Did ya know...???  Before Ben Affleck hit it big, hardly anyone knew his name much less what he had done. Now that he's one of the most sought out actors in the business, the rare unknown details of Ben's earlier stages in his career are coming out of the woodworks. Here are some neat facts you may not have known.

• Ben helped Sandra Bullock write her Montreal Festival Award Acceptance Speech?
Sandra Bullock, Ben's current co-star in 'Forces of Nature' recently received
an award at the Montreal Film Festival for Career Excellence and while giving her speech said that
Ben Affleck had helped her write it?  (from A Sandra Bullock Webpage).

• Ben could've been in 'Courage Under Fire' (A 5th movie with Matt Damon)?
"Ben all but had the role that Lou Diamond Phillips ended up playing in COURAGE UNDER FIRE, but turned it down so he could play Holden in CHASING AMY. As it turned out, the start date on AMY got pushed back so Ben conceivably could have done both films, but such is life..." (Vincent Pereira of View Askew Productions)

• Ben helped good friend, Matthew McConaughey, get his part in 'Glory Daze?'
"It was just a  happy coincidence that Matthew appeared in this film. An actor called in sick with the flu the day of shooting, and Ben Affleck called up his friend Matthew to fill in at the last minute. He slipped into the role right away (the pro that he is), and played a really good sleazy  drunken Rental Truck Guy..."  on Matthew's role in 'Glory Daze' of which Ben stars (from the 'Glory Daze' homepage)

• Ben was a prop used in 'Mermaids?'
Q: Matt, were you in "Mermiads" trying to mack on Winona Ryder in the end?
A: (Matt) No. But Ben was in a prop photo used in the movie.
(Matt Damon on the ViewAskew Boards March 17, 1998)

• Ben tried out for a part on 'Beverly Hills, 90210?'
Q: Also, in the USA   Weekend interview, it said you tried out for a part on 90210. What part was it?
A: The part I tried out for   on 90210 was for some guest star role where I would be a Republican reporter   (CNN? -- I can't remember) and date, briefly, one of the cast memebers. It   would have been a two-episode gig and I dedfinitely needed the money, but   apparently I wasn't 90210 material. That's okay, I've always like 02139 fine as a zip code...
(Ben on the ViewAskew Boards June 30, 1998)

• Ben is in the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie?
Q: Ben, was that you playing basketball in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" the movie?
A: (Ben) Yup, but keep that to yourself, I do.
(Ben on the ViewAskew Boards March 17, 1998) 

• Ben's brother, Casey, was also in 'The Voyages of the Mimi?'
Q: I had to watch Voyage of the Mimi in school two years in a row. Was Casey   ever in an episode of it? There is one episode where Ben is in England and he   calls his brother and wakes him up. it is day time in england but night time in the  us. Was that Casey or just anyone? I know I know a stupid question.
A: It was Casey, and that's the only time he appeared in Voyage.
(Ben on the ViewAskew Boards March 26, 1998)   

• Ben first met Jack Nicholson when he was only 15?
Q: Has there ever been a celebrity that you have met that you were like in awe of   and it was just amazing to meet them?
A: First time I met Nicholson I was 15 and pretty in awe
(Ben on the ViewAskew Boards  July 2, 1998)   

Do you know a rare fact about Ben?
Email the scoop with your source to: fact@benaffleck.com.