Actor notable film: Hell or High Water (2016) ·
Footballer international caps: 8 (England) ·
Actor Academy Award nominations: 0
Quick snapshot
- Ben Foster (footballer) is English, born 3 April 1983 in Leamington Spa (Wikipedia biography)
- Ben Foster (actor) is American, born 29 October 1980 in Boston, Massachusetts (Wikipedia entry)
- They are two entirely different people who share a name (Wikipedia disambiguation page)
- Exact net worth of both individuals, as public estimates vary widely (MediaGridUK entertainment feature)
- Ben Foster (actor) current relationship status after separation from Laura Prepon in 2021 (MediaGridUK entertainment feature)
- Ben Foster (footballer) retired in September 2023 after a brief return to Wrexham (The Independent)
- Ben Foster (actor) continues to take film roles, having appeared in Hell or High Water (2016) and Warcraft (2016) (The Independent)
- Ben Foster (footballer) is likely to focus on his YouTube channel The Cycling GK (LiveScore sports news)
- Ben Foster (actor) has no publicly announced upcoming film projects as of early 2025 (LiveScore sports news)
The contrast between these two lives shows quickly in a side-by-side table.
| Attribute | Ben Foster (footballer) | Ben Foster (actor) |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Anthony Foster | Benjamin A. Foster |
| Date of birth | 3 April 1983 | 29 October 1980 |
| Profession | Professional footballer (goalkeeper) | Actor |
| Nationality | English | American |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Notable work | Manchester United, England caps (8), Wrexham | Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma, X-Men: The Last Stand |
| Marital status | Married to Kate Foster | Separated from Laura Prepon (2021) |
| Children | Two | One daughter |
The pattern is clear: these two men share a name and little else. One built a career saving goals in the Premier League; the other built a filmography playing troubled characters.
How rich is Ben Foster?
Estimates for both men are guesses, not audited figures. But the earnings paths are radically different.
What is Ben Foster the footballer’s net worth?
Ben Foster (footballer) earned Premier League wages for over a decade, with a peak reportedly around £60,000 per week at West Bromwich Albion. His career total in salary alone likely exceeds £10 million before taxes and agent fees. He also earns from his YouTube channel The Cycling GK, which had 1.24 million subscribers at the time of a LiveScore sports news profile.
The footballer’s steady Premier League salary created a predictable financial base; the actor’s project-based income remains far more variable.
What is Ben Foster the actor’s net worth?
Ben Foster (actor) has appeared in over 50 films since the late 1990s, including major studio releases such as X-Men: The Last Stand and Warcraft. Celebrity net worth aggregators place his value between $4 million and $8 million, but none of these figures are publicly verified (PoPlix.uk entertainment guide).
The trade-off: the footballer earned a steady salary in a performance-based industry with a short career arc; the actor’s income is project-based and less predictable, but his career span is longer.
Is Ben Foster leaving Wrexham?
This question was answered decisively in August 2023.
When did Ben Foster retire?
Ben Foster (footballer) announced his retirement from professional football in September 2023, following Wrexham’s 5–5 draw with Swindon Town. He had made an unexpected return from retirement in March 2023 to serve as emergency cover for Wrexham’s promotion push (The Independent). His first retirement had come in September 2022 after leaving Watford.
Why did Ben Foster retire?
Foster said he wanted to avoid the “dad guilt” of being away from his family and felt his body could no longer handle the physical demands. “I’m retiring for good this time,” he told beIN SPORTS sports broadcaster after the match. The Wrexham chapter was brief — just five months — but it gave the club and its owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, a memorable storyline for their documentary series.
The implication: fans searching for Ben Foster’s current club will come up empty. He is no longer a professional footballer and has no plans to return.
Who is Ben Foster’s wife?
Two very different answers here.
Is Ben Foster the actor married?
Ben Foster (actor) was in a long-term relationship with actress Laura Prepon, best known for That ’70s Show and Orange Is the New Black. They began dating around 2016, became engaged in 2019, and have one daughter together. However, Prepon filed for separation in 2021, and Foster’s current relationship status is not publicly documented (MediaGridUK entertainment feature). He is not known to be married.
Who is Ben Foster the actor’s partner?
The footballer, by contrast, has a far steadier family answer. Ben Foster (footballer) has been married to Kate Foster for more than a decade. She is a former model and the couple have two children together. Kate has appeared occasionally on Foster’s social media and YouTube channel but keeps a relatively low public profile.
The pattern: the footballer is married with children; the actor was in a committed but unmarried partnership that has since ended.
Does Ben Foster have any children?
Yes — both men are fathers.
How many children does Ben Foster the footballer have?
Ben Foster (footballer) has two children with his wife Kate. He has spoken publicly about how fatherhood shaped his decision to retire, calling it “dad guilt” in interviews.
Does Ben Foster the actor have children?
Ben Foster (actor) has one daughter with Laura Prepon, born in August 2018. The child’s name has not been publicly shared by either parent.
The catch: when searching for “Ben Foster kids,” searchers will get two completely different families from two completely different lives.
Two men with the same name, both fathers, both in the public eye — yet one is a retired goalkeeper who changed diapers between matches, and the other is a Hollywood actor whose family life is almost entirely private.
What are the most popular Ben Foster movies?
If you are looking for film recommendations, you want Ben Foster the actor. The footballer’s only screen appearances are football highlights and YouTube videos.
Which movies is Ben Foster the actor known for?
Ben Foster (actor) is widely recognized for his supporting roles in prestige dramas and action films. His filmography includes:
- Hell or High Water (2016) — Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Foster played Tanner Howard, a volatile ex-con, alongside Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges (Wikipedia film database).
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007) — Western remake in which Foster played the wounded outlaw Charlie Prince, earning him an Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films award nomination.
- The Punisher (2004) — Foster’s early action role as the mysterious Dave, assisting Frank Castle.
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) — He played Angel, a mutant with wings, in the third installment of the X-Men franchise.
- Warcraft (2016) — Foster portrayed Medivh, the mysterious guardian, in the video game adaptation directed by Duncan Jones.
He has also appeared in Alpha Dog (2006), 30 Days of Night (2007), and The Messenger (2009), for which he was nominated for a Satellite Award. His career includes more than 50 film credits according to MediaGridUK entertainment feature.
If you search “Ben Foster movies” expecting a retired Wrexham goalkeeper, you will be confused. The actor’s filmography runs deep, and none of it involves football.
The footballer’s YouTube channel The Cycling GK has accumulated over 1.24 million subscribers and offers a more personal look at his life after football (LiveScore sports news).
Timeline: Two lives in parallel
Their careers never intersected — one built a career in sport, the other in cinema.
| Date | Ben Foster (footballer) | Ben Foster (actor) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 October 1980 | — | Born in Boston, Massachusetts |
| 3 April 1983 | Born in Leamington Spa, England | — |
| 2001 | Starts professional career at Stoke City youth | Continues acting career |
| 2004 | Loaned to Kidderminster Harriers | Stars in The Punisher |
| 2006 | On loan at Watford, wins Championship Play-off | Stars in X-Men: The Last Stand |
| 2008 | Debut for England national team | Stars in 3:10 to Yuma |
| 2016 | Plays for West Bromwich Albion | Stars in Hell or High Water and Warcraft |
| 2022 | Joins Wrexham AFC | Continued acting projects |
| March 2023 | Returns from retirement to Wrexham | — |
| September 2023 | Announces second and final retirement | — |
The pattern: their careers never intersected. One built a career in sport, the other in cinema. The only shared element is the name.
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Here is where the evidence is solid and where it gets fuzzy.
Confirmed facts
- Ben Foster (footballer) retired from football in September 2023 (The Independent)
- Ben Foster (actor) starred in Hell or High Water, which grossed over $37 million worldwide (Wikipedia film database)
- Ben Foster (footballer) is married to Kate Foster and has two children (PoPlix.uk entertainment guide)
- Ben Foster (actor) has one daughter with Laura Prepon (MediaGridUK entertainment feature)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth of both men — estimates range wildly and no audited source exists
- Ben Foster (actor) current relationship status — no public information since his separation from Prepon in 2021
- Whether Ben Foster (footballer) will return to football in any non-playing capacity
Quotes from the two Ben Fosters
I’m retiring for good this time.
— Ben Foster (footballer), speaking to The Independent after Wrexham’s 5–5 draw, August 2023
Ben Foster (actor) is an American actor known for films such as Hell or High Water and X-Men: The Last Stand.
— Wikipedia disambiguation entry
I want to avoid dad guilt. I’ve got two young kids and I don’t want to be away from them.
— Ben Foster (footballer), explaining his retirement decision, via beIN SPORTS sports broadcaster
The Cycling GK channel had attracted 1.24 million subscribers.
— LiveScore sports news, reporting on Foster’s YouTube presence
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Frequently asked questions
The most common search queries about both men, answered directly.
How tall is Ben Foster the footballer?
Ben Foster (footballer) is 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall (Wikipedia biography).
What position does Ben Foster the footballer play?
He played as a goalkeeper (Wikipedia biography).
Has Ben Foster the actor won an Oscar?
No. He has never been nominated for an Academy Award, though Hell or High Water received a nomination for Best Picture (Wikipedia film database).
What is Ben Foster the actor’s ethnicity?
Ben Foster (actor) is of English, Irish, Scottish, and German ancestry, according to genealogical records.
Did Ben Foster the footballer play for Manchester United?
Yes. He was signed by Manchester United in 2005, made his debut in 2007, and made 23 appearances for the club before moving to Birmingham City on loan and later West Bromwich Albion (Wikipedia biography).
What is Ben Foster the actor’s height?
Ben Foster (actor) is approximately 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall.
Who is Ben Foster the footballer married to?
Ben Foster (footballer) is married to Kate Foster. They have two children together (PoPlix.uk entertainment guide).
What is the difference between Ben Foster the footballer and Ben Foster the actor?
Everything except the name. The footballer is English, a former goalkeeper for Manchester United and England, married with two children, and retired. The actor is American, a film actor with over 50 credits, separated from Laura Prepon with one child, and still active in his career (Wikipedia disambiguation page).
Related reading
If you found this disambiguation useful, these articles on other football and film personalities may also interest you:
- Paul Scholes: News, Quotes, and 2025 Biography — Another English footballer with a long Premier League career
- Will Poulter: Biography, Prosthetic Role & LGBTQ Advocacy — A younger British actor navigating Hollywood
For the reader searching “Ben Foster” on any search engine, the choice is simple: note the context. If the result mentions Wrexham, Manchester United, or YouTube channels, you are reading about the footballer. If it mentions films, awards, or Laura Prepon, you are reading about the actor. The name is the same, but the two men have built lives so different they might as well be from different worlds.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.